The Healer

Who knew the blues had any kind of presence in the late 80’s? This was great. It definitely carried the feel of “boomer music,” reminding me of more commercial blues my parents probably ate up at the time and for years after. But in that way it was a little nostalgic and honestly kind of fun. There are some excellent guests on here, too, and they do add something to the production. They’re not just there for album sales. They felt like legit collaborations. Overall I had a fun time with this, but I don’t see it sticking in my head as anything other than that. Four stars. Standout Tracks: The Healer, I’m In the Mood, Think Twice Before You Go, That’s Alright, Rocking Chair, My Dream

good album not 80's at all. I'm reading Hooker has much better albums though! not in the list apparently.

Enjoyed this new-to-me artist!

this was pretty good, killer vibes.

Supreme guitar and singers!

bluezinho de cria

Great intro to blues for an inexperienced ear. I enjoyed it!

Is this list turning me into a blues fan? WTF? I surprised myself by really enjoying this!! So many great songs here had me groovin' in my car this morning. More of a 4.5. Might have to listen to this again to decide which songs to keep on my phone.

3.5

Very listenable blues - with Carlos Santana's guitar and Bonnie Raitt's voice lending themselves to the project, it couldn't go wrong. Good stuff.

John Lee Hooker - He had some talent. You really feel the music alongside him. A "who's who" on this album. Best tracks - The Healer; Sally Mae; Rockin Chair; No Substitute A really good 4/5

Really enjoyed this - lovely bit of blues rock from a legend, featuring cameos from many other legends.

Pretty good traditional blues

4 - Some solid blues music. Don't think I could go higher honestly, but I really enjoyed it.

Favourite tracks: the healer; I'm in the mood; think twice before you go; no substitute

Fuckin love the blues

A nice celebration of the blues. I enjoyed all of the collaborations, but JLH’s three solo tracks at the end are just as mesmerizing. I’m guessing he did not, but I do wonder if Hooker ever met Robert Johnson in his lifetime - they were about the same age from around the same area.

4.5 stars. Really dug this album. After the leadoff title track that felt too 80's synth-y, it just became a really solid blues record. Standout was "That's Alright".

I really enjoyed this today. Maybe a 3 on another day, but we going 4 on this chilly april Friday - cause that HEAT warmed me right up.

I struggled with myself for a long time but I give the album 4 stars because of the song "The Healer".

This is a 1989 album from blue legend John Lee Hooker, released when he was 73. Featuring collaborations with several well known younger folk, like Bonnie Raitt and Carlos Santana. I have his 1995 album (Chill Out) which is a similar undertaking (and which I prefer). Both are solid offerings, and a testament that these old blues guys had more soul in their later years than most of today's performers in their prime. Worth hearing, everybody needs to be exposed to the blues. The "modern' recordings sound a lot better than the output from the 40's, 5's and early 60's, and that's a prime appeal of this recording. Solid 4/5

Solid effort from John Lee Hooker and friends. Lot’s of trademark John Lee Hooker mumbling and crunchy blues rifts. Standout track for me is the Healer with Carlos Santana

