I'll confess that I only just recently began to delve into John Lee Hooker's vast catalog of music. I've known his name and at least 2 of his songs for all of my adult life, but my interest in the old bluesmen sent me on a mission to acquire a JLH 2-CD set (The Ultimate Collection: 1948-1990). To say I was floored by his stellar guitar playing abilities would be an understatement. The man could practically let the guitar tell the story.

Many blues guitarists have incorporated the very familiar 12-bar blues progression in their works, but it's almost nowhere to be found in JLH's music. I think he could have played other styles of music just as brilliantly as he did country blues and boogie-woogie blues. Imagine JLH playing bebop, jump blues (which he did get to demonstrate in John L's House Rent Boogie and Boogie Chillen'), honky-tonk country, or rockabilly. He would have been fantastic!

While he is indeed worthy of his enshrinement in the Hall, I feel that he would be more appropriate in the Early Influence category. His first recording, Boogie Chillen', was released in September 1948 and reached the top of the R&B charts that November. He had already been performing for at least 5 years before his recording career commenced.

So far, my favorite JLH tracks are Boogie Chillen', John L's House Rent Boogie, Crawlin' King Snake, Dimples, Frisco Blues, and Huckle Up Baby.

Posted by Zach on Monday, 06/3/2013 @ 00:47am