The Very Best of John Lee Hooker [Rhino] John Lee Hooker Artist

This 16-track collection sweats down {|Rhino|}'s two-disc anthology to a lean, mean and essential single disc. Here are the earliest recordings that established {|Hooker|} as a major blues artist -- {|Boogie Chillen,|} {|Hobo Blues,|} {|I'm In the Mood,|} {|Crawlin' Kingsnake,|} and {|Huckle Up Baby|} -- and they sound better here than on most other collections, reverberating with a clarity that belies their age. The rest of the set follows {|Hooker|}'s move toward working with bands not always in step with his erratic timing, but still producing classic blues on favorites like {|Dimples|} and {|Boom Boom.|} If you're going to own only one {|Hooker|} collection, add this one to the shopping basket. ~ Cub Koda