Customer Reviews

Endless Boogie

5 star:		(14)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I bought this album soon after its initial release in 1971 and was blown away. It holds up even after 30 years and will continue to do so. Some critics have dismissed this album as another example of aimless jamming by some white guitarists in awe of a blues icon. I completely disagree. Sure, many of the tracks are over 5 minutes: and yes these are jams. But they anything but chaotic and unstructured as some listeners have suggested. There are fine contributions from the likes of Steve Miller, Mel Brown and the late Jesse Ed Davis (listen to Davis' snake like notes and brittle playing on the jam Pots on, gas up high). For the blues mood in extremis check out Kick Hit 4 hit Kix U and Sheep out on the foam. The rhythm section of Gino Skaggs (you want to learn blues bass playing, listen to this cat's clean playing) and Ken Swank (fine drumming) on most tracks (late Carl Radle and Jim Gordon of Derek and the Dominos appear on the remainder) is rock steady. I emigrated to Canada as a 15 year old in 1971 and this was the album that got me into blues. I have worn out two double albums and have presented copies to numerous friends to illustrate how joyful blues music can be. Its wonderful that the CD is available once more to delight blues fans every where. The 5 stars are for the content and for the seminal role this CD has played in shaping my musical education.

A true standout, especially when you compare the performances on this album to some of Mr. Hooker's other work. The studio musicians all seem to blossom here, with J.L.'s incredible vocals, in creating this classic. It ranks with my personal top 10 alltime albums, way up there. Universal and current messages abound, and is a lot of fun too (check out "House Rent Boogie"..."Hit Kix U").

If you like yer 12 bar blues to be exact, down to the beat and measure - turn away from this one. But if you dig the raw, improvisational nature of The Jam - just a bunch of talented musicians getting together for the love of making music - then this is the quintessential John Lee collection. Savor it, enjoy, because this type of CD/album comes along very rarely. Most studio work is usually pretty scripted, which is fine. But I love the power of a live blues jam - I cut my teeth in blues hanging onto the stage watching the greats like Mighty Joe Young and Albert Collins tear it up. This work has the strength and energy of a live show but the intimacy of a guitar circle (a living room-style jam where everyone sits and trades licks) - in the title song, at one point during a scintillating acoustic solo, you can hear 'em just shout out with pleasure. It's like John Lee sings: "All the cats, getting together in the studio, just cookin' They call it...The Jam....Look out!" RIP, John Lee. I know they're boogyin' in heaven right now.

Do you like your blues sleazy? I mean with sleaze just dripping off it and oozing out of every nook and cranny? Do you like your blues without chord changes, droning and building emotional intensity as it burrows into your soul like a thousand nights in a shotgun shack on the delta? If you answered yes to any of the above questions, Endless Boogie is your type of album. It's John Lee "jamming" with a group of, mostly, young white blues dudes in an essentially live session recorded in studio. All the tracks are extended by today's standards, and all have some decent guitar, piano, and electric piano solos. What really makes this disc special is the alchemy, that special "something" that you hear sometimes at the Monday night blues jam, when the players catch fire and everything transcends. Hooker's voodoo guitar doesn't get much of a showing, but his singing is definitely in top form: brooding, evocative, and, quite frankly, somewhat disturbing in its urgent melancholy. Listen to this, you will come away changed.

be aware that the BGO release omits 4 tracks, about 23 minutes, while the MCA release has all 11 tracks.
Missing tracks include the House Rent Boogie (later covered by George Thorogood), Standin' At The Crossroads, Doin' The Shout, A Sheep Out On The Foam.

The first time I heard "Endless Boogie" on a late night radio station I called up the DJ and asked "What Was That! " This is one of John Lee's finest and IMHO his best. Jamming in the studio with "Pots On", the definitive version of "House Rent Boogie", sessions where the music stews on the stove to perfection like Mom's cooking. One of my five desert island discs. Thanks John Lee Hooker for assembling these musicians and giving us the blues once again.

Any rock and roll fan worth his ripped jeans would appreciate this stuff. Warning though- Listening to John Lee in rare form can make your rock favorites seem pretty lame. I think George Thorogood based his entire career from this album

It's 1973 and Handyman has somehow sweet-talked his way into an early morning half-hour gig broadcasting music over high school P.A. system. He and his friends almost always start the show with a cut from "Endless Boogie"
If John Lee Hooker and this session's stellar boogie-blues jam band worked for a bunch of bleary-eyed teens drifting into high school at 7:20 A.M., and didn't get Handyman thrown off the job by administration and faculty haunting the hallways, it can work for you!
I second other reviews pointing to a lot of JLH fluff on the market. This is the real deal from a great period in JLH's career. Highly reccomended!

This is a quality John Lee Hooker album. John Lee is one of my favorites, but hgis catalog is pretty mixed. Endless boogie is not just an album, but a phase John Lee went through that was my favorite period with the artist. This phase includes live albums like 'Live at Soldad prison and his work with Can Heat.

On this album the songs are great, their is a quality backing band (with Steve Miller on Guitar for most tracks), and excellent overall sound quality. This album reminds me a lot of another great JLH album 'Never get out of these blues alive' (buy it if you can find it.

This is a smoking boogie blues album. Buy it and enjoy.

This was one of the first cds I had ever bought back in the early 90s. It was $9.99 even way back then. I have since bought or recommended this cd to all my friends. Its hard-core and AWESOME. #3 - Kick Hit... is stupendous from its first few chords. Then he hits you with #4 Standin' at the Crossroads... then some Sheep out on the Foam and In my Dark Room are slow methodical blues that just makes your head swing. I'm going to go home right now and crank this bad boy. Buy it. But beware, you'll rave about it to everyone who will listen and end up buying more for birthdays and holiday gifts.