Hooker

Product Description:
A blistering bouquet of swaggering rockers and haunting ballads that seduce you through the cigarette smoke of a lone Memphis gas station attendant listening to AM radio at 4 in the morning.

Hooker,Gloria Deluxe,Gloria Deluxe Music,A simultaneously soul-crushing and life-affirming convergence of rock, blues and country plus a little cabaret.

Average customer rating: The Very Best Great blues by a legendary blues singer Not my cup of tea Boogie King A Legendary and Prolific Bluesman!

The Very Best Of John Lee Hooker John Lee Hooker Manufacturer: Rhino / Wea ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Contemporary Blues | Blues | Styles | Music Delta Blues | Blues | Styles | Music General | Blues | Styles | Music Traditional Blues | Blues | Styles | Music Electric Blues Guitar | Blues | Styles | Music Acoustic Blues | Blues | Styles | Music Detroit Blues | Regional Blues | Blues | Styles | Music General | Traditional Country | Country | Styles | Music Rhino Records | Amazon.com Label Stores | Stores | Music Icons | Warner Brothers Records | Stores | Music Similar Items: His Best: 1947 to 1955 Howlin' Wolf: His Best (Chess 50th Anniversary Collection) The Sky Is Crying: The History of Elmore James The Original Delta Blues The Anthology: 1947-1972 ASIN: B0000033I0 Release Date: 1995-04-25

Tracks:

1. Boogie Chillen'
2. Crawlin' King Snake
3. Hobo Blues
4. Huckle Up Baby
5. I'm In The Mood
6. I Need Some Money
7. Dimples
8. Boom Boom
9. Shake It Baby
10. Big Legs, Tight Skirt
11. It Serves You Right To Suffer
12. You Know, I Know
13. One Bourbon, One Scotch, One Beer
14. I'm Bad Like Jesse James
15. Burning Hell
16. Terraplane Blues

Amazon.com essential recording

A million or so collections, all from different record labels, document this Detroit blues guitarist's influential boogie-woogie career. This 16-song Rhino CD is an excellent starting point, with definitive versions of Hooker's classics "Boom Boom," "Boogie Chillen'," "I'm in the Mood," and "One Bourbon, One Scotch, One Beer." It's interesting to hear the singer's voice progress from a deep, growling slur to the more polished later material, such as his collaboration with slide guitarist Roy Rogers on Robert Johnson's "Terraplane Blues," but he never lost his bottom-line rawness. --Steve Knopper

Customer Reviews:

The Very Best .......2007-05-09

It was my first purchase of an album by John Lee Hooker and I was not disappointed, a great choice. I would definitely recommend it.

Great blues by a legendary blues singer.......2007-04-06

This is indeed "The very best" of John Lee Hooker. It captures music from different times in his career, from his first "hit," "Boogie Chillen'" to "Boom Boom" to "I'm Bad Like Jesse James" to "Terraplane Blues."

I'll mention just a few to illustrate. "Boogie Chillen'" is noted as his first hit (1949). The guitar playing is extremely simple--but almost hypnotic in its effect. The simple riff is described by Hooker as "just an old funky lick I found." One theme is how boogie woogie is just trying to get out of him!

"Boom Boom" features a good ensemble playing well together. This song became visible after the Animals covered it and reached a wider audience. A nice set of lines well sung:

"She walked that walk and talked that talk;
And whispered in my ear,
And tell me that you love me.
I love that talk
When you talk like that."

His distinctive voice well serves this song.

"I'm Bad like Jesse James" begins with the central tag line for the song: "I'm mad, I'm bad like Jesse James." This is a story-telling song, telling what the singer is planning for someone who fooled around with his wife. And he gets mad (like Jesse James). He describes three guys he knows who will take care of the bad guy. He goes through a few scenarios, warning off the cad. Pretty graphic! The rhythmic drum playing works well, accenting the development of the story. This is classic John Lee Hooker.

This is a nice introduction to the work of one of the legendary blues singers. Those interested in learning more about the blues would be well advised to consider this CD.

Not my cup of tea.......2007-01-28

Old songs from a young J.L.Hooker. I never listen to this CD. Glad I bought it on sale. The CD has some decent guitar, but I don't like the chosen songs.

Not a favorite of mine.

Boogie King.......2006-10-04

John Lee Hooker, "king of the boogie," is one of the most influential guitarists to ever record. He is also one of the most unique, as his rhythmic and dynamic senses are more free than what one may be accustomed to... he also changes chords rarely, if ever, in some songs. Now i myself have complained about 3 chord bands... this is different, this man hypnotizes you with his awesome, entrancing riffs and licks. This collection is probably the finest one disc compilation of this master's work and belongs in any music lover's collection. If you think that all blue sounds the same and all is 12 bars etc etc (any blues aficionado knows much better than to pay any heed to these ridiculously ill-informed stereotypes), John Lee Hooker is a good place to see that the blues is one of the forms most open for free expression and experimentation.

A Legendary and Prolific Bluesman!.......2006-07-25

Some of John Lee Hooker's best known songs are compiled from his many years and albums onto this budget CD, with not one being one you will skip over. From "Boogie Chillen'" to "Boom, Boom," they are all here. Even the songs which made others famous, such as "One Bourbon, One Scotch, One Beer."

"I'm Bad Like Jesse James" is a favorite of mine, with this particular song showing his inimitable rambling style so strikingly, a style which over the years can be found less and less.

It should be noted that the version of "I'm in the mood" on this album is different than the Chess side he recorded with the Chess brothers (I actually prefer the more polished Chess side). But regardless, each song is representative of a different time in his life, as this legendary bluesman recorded over 100 albums during his lifetime, one of the most prolific bluesmen in history.

A must own for any lover of the blues.

Average customer rating: Great blues union I felt so good, I would boogie just the same... Cookin Baby - Hooker' n Heat A seminal blues album and John Lee's best........ Hooker n' Heat Boogies, but isn't perfect

Hooker 'n Heat John Lee Hooker w , and Canned Heat Manufacturer: Capitol ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Contemporary Blues | Blues | Styles | Music Delta Blues | Blues | Styles | Music General | Blues | Styles | Music Traditional Blues | Blues | Styles | Music Electric Blues Guitar | Blues | Styles | Music Acoustic Blues | Blues | Styles | Music Detroit Blues | Regional Blues | Blues | Styles | Music Singer-Songwriters | Pop | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music Blues Rock | Rock | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music General | Traditional Country | Country | Styles | Music General | Blues | Box Sets | Stores | Music Traditional Blues | Blues | Box Sets | Stores | Music Similar Items: The Very Best of Canned Heat Living the Blues Live At The Cafe Au Go-Go (And Soledad Prison) Uncanned! The Best of Canned Heat It Serves You Right to Suffer ASIN: B000002UZU Release Date: 1991-11-05

