John Lee Hooker question

[mjzee]

Back in the early '70's, I noticed some releases that seemed to all come from recordings Hooker made for a Detroit record label in the late '40's - early '50's. There was a single album, a double album, and a triple album boxed set, all containing different tracks. I think some of these reissues were on United Artists, one may have been called Coast To Coast Blues Band, another may have been called John Lee Hooker's Detroit. I haven't seen these discs in years, and was always kind of intrigued by them. Does anyone here know them? Were they all solo recordings? I imagine 6 discs of solo Hooker might begin to sound a bit repetitive. Does anyone have any favorites?

[paul secor]

John Lee Hooker recorded for a myriad of labels during the late 40's under a number of names other than his own - Texas Slim, Delta John, Birmingham Sam & his Magic Guitar, The Boogie Man, John L. Booker, Johnny Williams, etc.

If you're looking for one great Hooker CD, here it is: http://www.amazon.com/Legendary-Modern-Recordings-1948-1954/dp/B000026DMQ/ref=sr_1_1?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1416937712&sr=1-1&keywords=john+lee+hooker+ace&pebp=1416937718346

It includes early solo sides, duets with Eddie Kirkland, and a few band sides.

I have a fair number of Hooker CDs and LPs, but if I had to choose one, this would be it.

[Big Beat Steve]

Untangling the discography of John Lee Hooker (particularly his early recordings) is a MAJOR effort but according to the John Lee Hooker special issue of the (French) SOUL BAG magazine, "Coast to Coast Blues Band" is United Artists 5512 and "John Lee Hooker's Detroit" is United Artists 3-127.

Glancing quickly through the discography in that mag, both LPs seem to consist of originally unissued alternate takes of his recordings from 1948 onwards, mostly for Modern, some for Sensation. They have all been re-reissued on Capitol CD 33912 (Alternative Boogie - Early Studio Recordings 1948-52) and one or the other volume of the "Complete John Lee Hooker - Detroit 1948-1950" CD series on Body & Soul.

Edited November 25, 2014 by Big Beat Steve

[Head Man]

John Lee Hooker recorded for a myriad of labels during the late 40's under a number of names other than his own - Texas Slim, Delta John, Birmingham Sam & his Magic Guitar, The Boogie Man, John L. Booker, Johnny Williams, etc.

If you're looking for one great Hooker CD, here it is: http://www.amazon.com/Legendary-Modern-Recordings-1948-1954/dp/B000026DMQ/ref=sr_1_1?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1416937712&sr=1-1&keywords=john+lee+hooker+ace&pebp=1416937718346

It includes early solo sides, duets with Eddie Kirkland, and a few band sides.

I have a fair number of Hooker CDs and LPs, but if I had to choose one, this would be it.

Or if you'd like a boxset covering the same period then this is the one I'd go for:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Classic-Early-Years-1948-1951/dp/B000063CLG/ref=sr_1_1?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1416941375&sr=1-1&keywords=lee+hooker+jsp

[paul secor]

John Lee Hooker recorded for a myriad of labels during the late 40's under a number of names other than his own - Texas Slim, Delta John, Birmingham Sam & his Magic Guitar, The Boogie Man, John L. Booker, Johnny Williams, etc.

If you're looking for one great Hooker CD, here it is: http://www.amazon.com/Legendary-Modern-Recordings-1948-1954/dp/B000026DMQ/ref=sr_1_1?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1416937712&sr=1-1&keywords=john+lee+hooker+ace&pebp=1416937718346

It includes early solo sides, duets with Eddie Kirkland, and a few band sides.

I have a fair number of Hooker CDs and LPs, but if I had to choose one, this would be it.

Or if you'd like a boxset covering the same period then this is the one I'd go for:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Classic-Early-Years-1948-1951/dp/B000063CLG/ref=sr_1_1?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1416941375&sr=1-1&keywords=lee+hooker+jsp

There's no doubt some very good music there. I would take issue with the "Re-Mastered" label on the cover. Remastered from what? I doubt that JSP had access to original acetates, tapes, or even bothered to seek out 78s to do anything like that.

[Chuck Nessa]

Paul made the "perfect" recommendation but I had fond memories of the UA lps and got the following cd set containing that material:

I almost think all Hooker recordings are alternates.

