This release presents one of Hooker's most difficult to find albums, the eponymous 'John Lee Hooker', originally released in 1962 by the Fantasy Records subsidiary Galaxy label. It includes a selection of recordings Hooker made with his electric guitar during different sessions in the 1950s. All of the dates were produced by Bernard Besman, the man who helped define Hooker's recorded sound, which often relied upon heavy walking beats, boogies, and an eerie atmosphere. Most of the LP contains raw solo recordings like the opener 'Might As Well Say We're Through', 'Left My Wife and My Baby', and 'Fire at Natchez', among others, combined with some full band performances such as 'Lost My Job', and the great 'Shake It Up and Go'.
Track Listing:
1. Might As Well Say We're Through - John Lee Hooker
2. Risin' Sun (Louisiana Voo-doo) - John Lee Hooker
3. Lost My Job - John Lee Hooker
4. Left My Wife and My Baby - John Lee Hooker
5. Travelin' Day and Night - John Lee Hooker
6. Deep Down in My Heart - John Lee Hooker
7. Let's Talk It Over (Bonus Track) - John Lee Hooker
8. Shake It Up and Go - John Lee Hooker
9. Fire at Natchez - John Lee Hooker
10. The Sweetest Girl I Know - John Lee Hooker
11. Mad With You Baby - John Lee Hooker
12. My Mother-in-law Moved In - John Lee Hooker
13. Ballad to Abraham Lincoln - John Lee Hooker
14. Baby, You Ain't No Good (Bonus Track) - John Lee Hooker
Year of Production: 1962
