Hooker,John Lee Documenting The Sensation Recordings 1948-1952 CD

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.

1. Sally Mae 2. War Is Over (Goodbye California) (Extended Version) 3. War Is Over (Goodbye California) (Alt Take) 4. War Is Over (Goodbye California) (Extended Version of GB LP 3130) 5. Boogie Chillen' 6. Henry's Swing Club 7. Drifting from Door to Door 8. Hobo Blues 9. Numbers Blues (Aka She Ain't Good for Nothin') 10. Alberta 11. Alberta (Alt Take) 12. Howlin' Wolf 13. Crawlin' King Snake 14. Hoogie Boogie (Instrumental) 15. Hastings Street Boogie (Extended Version) 16. Build Myself a Cave (Aka the World Is in a Tangle) (Take #1) 17. Build Myself a Cave (Take #2) 18. Build Myself a Cave (Take #3) 19. Build Myself a Cave (Specialty LP Version) 20. Graveyard Blues 21. Momma Poppa Boogie 22. Burnin' Hell 23. Sailing Blues (Aka Drifting Blues) 24. Black Cat Blues 25. Weeping Willow Boogie 26. Miss Sadie Mae 27. Sail on Little Girl 28. Alberta Part 2 29. Wednesday Evening 30. Canal Street Blues 31. Huckle Up Baby 32. Let Your Daddy Ride 33. Goin' on Highway #51 34. My Baby's Got Somethin' 35. Boogie Chillen' #2 (Take 1) 36. Boogie Chillen' #2 (Take 2) 37. Boogie Chillen' #2 (Take 4) 38. Boogie Chillen' #2 39. Boogie Chillen' #2 (Aka 21 Boogie) (Extended Version) 40. Roll 'N' Roll (Alt Take) 41. Rollin' Blues 42. Three Long Years Today 43. Strike Blues (Extended Version) 44. Do My Baby Think of Me? 45. Give Me Your Phone Number (Alt Take) 46. The Story of a Married Woman (Alt Take) 47. Moon Is Rising (Alt Take) 48. John L's House Rent Boogie (Aka House Rent Boogie) 49. John L's House Rent Boogie (Fragment) (Alt Incomplete Take) 50. Queen Bee 51. Grinder Man 52. Walkin' This Highway 53. Women in My Life (Aka Goin' Away Baby) 54. Tease Me Baby (Aka Tease Me Over Baby) 55. I Need Lovin' (Aka Tease Me Over Baby) 56. How Can You Do It 57. I'm in the Mood (Three Voice) 58. I'm in the Mood (Humming Version) 59. I'm in the Mood (With Harmonica Overdub) 60. I'm in the Mood (Alt One Voice) 61. Turn Over a New Leaf 62. It Hurts Me So 63. It Hurts Me So (Alt Take) 64. I Got Eyes for You 65. I Got Eyes for You (Take 2 or Take 5) 66. Key to the Highway 67. I Got the Key (Aka Key to the Highway) 68. Bluebird Blues 69. That's All Right 70. It's Time for Lovin' to Be Done 71. That's All Right Boogie (Under Dub)