Boogie With John Lee Hooker - John Lee Hooker (1LP Vinyl)

Boogie With John Lee Hooker by John Lee Hooker.

There are records that document a musician, and then there are records that document an obsession. "Boogie With John Lee Hooker" belongs firmly in the second category, a compilation that gathers together the singular, hypnotic rhythm that became Hooker's signature and follows it wherever it wandered. From the opening bars of "Hoogie Boogie" to the closing stomp of "Too Much Boogie," this is a set that lives and breathes a single idea and never grows tired of it.

At the heart of the collection are tracks drawn from the 1949 Besman sessions, the recordings that helped establish Hooker as one of the most distinctive voices in postwar blues. This was the sound of a man alone with his guitar and his foot, tapping out a beat that owed as much to Mississippi juke joints as it did to the Detroit that had become his home. Hear it in "Boogie Chillen," and again in the reworked "Boogie Chillen #2," where the same primal groove gets turned over and examined from a fresh angle.

The track listing reads like a survey of the boogie in all its guises. "House Rent Boogie" carries the weight of hard times, "Rock House Boogie" and "21 Boogie" push the tempo, and "Hastings Street Boogie" plants Hooker squarely on the Detroit thoroughfare that gave so much early rhythm and blues its address. Alongside them sit the looser, rowdier moments like "Shake Holler And Run" and "Jump Me (One More Time)," proof that the boogie could be a party as easily as it could be a lament.

Care has gone into the presentation of this 2014 issue. Nick Robbins handled the mastering, bringing clarity to recordings that have lost none of their raw immediacy over the decades. Niall McCormack contributed the cover and design, while Herb Fenstein supplied the sleeve notes that place these performances in their proper context. The runouts are etched, a small detail that collectors will appreciate.

The rights reflect the collaborative nature of the reissue. Most of the material carries a 2014 Ace Records Ltd copyright, with tracks A5, B1, B6, and B7, namely "Gotta Boogie," "Jump Me (One More Time)," "Shake Holler And Run," and "Too Much Boogie," licensed from P-Vine, Inc.

For anyone drawn to the foundational sound of the blues, or simply curious about how one man built a career on a rhythm so deceptively simple, this is an essential document. Put it on, let the needle drop, and you will understand why the boogie belonged to John Lee Hooker.

Pressing Details:
Track Listing:
A1. Hoogie Boogie
A2. Boogie Chillen #2
A3. House Rent Boogie
A4. Rock House Boogie
A5. Gotta Boogie
A6. Alberta Part 2
A7. Hastings Street Boogie
B1. Jump Me (One More Time)
B2. 21 Boogie
B3. Huckle Up Baby
B4. Momma Poppa Boogie
B5. Boogie Chillen
B6. Shake Holler And Run
B7. Too Much Boogie

Credits:
Niall McCormack - Cover, Design
Nick Robbins - Mastered By
Herb Fenstein - Sleeve Notes

Notes:
Compilation of tracks from the 1949 Besman sessions.

℗ 2014 Ace Records Ltd except A5, B1, B6, B7 ℗ 2014 P-Vine, Inc.

Runouts are etched.

Artist: John Lee Hooker

Format: 1LP

Genre: Blues

Label: Modern Records (2)

Catalog Number: HIQLP 026

Release Year: 2014

Country: Import

Condition: Sealed (New)