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Artist: John Lee HookerAlbum: The Modern, Chess & Veejay SinglesCollectionLabel: AcrobatRelease Date: 08/08/2016
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John Lee HookerThe Modern, Chess & Veejay Singles Collection 1949-62Album Reviews | December 15th, 2016
Internationally known as the “King of theBoogie,” John Lee Hooker has had a hugeimpact on modern music and influencedgenerations of musicians. Oftenemploying only one chord, Hookercreated hypnotic, droning tones that canstill lure the listener into trance with avoice and a storytelling style thathearkens back to the griots of WesternAfrica. Indeed, much has been made ofthe connection between American DeltaBlues and the music of Mali in recentyears, but Hooker’s story and those ofhis contemporaries are unique to theUnited States.
John Lee Hooker was born nearClarksdale, Mississippi on August 22,1917 and grew up in a sharecroppingfamily. His stepfather, William Moore,taught Hooker to play guitar and influenced his “talking blues” style. Like manysouthern blacks seeking opportunity, Hooker headed north eventually landing inDetroit in the early 1940s. He worked as janitor at the Ford Motor Company by dayand performed house parties at night, eventually trading in his acoustic guitar for anelectric one as his popularity and crowds grew. “House Rent Boogie” tells the tale ofplaying to pay the bills. Hooker eventually made his way to Modern Records, where hehad massive hits with “Boogie Chillun,” “I’m In The Mood,” “Crawling Kingsnake” and“Hobo Blues.” He would go onto record with Veejay Records, releasing over 100 songs,and later worked with iconic Chicago blues label, Chess Records, as well.
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The 1960s brought a great revival of the blues when it was “discovered” by whiteyouth. Hooker’s tunes were popularized during “The British Invasion” by the RollingStones, the Animals and the Yardbirds. Fellow Americans, Canned Heat, built much oftheir sound on his boogie chord structure, eventually recording, supporting andtouring with him. In 1971 they released Hooker ’n’ Heat, which became his first chartingalbum.
Hooker continued to tour as a solo act throughout the late 1970s and 1980s, and atage of 72 released The Healer, featuring a who’s who of roots Americana artistsincluding Carlos Santana, Los Lobos, Robert Cray, Bonnie Raitt and many others, allbacking up the grand master. The “Hook” finished out the ’80s as a frequent guest onthe Rolling Stones’ “Steel Wheels” tour.
During the ’90s, Hooker released five studio albums, including Mr. Lucky, which sawhim teamed him up with Van Morrison and Keith Richards. In 1991, John Lee wasinducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, and recognized with a Grammy LifetimeAchievement Award in 2000. He was 88 years old when he died in California in 2001.
Acrobat Music’s release, John Lee Hooker: The Modern, Chess & Veejay Singles Collection1949-62, is a comprehensive compendium of the key cuts for which he was bestknown. With over 100 tracks featuring a variety of lineups including solo acoustic andaccompanied by various bands, this collection is a wealth of music best suited to thehardcore fan. Some of the ’60s era recordings include the superfluous use ofinstruments such as organ and reflect an attempt by labels to sound “hip.” However,Hooker was at his best either solo or when the band was restrained enough to providesimple, swinging grooves as on “Boom Boom” and “Dimples.” The package includes acomprehensive booklet with discographic and session information and photos.
About his music, Hooker once said, “Every song I sing is something that happened tomy life or somebody else’s life in this world. You might lose your money or your car, orcan’t pay the rent–every person had these heartaches and tribulations. That’s whyeverybody digs the blues. When I sing these songs I feel them down deep and reachyou down deep.”
John Lee Hooker tapped into profound human emotions and forged a singular stylethat still resonates today. This extensive collection allows listeners to dive deep into hisunique brand of the blues. Highly recommended.
-Mike Cobb
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