Search - John Lee Hooker :: John Lee Hooker: The Legendary Modern Recordings 1948-1954

Intense as a slab of ribs cooked by the corner barbecue man

Rick Beall | 11/15/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"These are John Lee Hooker's first recordings. These are not the covers he made later, but are the real thing. Most early blues recordings are so raw that only dyed-in-the-wool blues fans would like them, but such is not the case here. On these recordings John stomps his foot for percussion, strums and finger-picks his guitar for rhythm and lead, and in the saucy tone he gets from his guitar you can hear the coming roar of Rock and Roll. The songs, in the same order as he historically recorded them, progress from acoustic to electric guitar as a sort of Stairway to Blues Heaven.

If you are a musician, study this album to see how one man stomping his foot can generate enough intensity for an entire band. If you are a music lover, well, man just groove!"

Simply seminal blues by John Lee Hooker

R. Weinstock | Falls Church, VA USA | 06/22/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Writing this right after John Lee Hooker's passing, I note that of all of Hooker's recordings, the one's that draw me in deepest are his earliest ones. Here are the recordings from the beginning, mostly John Lee Hooker with a guitar performing some of the songs he would still be remembered for fifty years later. As another reviewer has stated, the early John Lee Hooker may be a bit too raw for those casually into blues, but if you are a fan of his later recordings, give these sides a chance. Listen to a few tracks at a time. Here is a man pouring out his soul on these trackks, especially on some of the slow numbers. Included in this are his biggest R&B hits and some very personalized renditions of classic blues from other sources. Hooker was an original and greatly influenced numerous performers. There are several other equally excellent albums of Hooker's early recordings available on Specialty, Atlantic; Ace; Krazy Kat; MCA/Chess and Charly. This may be easier to find and it does have the hits, Boogie Chillen, and In the Mood, and for that reason probably edges the others out as an essential disc for any well rounded blues collection."

Deep blues

Blues Bro | Lakewood, Colorado USA | 03/26/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Although John Lee Hooker became a star who drank champagne and ride limousines, his first tracks recorded will make you feel with mud up to your neck. These tracks are among the deepest blues ever recorded. This collection is in the same level as Robert Johnson, Muddy's plantation recordings or the Wolf's Sun sides. Until these CD was released in 1993, these sides had never been compiled in one album. The liner notes explain every session and personnel that were involved. For a new blues fan, probably the rhino compilation 'best of' is more digestible, but eventually you'll have to get this one, as any other serious blues fan."