ROCK THESE BLUES AWAY. The Recordings of John Lee Hooker since 1981 ROCK THESE BLUES AWAY The Recordings Of John Lee Hooker Since 1981 By Gary Blue (June 2020) Introduction Fifteen years have elapsed since I put out the previous version of my research into John Lee Hooker’s recordings made during his later years. There is renewed interest in him following the 2020 Ace boxset of his work for Bernie Besman that appeared on the Sensation label; so now is as good a time as ever to revisit my earlier efforts (many researchers have placed a focus on John’s output pre-1980). Exact session dates for projects where he was a guest player are approximate at best; this comes from the prevalence of adding his contribution (perhaps recorded at his home) during production. There are two outstanding websites I urge you to consult for completeness: a) http://www.angelfire.com/mn/coasters/johnnielee.html#johnlee b) http://www.johnleehooker.info The first (a) is the brainchild of Claus Röhnisch who has assembled a comprehensive resource covering Hooker’s works; he also has an extensive project at www.rhythm-and-blues.info which is compulsory reading for 50s and 60s R&B researchers and fans alike. Thomas Jarlvik (b) concentrates on the songs, together with alternate titles, and releases on vinyl and compact disc; his thorough listing is always current. The core of the research is my own record collection that includes these recordings. I have also used the DISCOGS resource www.discogs.com though it is not infallible: variable quality data are supplied by users and can propagate errors as mentioned in the introduction to the previous issue of this pamphlet. Mike Kappus at Rosebud kindly provided many useful details and the research efforts of Alan Balfour and Robert Ford were valuable in giving me several additions and corrections to that first edition. If you feel this pamphlet has been useful or worthwhile, I would ask you to make a small donation ($10 suggested) to the MusicMaker Relief Foundation. a not-for-profit organisation that supports musicians working in the traditional American styles http://www.musicmaker.org I’d be grateful for notification of errors or omissions, full credit will be given in future editions, my email is [email protected]. Thanks in advance Introduction to 2005 ed. In 1992 Les Fancout’s sessionography of John Lee Hooker – “Boogie Chillen” – was published in booklet form by Blues & Rhythm magazine (ed. Tony Burke). This pamphlet is intended to update Les’ work with all the known Hooker sessions since 1981. Though details on other, earlier, sessions have come to light through recent releases, I have excluded them from the scope of my research and it is left to others to publish those corrections and additions elsewhere. The recordings listed here come from the final phase of John’s career during what is known as the Rosebud era, the name of his management company. To my imperfect mind, the best – and darkest – of them found release on the “Boom Boom” album put out by Pointblank in 1993. This was also a period when blues artists were called upon to provide benevolent cameos to artists better known in the mainstream. John took part in many such sessions with varying degrees of success; whatever the finished product, his contributions were immediately recognisable. Compiled and annotated by Gary Blue (June 2020) 1of 19 ROCK THESE BLUES AWAY. The Recordings of John Lee Hooker since 1981 The compact discs in this survey are, as far as I can tell, the first UK issue shown listed in order of catalogue number for ease of cross-reference to the sessionography. Because record companies re-issue, re-package and licence their recordings, subsequent issues are not considered. None of the cd-singles listed are still available and are shown merely in evidence of the penetration of the “John Lee Hooker” brand. In the sessionography the sequence number of the track is shown within ellipsis thus {4) for track 4 and so on. Several scholars have been able to describe John’s influence through his career and the impact of these Rosebud recordings. I will not waste space by continuing the discussion here. It is increasingly common for an album to include one or more tracks that contain overdubbed performances. For example, the completion of the posthumous “Face To Face” album released by Eagle in 2003 was made possible using such technology. Consequently, the idea of tying an individual “take” of a song to one date no longer has any meaning. This difficulty is reflected in the approximate dating used in the pamphlet below. Sources used : Fancourt, Leslie “Boogie Chillen (A guide to John Lee Hooker on disc)” Publ. Blues & Rhythm (1992) Murray, Charles Shaar “Boogie Man (Adventures of John Lee Hooker in 20th Century)” Publ. St. Martin’s Press (2000) Using