The Very Best Of John Lee Hooker

This is indeed "The very best" of John Lee Hooker. It captures music from different times in his career, from his first "hit," "Boogie Chillen'" to "Boom Boom" to "I'm Bad Like Jesse James" to "Terraplane Blues."I'll mention just a few to illustrate. "Boogie Chillen'" is noted as his first hit (1949). The guitar playing is extremely simple--but almost hypnotic in its effect. The simple riff is described by Hooker as "just an old funky lick I found." One theme is how boogie woogie is just trying to get out of him!"Boom Boom" features a good ensemble playing well together. This song became visible after the Animals covered it and reached a wider audience. A nice set of lines well sung:"She walked that walk and talked that talk;And whispered in my ear,And tell me that you love me.I love that talkWhen you talk like that."His distinctive voice well serves this song."I'm Bad like Jesse James" begins with the central tag line for the song: "I'm mad, I'm bad like Jesse James." This is a story-telling song, telling what the singer is planning for someone who fooled around with his wife. And he gets mad (like Jesse James). He describes three guys he knows who will take care of the bad guy. He goes through a few scenarios, warning off the cad. Pretty graphic! The rhythmic drum playing works well, accenting the development of the story. This is classic John Lee Hooker.This is a nice introduction to the work of one of the legendary blues singers. Those interested in learning more about the blues would be well advised to consider this CD.

I love this guy like every fan of blues does, but this compilation could (and should) be better: of course, 2 discs with the earlier records is an indisputable valuable reporting, though some of the tracks are with bands and a kind of of orchestration arrangement. The album could embrace all his carreer, it could include the 60ies, 70ies and 80ies, and some 4 or 5 songs of the classic titanic album with canned heat deserved to be there. Whatever, any of the LPs by the emperor-master of the one-man electric blues is good to get and hear. I indicate for HIS fans specially and blues lovers generally. "boogie chillen" worths the day!

First off I must admit that I don't generally follow blues. Muddy Waters and Howlin' Wolf just don't appeal to me. But there is something about John Lee Hooker, with his very basic music and raw vocals, that appeals to me. This is a collection of Hooker to be sure, but one of the best out there, and it stands well with it's contemporaries. Favorites on the disc are Boom Boom, Boogie Chillin', as well as such darker tracks as I'm Bad Like Jesse James and Deacon Jones. All in all, it is a good introduction to Hooker and to blues in general.

For the money, this is one of the best compendiums of John Lee Hooker's music. However, there are a few key cuts that are missing from this compilation. This one album, however is a very good introduction to Hooker's style and music, and will be something that new and older listeners will enjoy.

Great

I purchased this CD for my husband and he really enjoyed receiving this as a gift.

Still the best of the best

Love JLH!!

Great sound production on this cd

Non me ne abbiamo i fan di JLH ma io avrei ridotto ad un solo disco questa raccolta, primo album con band e secondo in solitudine elettrica, primo migliore del secondo, anzi molto molto bello, da prendere per intero, ma in entrambi i casi molte canzoni sono "troppo" ripetitive

di Very best di J.L. Hooker ce ne sono a bizzeffe....questo è uno dei tanti, ma lmeno uno è da avere e qui il prezzo per un doppio cd è ottimo. Consigliato.

Una raccolta ben assortita di uno dei grandi del blues.Ottima selezione e rapporto qualità/prezzo eccezionale.Buone anche le registrazioni.Per gli amanti del blues!

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