Tracks:

1. Messin' With The Hook
2. The Feelin' Is Gone
3. Send Me Your Pillow
4. Sittin' Here Thinkin'
5. Meet Me In The Bottom
6. Alimonia Blues
7. Drifter
8. You Talk Too Much
9. Burning Hell
10. Bottle Up And Go

Tracks:

1. The World Today
2. I Got My Eyes On You
3. Whiskey And Wimmen'
4. Just You And Me
5. Let's Make It
6. Peavine
7. Boogie Chillen No. 2

Amazon.com

This 1971 collaboration between primal one-part-Delta/one-part-Detroit singer-guitarist John Lee Hooker and Southern California blues revivalists Canned Heat works in large part because all parties involved are a little off. Hooker, the most unsystematic of the major bluesmen of his generation, isn't a good fit for disciplined players; rather, he requires sidemen who play by feel. In harp player-guitarist Alan Wilson, the Crawling King Snake found a particularly sympathetic foil; sadly, Wilson died shortly after these sessions were completed. Roughly divided into spare, gritty Delta exercises and full-on boogie stomps featuring the full band, Hooker 'n' Heat is surely one of Canned Heat's crowning moments, which isn't saying that much. But that it stands as a milestone in Hooker's oeuvre is quite a statement indeed! --Steven Stolder

Customer Reviews:

Great blues union.......2007-05-28

In 1970 the blues-rockers Canned Heat got this, as it would turn out, great idea in bringing blues-legend John Lee Hooker into the studio for a close collaboration. The album was planned as a feature for John Lee Hooker in that respect that half of the album would mostly feature his solo stuff, where as the other half would be together with the group.

The amazing thing is that it brings the best out in John Lee Hooker, as he would deliver some of his most inspired performances ever - that also maybe due to the "Heat's" enormous respect for the man. Canned Heat had proved themselves to be among the most serious and properly best of the "white" American bluesbands with original compositions, especially by the late blues-harp `wonder' & rhythm/slide guitarist Alan Wilson - and by bringing in a slightly more `rocking' approach, they popularised a music that, at the time, seem to have faded away from the limelight (maybe some remembers hits like "Going Up The Country" or "On The Road Again").

Even more wonderful is the fact that the inspiration is mutual and Hooker's duets with Wilson's soulful harmonica, later in the first half, is literally sparkling - there is a fantastic communication between the two. But also the second half with the band is really smoking and I personally really like their bassist Antonio De La Barrada for his inventive and driving playing, but no doubt that Canned Heat fore and most was a group - a unit, and that really shows and because of their open, raw and honest nature, they musically fits so well with Hooker and makes him sound so great.

Canned Heat's lead-singer though, Bob "the bear" Hite, respectfully stands back and solely dedicates himself as a producer together with Skip Taylor. Unfortunately this also was to be Canned Heat's last album with Alan Wilson, who prematurely died soon after these recordings. A loss they properly never really overcame and their best work is also to found before this tragic event occurred with albums like: "Boogie With Canned Heat", "Live At Topanga Corral", "Living The Blues" and "Future Blues".

Many have acknowledged this work to be some of the best Hooker ever delivered - I for one agree.

I felt so good, I would boogie just the same..........2007-04-15

As much as I love the 1989-1997 albums that closed out John Lee's amazing career (Healer, Mr. Lucky, Boom Boom, Chill Out, Don't Look Back), 1970's Hooker 'n Heat is a true crown jewel in the legacy. Just as Johnny Winter's pure sympatico hand of support guided Muddy Waters through his late-career Blue Sky albums, Canned Heat provides the most solid and driven backing I've heard on a JLH album. John Lee is in full-blown Crawling King Snake mode here...on this album he's not a kindly "elder statesman," he's a dangerous man, and if you approach his flame, you WILL get burned. The late Heat vocalist Bob "The Bear" Hite limits himself to co-producer duties here, so the musical dynamics come from Al "Blind Owl" Wilson (his final recording), guitarist Henry "Sunflower" Vestine (get ready for the thoroughly insane 11 minute "Boogie Chillen No. 2"), Antonio de la Barreda on bass and Fito de la Parra on drums. The first 9 tracks are John Lee solo. Wilson joins tracks 10 and 11, and the full band backs the remaining 6 tracks. Make no mistake about it...you WILL get cold chills when Hooker bellows "Alan! Alan! Blow your HORN, baby!" on "Let's Make It."

Cookin Baby - Hooker' n Heat.......2007-03-20

If you want an analytical analysis and disection review of this music, skip to the next review. If you want a review from some one who has been listening to the blues since the late 1950s, read on. "The Hook" is his magical self as always. He goes from "havin Delta mud squeezin between his toes" to full out "boogie chillun." What more can you ask. "The Heat" is a great white boy blues band and for this compilation added a touch of harmonica. My idea of the ideal blues band song would have everything that is in this compilation but maybe a touch more of piano or harmonica....This sucker is soulful and it cooks. I love the spoken line "let's boogie." The best covering of black blues music by a white band I have ever heard. Add John Lee and you have got a winner. Buy it, play it, enjoy it and you will never regret the purchase.

A seminal blues album and John Lee's best...............2005-08-28

I wore a hole in this vinyl record simply because it was definitive blues at its best.
The interaction between the legend John Lee Hooker and Canned Heat was incomparable, confirmed by Hooker's patter between tracks.
The rawness is still there but with that added polish. At one point Hooker suggests they have enough for a "triple album" which would mean "triple money". A shame it wasn't a triple album, it records both Hooker and Canned Heat at their pinnacle.
If you want to hear Blues music played in its purest form buy this album, it doesn't get any better. John Lee Hooker is at his articulate best and it is surely a definitive blues album which recorded a magic moment in time. Al "Blind Owl" Wilson's harp playing went hand in glove with Hooker's playing and he says between tracks that Wilson must have been listening to his records all his life, it truly is inspired playing. A tragedy that Wilson overdosed shortly afterwards, he was at the height of his musical powers.
The production is excellent and did justice to the musical experience.

This is one of the classic albums of modern times. If you like John Lee, I believe he produced no better album than this, Canned Heat stayed in the background and let him do his thing, whilst providing the best backing band he had ever experienced.
An absolute gem!!!!

Hooker n' Heat Boogies, but isn't perfect.......2004-09-16

Hooker n' Heat is a great collaboration between white blues players and the Hook (in my opinion, the best blues singer of all time). The recording is raw, stripped down and meaty. Reverb wasn't even added to John Lee's vocals or most of the instruments for that matter, which makes me think of After the Goldrush by Neil Young, also a profoundly stripped down record made the same year. Because of its simplicity, this album sounds very different than the Hook's famous late 50's, early 60's work.

