Blues Joint continue their reissue series with another pioneering release from the Detroit blues maestro often dubbed “King of the Boogie”. Their latest endeavour sees the label remaster tracks from Folk Blues, Hooker’s 1962 release on Crown Records, adding five additional bonus tracks plucked from various recording sessions from the 50s and as early as 1948.
The artwork has been replaced by an image of Hooker seen in downtown Detroit circa 1959 with his beloved guitar in hand but keeps the original liner notes by Jacques Demêtre. As with all releases on the Blues Joint label, the reissue features an album review from the time of its original release, this time from Downbeat magazine.
Despite not being one of the most remarked releases in Hooker’s extensive catalogue, preceding as it did better-known albums such as Burnin’ (which featured the classic Boom Boom), Folk Blues was acclaimed by specialists. The American historian, archivist and blues critic Pete Welding stamped it “essential in any collection of post war blues” and an album that “Hooker fans will find much to rejoice about”.
Highlights include Hooker’s trademark wordless humming and singing in unison with his guitar on Bad Boy and his use of slide guitar on Rock House Boogie. It’s another nicely packed reissue and comes at an affordable price too – especially good for youngsters trying to begin a collection in the midst of the UK’s own dose of the economic blues.
Discography
Baby I’m Gonna Miss You; Half A Stranger; Shake, Holler And Run; Down Child; Gotta Boogie; I Need Love So Bad; No More Diggin’; Boogie Chillen; Bad Boy; Rock House Boogie; Let’s Talk It Over; Baby You Ain’t No Good; Looking For A Woman; I Need Love So Bad; Moon Is Rising; Dimples (47.16)
Hooker (v, g) with, collectively, Eddie Kirkland, Eddie Taylor (g); Johnny Hooks, Otis Finch (ts); Bob Thurman (p); Louisiana Red (speech); Sam Jones, George Washington (b); Louis Hayes, Tom Whitehead (d). US, 1948-1954.
Blues Joint 8003
