Three CDs. Ace acquired a lot of John Lee Hooker sides when we bought the Sensation label from Bernard Besman. Bernie had also sold some sides to United Artists and to Greene Bottle before then. However, no one had carried out a forensic investigation into exactly what we had bought, up until now. These three CDs contain all of the Besman John Lee Hooker sides gathered in one place for the first time. Also included is the Little Eddie Kirkland RPM single with John Lee Hooker on second guitar and vocal. There has been meticulous tape research for best sources so the mastering far exceeds anything presented before as anyone who has the 'Boogie Chillen'/Boogie Chillen' #2 (take 2)' 78 recently issued by Ace on the Sensation label can attest. 19 different, previously unreleased versions of songs appeared in the research for the project, including extended takes and alternative versions. There is an introductory note from Peter Guralnick and a comprehensive overview of the music from Dr Wayne Goins, Director of Jazz Studies at Kansas State University. It also comes with a sessionography covering all the tracks on the CDs. These early Hooker recordings are akin to jazz as much as the blues, with an improvisatory feel, harking back to the pre-war era, but with a very distinct approach and a unique sound presaging the blues that was to come, into the '50s and '60s.

Tracklist:

Sally Mae
War Is Over (Goodbye California) (Extended Version)
War Is Over (Goodbye California) (Alt Take)
War Is Over (Goodbye California) (Extended Version of GB LP 3130)
Boogie Chillen'
Henry's Swing Club
Drifting from Door to Door
Hobo Blues
Numbers Blues (Aka She Ain't Good for Nothin') 1
Alberta 1
Alberta (Alt Take) 1
Howlin' Wolf 1
Crawlin' King Snake 1
Hoogie Boogie (Instrumental) 1
Hastings Street Boogie (Extended Version) 1
Build Myself a Cave (Aka the World Is in a Tangle) (Take #1) 1
Build Myself a Cave (Take #2) 1
Build Myself a Cave (Take #3) 1
Build Myself a Cave (Specialty LP Version) 2
Graveyard Blues 2
Momma Poppa Boogie 2
Burnin' Hell 2
Sailing Blues (Aka Drifting Blues) 2
Black Cat Blues 2
Weeping Willow Boogie 2
Miss Sadie Mae 2
Sail on Little Girl 2
Alberta Part 2 2
Wednesday Evening 3
Canal Street Blues 3
Huckle Up Baby 3
Let Your Daddy Ride 3
Goin' on Highway #51 3
My Baby's Got Somethin' 3
Boogie Chillen' #2 (Take 1) 3
Boogie Chillen' #2 (Take 2) 3
Boogie Chillen' #2 (Take 4) 3
Boogie Chillen' #2 3
Boogie Chillen' #2 (Aka 21 Boogie) (Extended Version) 4
Roll 'N' Roll (Alt Take) 4
Rollin' Blues 4
Three Long Years Today 4
Strike Blues (Extended Version) 4
Do My Baby Think of Me? 4
Give Me Your Phone Number (Alt Take) 4
The Story of a Married Woman (Alt Take) 4
Moon Is Rising (Alt Take) 4
John L's House Rent Boogie (Aka House Rent Boogie) 4
John L's House Rent Boogie (Fragment) (Alt Incomplete Take) 5
Queen Bee 5
Grinder Man 5
Walkin' This Highway 5
Women in My Life (Aka Goin' Away Baby) 5
Tease Me Baby (Aka Tease Me Over Baby) 5
I Need Lovin' (Aka Tease Me Over Baby) 5
How Can You Do It 5
I'm in the Mood (Three Voice) 5
I'm in the Mood (Humming Version) 5
I'm in the Mood (With Harmonica Overdub) 6
I'm in the Mood (Alt One Voice) 6
Turn Over a New Leaf 6
It Hurts Me So 6
It Hurts Me So (Alt Take) 6
I Got Eyes for You 6
I Got Eyes for You (Take 2 or Take 5) 6
Key to the Highway 6
I Got the Key (Aka Key to the Highway) 6
Bluebird Blues 6
That's All Right 7
It's Time for Lovin' to Be Done 7
That's All Right Boogie (Under Dub)

UPC: 029667097024
Label: Ace Records Uk
Release Date: 5.29.20
Format: CD

John Lee Hooker - Documenting The Sensation Recordings 1948-1952 (Import)