Comments for Hooker, John Lee, The Legendary Modern Recordings 1948-1954

From the beginning of his career, {Hooker} recorded prolifically, sometimes for several labels at once, sometimes under a number of pseudonyms. That makes his discography a bit difficult for the collectorto sort out, but if you want just one document of his early years, this is the anthology of choice, containing 24 sides from 1948 to 1954 thatwere issued on the Modern label. These, more than any other, are the recordings that did the most to establish the {Hooker} protoype -- theoveramplified electric guitar, the moody boogies, the stomping foot rhythms, performed without a rhythm section (some sides featureaccompaniment by {Eddie Kirkland} on second guitar). Contains his two most massive early hits, "Boogie Chillen" and "I`m in the Mood," as well as his oft-covered "Crawling Kingsnake." This one can get a bit similar-sounding over the course of two dozen tracks, but little other post-war electric blues can match the stark power here.