Released in 1989 at the ripe age of 72, John Lee Hooker's "The Healer" wasn't just an album; it was a revitalization. This in-depth review explores the record's lyrical depth, musical textures, production choices, thematic undercurrents, and lasting influence, while acknowledging its strengths and weaknesses. Lyrics: Raw Tales and Timeless Truths Hooker's signature growl isn't just a vocal style; it's a storytelling device. Lyrics on "The Healer" are often blunt and evocative. Tracks like "Boom Boom" and "Sally Mae" (featuring George Thorogood) detail gritty realities of love, loss, and the road. "That's Alright" (with Charlie Musselwhite) delves into heartache with a simple line like, "Woke up this mornin', the blues all around my bed." These aren't flowery metaphors; they're raw pronouncements that resonate across generations. However, the album isn't all hardship. "I'm in the Mood" (with Bonnie Raitt) showcases a playful side, while the title track, featuring Carlos Santana, speaks of music's healing power: "The music's like a doctor, it can ease your pain." These contrasting themes paint a well-rounded picture of the blues experience. Music: From Boogie Roots to Genre-Bending Collaborations Hooker's music is the foundation. His hypnotic, repetitive guitar riffs, often referred to as "boogie," form the backbone of most tracks. Tracks like "No Shoes" and "Chick Boogie" exemplify this stripped-down, hypnotic style. However, "The Healer" is where the magic happens. Producer Roy Rogers masterfully weaves in guest appearances that breathe new life into Hooker's sound. Los Lobos injects a Tex-Mex groove on "Ninety Nine," while Robert Cray adds soulful flourishes on "Baby Lee." The most daring experiment is the title track, with Santana's band infusing the blues with Latin rhythms, showcasing the genre's adaptability. Production: Modern Polish Meets Vintage Soul Rogers' production walks a tightrope. He utilizes modern recording techniques to ensure clarity, yet retains the raw, visceral feel of classic blues. Instruments are crisp and well-defined, but never overproduced. Hooker's vocals remain front and center, their roughness a testament to his authenticity. This approach isn't flawless. Some purists might feel the guest appearances dilute Hooker's signature sound. However, the production's strength lies in its ability to bridge the gap between traditional blues and a contemporary audience. Themes: Love, Loss, and the Power of Music Love and its tribulations are a constant theme. From the longing of "Baby Lee" to the infidelity of "Ninety Nine," these songs depict raw emotions with unflinching honesty. Loss and hardship surface in tracks like "That's Alright," while the celebratory nature of music is explored in "The Healer." Ultimately, the album is about resilience. Despite the struggles, the music itself offers solace and a sense of community. Influence: A Bridge Between Generations "The Healer" wasn't just a comeback for Hooker; it was a bridge between generations. The inclusion of popular blues and rock artists exposed Hooker's music to a new audience. This revitalized interest in the blues had lasting effects, inspiring countless musicians and fostering a renewed appreciation for the genre's roots. Pros and Cons: A Balanced Approach "The Healer" is a landmark album. However, it's not without its drawbacks. Pros: Hooker's powerful vocals and timeless lyrics Guest appearances that breathe new life into his music Production that balances clarity with a vintage feel Exploration of universal themes Lasting influence on the blues genre Cons: Guest appearances might dilute Hooker's sound for purists Production choices might feel too polished for some Conclusion: A Healing Touch "The Healer" is more than just a collection of songs; it's a testament to the enduring power of music. John Lee Hooker's raw talent, combined with innovative production and stellar collaborations, created a blues masterpiece that transcends generations. While some may find the modern touches jarring, it's undeniable that "The Healer" successfully revitalized Hooker's career and served as a gateway drug for a new generation of blues enthusiasts. Ultimately, it's an album that deserves a place in any serious music collection.

A good album, I enjoyed the music style.

enjoyed it

Pretty solid bluesy soul album

Personally, I believe the 80s and 90s was where the blues were at their lowest. A lot of the artists couldn’t compete with the rising popularity of R&B or hip hop. Those who tried did so fruitlessly. John Lee Hooker is one of my favorite blues musicians. He has such an incredibly powerful voice that I can’t help but get behind. The features are pretty fun as well. Blues albums have never been known for their wildly fabulous production, so I don’t expect that of this project either. John’s got a good range of both slow and fast tracks interspersed to give the album a good beat. Also, having the last three be without features and solely John was a great choice. Makes the album come to a beautiful and thoughtful end. It really is just a nice album, though not game changing. Simply a fun listen. 4/5

I have to admit, I would have liked an older album of John Lee Hooker better. It felt a little bit like trying to keep something alive, which just didn't fit into the times anymore. That said, it was not a bad album. Classic blues (except maybe for the first song which had a more latin-y feel) and the perfect length. I was just wondering, when it would be finished when the last song ended. It's an album for blues people. If you like blues, you're probably going to like this album. On the other hand, if you don't like blues, it won't convince you otherwise.

