The Legendary Modern Recordings 1948-1954 [Import]

John Lee Hooker | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (April 27, 1993)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Import
• Label: Ace Records UK
• ASIN: B000026DMQ
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #16,161 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #3 in Music > Blues > Regional Blues > Detroit Blues
  • #46 in Music > Blues > Delta Blues
  • #72 in Music > Blues > Acoustic Blues

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com essential recording

Here's proof that one man can rock a house. These 24 songs are stone simple: built upon Hooker singing to his boogying guitar and stomping foot. But their energetic performances and irresistible grooves remain a model of blues perfection. They include the hits that made Hooker a star around Chicago and Detroit: "Boogie Chillen," "Crawling Kingsnake," and "I'm in the Mood." More than a ticket out of his factory job, these singles became the foundation of a career that spanned half a century. They were also quite daring for their day. Producer Bernie Besman used techniques like doubling and tripling Hooker's voice on tape, and occasionally (on "I'm in the Mood," for example) had Detroit blues guitarist Eddie Kirkland duplicate Hooker's lines as he sang and played them. For Hooker fans, this is ground zero in all its fiery glory. --Ted Drozdowski

Product Description

Many of the titles on this 24 track compilation saw the light of day for the first time here and are from the original early 50s Modern label masters. Features Boogie Chillen, Sally May, Crawling Kingsnake, Howlin' Wolf and 20 others.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Intense as a slab of ribs cooked by the corner barbecue man, November 14, 2001

By 

Rick Beall - See all my reviews

This review is from: John Lee Hooker: The Legendary Modern Recordings 1948-1954 (Audio CD)

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!

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Simply seminal blues by John Lee Hooker, June 22, 2001

By 

R. Weinstock (Falls Church, VA USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: John Lee Hooker: The Legendary Modern Recordings 1948-1954 (Audio CD)

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.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Classic, March 25, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: John Lee Hooker: The Legendary Modern Recordings 1948-1954 (Audio CD)

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.