Review: John Lee Hooker ‘Boom Boom’
By Hal Horowitz
There is little more satisfying to an old-time, once obscure blues veteran than to finally receive crossover recognition later in life. It usually happens only once to legends like Muddy Waters (thanks to Johnny Winter), Buddy Guy (Eric Clapton was a vocal supporter) and Howlin’ Wolf (aided by the Rolling Stones).
The great John Lee Hooker had the enviable situation of that occurring not once or twice, but three times in his extensive career.
He was initially introduced to a rock audience courtesy of the Animals, who in 1965 had a hit with Hooker’s 1962 recording of “Boom Boom.” The bluesman was a relatively sprite 53 at the time but had been toiling in relative obscurity for decades.
Hooker took a second grab at the carousel ring when psychedelic rockers Canned Heat recorded a collaborative album and took him on tour (remembered as ‘Hooker ‘N Heat’) in 1971, bringing the journyman’s guttural boogie and swampy soul to the ears of a younger crowd.
Then in 1989 it was bluesman Roy Rogers, a member of Hooker’s touring band, who invited superstars like Bonnie Raitt, Carlos Santana, Los Lobos and George Thorogood to guest on ‘The Healer.’ That high-profile project finally elevated Hooker to headlining status in large arenas.
It also sparked the interest of major labels, resulting in 1991s ‘Mr. Lucky’ followed by the ‘Boom Boom’ collection a year later. Both again tapped musical icons like Keith Richards and Johnny Winter, unmistakably influenced by the bluesman, to attract folks who had likely never heard Hooker. Adding to this late career visibility (Hooker was 79), in 1991 Rhino released a comprehensive double-disc anthology of his work through the decades.
The ‘Boom Boom’ collection (now available for the first time on vinyl with source audio remastered from the original master tapes) once again presented Hooker re-tracking some earlier deep sides and better known selections with professional accompaniment and production (Rogers handled the boards for the third time in a row). It featured four solo performances where Hooker hums, moans, groans and hollers with just his alternately softly strummed and strangulated guitar work.
Not surprisingly, things kick off with the muscular, start-stop time re-recording of the 1962-penned title track featuring Jimmie Vaughan handling lead guitar, with most of Robert Cray’s band at the time (minus its leader) backing. Hooker is clearly involved and exuberant…rumbling “ow, ow, ow, ow” just before Vaughan launches into a scorching solo. Hooker spits out his trademarked “well well” like he’s in his 20s not 80s. Cray joins for the creeping “Same Old Blues Again,” as the young (er) guitarist punctuates the tune with stabbing, short bursts of blues goodness.
One of Hooker’s nicknames was “King of the Boogie” so it’s little surprise he reclaims that title on the electric jam of “Boogie at Russian Hill.” Albert Collins injects his fiery, frosty tone into the bubbling proceedings while Hooker shouts and grunts his approval. The vibe slows again for “I Ain’t Gonna Suffer No More,” a twist and reference on his classic “It Serves You Right to Suffer” where he grinds an oozing groove, seemingly making up lyrics through its nearly seven-minute length as the band lays down a simple, gooey vamp.
The aforementioned solo songs such as a reworking of his “I’m Bad Like Jesse James,” “Hittin’ the Bottle Again” and “Sugar Mama” sound like Hooker’s in the room with you, laying down these memorable blues slices with just his foot as percussion and no distractions. Harmonica master Charlie Musslewhite joins and the duo digs into “Thought I Heard.” It’s spine-tingling stuff.
Two extra tracks were added when the disc was remastered and reissued in 2002. He tackles his famous “Dimples” and “Ain’t No Love in this House” with solid backing musicians. Both make worthy additions to the remarkable ‘Boom Boom’ that sounds as fresh and inspired as the revitalized Hooker must have felt when he hit the studio to recreate these sides, finally acknowledged as the blues master he always was.
Pre-order the album HERE
Listen “Boom Boom” Remaster feat. Jimmie Vaughan HERE
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