When I heard Shout! Factory was releasing a four disc John Lee Hooker boxed set I almost jumped through my monitor, man I wanted it now! This label reminds of one that was once a flourishing indie label as well, Rhino. They do things in a very distinctive way that separates them from all the rest.

I have been listening to Hooker's music for several years now and always found his sound to be unique and just as important as legends like B.B. King, Buddy Guy and Muddy Waters. He ranks very high on the list of all time great bluesmen and made a prolific difference for their respective genre and music as a whole.

One thing I always mention when I cover Hooker's music is the time I saw him play live in a beat up back alley nightclub in Oakland, California. I was sitting a table away from Carlos Santana, and I knew when I saw him we were all in for a very special evening with two great guitar god's exchanging licks. Carlos and John Lee were friends, soul mates of the blues, and this night would prove that fact to me beyond a shadow of a doubt. Since that night I have never heard music in the same way.

All of these factors made hearing this box set a very important experience for me personally, and it expanded my understanding of Hooker's recorded artistry more in one sitting than ever before. This box did serve that purpose very well indeed. Along with the four CDs that are jam packed with Hooker gems there is also a comprehensive booklet that outlines the importance of what the man did for music during his time on this earth. He touched countless lives with speak from the heart blues and distinctive guitar playing. He single handedly created the Detroit Blues sound and the rest as they say, is history. Bits and pieces of that legacy are right here on this superb box set.