[AllenLowe]

I don't know if it's duplicated on any of the above, but my favorites are the things from the late '40s reissued on a Savoy twofer called Southern blues. This was put out on a domestic Savoy cd but de-noised rather stupidly (it's the one produced by Barry Feldman). It is, however, available on a Euro release in good, untouched sound.

Edited November 26, 2014 by AllenLowe

[jazzbo]

I almost think all Hooker recordings are alternates.

Good observation.

[jeffcrom]

John Lee Hooker recorded for a myriad of labels during the late 40's under a number of names other than his own - Texas Slim, Delta John, Birmingham Sam & his Magic Guitar, The Boogie Man, John L. Booker, Johnny Williams, etc.

If you're looking for one great Hooker CD, here it is: http://www.amazon.com/Legendary-Modern-Recordings-1948-1954/dp/B000026DMQ/ref=sr_1_1?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1416937712&sr=1-1&keywords=john+lee+hooker+ace&pebp=1416937718346

It includes early solo sides, duets with Eddie Kirkland, and a few band sides.

I have a fair number of Hooker CDs and LPs, but if I had to choose one, this would be it.

Before I clicked the link, I thought to myself, "I hope Paul recommended the 'right' JLH CD." He did, of course - that's the one to have.

[MomsMobley]

John Lee Hooker recorded for a myriad of labels during the late 40's under a number of names other than his own - Texas Slim, Delta John, Birmingham Sam & his Magic Guitar, The Boogie Man, John L. Booker, Johnny Williams, etc.

If you're looking for one great Hooker CD, here it is: http://www.amazon.com/Legendary-Modern-Recordings-1948-1954/dp/B000026DMQ/ref=sr_1_1?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1416937712&sr=1-1&keywords=john+lee+hooker+ace&pebp=1416937718346

It includes early solo sides, duets with Eddie Kirkland, and a few band sides.

I have a fair number of Hooker CDs and LPs, but if I had to choose one, this would be it.

Before I clicked the link, I thought to myself, "I hope Paul recommended the 'right' JLH CD." He did, of course - that's the one to have.

on Krazy Kat, double lp vinyl has about a side more tracks than the otherwise fine CD.

http://www.amazon.com/Boogie-Awhile-John-Lee-Hooker/dp/B00000DUWP

the set recorded by Gene Deitch Detroit '49 >>>>> all Bill Evans trio recordings combined, Philly Joe included.

http://www.amazon.com/Jack-O-Diamonds-1949-Recordings/dp/B0001Z36EG

Edited November 26, 2014 by MomsMobley

[John L]

Untangling the discography of John Lee Hooker (particularly his early recordings) is a MAJOR effort

Yes, but this effort has already been taken. Check it out.

http://www.angelfire.com/mn/coasters/HookerSessionDiscography.pdf

[Big Beat Steve]

Untangling the discography of John Lee Hooker (particularly his early recordings) is a MAJOR effort

Yes, but this effort has already been taken. Check it out.

http://www.angelfire.com/mn/coasters/HookerSessionDiscography.pdf

Sure, but that's not what I meant.

Even checking out specific records/reissues and finding a pattern of how they were compiled (as in the case of the two UA LPs mentioned initially) is not the easiest of tasks due to the nature of this man's recording and issuing history. Daunting enought if you just want to check something out at a glance.

The discography done by SOUL BAG for their 2001 "special" on JLH, btw, may not be as up to date as the one you linked (thanks!) but ain't half bad either.

[John L]

Untangling the discography of John Lee Hooker (particularly his early recordings) is a MAJOR effort

Yes, but this effort has already been taken. Check it out.

http://www.angelfire.com/mn/coasters/HookerSessionDiscography.pdf

Sure, but that's not what I meant.

Even checking out specific records/reissues and finding a pattern of how they were compiled (as in the case of the two UA LPs mentioned initially) is not the easiest of tasks due to the nature of this man's recording and issuing history. Daunting enought if you just want to check something out at a glance.

The discography done by SOUL BAG for their 2001 "special" on JLH, btw, may not be as up to date as the one you linked (thanks!) but ain't half bad either.

Untangling the discography of John Lee Hooker (particularly his early recordings) is a MAJOR effort

Yes, but this effort has already been taken. Check it out.

http://www.angelfire.com/mn/coasters/HookerSessionDiscography.pdf

Sure, but that's not what I meant.