My only complaint is that some of the album's songs should have remained out. The album could have been a great single disc. Most of the first disc is John improvising, getting warmed up to boogie the next day. Aside from "Burning Hell" "Messin with the Hook" and a couple of others, these first songs sound like exercises rather than organized material. The album probably should have been arranged as a 12 song single disc and still kicked butt, but I imagine Heat wanted a double album, and had to work with what they had in the end. Hook even tells the producer to take "nothin' but the best and later for the garbage."

Nonetheless it still stands as an awesome collaboration. And I do enjoy the eccentric rambling between tracks, it gives insight into John's personality. Too bad Alan Wilson committed suicide right after recording this record, Wilson and the Hook could've made great records for years. Long live the Hook

Average customer rating: This album hooked me on the blues Kharma music john lee hooker- simpley the best.... cream of the crop Heal me....

The Healer John Lee Hooker Manufacturer: Razor & Tie ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Contemporary Blues | Blues | Styles | Music General | Blues | Styles | Music Traditional Blues | Blues | Styles | Music Electric Blues Guitar | Blues | Styles | Music Modern Blues | Blues | Styles | Music Similar Items: Mr. Lucky The Best Of Friends Don't Look Back It Serves You Right to Suffer Chill Out ASIN: B00005NGZQ Release Date: 2001-08-21

Tracks:

1. The Healer
2. I'm In The Mood
3. Baby Lee
4. Cuttin' Out
5. Think Twice Before You Go
6. Sally Mae
7. That's Alright
8. Rockin' Chair
9. My Dream
10. No Substitute

Customer Reviews:

This album hooked me on the blues.......2007-05-27

The first two cuts on this cd are spectacular. The duet with Bonnie Raitt won them a Grammy. This was my first, and still one of my most prized blues cd's. And if you dig this, you've got to listen to the soundtrack from The Hot Spot. One of my favorite movies, Don Johnson, Virginia Madsen, Jennifer Connelly, and Charles Martin Smith. Very film noir, and Hooker's soundtrack kills!

Kharma music.......2007-04-29

When this album was released I heard that Carlos Santana and Bonnie Raitt rescued a no-longer-sought-after John Lee by making one of the first "collaboration" projects. Hooker was supposedly pretty down-and-out. But, having him collaborate with well-known younger artists (including Carlos and Bonnie) gave him a new twist to his music and a much broader audience. With a new foundation, John Lee went on to make 5 or 6 strong selling albums. He topped the blues charts for nearly a decade after this came out. The music on "The Healer" is great. The title song, "The Healer" is by itself worth the price of admission and earns my 5 stars for this cd, even before listening to another cut. On this song Carlos Santana proves his frequent assertion that all of the best modern music is derived from the blues. Carlos places John Lee into a stone cold Latin context and the two of them come out with, of course, amazing Latin Blues. Simultaneously intense and totally relaxed. It's one of those rare songs I can listen to at any time, love it and never tire of it. The rest of the cd is very, very good. More than worth having. The Hooker-Raitt song smolders - a singnature Raitt performance. The other cuts also stand tall. But, "The Healer" is just a classic song that trancends genres.

Kharma? Well, sometime around the year 2000, Santana's own sales had become pretty meager and rather irrelevant in the record business. He was putting out very good cd's every year which went nowhere on the charts. So, guess what - he used the same collaboration idea that he used to rescue John Lee. That resulted in his "Supernatural" cd, a huge multi-million seller, one of the biggest sellers of the last decade!

john lee hooker- simpley the best...........2007-03-14

Very bluesy, awesome listening. Soulful.
My husband borrowed my original 2 years ago and never returned it. I had to buy another for myself it is so good.

A real keeper for your music collection.

cream of the crop.......2005-05-09

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.

Heal me...........2005-04-08

When I hear the first few bar's of the song, I get Chills up my spine, The True soul that Mr. Hooker has, and the Supernatural sound that Carlos provides, there's nothing that those two together can't heal.

Average customer rating: The King of the Boogie Boom Boom - Boogie Chillen A true bluesman for the blues lover An outright thrilling album.

The Definitive Collection John Lee Hooker Manufacturer: Hip-O Records ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Delta Blues | Blues | Styles | Music General | Blues | Styles | Music Traditional Blues | Blues | Styles | Music Electric Blues Guitar | Blues | Styles | Music Acoustic Blues | Blues | Styles | Music Detroit Blues | Regional Blues | Blues | Styles | Music General | Traditional Country | Country | Styles | Music $9.99 and Under | Blowout Music | Stores | Music Pop | Styles | Blowout Music | Stores | Music Country | Styles | Blowout Music | Stores | Music All Blowout Music | Blowout Music | Stores | Music $9.99 and Under | Prices | Blowout Music | Stores | Music More Titles at Least 25% Off | Blowout Music | Stores | Music Similar Items: The Definitive Collection The Ultimate Collection Howlin' Wolf: His Best (Chess 50th Anniversary Collection) The Sky Is Crying: The History of Elmore James It Serves You Right to Suffer ASIN: B000ERU8JC Release Date: 2006-05-23

Tracks:

1. Boogie Chillen
2. Hobo Blues
3. Crawlin' King Snake
4. John L's House Rent Boogie
5. Leave My Wife Alone
6. I'm In The Mood
7. Walkin' The Boogie
8. Sugar Mama
9. Dimples
10. Boom Boom
11. It Serves You Right To Suffer
12. One Bourbon, One Scotch, One Beer
13. The Waterfront
14. I'm Bad Like Jesse James
15. The Motor City Is Burning
16. Think Twice Before You Go
17. Backbiters And Syndicaters
18. Burning Hell
19. The Healer
20. I'm In The Mood

Customer Reviews:

The King of the Boogie.......2007-05-25

A lot of times these single disc collections try so hard to offer as much as possible the best of a certain artist. Too many times so much essential material is left off, and the same predictable fare is churned out, that it seemed effortless and pointless for the most part. That isn't necessarily the case with someone like John Lee Hooker, whose career spanned some 40-50 years on a variety of more than 20 some labels like Modern, Chess, Impulse, Vee-Jay, ABC-BluesWay and so many others. That's where it becomes very problematic and debatable as to what counts and what doesn't. Every label in every tiny aspect of his career couldn't be represented, of course, so balance becomes an issue, too. Another thing is that a handful of these approach or are over 5 minutes in length. It may sound like this is very picky, but for a single CD, this is a rather noteworthy representation. Early classics like "Boogie Chillen" and "I'm in the Mood" are represented as well as timeless upbeat tunes like "Boom Boom" and "One Bourbon, One Scotch, One Beer" which is blues at its very best. The latter part fo his career is represented with his collaborations with Canned Heat in 1970, and Carlos Santana and Bonnie Raitt in 1988. Other than those mentoned, "Dimples", "I'm Bad Like Jesse James", and "Think Twice Before You Go" are also definitely worth checking out as well as the three final tracks featuring the collaborations. "The Healer" is the most different of the three, and has a slicked, synthesized Latin-tinged groove. Overall, a fair enough representation is made proving how John Lee Hooker was successful with each generation he played for and encountered during his mammoth career, and is still appreciated with many new fans and bands today.

