John Lee Hooker - Plays And Sings The Blues (1951-52)
Original Release Date: 1961
Label: Chess LP-1454 (1961) / MCA
Bitrate: 128 kbps
With little more than the steady stomp of his foot, the virtuosic hum of his guitar, and his famously murky voice, John Lee Hooker makes blues magic. These are wry, witty, beautifully simple songs, and if you don't find your foot tapping in time to the rhythm at least once, you haven't been paying attention. Considering these songs were recorded 50 years ago, the sound is remarkable pristine and pure, with the exception of the disc's liveliest tune, the pleasantly scratchy 'Mad Man Blues,' and 'Hey Boogie.' There's at least one odd hiccup ~ track 8, 'Lonely Boy Boogie', ends abruptly in mid-song ~ but otherwise, this is a satisfying and soulful disc for those in need of a blues fix. ~ Nathan Alderman
A 1961 Chess album restored to digital print by MCA that's filled with 1951-1952 gems from the Hook's heyday. Chess originally bought 'Mad Man Blues' and 'Hey Boogie' from the Gone label; the rest first came out on Chess during Hooker's frenzied early days of recording, when his platters turned up on nearly every R&B indie label existent at the time. ~ AMG
Amazon essential recording:
Like other recordings from Hooker's early studio sessions, these tunes bristle with driving energy and ripple with the power of his shouted declarations. This is back porch music from the heart of the Delta, jolted to larger- than-life proportions by the electricity powering Hooker's guitar and by his own strong desire to quit sweeping factories and begin cleaning up on the charts. Although he often reworked themes by earlier bluesmen during this period, it was rare that Hooker outright covered another artist's material. So his riveting interpretations of Muddy Waters's 'Please Don't Go' and Big Maceo Merriweather's 'Worried Life Blues' peak this collection of solo turns that were recorded for Chess in 1951 and '52.
Personnel: John Lee Hooker vocals; guitar
Eddie Kirkland guitar on 12
John Lee Hooker - Plays And Sings The Blues Tracks:
01 The Journey [03:37] (a.k.a. Sentimental Journey)
02 I Don't Want Your Money [02:58]
03 Hey, Baby [03:22]
04 Mad Man Blues [02:39]
05 Bluebird [02:55]
06 Worried Life Blues [03:00]
07 Apologize [02:57]
08 Lonely Boy Boogie [03:16] (a.k.a. New Boogie)
09 Please Don't Go [02:26]
10 Dreamin' Blues [03:02]
11 Hey Boogie [02:59] (a.k.a. Boogie Now)
12 Just Me and My Telephone [03:14]
01 Recorded April 24th, 1952
02 Recorded April 24th, 1952
03 Recorded April 24th, 1952
04 Recorded late 1950 - Gone 60, Chess 1462 (both as John Lee Booker)
05 Recorded April 24th, 1952
06 Recorded April 24th, 1952
07 Recorded April 24th, 1952
08 Recorded April 24th, 1952
09 Recorded April 24th, 1952
10 Recorded circa April, 1951
11 Recorded late 1950 - Gone 61, Chess 1462 (both as John Lee Booker)
12 Recorded circa April, 1951
