REQUIRED LISTENING: a musician's personal notes about favorite artists.
JOHN LEE HOOKER
The Ultimate Collection (1948-1990).
John Lee Hooker passed away in 2001, at the age of 83. His life was spent being one of the innovators and creators of the
blues. The GREATS of the genre are defined by the fact that each one had an identifiable SOUND. John Lee Hooker's rhythmic feel
was unique and it stayed that way throughout his entire 60 year recording career. He found his first success with "Boogie
Chillin'" in the late 40s (which laid the ground work for many more great songs). "Crawlin' King Snake,"
"Dimples," "Boom Boom," "Big Legs, Tight Skirt" and "Bottle Up and Go" are all
serious grooves that are almost impossible to emulate. Also included in this collection are some of his fine work with
Canned Heat, "I'm Bad Like Jesse James" and "Burnin' Hell." In the end it all comes down to the John
Lee Hooker groove, that is what makes his music so great. With his passing we have lost one of the last of the original
blues men.
John Lee Hooker recorded up to the very end of his career. No sitting on laurels here, there's just not enough time for that
sort of nonsense in this life.
posted: June 2004. |