It's blues, but in the late 80s? Unrelated, but I had no idea. This was the one bourbon one scotch one beer guy. Pretty solid.

A fine album with some stellar cameos from the likes of Los Lobos, Santana and Bonnie Raitt complementing a varied repertoire of blues numbers from John Lee Hooker

So smooth

This album is No Substitute. I’m In the Mood now

Done at the time of the blues revival and hooker was one of the original 50s blues men and one of the most important. Apart from the slick production and guest stars, it’s a decent example of what Hooker did so well - the boogie - though I’d recommend his 50s output.

An incredible blues album. Only reason it’s not higher is because I know he has better albums, but there are some real gems in here

Wow talk about racist. wtaf

The solo songs are by far the best and breathtaking on their own terms – just massive power comes through the near whisper. The duets have the feel of (best case) victory tour/charitable testimonial and (worst case) an outright gimmick. Still, the vocals are haunting and powerful, quite obviously, JLH is the voice of god (James Earl Jones being the understudy). One's certain there are far better records to include here.

Heerlijk album. Dat heb je toch met de echte Blues legendes: zelfs na decennia actief zijn weten ze nog steeds lekkere muziek te maken. Enig puntje is dat er niks echt bovenuit steekt. Dus voor mij een hele goede 4 sterren.

This was a really cool album. Was not familiar with JLH or blues music really, but the large number of cross-genre features was interesting.

I enjoyed this album.

Would listen again.

Start studded list of collaborators. Just a fantastic blues album that I’m upset with myself for just discovering

Good traditional blues from good blues musician. I like it.

7/10. Nothing truly caught my ear, but it was pleasant and bluesy

Great guitar riffs on this album, some active listening demanded

Bluesy, I like it!

There's a lot of overlap here with many other blues groups and artists, including Carlos Santana, surprisingly(?). Hooker almost seems like a larger-than-life figure in that respect. He has a large discography that I need to work through, no doubt that it's worth listening to.

Didn’t know about this album but it’s really great. 4/5

This was a real fun Blues listen. John Lee has an incredible voice and this music is just so soulful.

It's good, really enjoyable. No song really stuck, but does that really matter?

Great collaborations

Heerlijke jazz om bij weg te swoelen

Each album I listen to while I'm high tend to get more favorable reviews since I tend to enjoy music more in general that way; but this one definitely deserves praise sober or not. It's one of my favorite types of blues rock and has a surprising amount of high profile features from santana to bonnie raitt to George Thorogood. It might not hit the same spot on relisten but it's definitely well produced and well written.

Enjoyable enough

Just what I was feeling today! Really enjoyed this album.

Pretty great.

Pretty cool bluesy album. I like the guitar and the lead vocalist's voice. A little bit repetitive on the back end, but overall really good album imo. 4/5

i just love the blues. what else can i say?

Bastante guay

Una joya del slow blues.

Klingt cool, reduziert, melancholisch.

Blues always has this wood-like charm that I've always loved. And this album is the bluesiest that I've heard in a while.

The song with Santana is cool.

I enjoyed this album, especially the duet with Bonnie Raitt. The last three "solo" songs are quintessential "bluesman with a guitar". I wish they had included Boom Boom Boom. Maybe that would have pushed it to a 5 for me.

Star Studded blues album. Enjoyable, but not particularly striking beyond the artists on display.

The Healer is explicitly collaborative, wisely frontloading the guests to leave the afterimage all John Lee Hooker. Satisfying record qua record, easy ramp into a genre highly-particular and much-stolen.

Good change of pace from what’ve I’ve listened to so far

Nice, definitely worth a revisit. Soulful easy blues. The opening track with Santana is great

I’m glad an artist like John Lee Hooker is on this list. I’m sure this could be considered a safe choice based on the more popular artists who appear on it but if that’s what it takes to get the blues recognized than I’m fine with it. Hooker is the classic blues man who never got the respect that he deserved at his peak and I’m happy he achieved that recognition with this album.

