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John Lee Hooker: The Legendary Modern Recordings 1948-1954

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These are John Lee Hooker's first recordings. These are not the covers he made later, but are the real thing. Most early blues recordings are so raw that only dyed-in-the-wool blues fans would like them, but such is not the case here. On these recordings John stomps his foot for percussion, strums and finger-picks his guitar for rhythm and lead, and in the saucy tone he gets from his guitar you can hear the coming roar of Rock and Roll. The songs, in the same order as he historically recorded them, progress from acoustic to electric guitar as a sort of Stairway to Blues Heaven.

If you are a musician, study this album to see how one man stomping his foot can generate enough intensity for an entire band.

If you are a music lover, well, man just groove!

Writing this right after John Lee Hooker's passing, I note that of all of Hooker's recordings, the one's that draw me in deepest are his earliest ones. Here are the recordings from the beginning, mostly John Lee Hooker with a guitar performing some of the songs he would still be remembered for fifty years later. As another reviewer has stated, the early John Lee Hooker may be a bit too raw for those casually into blues, but if you are a fan of his later recordings, give these sides a chance. Listen to a few tracks at a time. Here is a man pouring out his soul on these trackks, especially on some of the slow numbers. Included in this are his biggest R&B hits and some very personalized renditions of classic blues from other sources. Hooker was an original and greatly influenced numerous performers. There are several other equally excellent albums of Hooker's early recordings available on Specialty, Atlantic; Ace; Krazy Kat; MCA/Chess and Charly. This may be easier to find and it does have the hits, Boogie Chillen, and In the Mood, and for that reason probably edges the others out as an essential disc for any well rounded blues collection.

John Lee is a pioneer of the blues. The truth is that not everybody can listen to his early works. The sound is way to different then what the blues have become and how it sounds now. But for those who want to know the evolution of music, John Lee is too important and good to mis.

Although John Lee Hooker became a star who drank champagne and ride limousines, his first tracks recorded will make you feel with mud up to your neck. These tracks are among the deepest blues ever recorded. This collection is in the same level as Robert Johnson, Muddy's plantation recordings or the Wolf's Sun sides. Until these CD was released in 1993, these sides had never been compiled in one album. The liner notes explain every session and personnel that were involved. For a new blues fan, probably the rhino compilation 'best of' is more digestible, but eventually you'll have to get this one, as any other serious blues fan.

This is not only clearly the best John Lee Hooker CD, it is one of the best blues discs ever made. From "Boogie Chillen" which started it all, to the original "I'm in the Mood" to the stark "Down Child" and "Bad Boy," this is great stuff. If you are only a casual blues fan, this may be too real and rudimentary for you to handle; otherwise, dive in. It's great; just Hooker, an over-amped electric guitar and his big foot keeping time. Far superior to his recent guest-heavy boogie fests. Awesome blues!

John Lee Hooker was almost seventy when his career was jump started by a series of new albums beginning with 1989's The Healer. These albums leaned heavily on guest star appearances and while they are enjoyable if not essential releases, they did not always place the spotlight squarely on Hooker the artist, who made his recording debut in 1948. That's what makes these recordings so essential to any serious blues fan's collection.

It's Hooker's 1948-1954 Modern sides that produced such blues classics as "Boogie Chillen," "Sally Mae," "Crawling Kingsnake" and "I'm in the Mood." While Hooker recorded for numerous labels during this time period before settling down with Vee-Jay in 1955, the songs on this single disc anthology form the foundation of this elder blues statesman's career.

As to the quality of these recordings, yes, you're going to hear some surface noise as they have been transferred from 78 rpm records and acetates. But the quality of the music makes this essential listening. ESSENTIAL

There's so much Hooker material available that it's hard to know where to start. This CD compilation of early Modern sides is a very good place indeed. Even if you already have many of his Chess and Vee-Jay recordings, these early versions of famous songs such as "Boogie Chillen" and "I'm In the Mood" (and much else) are riveting as blues performances and interesting from a historical perspective. As to the charge (from the Pennsylvania music fan) that he played the same song every time, much the same thing could be said about the likes of Chuck Berry, Wynonnie Harris, Joe Turner... in fact, everybody who released music before record albums really came into vogue (as anything more than dumping grounds for hits and b-sides that is), which is to say, pretty much everyone before 1965 or so. This was music recorded and released as SINGLES and meant to be listened to one (or two) songs at a time. It certainly wasn't meant to be taken in marathon doses of 20 songs or more at a time. That was a problem with LP-record compilations of old jazz, blues, country, r'n'b, and early rock sides, and it's only been exacerbated by the interminable playing time of compact discs. But look at the bright side: they can fit more good music onto one (overpriced) CD than they ever could have on one (slightly overpriced) LP, so that's more music for your money, no matter how long you take to listen to it. This particular CD should get your foot tapping and fingers snapping. Plus, the front cover is great.

This is vintage John Lee Hooker. It's just Hooker singing, strumming and stomping his foot. Although he recorded most of this material again later in his career in stereo and with band support, this is Hooker at his raw best. The sound, while not perfect, is much better than one would expect considering the source material. It's not over filtered, so the guitar comes through clear and natural and you can hear every stomp of his foot with minimal background noise. Essential listening.

Absolutely essential Modern label recordings for John Lee...also pick up ACE's "Sensation" label recordings and (if you can find) the Charly Blues box set "Complete Vee Jay Recordings"...all are stunning in their simplicity and emotional directness..beautiful and savage performances.