Customer Reviews

Chill Out

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

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....

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.

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.

Though true JLH fans probably have found some of his earlier CDs to be a better reflection of his talents, this is a fun blues CD for those who are just getting into Blues. After just a few plays, you'll be humming "Kiddio" as if you've known it for years. Hooker's rendition of "One Bourbon, One Scotch, One Beer" is more likely to get you doing "air-band" than George Thorogood's version. Finally, the title cut ("Chill Out") is a great piece that should have received substantially greater attention. Much of the CD is just Hooker's voice, a guitar and a tapping shoe, with an occassional piano thrown in, but a few cuts have a bit more. Don't let that scare you... this is a good buy.

This album is the first John Lee Hooker album i've ever listened to and I am indeed, a 'Hooked' fan. His words and his music moved me and still do into a realm of blues that I havent had matched with any other yet. This album is without a doubt inspirable. As an aspiring blues singer, I am without a doubt, inspired.

I bought Chill Out (Things are going to change) for the name song but found another that I like very much too. I think he's an important artist who was on the verge of change.

Even though John Lee Hooker does not need any help when he talks the blues, he brought in some excellent backup: Santana, Booker T., and Van Morrison, which alone should pique your interests to at least take a listen to this disc, if not buy it outright. Overall, the disc has a fairly mellow/slow feel to it with tracks like "Too Young" and "We'll Meet Again"; however it does pick up a bit with "One Bourbon, One Scotch, One Beer" and "Kiddio."

If you need a relaxing, laid back, excellent blues CD to add to your collection, I highly recommend you make room for this one in your library. You won't be disappointed.

I really enjoy listening to this cd since I bought it.For a seventy plus year old man I think this cd has more energy than his earlier releases.

Well, it is a formitabble artist and that's a solid music he plays. The title song "Chill Out" is stagerrengly cool. It is almost cold and far away. Others are in more or less warm bluesy spirit.

Generally - ver nice album fro those who like blues. Enjoy.

This is a very good album from one of the greatest men in all of music history, John Lee Hooker. This album has a mellow mood to it that makes it perfect to listen too when you want to Chill Out. The title track, is a collaboration with Carlos Santana, a long-time fan of JLH. That song is a classic and was the reason I bought the album in the first place. Other stand out songs here are KIDDIO, ANNIE MAE, TOO YOUNG, ONE BOURBON ONE SCOTCH ONE BEER, and MEDLEY: SERVES ME RIGHT TO SUFFER/SYNDICATOR. Many songs here are updated classics that will sound fresh to new fans. I think that some of the songs on this album where it is JLH and his guitar are without a doubt, the songs that we are able to see how great his talent really voice. He had that perfect voice for his storytelling type of blues music that kept the listener hooked.