There's perfect symmetry in the way this four-disc anthology opens with a raw, solo acoustic 1948 rendition of John Lee Hooker's signature tune, "Boogie Chillen'," and then closes a half-century later with Eric Clapton teaming with Hooker on the same tune. Though the Mississippi bluesman who relocated to Detroit has been justly celebrated for his spellbinding repetitions and primal incantations, this comprehensive set shows just how much more range and depth there was to Hooker's music than basic boogie. Beyond the influential hits--"Dimples," "Boom Boom," and "One Bourbon, One Scotch, One Beer" among them--the set shows his music touching on everything from religion ("Moses Smote the Water," "We're All God's Chillen") to sociopolitical commentary ("Democrat Man," "King of the World"). Even so, sensual pleasure remained his prime inspiration, and few bluesmen have made sex and liquor sound as sexy and intoxicating as Hooker did. Included are selections from his career revivals spurred by disciples (1970's teaming with Canned Heat, 1989's Grammy-winning collaborations with Robert Cray, Bonnie Raitt, Van Morrison, and others), but the most powerful Hooker is the earlier stuff that cuts closest to the bone. It may be surprising that it has taken Hooker this long to be memorialized with a comprehensive box set, but when you consider how many labels he recorded for (almost all of which he outlived) and under how many different names (Texas Slim, Johnny Williams, et al.), it’s quite an achievement that this set even exists.
Disc: 1
1. Boogie Chillen
2. Sally Mae
3. Black Man Blues
4. Hobo Blues
5. Hoogie Boogie
6. Weeping Willow Boogie
7. Crawlin' King Snake
8. Driften' From Door To Door
9. Catfish Blues
10. Moses Smote The Water
11. Huckle Up Baby
12. Wandering Blues
13. Don't You Remember Me
14. Notoriety Woman
15. Let Your Daddy Ride
16. John L's House Rent Boogie
17. Bumble Bee Blues
18. Leave My Wife Alone
19. Just Me And My Telephone
20. I'm In The Mood
21. Blues For Big Town
22. Stuttering Blues
23. Down Child
24. Boogie Rambler
25. Baby You Ain't No Good
26. I'm Ready
Disc: 2
1. Dimples
2. Every Night
3. I'm So Exited
4. I Love You Honey
5. Tupelo Blues
6. I Need Some Money
7. Democrat Man
8. No More Doggin'
9. Gonna Use My Rod
10. Whiskey And Wimmen
11. No Shoes
12. We're All God's Chillun
13. I'm Goin' Upstairs
14. Teachin' The Blues
15. You Lost A Good Man
16. Don't Turn Me From Your Door
17. When My First Wife Quit Me
18. Boom Boom
19. She's Mine
20. Frisco Blues
21. Birmingham Blues
22. Big Legs Tight Skirt
23. It Serves Me Right To Suffer
24. I'm Losin' You
25. I Cover The Waterfront
Disc: 3
1. One Bourbon, One Scotch, One Beer
2. Let's Go Out Tonight
3. Bottle Up And Go
4. Let's Make It (Live)
5. King Of The World (Live)
6. I'm Bad Like Jesse James (Live)
7. Think Twice Before You Go
8. Mean Mean Woman
9. Burning Hell
10. Peavine
11. I Got My Eyes On You
12. Doin' The Shout
13. Bluebird
14. Early One Morning
15. We'll Meet Again
16. Loving People
Disc: 4
1. Baby Lee
2. I'm In The Mood
3. The Healer
4. Mr. Lucky
5. I Cover The Waterfront
6. This Is Hip
7. Bottle Up And Go
8. Same Old Blue Again
9. Boom Boom
10. Chill Out (Things Gonna Change)
11. Tupelo
12. Kiddio
13. Dimples
14. Don't Look Back
15. Up And Down
16. Mean Mean World
17. Boogie Chillen'
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