AMG Review of Best of John Lee Hooker [GNP]

Cub Koda
All Music Guide

Here's 20 of John Lee Hooker's Vee-Jay recordings. It's a mixed batch of full-band sides -- some that work, some that don't -- a couple of live solo tracks (dubbed from noisy vinyl, too), and some solo studio tracks that include re-cuts of his early hits like "Boogie Chillun" and "I'm in the Mood." As Hooker collections go, this one's not bad, but it's certainly not the place to start.