The Healer

John Lee Hooker | Format: MP3 Download

Product Details

• Original Release Date: November 30, 1988
• Label: Calliope/R&T
• Copyright: 2001 Calliope Music
• Genres: Blues/Contemporary Blues, Blues/Electric Blues Guitar, Blues/Modern Blues, Blues/Traditional Blues
• ASIN: B000SYYS9M
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (20 customer reviews)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

45 of 48 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars If you love blues or rock, get this album!, September 7, 2001

By 

slomamma (San Luis Obispo, CA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Healer (Audio CD)

Putting an older artist together with younger blood is mostly a gimmick in the record business. The older artist gets an introduction to a new audience, the younger ones get a little reflected glory. But in this case, it is no gimmick, just a lot of terrific musicians who obviously love and respect each other and play beautifully together. John Lee Hooker had one of the most gorgeous, hypnotic voices of all blues singer, and unlike most singers, he did not lose a thing with age. I find his voice one of the most soothing things in the world to listen to (The Healer is a perfect title, HookerÕs voice could heal anything.) And the guest artists on here are incredible. Carlos Santana. Bonnie Raitt. Robert Cray. Los Lobos. George Thorogood. Charlie Musselwhite. In each case, playing with Hooker brings out the best in them. I am not a big Bonnie Raitt fan (I love her early stuff, but not her more recent pop albums), but her duet with Hooker on IÕm In The Mood is just about the bluesiest and deepest I have ever heard her sing. Los Lobos and George Thorogood are as tough as ever. And the Latin tinge that Santana lends to the title song is just gorgeous.
This is a must have album for anyone who loves blues or classic rock.

21 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars cream of the crop, May 9, 2005

By 

Denis (NJ, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Healer (Audio CD)

I am actually listening to this CD right now. It is awesome. This is the modern-age John Lee Hooker at his best. If you are looking for pure John Lee, though, this isn't your CD. In this CD, pretty much every song, with the exception of a couple, is a collaboration with someone, whether it's Carlos Santana, Bonnie Raitt, Robert Cray, Los Lobos, George Thorogood, or Charlie Musselwhite. This CD is very smooth, romantic, laid-back, classy, and has very good sound quality. I think this is a fine addition to your collection if you like either blues or rock or both. And as is true with most Hooker recordings, this is one is very energetic. Hooker's blues never really sound sad. Somehow he manages to perform even the saddest lyrics in the way that it would sound energetic rather than depressing, possibly because of his constant sense of rhythm (on other CDs, you can hear him stomp his foot in many, maybe most, songs he performs, especially in earlier work). The Healer marked re-birth of John Lee's activity in modern blues. He is a class act and aged like fine wine.

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The man, the legend, rest in peace, November 2, 2001

By 

Martin Lemos (Millbrae) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Healer (Audio CD)

"The Healer" is an awesome album for any fans of blues music. Here we have JLH collaborating with some musicians who idolized him and were his inspiration for getting into music in the first place. The title track, is an inspired work between JLH and Santana. It has the latin tinge to it, but you can still hear the blues inside it. "I'm In The Mood", with Bonnie Raitt, and "Think Twice Before You Go", with Los Lobos, are down and out blues at its best. "Sally Mae", with George Thorogood is an accostic gem. The one common denominator is the voice of JLH. His voice is so distinguised and recognizable that it helps trap the listener in its web so to speak. When he passed on, he left a huge void in the music world.