John Lee Hooker - Black Man Blues (1998)

1. Stomp Boogie
2. Black Man Blues
3. Helpless Blues
4. Goin' Mad Blues
5. Morning Blues
6. Roll N' Roll
7. No Friend Around
8. Low Down-Midnite Boogie
9. House Rent Boogie
10. Wandering Blues
11. Landing Blues
12. My Baby's Got Somethin'
13. Do The Boogie

John Lee Hooker - Guitar, Guitar (Acoustic), Vocals 
James Watkins - Piano
Curtis Foster - Drums 

The driving instrumental that opens this collection, "Stomp Boogie" (so called because Hooker keeps time loudly with his foot throughout), should give listeners a sense of what to expect from BLACK MAN BLUES. Primitive, gutbucket electric guitar is the main ingredient here, and it is Hooker's hard-edged boogie playing that fuels the 14 early sides that span from '48-'51. Hooker's voice, though somewhat less growling than on later recordings, is no less soulful or urgent, and on cuts like the title track and the propulsive "Goin' Mad Blues," it presages a rock & roll vocal aesthetic. There is plenty of old school blues too, such as the moping lope of "Landing Blues" and the wrenching confessions of "Morning Blues." Taken together, these are excellent examples of Hooker's early work and its gripping synthesis of folk blues and electric power. ---AllMusic Review

Very early John Lee Hooker (1948-1951), with several virile rockers in the bunch, like "Stomp Boogie," "Goin' Mad Blues," and "Do the Boogie"--the latter probably the rawest boogie stomp ever put on record. Magnificent minimalist blues that you need to have in your collection, in spite of the C-minus sonics. Don't miss out on this material! ---Lee Hartsfeld, amazon.com

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