Just over six months short of his 50th birthday on 4 February 1967, John Lee Hooker’s name first appeared on the UK album chart with a 10-track version of House Of The Blues. The original liner notes reproduced here state that Hooker was “another man who knows what it is to have the blues, and how to tell it”.
It was only a matter of time before Hooker was regarded as one of the most important and influential blues musicians of the 20th century. He forged a unique style that set him apart from other major exponents of deep blues, inspiring contemporaries such as John Hammond, amongst others.
House Of The Blues, first issued by Chess in 1959, collected singles recorded in 1951-2. This edition adds two more tracks, Baby You Ain’t No Good and Bad Boy, recorded in 1954.
The music here was taped at a particularly significant moment in Hooker’s career when more time was allowed between recording sessions. Prior to that, R&B labels were pushing Hooker for a recording every month. That led to him releasing music often under different names including John Lee Booker, Birmingham Sam, Delta John, Boogie Man, and Texas Slim.
This reissue uses the original album cover and the unsigned liner notes feature quotes from blues maestro Leadbelly as well as additional info about the life of Hooker. The 180-gram vinyl is, rather appropriately, in deep blue.
Discography
Walkin’ The Blues; Love Blues; Union Station Blues; It’s My Own Fault; Leave My Wife Alone; Ramblin’ By Myself; Baby You Ain’t No Good; Sugar Mama; Down At The Landing; Louise; Ground Hog Blues; High Priced Woman; Women And Money; Bad Boy (42.03)
Hooker (v, g); Eddie Kirkland (g on Louise, Women And Money, Baby You Ain’t No Good, Bad Boy); Bob Thurman (p on It’s My Own Fault); Boogie Woogie Red (p on Women And Money); Tom Whitehead (d on Women And Money). Chicago and Detroit, 1951-54.
Waxtime in Color 950740