Boom Boom - Boogie Chillen.......2007-03-20

There is a reason that artists like Santana, Bonnie Raitt and Canned Heat team up with John Lee. There is a reason he shows up in the movie "The Blues Brothers." It is because John Lee Hooker is delta blues to full tilt boogie. The man is a legend and just knocks your socks off if you are really into blues. When you see him in person, his attire also sets off the mood. John Lee you are up there with Muddy and The Wolf. Maybe the best endorsement for any John Lee Hooker compilation comes from none other than George Thoroughgood and The Delaware Destroyers. In one of George's versions of "One Scotch, One Bourbon, One Beer," just before George gets the boot from his land lady for not paying his rent he says "I gathered up my John Lee Hooker collection..." Now that is PAYING HOMAGE TO ONE OF THE THREE GREATEST BLUES ARTISTS OF THE MODERN ERA...i.e. Chicago Style Blues.

A true bluesman for the blues lover.......2007-03-13

John Lee Hooker is by far one of the greatest blues player ever. He was smooth, soulful, even a little dangerous but always kept playing the blues. The Definitive Collection is a great CD to start with. The only draw back is it has a song from the '80s inspired by that bad Caribbean influence that everyone seemed to cling too. But its only one track so you can skip ahead. Chances are you have heard John's music before - only you didn't know it was John's. He's been covered by a lot of artists and while the covers were good - best example is George Thoroughgood's "One Bourbon One Scotch One Beer" - the originals are still the best.

An outright thrilling album........2006-08-03

If you were looking for the essential, the definitive, the musical picture of the man, this is it. He has a singular deep power in his voice, a fearless intense blues guitar style that is hypnotic elegant and surprising. And his songs will pick you up and shake you.

Average customer rating: I would order from you again. Loved it!!! good variety and feeling Sour Concepts Living Elaborate Lives...

Elton John And Tim Rice's Aida (1999 Concept Album) Jimmy Johnson , Juliet Haffner , Regis Iandiorio , Tony Kadleck , Elena Barere , Blackwell, Virgil , and Clark, John Manufacturer: Island ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Musical Theater | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music General | Pop | Styles | Music Singer-Songwriters | Pop | Styles | Music Soft Rock | Pop | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music Contemporary | Vocal Pop | Pop | Styles | Music General | Adult Contemporary | Pop | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music General | Musicals | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music General | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music General | Soundtracks | Styles | Music 1990s | By Decade | Soundtracks | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music General | Theatrical, Incidental & Program Music | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music Album-Oriented Rock (AOR) | Classic Rock | Styles | Music Pop | Styles | Blowout Music | Stores | Music Classic Rock | Styles | Blowout Music | Stores | Music Rock | Styles | Blowout Music | Stores | Music Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Blowout Music | Stores | Music Soundtracks | Styles | Blowout Music | Stores | Music Classical | Styles | Blowout Music | Stores | Music All Blowout Music | Blowout Music | Stores | Music More Titles at Least 25% Off | Blowout Music | Stores | Music Similar Items: Aida (2000 Original Broadway Cast) Elton John and Tim Rice's Aida: The Making of the Broadway Musical The Muse: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack Made in England A Single Man ASIN: B00000IFTH Release Date: 1999-03-23

Tracks:

1. Another Pyramid - Sting
2. Written In The Stars - Elton John/LeAnn Rimes
3. Easy As Life - Tina Turner ft. Angelique Kidjo
4. My Strongest Suit - Spice Girls
5. I Know TheTruth - Elton John/Janet Jackson
6. Not Me - Boyz II Men
7. Amneris' Letter - Shania Twain
8. A Step Too Far - Elton John/Heather Headley/Sherie Scott
9. Like Father Like Son - Lenny Kravitz
10. Elaborate Lives - Heather Headley
11. How I Know you - James Taylor
12. The Messenger - Elton John/Lulu
13. The Gods Love Nubia - Kelly Price
14. Enchantment Passing Through - Dru Hill
15. Orchestral Finale - Elton John

Amazon.com

Following hot on the heels of their enormously successful collaboration for The Lion King, Elton John and Tim Rice have once again culled their talents to create another Disney contemporary musical, based this time on Verdi's opera Aida. The album, recorded by some of the biggest talents of pop, country, and R&B, features songs from the stage show, which recounts the well-known tale of a love triangle further complicated by slavery, royalty, and the armed forces. John duets to great effect with country crooner LeAnn Rimes, the enchanting Janet Jackson, and the lovely Lulu of To Sir with Love fame. Lush and lively, the soundtrack hits a hoot of a (decidedly not highbrow) high point with the infectious pop of the Spice Girls warbling the merits of undergarments on "My Strongest Suit" ("Always wear underwear/Anytime, anywhere"). Lenny Kravitz funks things up with "Like Father Like Son." Shania Twain's husky emoting makes a fine pop ballad of the brief "Amneris' Letter." "Not Me" chronicles the goodness of love as Boyz II Men coo dreamily, their harmonies nestling into John's sumptuous score. --Paige La Grone

Customer Reviews:

I would order from you again........2007-01-27

Product arrived in a timely manner in new condition, still wrapped in plastic. Thank you.

Loved it!!!.......2006-09-07

I'm so impressed with this album for several different reasons.
3) It's Elton John
2) I loved all but two of the songs!
1) I usually hate the original broadway cast albums and movie soundtracks. They don't do the songs justice. They usually have chopped up versions of the songs and include unnecessary dialouge.

I'd love to see every musical (broadway or movie) done this way!
I appreciate the b'way versions, but I don't want to listen to them in my car...

good variety and feeling.......2004-06-24

This is a very good CD. "Written in the Stars" is an extremely emotional song, and it is my favorite on the album. I would like to see the show on Broadway, but I have to say I don't think it can be too much better than this CD

Sour Concepts.......2003-06-29

It takes so much to try to get a musical to make its way upon Broadway. Sometimes you really need to understand how to make it really happen within the passion of the storytelling music. In that case with Elton John, he nearly seemed to make it with Aida. While the music for Broadway always seems to have at least something completely mgaical and a dash of power in it. Sometimes, you really need to understand it, to make it happen, and others don't see it from the start. Although Elton John has had great music for years, at least once in a era, something goes a little flat.

