Boogie Chillun - CHARLY
Artist: John Lee Hooker
Rare Performances 1960-1984
Artist: John Lee Hooker

This solid half-hour collection of clips presents John Lee Hooker in a variety of settings, playing both with a band and as a solo artist. The 1964 full-band clips from the BBC are the best, particularly a percolating "Boom Boom." Also good are a couple of songs (again with a full band) from the 1960 Newport Jazz Festival; a few tunes filmed in... Read More

The Very Best of John Lee Hooker - CHARLY
Artist: John Lee Hooker
The Very Best of John Lee Hooker - RHINO
Artist: John Lee Hooker
Community Score: 8.20

This 16-track collection sweats down Rhino's two-disc anthology to a lean, mean and essential single disc. Here are the earliest recordings that established Hooker as a major blues artist -- "Boogie Chillen," "Hobo Blues," "I'm In the Mood," "Crawlin' Kingsnake," and "Huckle Up Baby" -- and they sound better here than on most other collections,... Read More

Alternative Boogie: Early Studio Recordings 1948-1952
Artist: John Lee Hooker

A whopping three CDs, and 56 songs, from Hooker's early sessions that were unreleased at the time, although they were available for a while in the early 1970s on some United Artists LPs. Like his more widely-known material of the period, it mostly features Hooker unaccompanied, though he's aided by piano and second guitarists on a few tracks.... Read More

John Lee Hooker on Vee-Jay, 1955-1958
Artist: John Lee Hooker

Some of Hooker's finest recordings with a band were also some of his first recordings with a band. The unpredictable guitarist seemed to mesh well with guitarist Eddie Taylor, harpist Jimmy Reed, and the rest of the sidemen he was given on his 1955-58 Vee-Jay output. Includes the classic "Baby Lee" and "Dimples," along with 20 more that crackle... Read More

The Essential Sonny Boy Williamson - MCA/CHESS
Artist: Sonny Boy Williamson [II]

Two-disc compilation offering 45 of the wizened harmonica genius' best efforts for the Chess brothers, this is the best domestic Williamson package you'll find. Not everything you might want, but pretty close to it: "Don't Start Me to Talkin'," "Let Me Explain," "The Key (To Your Door)" (an alternate take), "Bring It on Home," "Help Me," "One... Read More

Boogie Chillun - FANTASY
Artist: John Lee Hooker

Recorded live in November 1962 in San Francisco, this dates from the period in which Hooker often presented himself as a sort of blues/folk singer for the coffeehouse crowd, toning down his volume and aggressiveness somewhat. There's something of a muted "unplugged" feel to these solo performances (though an electric guitar is used). It's... Read More

Malvina My Sweet Woman (M)
Artist: Big Joe Williams
Clownin' with the World
Artist: Sonny Boy Williamson [II]

Wonderful CD from the vaults of Trumpet Records. Features unissued Sonny Boy Williamson sides and great tracks by his piano playin' buddy, Willie Love. ~ AMG, All Music Guide Read More

Nine String Guitar Wizard
Artist: Big Joe Williams

The title says it all -- Big Joe Williams plays a custom-made nine-string guitar, which sounds like no other instrument in existence. That alone would give his stripped-down acoustic Delta blues a new spin, but he brings so much grit and passion to his performances, they would have sounded fresh and vital anyway. ~ Thom Owens, All Music Guide Read More

The Ultimate Collection (1948-1990)
Artist: John Lee Hooker
Community Score: 8.00

Rhino's double-disc 1991 set The Ultimate Collection (1948-1990) falls just short of the promise of its title, losing its focus toward the end of the set. That said, it comes close enough to satisfy, particularly because John Lee Hooker had such a long, convoluted discography, recording for a number of different labels over many decades. This... Read More