John Lee Hooker - The Classic Early Years 1948-1951
Label: JSP Records - JSPCD7703A~D
Format: 4 x CD, Box Set, Compilation
Released: 2002
Country: UK
Genre: Blues


Tracks:

Disc A: 1948-1949

01. Boogie Chillen (03:07)
02. Sally Mae (03:09)
03. See See Baby (02:17)
04. She Was In Chicago (02:55)
05. Stomp Boogie (03:08)
06. Who's Been Jiving You (03:07)
07. Black Man Blues (03:34)
08. Poor Joe (02:59)
09. Good Business (03:30)
10. Boogie Woogie (03:28)
11. Helpless Bogie (03:38)
12. Goin' Mad Blues (03:44)
13. Low Down Midnite Boggie (03:32)
14. Landing Blues (03:24)
15. Morning Blues (03:02)
16. Drifting From Door To Door (02:57)
17. Hobo Blues (02:59)
18. Howlin' Wolf (02:36)
19. Crawling King Snake (02:58)
20. She Ain't Good For Nothin' (02:44)
21. Cotton Pickin' Blues (02:43)
22. Must I Wait Til Your Man Is Gone (03:02)
23. We Gonna Make Everything Alright (03:03)
24. Miss Rosie Mae (03:06)
25. Highway Blues (03:06)

Disc B: 1949

01. Hoogie Boogie (02:54)
02. Graveyard Blues (03:12)
03. Whistlin' And Moaning Blues (03:05)
04. I Love To Boogie (03:10)
05. Miss Eloise (02:39)
06. Burnin' Hell (02:39)
07. I Had A Dream (02:58)
08. Nightmare Blues (02:50)
09. Late Last Night (03:00)
10. Wandering Blues (03:16)
11. Don't Go Baby (03:09)
12. Devil's Jump (02:51)
13. I' Gonna Kill That Woman (03:03)
14. Moaning Blues (02:59)
15. The Numbers (03:10)
16. Weeping Willow (02:47)
17. Miss Sadie Mae (02:44)
18. Sometime (02:57)
19. Forgive Me (03:11)
20. Heart Trouble Blues (03:01)
21. Slim's Stomp (03:02)
22. Miss Lorraine (03:01)
23. Talkin' Boogie (03:05)
24. Road Trouble (03:08)
25. 609 Boogie (03:17)

Disc C: 1950

01. No Friend Around (02:54)
02. Wednesday Evening (02:55)
03. Canal Street Blues (02:43)
04. Playin' The Races (03:07)
05. Huckle Up Baby (02:46)
06. Let Your Daddy Ride (02:52)
07. Goin' On Highway 51 (02:27)
08. The Moon Above (02:37)
09. She Left Me By Myself (02:48)
10. No Mortgage One My Soul (03:15)
11. My Baby's Got Something (02:47)
12. Decoration Day Blues (03:00)
13. Boogie Chillen No. 2 (02:43)
14. Roll 'n' Roll (02:35)
15. Crying All Night (02:42)
16. One More Time (02:54)
17. I Don't Be Welcome Here (02:59)
18. Welfare Blues (02:56)
19. Turnin' Gray Blues (02:46)
20. The Story Of A Married Woman (02:45)
21. Mad Man Blues (02:40)
22. Boogie Now (02:00)
23. Thinking Blues (02:57)
24. Don't You Remember Me (02:48)
25. Give Me Your Phone Number (02:49)

Disc D: 1950-1951

01. Notoriety Woman (03:07)
02. Never Satisfied (02:57)
03. Moon Is Rising (02:47)
04. Please Have Mercy (02:44)
05. John L's House Rent Boogie (02:58)
06. Queen Bee (02:32)
07. You've Got Another Man (03:13)
08. If You Need My Lovin' Baby (02:41)
09. Nobody To Talk To Me (03:03)
10. Prison Bound (03:41)
11. Bumble Bee Blues (02:39)
12. Questionnaire Blues (03:24)
13. Real Good Gal (03:11)
14. Little Boy Blues (02:33)
15. My Daddy Was A Jockey (03:16)
16. Mean Old Train (03:07)
17. Catfish (03:06)
18. Louise (03:02)
19. I'm Going Away (03:00)
20. Tease Me Baby (03:00)
21. Streets Is Filled With Women (03:11)
22. Me And My Woman (02:38)
23. Whistle Done Blown (03:08)
24. How Can You Do It (02:39)
25. I'm In The Mood (03:07)



John Lee Hooker - vocals, guitar

James Watkins - piano
Boogie Woogie Red - piano
Curtis Fuller - drums
Eddie Kirkland - guitar


Review by Steve Leggett, allmusic.com
This four-disc box from London's JSP Records collects an astounding 100 songs recorded by John Lee Hooker in Detroit from the years 1948 to 1952, including his first two sides ever, the signature tunes "Boogie Chillen" and "Sally Mae." Most of the tracks here are done solo, with Hooker's ever-present foot-stomping, although a few feature other musicians on loose-limbed blues boogies. Since Hooker never significantly altered his style during his long career, these first recordings set the stage for all that came after, and he arguably never sounded fresher or better. Four discs worth of this throwback Mississippi bluesman will be severe overkill for casual listeners, but diehard Hooker fans will find this box set absolutely essential.