The 1999 Aida, was not a studio album from Elton, but a preview from what was happen on Broadway. The various artists record contains so many different artists in the record including Tina Turner, Boyz II Men, Dru Hill, and the upcoming Heather Headley. Before Heather made it as a singer, she made it right here in Aida, on this record. The only decent song that was a hit was Written In The Stars, which Elton performed with Leann Rimes. The song was also the last song Elton cracked Billboard's Top 40. Still, there really wasn't a lot of enjoyment within most of the record, and it fell into a sleeper. Considering that Elton is already planning on making another smash musical on Broadway, hopefully he'll do better with the concept record.

When it does come to making it on Broadway, it isn't really anything exciting, unless it truly is a smash, and Aida is a smash on Broadway, just not the record. Still, if you're a die hard fan of Aida, buy this record. Otherwise, it could be a hitless miss.

Living Elaborate Lives..........2002-11-02

Aida was Elton John and Tim Rice's baby, providing a concept soundtrack album before even setting the stage on fire, the tracks are generally sweeping show ballads.
Elton teams up with several lovely and talented ladies, in LeAnn Rimes, Janet Jackson, and Lulu. "Written In The Stars" could be a vocal gladiator battle, the way LeAnn and Elton sing it. Janet and Lulu prove themselves as more mellow duet partners.
Kelly Price makes "The Gods Love Nubia" her own, the song is tied up in soul with her voice being smooth as silk. The far too short "Amneris' Letter" shows off Shania Twain's voice to perfection also. Pop culture phenomenon the Spice Girls turn "My Strongest Suit" into the most obvious pop stomper of this set. Another strong point is Heather Headley's solo "Elaborate Lives". A rich ballad, Headley recently embarked on an R&B singing career with the track "He Is". The legendary Tina Turner provides a fiery perfomance, her track being the powerful "Easy As Life" with Angelique Kidjo.
Duds are also present, Sting and Dru Hill's tracks are admitted stinkers. James Taylor, Boyz II Men, Sherie Scott, and Lenny Kravitz also deliver perfomances on the album. This album is well put together, with strong tunes and a short-list of superstars presenting them. A fun buy.

Average customer rating: Top Notch John Lee Hooker It serves you right to suffer One of John Lee's best... hunker down with the hooker good cd

It Serves You Right to Suffer John Lee Hooker Manufacturer: Mca Special Products ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Contemporary Blues | Blues | Styles | Music Delta Blues | Blues | Styles | Music General | Blues | Styles | Music Traditional Blues | Blues | Styles | Music Electric Blues Guitar | Blues | Styles | Music Detroit Blues | Regional Blues | Blues | Styles | Music CDs Under $7 | Contemporary Blues | Blues | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music All Bargain Titles | Contemporary Blues | Blues | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music CDs Under $7 | Electric Blues Guitar | Blues | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music All Bargain Titles | Electric Blues Guitar | Blues | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music CDs Under $7 | Traditional Blues | Blues | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music All Bargain Titles | Traditional Blues | Blues | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music 4-for-3 Pop | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music 4-for-3 All Music | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music 4-for-3 Blues | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music Similar Items: Live At The Cafe Au Go-Go (And Soledad Prison) Hooker 'n Heat Woodstock Album West Side Soul Hoodoo Man Blues ASIN: B00000JNNV Release Date: 1999-07-27

Tracks:

1. Shake It Baby
2. Country Boy
3. Bottle Up & Go
4. You're Wrong
5. Sugar Mama
6. Decoration Day
7. Money
8. It Serves You Right To Suffer

Amazon.com

Originally released on Impulse in 1966, It Serves You Right to Suffer may not contain John Lee Hooker's better-known material, but it does serve up eight tracks of topnotch blues, complete with the boogie groove that Hooker does so well. The digital remastering for this CD is a blessing; the recording sounds almost as clean as one made today. That prevents the listener from being distracted from this album's many delights: the uptempo, low-key "Shake It Baby"; the relaxed but rhythmically tight "Country Boy"; the danceable "Bottle Up & Go"; and the slow, sexy shuffle of "Sugar Mama." Especially worth hearing, however, is the title track, which strikes a perfect tension between musicality and mood. --Genevieve Williams

Customer Reviews:

Top Notch John Lee Hooker.......2006-05-31

This is a great John Lee Hooker and probably one of the best blues albums period. The sound quality on this album is top notch (this is not true with all John Lee Hooker material or blues in general). This also includes some of Hooker's best songs, including "It Serves You Right to Suffer" and "Sugar Mama".

The real deal of this album is that Hooker is trying to mainstream himself here. This is not from the classic Hooker period (but it is a classic album). This album came out in the 60's after the start of the British Invasion and this is Hooker's attempt to make a mainstream album for those who were into British Invasion groups. This becomes evident during Hooker's version of "Money". Typically the blues artists that tried to make a mainstream/ pop album lost a lot of what makes them great but what is so amazing about this album is that Hooker makes a mainstream album and sounds like Hooker. One of Hooker's top five albums ever. You need to buy this.

It serves you right to suffer.......2006-02-17

This is the real deal. John Lee Hooker with some of his strongest blues and at a rock bottom price. YOu can't beat it with a stick!

One of John Lee's best..........2005-10-14

Don't let the price fool you, this is not some bargain bin compilation, this was an official release from John Lee Hooker, and a great one. This disc is one of his strongest efforts from the 1965-1974 period. There isn't a weak song on here. "Shake It Baby" is one of my favorite John Lee songs and has an awesome high scream from him towards the middle. "Decoration Day" is another classic as is the title track. This CD captures all the moods of John Lee Hooker, the slow and brooding, the uptempo boogie, and everything in between. I would have spent three times as much on this great disc, but for $7 this is a STEAL.

hunker down with the hooker.......2005-09-27

I dared to buy this and yes, I did it for the free shipping. Definitely worth it for the definitive Hooker sound. Tunes mostly written by Hooker himself. Originally released in 1966, before the commercialized later versions. A rough raspy "Money" more gritty than the Beatles. And a sweet rendition of Decoration Day that gives a glimpse of John Lee's deep sorrow and hunger wrought thru the blues. Whether it is the myth or the man, you can feel it. Go get lost in the blues. it's Short, sweet, somber and sassy. What have you got to lose?

good cd.......2005-07-14

The review below is interesting, how is $5.99 a mere 5 bones?
Sounds more like 6 bones to me.

Average customer rating: Artistry and innovation, what Johnnie Lee was Some Fine Blues... GET IT DON'T REGRET IT doesn't get better DONT LOOK BACK

Don't Look Back John Lee Hooker Manufacturer: Virgin Records Us ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Contemporary Blues | Blues | Styles | Music Delta Blues | Blues | Styles | Music General | Blues | Styles | Music Traditional Blues | Blues | Styles | Music Electric Blues Guitar | Blues | Styles | Music Modern Blues | Blues | Styles | Music Similar Items: Chill Out Mr. Lucky The Healer Boom Boom The Best Of Friends ASIN: B000000WD2 Release Date: 1997-03-04

Tracks:

1. Dimples
2. The Healing Game
3. Ain't No Big Thing
4. Don't Look Back
5. Blues Before Sunrise
6. Spellbound
7. Travellin' Blues
8. I Love You Honey
9. Frisco Blues
10. Red House
11. Rainy Day

Amazon.com

Don't Look Back is credited to John Lee Hooker and produced by Van Morrison, but effectively functions as a duet between the two, who have appeared and recorded together previously (Hooker's Never Get Out of These Blues Alive and Chill Out). Here, Morrison lends his hypnotic chanting--an intriguing complement to Hooker's spellbinding approach--to his own, "Healing Game," as well as contributing freely elsewhere, both vocally and on rhythm guitar. This set is more meditative than other recent Hooker discs, with the bluesman thoughtful and cogent on Morrison's "Don't Look Back," Hendrix's "Red House," and a number of originals. --Rickey Wright

Customer Reviews:

Artistry and innovation, what Johnnie Lee was.......2004-11-03

Like too many blues artists, Hooker tends to be reduced to a primitivist stereotype. Rather than being a creative artist whose depth of spirit, intellect, music and poetry create a new power and product with his music, he is misinterpreted as some kind of relict of an older or truer blues tradition. Rather than a real artist, he is dehumanized as the real thing! Nothing could be further from the truth. Nothing could minimize his artistry more.

Hooker's music falls into the generation of the R & B bluesmen of the late 1940s who brought the stream of music from the Delta--Johnny Lee being from Clarksdale--to the North, Muddy Waters to Chicago, Johnny Lee to Detroit. Johnny's music, particularly his music from the late 1940s and 1950s when he was popular not among white ex folkies or whites who think they love the blues, but in the Black community, is impossible to understand outside of the context of postwar R & B, not the initial delta blues. The dance rhythm that proceeds from Boogie Chillun, King Snake, Boom Boom Boom, wouldn't have worked in a 1920s Juke Joint. It belongs someplace like Henry's Swing Club where a rockin' rhythm is coming from the attempt to combine the power of swing with the rock of the blues that created R & B in the 1940s.

Hooker was a highly sophisticated musician who developed his own off-shoot from the traditional trajectory of blues artists. Starting with the great female blues stars and Blind Lemon Jefferson, the direction of blues has been to harmonize the essential modal African-based musics of the blues.

Hooker took the music in an entirely different method, by returning to the modal base of the music. To do so he essentially goes away from the tendency of blues musicians to develop the music into a band music. He solves the problem of filling the sound that had become expected without the harmonizing basis for different instruments to work together in a band by technological innovation, not tradition. He was the first bluesman to take full advantage of the ability of electric guitars and amplifiers to do more than make the sound of a guitar louder. He used the settings on guitar, amplified, and recording studio to create a new and different sound, and used the amplification to fill the spaces in the music others would need bands to fill. This decision was really in the vanguard of the electric guitar revolution in blues, rock, country, and all popular music that exploded in the 1950s and has yet to end.

Hooker with accompanying musicians and bands. Some of the best sides came when he was recorded not with other blues players but with some of the top Jazz players in the late 1950s. His modal music, excellent timing, free form improvisation and general cool made his records sell not only among blues players but Jazz lovers back in the day. This speaks to how advanced his rhythmic sense really was. There was also a confluence between Hooker and some of the most advanced Jazz players of the late 1950s and 1960s who sought similar modal solutions to the problems of jazz improvisation.

Get this, and then get everything else Hooker Did. My favorites are the recordings Hooker did in the late 1940s and early 1950s aimed at an R & B audience as well as the sides he did in the 1960s for Vee-Jay a Black owned record company that produced him as a quality artist with great soundwork and free selection of his material. Hooker is really an electric artist, so some of the sides cut during the 1960's "folk revival" where he's made to play an acoustic are kind of an insult to his artistry and history, though like everything Hooker did,they were great music.

Some Fine Blues..........2004-03-27

This is Hooker's latest original recording and the last one before he died in 2001. I have to say it's quite different from most Hooker recordings I've heard. It is very important to note that this CD is one big collaboration with Van Morrison, and the blues you'll hear here (with the exception of the first track) are mellow, laid back, and smooth. It's an excellent recording, although more mainstream than the real raw Hooker that can be heard on earlier recordings. He's aged like fine wine, and at about 80 years old, I'd say he's holding his own with amazing class :)

If you're new to Hooker, start either with this CD or "Healer". Healer is also an excellent recording (it does, however, have a lot more guest musicians). On this disk, you hear a more diluted Hooker, but you need to hear this before you hear the real raw Hooker.

The first track with Los Lobos is excellent - makes you want to get up and dance. Second and Fourth track are duets with Morrison and are both excellent work. Red House is a take on a Hendrix classic, and while the guitar work can't compare to the Hendrix guitar, the vocals, I thought, are a lot better, grittier, more bluesy than Hendrix's own version.

Get it - you won't regret it.

GET IT DON'T REGRET IT.......2003-10-05

As a late convert to JLH's music, I like this a lot. More than the Healer actually.

To sound this good at his age is like sipping a fine vintage wine.

Long live Hooker!

doesn't get better.......2003-02-01

If you're a fan of Van Morrison and his mellow style then you'll love this blues album. Of all the distinctive voices out there, John Lee's has to be the most unique. His almost-mumble singing plays well with Van's high pitched repetative style. An excellent collaboration produced by Van. A must have by fans of both musicians. Standout : "Don't Look Back".

DONT LOOK BACK.......2001-12-13

ONE OF THE BEST THAT JOHN LEE HOOKER HAS PUT OUT. IAM GOING TO MISS HIM.

Average customer rating: hooker's hooks Awesome! Hooker's the man Blues at It's Finest !!! hooker box set

Hooker John Lee Hooker Manufacturer: Shout Factory ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Delta Blues | Blues | Styles | Music General | Blues | Styles | Music Traditional Blues | Blues | Styles | Music Electric Blues Guitar | Blues | Styles | Music Acoustic Blues | Blues | Styles | Music Detroit Blues | Regional Blues | Blues | Styles | Music General | Traditional Country | Country | Styles | Music General | Blues | Box Sets | Stores | Music Similar Items: Can't Quit the Blues 10 Days Out (Blues from the Backroads)/ (CD/DVD) There Is A Season The Road to Escondido What It Is! Funky Soul And Rare Grooves (1967-1977) ASIN: B000IU3YN2 Release Date: 2006-10-31

Tracks:

