Listing at the bottom of the review
The world is not short of John Lee Hooker compilations but Acrobat
is to be congratulated for spreading out to four CDs and focusing
on the Modern, Chess and Veejay singles of the years between 1949
and 1962. Hooker’s idiosyncrasies of metre and structure set him very
apart from the mainstream and one of the more interesting features
of a set like this is to note the freedoms he enjoyed but also the
constraints placed upon him by his various record companies. The repetitive
stomping boogies, so powerfully percussive, could be replaced by a
more generic sound when Hooker was backed by studio musicians.
The rather crude sound of the Modern singles from 1949 onwards hardly disguises some of the classic sides Hooker made for the company:Boogie Chillun, prominently, but the classic Hoogie Boogie as well, with its guitar distortion and boot stomping rhythm. Whistlin’ and Moanin’ Blues is self-explanatory but the electric guitar licks are impressive as ever. There are flickeringly bad surfaces on some
of the transferred sides which, allied to the original discs’ hardly hi-fi sound, can create aural distractions - but they pass quickly. James Watkins adds
boogie piano from time to time but mostly it’s the hypnotic Hooker who is sole master of his musical fate.
The second CD takes the Modern discs to 1952, when they overlap with the Chess releases. I’m in the Mood shows the echo-laden, overdubbed ethos of
some of the Moderns whilst the more sympathetically recorded Chess sides show the distinct improvement in his studio fortunes. The old vulgar RnB numbers
foisted on him, like Rock Me Mama, show a cash cow in operation but at least even the worst of the Moderns, amongst which I’d also class –
surprisingly so – It Hurts Me So, still possess a totally rugged sound world. There’s a strange detour to the world of lyrical romance in the
Leveen-Grant song I Wonder Little Darling – Hooker sounds a little like a parlando Lonnie Johnson here - but otherwise the third disc gives us
more Moderns and introduces the Veejay years as well as the very thinly veiled cover version of Shake, Rattle and Roll called Shake, Holler and Run, obviously based on the Big Joe Turner hit. You’ll find another classic, Dimples, on this third disc.
Disc four is all-Veejay - the label which, from 1957 onwards, sometimes sported a rather audience-pleasing profile, smoothing out Hooker’s cussed
irregularities. That said, they had the sense to reprise Hooker’s earlier material and his remakes of things like Boogie Chillun have their own
vitality. Boom Boom unleashed a tidal wave of rhythm and blues and rock bands worldwide and it just makes it, beating the cut-off date neatly.
It’s interesting to read that it reached only 60th place in the US Pop charts and number 16 in the RnB charts.
The booklet is good. There are full discographic details, following every session, some well-known but nice photographic reproductions and an appreciative,
insightful programme note from Paul Watts. It caps a fine 4-CD set.
Jonathan Woolf
CD1
Sally May
Boogie Chillun
Hoogie Boogie
Hobo Blues
Whistlin’ And Moanin’ Blues
Weeping Willow Boogie
Crawlin’ King Snake
Drifting from Door To Door
I'm a Howlin' Wolf
Playin' the Races
No Friend Around
Wednesday Evening
Give Me Your Phone Number
Roll and Roll
Let Your Daddy Ride
One More Time
John Lee's House Rent Boogie
Queen Bee
Tease Me Baby
Women In My Life
Mad Man Blues
Boogie Now
Leave My Wife Alone
Ramblin' By Myself
Louise
CD2
High Priced Woman
Union Station Blues
I'm In The Mood
How Can You Do It
Anybody Seen My Baby
Turn Over a New Leaf
Ground Hog Blues
Rock Me Mama
Cold Chills All Over Me
I Got Eyes for You
It Hurts Me So
Bluebird Blues
Key To The Highway
Walkin' The Boogie
Sugar Mama
It's My Own Fault
Women and Money
It's Been a Long Time Baby
Rock House Boogie
It's Stormin' and Rainin'
Ride 'til I Die
Love Money Can't Buy
Please Take Me Back
Too Much Boogie
CD3
Need Somebody
Down Child
Gonna Boogie
I Wonder Little Darling
Jump Me (One More Time)
I Tried Hard
Let's Talk it Over
Bad Boy
Cool Little Car
Shake, Holler and Run
Half A Stranger
Taxi Driver
You Receive Me
Hug and Squeeze
The Syndicator
I'm Ready
Lookin' for a Woman
Mambo Chillun
Time Is Marching
Every Night
Trouble Blues
Baby Lee
Dimples
I'm So Worried Baby
The Road Is So Rough
CD4
I'm So Excited
I See You When You're Weak
Rosie Mae
Little Wheel
Unfriendly Woman
You Can Lead Me, Baby
I Love You Honey
You've Taken My Woman
Maudie
I'm In The Mood
Boogie Chillun
Tennessee Blues
Hobo Blues
Crawlin' Kingsnake
Solid Sender
No Shoes
Dusty Road
Tupelo (a.k.a.Backwater Blues)
I'm Mad Again
I'm Going Upstairs
Take Me As I Am
Want Ad Blues
Boom Boom
Drug Store Woman
Let's Make It
John Lee Hooker
She's Mine
A New Leaf
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