the WWW : There are several Internet sites that purport to show the complete recording sessions of John Lee Hooker through his career, though no single site contains a definitive list – one may contain details not acknowledged by another and vice versa. The reader is also cautioned against the perceived wisdom endemic in a medium that so freely allows information to spread without verification by independent sources. The discographer Bill Rowe believed that the best tools at his disposal were his ears and I have stuck with that sage advice here. Compiled and annotated by Gary Blue (June 2020) 2of 19 ROCK THESE BLUES AWAY. The Recordings of John Lee Hooker since 1981 1.Recording sessions John Lee Hooker Vcl/gtr; Michael Osborn (gtr); James Bowers (gtr) –2, Robbie King (keybds) -2; Deacon Jones (org); Larry Hamilton (bass); Tim Richards (drms); Alison Hogan (bk-vcls) + horns -1 Vancouver (Canada), 1980/1 Jealous -1, -2 41763 Ninety Days -2 41763 Early One Morning 41763 When My First Wife Left Me 41763 Boogie Woman 41763 Well, Well 41763 I Didn't Know 41763 Worried Life Blues 41763 Ninety Days (reprise) 41763 Note. The date for these sessions has been confirmed by Mike Kappus. Previous discographical research put the date as 1986. CANNED HEAT Vcl/gtr-1; Bob Hite (hca) -2 ; Ronnie Barron (p); Mark Skyer, Chris Morgan (gtr); Richard Hite (bass); Aldolfp de la Para (drms); The Chambers Brothers: Willie, Lester, George & Joe Chambers (bk-vcls) -3 “live”, The Fox Venice Theatre, Venice, Ca, 1981 Tease Me Baby -1 R2-75776 Serve Me Right to Suffer -1, -2 R2-75776 Nobody But You -3 R2-75776 Note. This album is dedicated to Bob “The Bear” Hite, whose idea it was to record an evening with Canned Heat’s close friends; John Lee Hooker, and Lester, George, Willis and Joe Chambers. The evening turned into a real party, and the audience didn’t leave till 3:30 AM. Bob’s parting salutation summed it all up for then and for now, “don’t forget to Boogie!” Album Recorded Live at The Fox Venice Theatre, Venice, Calif. Mixed at Straitahead Studios, La Mesa, Calif. Produced for Wolfhead Productions & Straitahead Sound, Inc. Note. “Hooker’n’Heat Recorded Live” album by Canned Heat [Rhino R2-75776] has no other contributions by John Lee Hooker John Lee Hooker Vcl/gtr; Michael Osborn (gtr); Deacon Jones (org); Sue Stevens (pno); Larry Hamilton (bass); Tim Richards (drms) live.1984 One Bourbon One Scotch One Beer 13035 (dvd) Baby Lee 13054 (dvd) When My First Wife Left Me 13054 (dvd) Maudie 13054 (dvd) Hank Williams Jr. Vcl (overdub) Ray Charles (el-pno) (overdub). Added onto Nashville recording of Hank Williams Jr (vcl/gtr); Terry McMillan (hca/perc); John Jarvis (keybds); Richard Betts, Reggie Young (gtr); David Hungate (bass); Matt Betton Jr (drms) Nashville Tn c1984 Blues Medley: 25088 My starter won’t start / Hold up your head / One kind favor / Trouble in mind Note. “Live (Major Moves) album by Hank Williams Jr [Warner Bros LP25088] has no other contributions by John Lee Hooker The Color Purple s/trk Vcl; Sonny Terry (hca); Roy Gaines (gtr); Paul Jackson Jr. (gtr); Bobby Scott (pno) Compiled and annotated by Gary Blue (June 2020) 3of 19 ROCK THESE BLUES AWAY. The Recordings of John Lee Hooker since 1981 Los Angeles, CA. c. 1985 Don’t Make Me No Never Mind (Slow Drag) QW-25389 Big Head Todd & The Monsters Vcl/gtr; Big Head Todd & The Monsters: Todd Park Mohr (vcl/gtr/kybd); Rob Squires (bass); Brian Nevin (drms) Plant Recording Studio, Sausalito, CA. c. 1986 Boom Boom 24661 Note. “Beautiful World” album by Big Head Todd & The Monsters [Warner Brothers LP24661] has no other contributions by John Lee Hooker John Lee Hooker Vcl/gtr; Bruce Kaplan (gtr); Deacon Jones (org); Elvin Bishop (slide); John Sunders (pno); Jim Guyett (bass); Bowen Brown (drms). Dragon Studios Redwood City, CA, 1986 We’ll Meet Again 41763 Deacon Jones Vcl/gtr; Bruce Kaplan (gtr); Deacon Jones (org); John Sunders (pno); Bill Burton (drms). Overdub of Elvin Bishop (slide); Will Harrison (bass) Redwood City, CA, 1986 My Hometown 107 Michael Osborn Vcl; Michael Osborn (gtr); Mark Ford (hca); Ed Reinhart (pno); Steve Ehrmann (bass); Brent Ramponi (drms) Redwood City, CA, 1986 I Am The Boogie Man CCD11020 Cookin' With The Hook CCD11020 John Lee Hooker Vcl/gtr; Charlie Musselwhite (hca)-1, Roy Rogers (slide); Henry Vestine (gtr); Larry Taylor (bass); Fito De La Para (drms) Russian Hill Studios, San Francisco, CA. 2 Jan 1987 Cuttin' Out -1 ORECD508 Little Wheel RUFCD1066 + 2 other tracks Vcl/gtr, Russian Hill Studios, San Francisco, CA. Feb 1987 Deep Blue Sea 40107-2 Hittin' The Bottle Again V2-86553 Rockin' Chair ORECD508 No Substitute ORECD508 + 4 other tracks Vcl/gtr; Charlie Musselwhite (hca); Roy Rogers (gtr); Steve Ehrmann (bass); Scott Matthews (drms) Russian Hill Studios, San Francisco, CA.