Search - John Lee Hooker :: Burnin' (24bt) (Mlps)

Nice, band-backed Hook

Docendo Discimus | Vita scholae | 03/27/2006

(4 out of 5 stars)

"It's sort of weird that Amazon doesn't stock the newest Vee-Jay re-release of this classic John Lee Hooker-LP. It features the best sound yet, and five bonus tracks. Too bad...



Anyway, "Burnin'" is still one of the Hook's better albums. Recorded with a full band (drums, bass, seconds guitar, piano and even a tenor sax), it marked a departure from the sparse backing on previous John Lee Hooker sides. Some may prefer him alone, just a guitar and a piece of plywood to stomp on, but if you like band-backed Hook this is a very good place to get some (as are "I'm John Lee Hooker" and "It Serves Me Right To Suffer").



The Hook lays down a rollicking "Let's Make It", a piano-enhanced "Boom Boom", and covers Leroy Carr's mournful "Blues Before Sunrise". And "Thelma" rides along on a funky horn riff and some more fine piano playing by Motown's leading piano player Joe Hunter (not to be confused with "Ivory" Joe Hunter from Kirbyville, Texas).

There is a lot of rather dubious Hooker reissues out there, but you can't go wrong with the Vee-Jay stuff. And if you should get your hands on a copy of the 2000 issue with bonus tracks, savour that slippin', slidin' swing of "Old Timmy Shimmy" and the funky, Booker T-inspired groove of "Onions"."