About

A TAV Essential Listening Album.

“John Lee Hooker himself did not know his exact date of birth. If he hadn't died at around the age of 80, this ageless musician would still be easily pulling the next generation to his gigs. Hooker remains a phenomenon, a mysterious figure of black rhythm and blues, a charismatic king who reigns supreme in rock 'n' roll's Hall of Fame. John W. Peters described his music as a synthesis of scorching emotional ardour, unrelenting rhythmic intensity, and original poetry of a highly personal character. Anyone hearing him for the first time may well be startled at the unfiltered passion and power of his music.

 And another surprise is in store for those who compare Hooker's late recordings with those made in the Sixties. His unmistakable, raw voice has fully matured, but his incantory style of singing appears markedly finer and more flexible. And then there is the perfect gem of a rhythm group whose sinewy sounds fill the grooves with merciless gravitational force. It's enough to make your spine tingle.” – Acoustic Sounds

"Mastered from the original tapes by Kevin Gray and pressed on two pristine slabs of 180g vinyl at RTI, Analogue Productions' limited-edition 45rpm version of this 1966 classic stands as one of the best-sounding, richest blues records you'll ever have the opportunity to hear.

Originally released on Impulse in 1966, It Serve You Right to Suffer serves up eight tracks of topnotch blues, complete with the boogie groove that John Lee Hooker became synonymous with. Highlights include the title track; the uptempo, low-key "Shake It Baby"; the relaxed but rhythmically tight "Country Boy"; the danceable "Bottle Up & Go"; and the slow, sexy shuffle of "Sugar Mama." Everything here, basically, is hypnotic and engaging.

And another surprise is in store for those who compare Hooker's late recordings with those made in the Sixties. His unmistakable, raw voice has fully matured, but his incantatory style of singing appears markedly finer and more flexible. And then there is the perfect gem of a rhythm group whose sinewy sounds fill the grooves with merciless gravitational force. No wonder this is one of the blues icon's most formidable affairs.

So many of Hooker's albums weren't recorded well, but this is an exception, and this exquisite edition does justice to all of the information in the grooves. A must own, but don't wait on it." – Press Release

Musicians:

• John Lee Hooker, guitar, vocals
• David "Panama" Francis, drums
• Joe Galbreath, guitar
• Milt Hinton, bass
• William Wells, trombone

Item description: