John Lee Hooker - I’m John Lee Hooker

Chillun of the revolution: prime 1959 Hooker

This is a straight reissue, with original and new sleevenotes, of the Boogie Man’s original 1959, 12-track Vee-Jay album (which featured his then-current smash Dimples) and collects material from six different sessions (1955-59), with four Hooker solo tracks scattered among others that include sidemen Jimmy Reed (Hooker’s labelmate at the time), Joe Hunter, Eddie Taylor and Earl Phillips.

Needless to say, the prolific, often pseudonymous Hooker (Birmingham Sam & His Magic Guitar and Little Pork Chop were two of the more colourful) was in his prime at the time and hardly paid his bandmates any mind. Outside of the occasional Taylor guitar solo and a pungent dose of Reed’s harmonica handiwork on the doleful Time Keeps Marching On, Hooker’s gripping vocals and primitive, eccentric guitar playing dominate. Aside from the stunning unplugged sides (especially Crawlin’ King Snake and Hobo Blues), other gems include a fervid revival of his 1948 Modern smash Boogie Chillun, a piano-fortified rocker Little Wheel, the percolating plea Maudie and the foot-stomping I Love You Honey. This one should be on any blues lovers’ top shelf.

Shout! Factory | 826663 10646

Reviewed by Gary von Tersch
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