“The Folk Lore Of John Lee Hooker” by John Lee Hooker - album review

features in: Album Chart of 1961Album Chart of the Decade: 1960s

TJR says

Opens with a mesmerizing, low-key acoustic rendition of “Tupelo”, recorded live at Newport Festival in the summer of the previous year. The track had previously featured on “The Country Blues” album in 1959. It’s one of two “reworks” from his back albums, the other being “Wednesday Evening Blues” (“That’s My Story”, 1960). Following on from “Tupelo” is “I’m Mad Again” which carries on the theme of “Leave My Wife Alone” (’51 single) / “Gonna Use My Rod” (“That’s My Story”, 1960) – this time the Hook means business! It’s a fantastic start. Another getting reworked is “The Hobo”, the second track from his June ’60 Newport set; he had first recorded this one as “Hobo Blues” back in ’49. It’s followed by a lively full-on band number, “Hard Headed Woman”, which certainly breaks up the intimate solo vibe which dominates the album. “You’re Looking Good Tonight”, with Johnny, electric down-low, tapping his feet away and hum-mmm-mmm-ing his way to the end, makes for a decent finish to a somewhat un-engaging side 2.

The Jukebox Rebel
16–Jun–2012

Tracklist
A1 [03:26] 8.4.png John Lee Hooker - Tupelo [live newport ’60] (John Lee Hooker) Blues / Rhythm n Blues
A2 [02:41] 8.6.png John Lee Hooker - I’m Mad Again (John Lee Hooker) Blues / Rhythm n Blues
A3 [02:57] 6.5.png John Lee Hooker - I’m Goin’ Upstairs (John Lee Hooker) Blues / Rhythm n Blues
A4 [02:16] 6.5.png John Lee Hooker - Want Ad Blues [1961 version] (John Lee Hooker) Blues / Rhythm n Blues
A5 [03:40] 6.1.png John Lee Hooker - Five Long Years [1960 version] (Eddie Boyd) Blues / Rhythm n Blues
A6 [02:55] 5.8.png John Lee Hooker - I Like To See You Walk (John Lee Hooker) Blues / Rhythm n Blues
B1 [03:12] 6.1.png John Lee Hooker - The Hobo [live newport ’60] (John Lee Hooker) Blues / Rhythm n Blues
B2 [02:32] 7.0.png John Lee Hooker - Hard Headed Woman (John Lee Hooker) Blues / Rhythm n Blues
B3 [04:00] 6.0.png John Lee Hooker - Wednesday Evening Blues [april 1960 version] (John Lee Hooker) Blues / Rhythm n Blues
B4 [03:02] 5.4.png John Lee Hooker - Take Me As I Am (John Lee Hooker) Blues / Rhythm n Blues
B5 [03:34] 5.7.png John Lee Hooker - My First Wife Left Me [1960 version] (John Lee Hooker) Blues / Rhythm n Blues
B6 [02:58] 6.4.png John Lee Hooker - You’re Looking Good Tonight (John Lee Hooker) Blues / Rhythm n Blues
[[row]][[cell class="trk-oda"]]A3[class="trk-odb"][03:39] 6.6.png John Lee Hooker - Process (John Lee Hooker) Blues / Rhythm n Blues[[/cell]][[/row]]
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