Search - John Lee Hooker :: I'm a Boogie Man: Essential Masters 1948-1953

John Lee Hooker
I'm a Boogie Man: Essential Masters 1948-1953
Genres: Blues, Pop

Track Listings (19) - Disc #1
1. Black Man Blues
2. Who?s Been Jiving You
3. Poor Joe
4. Stomp Boogie
5. The Numbers
6. Devil?s Jump
7. Nightmare Blues
8. I?m Gonna Kill That Woman
9. Wandering Blues
10. Don?t Go Baby
11. Late Last Night
12. Moaning Blues
13. Slim?s Stomp
14. Heart Trouble Blues
15. Thinking Blues
16. Don?t You Remember Me
17. I Came To See You Baby
18. I?m A Boogie Man
19. My Baby Left Me Originally - Previously Unissued

CD Details

All Artists: John Lee Hooker
Title: I'm a Boogie Man: Essential Masters 1948-1953
Members Wishing: 1
Total Copies: 0
Label: Varese Fontana
Release Date: 9/21/2004
Album Type: Original recording remastered
Genres: Blues, Pop
Styles: Contemporary Blues, Delta Blues, Traditional Blues, Regional Blues, Detroit Blues, Electric Blues, Acoustic Blues
Number of Discs: 1
SwapaCD Credits: 1
UPC: 030206659726

Synopsis

Album Description

In the wake of his 1949 R&B chart-topper "Boogie Chillen" for Los Angeles-based Modern Records, Detroit bluesman John Lee Hooker was hot as a firecracker and ready to record for any label willing to come up with sufficient cash. One of his first connections outside of Modern was with Cincinnati-based King Records in late 1948; under the auspices of his manager Elmer Barbee and Hastings Street record store operator Joe Von Battle (who had a small studio in the rear of his shop), Hooker cut a series of brilliant solo pieces that King issued as by the pseudonymous Texas Slim despite the fact that Hooker didn?t hail from the Lone Star state. I?m A Boogie Man collects those 16 classic (and domestically unavailable) performances, along with three stunning 1953 performances by Hooker for King?s DeLuxe imprint with Eddie Kirkland on second guitar that have somehow eluded reissue all these years until now ("My Baby Left Me" is totally unissued). This is prime Hooker at his earliest, rawest, and most hypnotic, when he was just commencing his unbelievably prolific and brilliant career as one of the greatest of all postwar blues icons.

CD Reviews

"The Blues & the man and legend ~ John Lee Hooker"

J. Lovins | Missouri-USA | 11/24/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Varese Records presents "I'm A Boogie Man:The Essential Masters 1948-1953", featuring the most beloved king of endless boogie John Lee Hooker...who performed and sang more than half a century...every once in a while a stand out album comes along with vintage definitive tracks...like this one.

This is a flavor of a younger John Lee and his amazing guitar work...recording quality is outstanding considering the age of the originals...but if you love the Blues, then it really doesn't matter...He was a true musician in his natural habitat...every track shows what John Lee was all about as he tells a story with each song...his improvision is truly unique with steady rollin' wall of chords to a perfectly timed single string pick...check out his "STOMP BOOGIE", recorded in December of 1948, a great example of his talent..."BLACK MAN BLUES"..."POOR JOE"..."THE NUMBERS", demonstrates his many styles beautifully, every song is classic in the rough.

Take a bow Cary E. Mansfield and Bill Dahl [collection producers], Marty Wekser [sound], Evren Goknar [mastered by] and Bryon Davis...without your expertise this album may never have seen the light of day...John Lee Hooker the legend...just the way we like 'em!

Total Time: 58:10 on 19 Tracks ~ Varese Records 66597 ~ (9/21/2004)"