John Lee Hooker

INCLUDES FREE MP3 ALBUM DOWNLOAD Plus 2 BONUS TRACKS

This quintessential LP release includes Hooker’s sensational album, Folk Blues, originally released by the Crown label in 1962, and long unavailable on vinyl. It contains some of Hooker’s 1952-1955 electric numbers recorded in Detroit and Chicago for Joe Bihari’s Modern label. Legendary sideman Eddie Kirkland is featured here on tracks such as the great “Shake, Holler and Run” and “Gonna Boogie” (he also sings second vocals on “Rock House Boogie,” “Let’s Talk It Over,” and “Lookin’ For a Woman”).

This album also contains Hooker’s solo performances “Half a Stranger,” “Down Child” and “Bad Boy”. The blues legend is showcased here with nothing but his raw, electric guitar, soul-drenched, world-weary vocal delivery, and his foot to keep rhythm. One of Hooker’s finest tracks, “Baby You Ain’t No Good,” kicks off the set.

In addition to the original masterpiece, this vinyl collector’s item contains 2 bonus tracks: the solo effort “Devil’s Jump” and the great “Rosie Mae” (on which Hooker is accompanied by a quartet showcasing Eddie Taylor on rhythm guitar). There is no question that John Lee Hooker and the blues were intimately acquainted. He was a true original who was often imitated, but never equaled.

PERSONNEL;

JOHN LEE HOOKER vocals, lead guitar and foot stomping, plus:

SIDE 1, tracks 1 & 3: Eddie Kirkland (g), Otis Finch (ts, on 3),
Bob Thurman (p, on 3), Tom Whitehead (d, on 3). Unidentified bass on track 3.
Recorded by Joe Bihari in Detroit, Michigan, late 1954.

SIDE 1, tracks 2 & 4 / SIDE 2, tracks 1 & 4: solo recordings by John Lee Hooker.
Recorded in Detroit and Chicago, 1952-1955.

SIDE 1, track 5: Eddie Kirkland (g). Recorded in Detroit, Michigan, late 1953.

SIDE 1, track 6: solo recording by John Lee Hooker. Recorded in Detroit, Michigan, probably 1953.

SIDE 2, tracks 2, 3 & 5: Eddie Kirkland (g, voc). Recorded in Detroit, May 1954.

SIDE 2, track 6: Eddie Taylor (g), Everett McCrary (b), Frank Bradford (p), Richard Johnson (d). Recorded in Chicago, Illinois, June 23, 1957.

SIDE 1

01 BABY I’M GONNA MISS YOU
02 HALF A STRANGER
03 SHAKE HOLLER AND RUN
04 DOWN CHILD
05 GONNA BOOGIE
06 DEVIL’S JUMP (*)

SIDE 2

01 BAD BOY
02 ROCK HOUSE BOOGIE
03 LET’S TALK IT OVER
04 BABY YOU AIN’T NO GOOD
05 LOOKIN’ FOR A WOMAN
06 ROSIE MAE (*)

(*) BONUS TRACKS