John Lee Hooker – Boogie Awhile – Krazy Kat CD 05

This eye-opening 1990 release on the Krazy Cat label features 22 remastered selections from “The Boogie Man” dating to his earliest years when he was laying-down tracks for a succession of small labels like JVB, Staff/Prize, and Danceland.  These tough cuts are rarely heard due to Hooker’s historically prolific recording history.  The songs found here were originally issued on a double LP that contained over 30 cuts.  There is some surface noise on certain of these selections that is attributable to the source recordings; however, Hooker’s work here establishes his attraction to unrelenting one-chord cadenced development, ethereal shades of numerous tunings, sporadic bursts of serrated notes, and a general feeling of chugging tempos.  His voice conjoins that capability to come from the lower registers gradually, with the combined whole achieved with a cagey, exceptional superiority. 

If you’re seeking Hooker at his rawest and, perhaps, most authentic, this one’s for you.  Hypnotic, persistent, droning, and maybe even somewhat primitive; those labels conceivably and most positively define the blues found here.

This is an essential blues release without any stipulation.  This anthology needs to be in any serious blues collection!

Below is the running track order of this excellent CD.

Song Titles

• Morning Blues
• Boogie Awhile
• Tuesday Evening
• Miss Pearl Boogie
• Good Business
• Mercy Blues
• Boogie Woogie
• I Love To Boogie
• Highway Blues
• Miss Rosie Mae (alternate take)
• Wayne County Ramblin’ Blues
• Leavin’ Chicago
• Shake Your Boogie
• Poor Slim (take 2)
• Must I Wait Till Your Man Is Gone
• Cotton Pickin’ Boogie
• Do The Boogie
• Christmas Time Blues
• Boogie Rambler
• No More Doggin’
• I’m A Boogie Man
• I Came To See You Baby