Another fine collection of VeeJay-sides
Docendo Discimus | Vita scholae | 04/18/2004
(4 out of 5 stars)
"John Lee Hooker's 50s and 60s recordings for the VeeJay label are widely considered his best, and the fact that most of them were recorded using a full band also means that this music is some of Hooker's most accessible.
This double-disc compilation spans 1955-1964, and while it isn't the definitive word on John Lee Hooker, the casual fan will note that "Boom Boom", "Dimples" and "It Serves Me Right To Suffer" are all here. The quality of these 36 tracks is high all the way through, actually, and "This Is Hip" provides a very good introduction to the Hook.
But you should be aware that Rhino Records' much better annotated double-disc Hooker anthology draws from his entire career, making it the best purchase for those who just want one John Lee Hooker-compilation, and there are other excellent collections of his VeeJay sides as well, including Tomato's "The Early Years" vol. 1 and 2, and the three-disc Testament box set.
Still, you could do a lot worse that this one. And it's a lot cheaper, too."