Discs two and three summarize the mid-period of Hooker's career, during which time he recorded more often with full bands than solo and began collaborating with some of musicians he influenced, including Canned Heat (Hooker 'n' Heat). Some of Hooker's best and best-known songs were cut during this period including "Boom Boom" and "One Bourbon, One Scotch, One Beer."
These songs were a little less boogie oriented and tended toward the more traditional blues sound. This era placed less emphasis on his guitar playing and placed more on his great, growling voice. Hooker, like Muddy Waters' mid-to-late period, became more of a bandleader. It is a transition he made successfully because of the sheer force of his personality and presence. It did not matter who played with him, these are John Lee Hooker songs.
The fourth disc summarizes Hooker's final decade as a recording artist, a period which found the legend enjoying a late-career renaissance through a series of star-studded collaborations. Before Carlos Santana started making those kind of records, he was making guest appearances on John Lee Hooker albums. In addition to Santana, the fourth disc of Hooker features his duets with Robert Cray, Bonnie Raitt, Van Morrison, Ry Cooder, and Eric Clapton, just to name a few. This fourth disc is more uneven than the previous three. It is natural to wish there was more of the earlier work and less of this, but the albums from this period helped revitalize interest in Hooker. The mutual admiration between him and those he inspired can be heard in the music they made, and some of these duets work quite well ("In the Mood" with Bonnie Raitt being one).
Few bluesmen have proved as versatile or as enduring as John Lee Hooker, and while this set might not include every scrap of the evidence to bear this out, it comes close. Hooker opens with "Boogie Chillen" and 84 songs, 5 hours, 4 discs later, closes with it. Nothing could be more fitting.
Article comments
1 - Vern Halen
Great article - yep, I think it'd have to be a big honkin' box to get all the essential Hooker.
Let me share a story - actually a close friend's. When John Lee Hooker passed through our town in the early 80's he was alrady getting up there in age. My friend got to talk to him after the set - he introduced himself, said hello, great set, etc., etc., and after the small talk was over, the 60-years-old-or-so Hooker looked at him and said, "So - y'know where I can get any women around here?"
2 - DJRadiohead
Vern, that is an awesome story! He went all Blazing Saddles on your friend. That is tremendous.
This is a pretty great honkin' box of Hooker. I highly recommend it to everyone.
3 - Connie Phillips
Congrats! This article has been forwarded to the Advance.net websites.
4 - El Bicho
Good to see great minds think alike. I especially enjoyed your descriptions of Hooker's sound.
5 - A.L. Harper
Congratulations this article is Assistant Music Editor, A.L. Harper's Editor's pick of the week.