1. Boogie Chillen
2. Sally Mae
3. Black Man Blues
4. Hobo Blues
5. Hoogie Boogie
6. Weeping Willow Boogie
7. Crawlin' King Snake
8. Driften' From Door To Door
9. Catfish Blues
10. Moses Smote The Water
11. Huckle Up Baby
12. Wandering Blues
13. Don't You Remember Me
14. Notoriety Woman
15. Let Your Daddy Ride
16. John L's House Rent Boogie
17. Bumble Bee Blues
18. Leave My Wife Alone
19. Just Me And My Telephone
20. I'm In The Mood
21. Blues For Big Town
22. Stuttering Blues
23. Down Child
24. Boogie Rambler
25. Baby You Ain't No Good
26. I'm Ready

Tracks:

1. Dimples
2. Every Night
3. I'm So Exited
4. I Love You Honey
5. Tupelo Blues
6. I Need Some Money
7. Democrat Man
8. No More Doggin'
9. Gonna Use My Rod
10. Whiskey And Wimmen
11. No Shoes
12. We're All God's Chillun
13. I'm Goin' Upstairs
14. Teachin' The Blues
15. You Lost A Good Man
16. Don't Turn Me From Your Door
17. When My First Wife Quit Me
18. Boom Boom
19. She's Mine
20. Frisco Blues
21. Birmingham Blues
22. Big Legs Tight Skirt
23. It Serves Me Right To Suffer
24. I'm Losin' You
25. I Cover The Waterfront

Tracks:

1. One Bourbon, One Scotch, One Beer
2. Let's Go Out Tonight
3. Bottle Up And Go
4. Let's Make It (Live)
5. King Of The World (Live)
6. I'm Bad Like Jesse James (Live)
7. Think Twice Before You Go
8. Mean Mean Woman
9. Burning Hell
10. Peavine
11. I Got My Eyes On You
12. Doin' The Shout
13. Bluebird
14. Early One Morning
15. We'll Meet Again
16. Loving People

Tracks:

1. Baby Lee
2. I'm In The Mood
3. The Healer
4. Mr. Lucky
5. I Cover The Waterfront
6. This Is Hip
7. Bottle Up And Go
8. Same Old Blue Again
9. Boom Boom
10. Chill Out (Things Gonna Change)
11. Tupelo
12. Kiddio
13. Dimples
14. Don't Look Back
15. Up And Down
16. Mean Mean World
17. Boogie Chillen'

Amazon.com

There's perfect symmetry in the way this four-disc anthology opens with a raw, solo acoustic 1948 rendition of John Lee Hooker's signature tune, "Boogie Chillen'," and then closes a half-century later with Eric Clapton teaming with Hooker on the same tune. Though the Mississippi bluesman who relocated to Detroit has been justly celebrated for his spellbinding repetitions and primal incantations, this comprehensive set shows just how much more range and depth there was to Hooker's music than basic boogie. Beyond the influential hits--"Dimples," "Boom Boom," and "One Bourbon, One Scotch, One Beer" among them--the set shows his music touching on everything from religion ("Moses Smote the Water," "We're All God's Chillen") to sociopolitical commentary ("Democrat Man," "King of the World"). Even so, sensual pleasure remained his prime inspiration, and few bluesmen have made sex and liquor sound as sexy and intoxicating as Hooker did. Included are selections from his career revivals spurred by disciples (1970's teaming with Canned Heat, 1989's Grammy-winning collaborations with Robert Cray, Bonnie Raitt, Van Morrison, and others), but the most powerful Hooker is the earlier stuff that cuts closest to the bone. It may be surprising that it has taken Hooker this long to be memorialized with a comprehensive box set, but when you consider how many labels he recorded for (almost all of which he outlived) and under how many different names (Texas Slim, Johnny Williams, et al.), it's quite an achievement that this set even exists. --Don McLeese

Customer Reviews:

hooker's hooks.......2007-03-21

some material is repetitive but overall a must for any blues listener or any other music listener. the nuances of his playing develope deeper with each listening. hooker, buddy guy, b.b. king--what a great cache of music we have at our eartips to listen to.

Awesome!.......2007-03-13

This chronology of Hooker recordings is simply awesome! To walk through the progression of songs from early recordings to the present is simply mesmerizing. Some titles are repeated throughout the 4 disc set put are clearly an evolution of the artist. It is clear why he influenced so many artists, too. You can't go wrong with this set.

Hooker's the man.......2007-02-25

If you like the blues you gotta get these 4 CDs. At times the songs may seem sparse and repetitive but there is so much soul in them I can listen to them over and over again. A wonderful overview of John Lee Hooker's career. Excellent remastering.

Blues at It's Finest !!!.......2007-02-22

This box set starts out with acoustic foot tapping blues just as you would expect but by the middle of disc 2 it really picks up.Disc 3 and 4 is John Lee Hooker at his finest.He truly was one of the best at singing and playing the blues.I would recommend this to anyone who loves the Blues.

hooker box set.......2007-02-10

Heard great review on NPR. Took gamble and was not disappointed. Excellent compilation

Average customer rating: I wish it was endless Excellent !!! Where the other tracks go? Peak performance by a legendery entertainer Endless Blues

Endless Boogie John Lee Hooker Manufacturer: Mca Special Products ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Contemporary Blues | Blues | Styles | Music Delta Blues | Blues | Styles | Music General | Blues | Styles | Music Traditional Blues | Blues | Styles | Music Electric Blues Guitar | Blues | Styles | Music Acoustic Blues | Blues | Styles | Music Detroit Blues | Regional Blues | Blues | Styles | Music Singer-Songwriters | Pop | Styles | Music General | Traditional Country | Country | Styles | Music CDs $7 - $10 | Blues General | Blues | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music All Bargain Titles | Blues General | Blues | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music CDs $7 - $10 | Contemporary Blues | Blues | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music All Bargain Titles | Contemporary Blues | Blues | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music CDs $7 - $10 | Electric Blues Guitar | Blues | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music All Bargain Titles | Electric Blues Guitar | Blues | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music CDs $7 - $10 | Traditional Blues | Blues | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music All Bargain Titles | Traditional Blues | Blues | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music Similar Items: It Serves You Right to Suffer Live At The Cafe Au Go-Go (And Soledad Prison) Boogie Chillun Hooker 'n Heat The Country Blues of John Lee Hooker ASIN: B000002OI6 Release Date: 1991-12-10

Tracks:

1. (I Got) A Good 'Un
2. House Rent Boogie
3. Kick Hit 4 Hit Kix U (Blues For Jimi And Janis)
4. Standin' At The Crossroads
5. Pots On, Gas On High
6. We Might As Well Call It Through (I Didn't Get Married To Your Two-Timing Mother)
7. Doin' The Shout
8. A Sheep Out On The Foam
9. I Don't Need No Steam Heat
10. Sittin' In My Dark Room
11. Endless Boogie, Parts 27 And 28

Customer Reviews:

I wish it was endless.......2007-03-14

This is a quality John Lee Hooker album. The tunes are great, quality backing band (with Steve Miller on Guitar for most tracks), and excellent 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.