Even checking out specific records/reissues and finding a pattern of how they were compiled (as in the case of the two UA LPs mentioned initially) is not the easiest of tasks due to the nature of this man's recording and issuing history. Daunting enought if you just want to check something out at a glance.

The discography done by SOUL BAG for their 2001 "special" on JLH, btw, may not be as up to date as the one you linked (thanks!) but ain't half bad either.

Well, in addition to giving the chronological sessions, the discography also identifies what is on most CD and LP reissues. So it is highly useful in that regard. It may be daunting to identify which ones to buy first. But there are certain cornerstones that can be identified: A compilation of the early hits on Modern (The Legendary Modern Recordings), the powerful early recordings for King and Gotham, the early Chess recordings (great performances and best sound quality for the period), a collection of the Vee Jay hits, It Serves Me Right to Suffer (maybe his best with a band). I would advise to start there and then branch out, maybe beginning with some of his later efforts.

[Head Man]

John Lee Hooker recorded for a myriad of labels during the late 40's under a number of names other than his own - Texas Slim, Delta John, Birmingham Sam & his Magic Guitar, The Boogie Man, John L. Booker, Johnny Williams, etc.

If you're looking for one great Hooker CD, here it is: http://www.amazon.com/Legendary-Modern-Recordings-1948-1954/dp/B000026DMQ/ref=sr_1_1?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1416937712&sr=1-1&keywords=john+lee+hooker+ace&pebp=1416937718346

It includes early solo sides, duets with Eddie Kirkland, and a few band sides.

I have a fair number of Hooker CDs and LPs, but if I had to choose one, this would be it.

Or if you'd like a boxset covering the same period then this is the one I'd go for:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Classic-Early-Years-1948-1951/dp/B000063CLG/ref=sr_1_1?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1416941375&sr=1-1&keywords=lee+hooker+jsp

I would take issue with the "Re-Mastered" label on the cover. Remastered from what? I doubt that JSP had access to original acetates, tapes, or even bothered to seek out 78s to do anything like that.

Agreed....... but let's face it none of his recordings from this period are the hi-est of fi.....

[Big Beat Steve]

I would take issue with the "Re-Mastered" label on the cover. Remastered from what? I doubt that JSP had access to original acetates, tapes, or even bothered to seek out 78s to do anything like that.

Agreed....... but let's face it none of his recordings from this period are the hi-est of fi.....

Wouldn't that tie in nicely what contemporaries of JLH (professional blues/R&B musicians from Detroit) had to say about him at the time in those early post-war years? " He couldn't play shit!" Not hold a meter, not carry a tune, etc. etc.

See the "Before Motown" book.

Later this would no doubt be called "idiosyncratic" and of course once the blues boom was in full swing this would have been pure heresy to say!

Edited November 26, 2014 by Big Beat Steve

[paul secor]

John Lee Hooker recorded for a myriad of labels during the late 40's under a number of names other than his own - Texas Slim, Delta John, Birmingham Sam & his Magic Guitar, The Boogie Man, John L. Booker, Johnny Williams, etc.

If you're looking for one great Hooker CD, here it is: http://www.amazon.com/Legendary-Modern-Recordings-1948-1954/dp/B000026DMQ/ref=sr_1_1?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1416937712&sr=1-1&keywords=john+lee+hooker+ace&pebp=1416937718346

It includes early solo sides, duets with Eddie Kirkland, and a few band sides.

I have a fair number of Hooker CDs and LPs, but if I had to choose one, this would be it.

Before I clicked the link, I thought to myself, "I hope Paul recommended the 'right' JLH CD." He did, of course - that's the one to have.

on Krazy Kat, double lp vinyl has about a side more tracks than the otherwise fine CD.

http://www.amazon.com/Boogie-Awhile-John-Lee-Hooker/dp/B00000DUWP

the set recorded by Gene Deitch Detroit '49 >>>>> all Bill Evans trio recordings combined, Philly Joe included.

http://www.amazon.com/Jack-O-Diamonds-1949-Recordings/dp/B0001Z36EG

The Deitch set -

[John L]

The Gene Deitch recordings are now believed to date from August, 1951. See the link I gave to the comprehensive discography for details.

[paul secor]

Hard to imagine anyone being a John Lee Hooker completest. Seems like it would be an exercise in masochism for the ears and mind.

[John L]

Hard to imagine anyone being a John Lee Hooker completest. Seems like it would be an exercise in masochism for the ears and OO

Only if you try to listen to too much of it all at once.