Chill Out [Extra tracks, Original recording remastered]

John Lee Hooker | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (February 6, 2007)
• Original Release Date: 2006
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Extra tracks, Original recording remastered
• Label: Shout Factory
• ASIN: B000M06KFC
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #44,009 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com essential recording

One of his finest '90s recordings, Chill Out balances the guitar-glitz of Carlos Santana's guest shot on the karmic title cut with a handful of profoundly deep Hooker solo performances. Among those are new versions of his standards "Tupelo" and "Annie Mae," and the soulful "If You've Never Been in Love," where expert slide-man Roy Rogers provides subtle accompaniment to Hooker's spontaneous storytelling. The band numbers that bookend the album are weak, relying on Hooker's strong vocal presence to overcome sketchy writing. Van Morrison, pianist Charles Brown, and M.G.'s leader Booker T. Jones also lend a hand. But Hooker doesn't need anybody's help to get to the passionate heart of his blues. One last note: Anton Corbijn's CD-booklet photographs of ol' Johnny Lee are terrific. --Ted Drozdowski

Product Description

John Lee Hooker's Grammy-winning 1995 album reissued with unreleased bonus tracks!

The Grammy Award-winning album Chill Out was released in 1995 and features a number of guest artists, including Carlos Santana, Van Morrison, Booker T. Jones, Charles Brown and Roy Rogers, on such Hooker classics as "One Bourbon, One Scotch, One Beer" and "Tupelo," and the newly written title track.

Contains two bonus tracks: "Down So Low" and "Fire Down Below." Also features remastered sound and new liner notes.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Add this to your collection, April 3, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Chill Out (Audio CD)

Mr. Hooker is an artist who pulls off collaborations with such success, that it takes you to another dimension of the blues. The title song "Chill Out" accompanied with Santana's potent guitar licks makes the album worth buying in itself. He also performs a powerful version "Serve Me Right to Suffer" with Van Morrison caring on a conversation that only true bluesmen could do!!! His solo works are what is expected out of the great Hooker. "One Bourbon... One Scotch... One Beer" is a classic with new found energy.

The man should be, but is not a millionaire, yet has the enough money to ride around in a limo with the personalized license plates "Chill Out" in Redwood City, CA. I had the opportunity to visit him about 2 and a half years ago. I came to his door uninvited, dogs barking etc. and Mr. Hooker answered the door. I explained I was a fan with his "The Healer" CD in my hand. He silenced the German Shepherd as well as the Cocker Spaniel, and invited me into his home. There were gold records with pictures of Bill Graham, Bonnie Raitt and others on the wall over his fireplace. He graciously signed the CD cover and we began to talk about the Giants baseball game on T.V. We discussed baseball and other current events for about a half an hour before I left. Mr. Hooker invited me back again; yet, I have not mustered the courage to re-visit him. We never touched on the great contribution he has made to the Blues, Rock n' Roll, or music in general. However, the very modest bluesman left me with the belief and impression that the Blues are about everyday people, sharing everyday experiences.

His recent recordings are mostly collaborations (I.E. "Mr. Lucky", "The Healer", and "Don't Look Back"), but they are what helped sparked my interest in the Blues. I think one of the most positive undertones to his albums is his ability to record with various artists and spark my interest with him as well as their efforts. For the novice fan such as myself, check out "Mr. Lucky" (my personal favorite 5 stars), also "The Healer" and "Don't Look Back" are the next to add to the collection. The more you listen to this man's stuff like albums that I feel demonstrate some of his roots: "King of the Boogie", "Blues Legend", and "The Collection" heighten one's awareness to the roots of all modern music. Listen to each album a few times and ENJOY!!!! ;)

P.S. I give this C.D. only a 3.5, definitely worth buying, but "Mr.Lucky" and the "Healer" are in a class all by themselves....

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Hooker's best contemporary blues recording, June 22, 2001

By 

Curtis J. George (Centreville, Maryland) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Chill Out (Audio CD)

CHILL OUT was Hooker's fourth album since his triumphant comeback began in 1989 with THE HEALER. CHILL OUT also won a Grammy in 1995 for the Best Traditional Blues Album. The title track features long time supporter Carlos Santana and his band. Van Morrison further cements their long-standing friendship with a duet on" Medley: Serves Me Right To Suffer/Syndicator." Charles Brown and his band join in on "Kiddio" and "Annie Mae." Unlike some blues CDs filled with guest performers, the guests on this CD do not dominate the songs. John Lee certainly is the front man. In fact, of all the Hooker albums I have heard, and there are hundreds, I would have to say the best display of his vocal talents of all his contemporary recordings.

I had the privilege of seeing Hooker two years before his death during his last performance on the East Coast. The CD's last track is slower blues ballad; "We'll Meet Again." If there is blues in heaven, hopefully we will indeed, meet again.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great work from the King of the Boogie, August 11, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Chill Out (Audio CD)

This was my first John Lee Hooker album, purchased on Sunset Boulevard during a business trip to Los Angeles. It was and always will remain one of my favorites. Hooker's performances on "Deep Blue Sea," "Talkin' the Blues" and the incredibly dramatic and understated "Tupelo" are worth the price of admission alone. Santana's turn on the title song is hypnotic, and Van Morrison's appearance in "Serves Me Right/Syndicator" is a lot of fun.

"Chill Out" is a more-than-worthy companion to Hooker's other great "modern" albums, "The Healer," "Mr. Lucky," and "Don't Look Back." If you love the blues, if you love music, GET THIS ALBUM.