Excellent !!!.......2007-03-10

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.

Where the other tracks go?.......2006-12-26

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.

Peak performance by a legendery entertainer.......2003-03-12

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").

Endless Blues.......2002-08-20

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.

Average customer rating: Hard blues True blues Live blues Best Ever Two Great Live Albums in One CD Live John Lee... What an incredible man!

Live At The Cafe Au Go-Go (And Soledad Prison) John Lee Hooker Manufacturer: Mca ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Contemporary Blues | Blues | Styles | Music Delta Blues | Blues | Styles | Music General | Blues | Styles | Music Traditional Blues | Blues | Styles | Music Electric Blues Guitar | Blues | Styles | Music Contemporary Blues | Live Albums | Blues | Styles | Music General | Live Albums | Blues | Styles | Music Detroit Blues | Regional Blues | Blues | Styles | Music Rock Guitarists | Live Albums | Rock | Styles | Music $7.99 and Under | Blowout Music | Stores | Music Rock | Styles | Blowout Music | Stores | Music All Blowout Music | Blowout Music | Stores | Music $7.99 and Under | Prices | Blowout Music | Stores | Music More Titles at Least 25% Off | Blowout Music | Stores | Music Similar Items: It Serves You Right to Suffer Hooker 'n Heat Muddy "Mississippi" Waters Live At Newport Endless Boogie ASIN: B000002P4B Release Date: 1996-11-19

Tracks:

1. I'm Bad Like Jesse James
2. She's Long, She's Tall (She Weeps Like A Willow Tree)
3. When My First Wife Left Me
4. Heartaches And Misery
5. One Bourbon, One Scotch And One Beer
6. I Don't Want No Trouble
7. I'll Never Get Out Of These Blues Alive
8. Seven Days
9. What's The Matter Baby
10. Lucille
11. Boogie Everywhere I Go
12. Serve Me Right To Suffer
13. Bang Bang Bang Bang

Amazon.com essential recording

Simply one of the greatest live blues recordings ever. Hooker plays alone at Soledad, yet the real thrill is hearing him backed at Greenwich Village's Café Au-Go-Go in 1966 by Muddy Waters and his band, including pianist Otis Spann, unsung harmonica giant George Smith, Francis Clay on drums, and guitarists Sammy Lawhorn and Luther Johnson. All are at the height of their abilities, but it's Hooker who works like a hoodoo conjurer, making misery rain down in "Seven Days" and "When My First Wife Left Me." This August night's reading of "I'm Bad Like Jesse James" ranks among the most intimidating vocal performances ever taped. His guitar and baritone singing sink to rarely heard depths of the blues--that secret place in the music (known only to its absolute masters) where it becomes an elemental force. --Ted Drozdowski

Customer Reviews:

Hard blues True blues Live blues.......2007-01-21

John lee seemed like he had the blues his hole life.Maybe he did maybe he didn't. He played the hole blues man thing to a T. He seemed like the coolest of all cats when he was up on stage. That's because he was. The people bought it hook line and sinker as they should.I have heard,lived and felt the blues since I was 8 yrs.old. I can totally relate to what he was doing and singing about back then and now.Hookers blues and boogie music is and will always be timeless. That to me is the conection I have with him.Pure blues, no nonsense music that hits you like a ton of bricks. This CD does just that and more.

Best Ever.......2007-01-10

If I was stranded on a deserted island and I was to have one CD this would be the one , thought that Hooker and Heat was good , this blows it away ...............

Two Great Live Albums in One CD.......2006-10-18

This is actually two live albums combined. Cafe Go-Go finds Johnny earlier in his career and Live at Soledad prison finds Johnny mid-career right in the middle of his endless boogie phase.

Live at The Cafe Go-Go is recoreded with Muddy Waters band (Muddy always had the best bands!) including the great Otis Spann on Piano. Muddy even plays guitar on one of the tunes. Sound quality is excellent and John Live is in fine form, but a little restrain. You get the feeling the band had not played that much together. Hearing JLH with Otis Spann in keys is pretty cool however. Bad like Jesse James is one of the creepiest songs made and is made even more haunting by Spann's parse piano.

Live at Soledad prison catch John Lee is his Endless Boogie phase, which for me is where it is at. Sound quality is surprisely very good and his band, including his son John Lee Jr., are tight. Bang Bang Bang is a great jam all the way from the Motor City. This contains all but two cuts of the original Live at Soledad album. These two tunes were sung by John Lee Jr. I love how at the end of the album the prison plugs the plug on the band and it takes a while for everybody to figure out what happened.

Looking for some more great live John Lee Hooker check the live Album with Albert King (they don'y played together, but share the same CD) 'I Play the Blues for you'. For me this is some of the finest JLH caught live on tape. JLH studio album 'Never get out of these blues alive' is also another great album.

This is a great album for anyone who enjoys the blues, live blues, John Lee, or enjoys Otis Spann. Album should be the staple of any basic bblues collection. I highly recommend this CD.

Live John Lee..........2005-11-22

Hearing John Lee Hooker backed by the Muddy Water's band from the 1960's is a real treat. The version of "I'm Bad Like Jessie James" that opens the CD is one of the most menacing songs I've ever heard; John Lee describes in detail how he will "take care of" a former friend he took in who went around town telling everybody that he slept with John Lee's wife. This song is a perfect example of how John Lee Hooker was the personification of badass. John Lee also runs through some of his classics like "One Bourbon, One Scotch, and One Beer" and "Bang Bang Bang Bang". I prefer the Cafe Au Go Go set to the Soledad Prison set, but both sets are worth hearing and are full of good performances from John Lee and the band. This is definitely worth getting if you are fan of John Lee Hooker or the blues.

What an incredible man!.......2005-04-07

It's hard not to get shivers when listening to this recording. John Lee Hooker had such an incredible voice and it's as if his singing and playing encapsulates all misery imaginable. He extracted so much emotion from these songs that made me feel as though I'd actually lived the experience. It's so incredibly painful to listen to in places that I expected the heavens to open up in response. This is a man who knew what he was doing.

The band is in top form and John Lee uses them to get the crowd rocking as he works his magic. Everything is spot-on! From slow, painful numbers to upbeat, rollicking shuffles, John Lee Hooker and his band can do it all.

This is a landmark album that shows a man (and a band) at the top of their game and it's something no self-respecting blues fan should be without! You'd have to be dead not to be affected by this!

Music Album:

1. I'm Still Missing You
2. I Walk the Line: 16 Original Recordings [Import]
3. If There's Any Justice
4. It Wasn't God Who Made Honky Tonk Angels
5. Jackpot
6. John & Audrey Wiggins
7. John Brown: Sword of the Spirit
8. Leavin' [CD-single] [Import]
9. Legend Lives on [Import]
10. Light Years

Music Album