Track Listing

1. Boogie Chillen
2. This Is Hip
3. Healer
4. I Cover The Waterfront
5. Boom Boom
6. I'm In The Mood
7. Burnin' Hell
8. Tupelo
9. Baby Lee
10. Dimples
11. Chill Out (Things Gonna Change)
12. Big Legs Tight Skirt
13. Don't Look Back

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #102356 in Music
• Released on: 2001-06-25
• Number of discs: 1

Amazon.co.uk Review
Most times when a bluesman makes an album packed with superstar guests, it means that the music's going to take a beating. (For proof, hear B.B. King's 1997 Deuces Wild.) These 13 tunes are an exception. Ten are collected from previous CDs, so they represent the cream of Hooker's collaborations. His "Baby Lee" with Robert Cray is a joy. So is "I'm in the Mood", where Hooker hams it up with Bonnie Raitt. Oddly, he even fits into Santana's Latin groove on "The Healer". This album's three brand-new pairings with famous guitarists are mixed. Eric Clapton adds hot sauce to Hooker's sassy classic "Boogie Chillen". and Ben Harper's wah- wah and slide guitar gives "Burnin' Hell" a psychedelic sizzle. However, Ry Cooder's turn on "Big Legs Tight Skirt" is atypically anonymous. --Ted Drozdowski

CD Description
When John Lee Hooker recorded 1989's THE HEALER, it marked the beginning of the most successful period of his career. In the ensuing years, the Hook made a number of commercially and critically acclaimed records that found him playing alongside a host of legendary friends and admirers. THE BEST OF FRIENDS gathers together the cream of these collaborations in one place.
Being one of the greatest blues musicians ofall time means that John Lee Hooker's made some pretty famous acquaintances along the way. This means Los Lobos and Juke Logan back him on a swinging reading of "Dimples" and Carlos Santana helps create a kind of samba blues vibe for "The Healer" and "Chill Out (Things Gonna Change)". Also includedon FRIENDS are "I'm in the Mood", Hooker's Grammy Award-winning duet with Bonnie Raitt and two tracks with acolyte Van Morrison: the ominous "I Cover The Waterfront" and the wistful "Don't Look Back". The inclusion of new tracks with Ben Harper ("Burnin' Hell") and Eric Clapton ("Boogie Chillen") sweetens this package, but it is Hooker's solo reading of "Tupelo" that induces goosebumps.

Customer Reviews

John's final bow
This was the last body of studio work that was released during the great man life time. For a person who could barely read or write it is a great testament to the mans talent, that the guest artists on this album read like a who's who in the modern blues scene. With the likes of "Bonnie Rait" to "Robert Cray" anyone who knows anything about the blues, this is the man who lived and felt the music he played all his life. The great attraction for anybody who is a fan are tracks that were recorded for this album especially. As with all of Johns modern recordings the sound is of the highest quality, on the tracks that are just guitar and vocal you can hear his foot tapping on the stool he is sitting on, this set of songs could never do justice to such a long recording career but if you are new to this mans music it's a great starting point!

Raw blues power. Blues is the healer!!!
Before buying this album i was already a fan of john lee hooker's early work. He had a completely unique blues sound and voice. He also broke just about every 'rule' in the blues; rarely playing 'stardard 12 bars' and changing chord pretty much whenever he felt like it. This freeness in his style made his music sound raw, almost like a 'Delta Holler'. The lack of a set set structure and chord sequence in his music made it very difficult for other musicians to follow so when buying this album i wasn't sure what to expect musically.

I pressed play and out of the speakers came the most stomping, powerful version of boogie chillen i've ever heard. Other highlight tracks on the album have to be, 'The Healer', 'Boom Boom', 'I'm in the Mood', 'Dimples' and 'Chill Out'. The album is definitely full of variety.

All of the guest artists bring their own flavours but the album still retains all the feel, and blues power of john lee hooker's style. Carlos Santana's input's on the album is by far the most fruitfull. The combination of Carlos' screaming, intense guitar playing and his latin feel with john lee's moody, laid back, blues vocals result in almost a completely different style of music. In spite of his years, John Lee Hooker's vocals are on excellent form, and carry the same emotion as always.

What makes this album so good is the way the different guest artist's interpret John Lee's music and adapt their playing but still add their own flavour while retaining John Lee Hooker's whole music style. The music on this album has a slightly stricter structure than most of his early work, making it far easier for people who are new to his style to appreciate.

I would definitely reccomend this album to someone new to John Lee Hooker's music. Its a fantastic collection of his latter day music with great feel and the same raw sounding vocals of his earlier work.

astonishing collection!
one of the greatest rock n1` blues ever made.perhaps it`s the best collection of j.l. hooker.especially,since there are many other great artists that accompany this legend. their guitar playing is superb.just listen to it nad get amazzed with their skill,espeacially Hooker`s skill to play the guitar.his voice is extraordinary.likes it comes from heaven.!!