John Lee Hooker

I´M John Lee Hooker (771919 LP)

I´M John Lee Hooker Agrandir l'image

I´M John Lee Hooker

John Lee Hooker

Waxtime

8436542015318

LPS 140906

771919 LP

BLUES

1

I´M John Lee Hooker

Plus de détails

LP 14,98 €

INCLUDES 4 BONUS TRACKS

Long unavailable on vinyl, this quintessential collector’s edition includes one of Hooker’s finest albums, I’m John Lee Hooker. It was recorded in Chicago during different sessions and originally released by the Vee-Jay label in 1959. Hooker clearly benefitted from his association with Vee-Jay. The excellent, and sadly defunct, African-American owned label provided quality production, recording and presentation for Hooker’s music. Compared with a lot of his other recording companies (such as Modern, J.V.B., Rockin’ or Chance Records, among others) Vee-Jay treated Hooker as a serious artist, worthy of good sound, enough time in the studio to get the take right, and tasteful accompaniment typically featuring just drums and bass.

I’m John Lee Hooker marked his first electric blues LP, and probably the finest single album of his career. A collection of the best of his early Vee-Jay sides, it features such hits as “Dimples” and “Boogie Chillun” in their best-known versions, as heard in the movie The Blues Brothers and in countless other films and commercials. The standout tracks are the four featuring Hooker performing solo while keeping the rhythm with his foot pounding a piece of plywood as he plays his boogie guitar licks and sings in that distinctive deep voice. The four tracks (“Hobo Blues”, “I’m in the Mood”, “Crawlin’ Kingsnake”, and the aforementioned “Boogie Chillun”) were first recorded on Modern Records, but these versions are all first-rate. The other eight tracks include a second guitar, bass and drums, mixed with some nice soulful arrangements without losing that great solo Hooker feel.

In addition, this 180-gram vinyl release includes 4 bonus tracks from the same period. Contained here is the cream of the crop from John Lee Hooker’s hitmaking stretch for Vee-Jay records during his most inspired years. This music is raw and riveting. Its emotional depth demands much of his listeners. He is a true original who is often imitated, but never equaled.

PERSONNEL:

JOHN LEE HOOKER, vocals and guitar, plus:

Eddie Taylor (guitar)
George Washington (bass)
Everett McCrary (bass)
Joe Hunter (piano)
Tom Whitehead (drums), among others.

Recorded in Chicago and Detroit, Between 1949-1959.

TRACKS:

SIDE 1
1. DIMPLES
2. HOBO BLUES
3. I’M SO EXCITED
4. I LOVE YOU HONEY
5. BOOGIE CHILLEN’
6. LITTLE WHEEL
7. MAMBO CHILLUN (*)
8. BABY, PLEASE DON’T GO (*)

SIDE 2
1. I’M IN THE MOOD
2. MAUDIE
3. CRAWLIN’ KING SNAKE
4. EVERY NIGHT
5. TIME IS MARCHING
6. BABY LEE
7. DUSTY ROAD (*)
8. BOOGIE RAMBLER (*)

(*) BONUS TRACKS

All tracks recorded Stereo.
Except side 1, tracks 7 & 8 / side 2, tracks 7 & 8: Recorded Mono.