Wiki info was promising. I like classic blues, say Chicago Blues, add that everyone wanted to join in with this legend, Bonnie Raitt, George Thorogood Robert Cray and unfortunately Santana (1st song is really terrible, spoiling the album). Rest was beautiful, with as highlight Rockin' Chair .

Its chill, relaxing, peaceful.

I was skeptical going in, but this album is the real deal. Although I would have preferred some classic John Lee Hooker, this album is a great listen. Hooker's in excellent voice and the collaborations with other artists work really well. The guest performers could have been just icing on the cake, but every performance on here is top notch. I love how you can very specifically hear the idiosyncrasies of the individual artists, all of whom are masters in their own right. I mean, the Los Lobos song is totally a Los Lobos song and the Canned Heat song is unmistakably Canned Heat. George Thorogood, yep that's him for sure. But every song is also completely a John Lee Hooker song; he commands every inch of the album. This is collaboration done right. Finishing off the whole thing with the three Hooker solo tracks was absolutely a perfect touch. Fave Songs: I'm in the Mood, Cuttin' Out, Sally Mae, My Dream, No Substitute, Baby Lee

i Love!

I think the guitar work so far in this album is the definition of "blistering". Kinda SRV-esque, fun guitar driven blues

Good blues album.

first blues album in this challenge (and also in my life). it's very good, i enjoyed it. tracks added: 4 fav track: cuttin out 8/10

eka biisi kuullosti santanalta.. heh katsomaan menin...santana siellä listattuna biisin tekijöissä.. blues on objektiivinen vitonen joten ei voi mitään. valitse hyvä genre niin saat hyvän arvostelun heh ei kannata new wave post punk indie yrittää vähän vaikeempi silloinen heh... toivottavasti tältä ukolta tulee aikaisempaa työtä vastaan... liikaa huonoja lenkkejä.. atrian punainen lenkki...eikä HK BLUUESSI!!!!!!! the healer

Classic old school blues with some younger guests

Ah ça j’aime!

Enjoyed

Album dat John Lee Hooker vereeuwigde als blues legende. De tracklist bestaat voor het grootste deel uit collaboraties met andere artiesten zoals Santana, Robert Cray en Los Lobos. Lekkere nummer met goed gitaarspel Blues wordt niet beter dan dit. leukste nummer: Think Twice Before You Go Hooker ging richting 73 bij uitkomst van het album. Het succes van The Healer zorgde ervoor dat hij de rest van zijn leven comfortabel kon doorbrengen.

Great album with some really good collabs

"The Healer" is an album by American blues singer, songwriter and guitarist John Lee Hooker. Executive producer Mike Kappus conceived the idea of putting Hooker with guest musicians and on this album Hooker's collaborations are with Santana, Bonnie Raitt, Robert Cray, Canned Heat, Los Lobos, George Thorogood and Charlie Musselwhite. This album received critical and commercial success allowing the 73-year old Hooker to live the rest of life in financial comfort. And, it also won the Grammy for Best Traditional Blues Performance. The album starts off with the Santana collaboration "The Healer." A carribbean beat. The classic Carlos Santana guitar sound. Muddled Hooker vocals. It's smooth and sounds like something off of Santana similar album "Supernatural" a decade later. Get it? Sorry. Bonnie Raitt and John Lee redo his 1951 "I'm in the Mood." This is more classic blues. Great blues guitar. My favorite collaboration might be with Canned Heat, believe it or not, on "Cuttin.'" I love the Canned Heat harmonica mixed with the Hooker guitar. And great guitar that is. Another big highlight is with Los Lobos in "Think Twice Before You Go." The Los Lobos beat. You got the David Hidalgo accordion. More great searing guitars. Charlie Musselwhite's harmonica has "That's Alright" sounding like a slower version of "When the Levee Breaks." Always a good thing. The last three songs on the album are solo Hooker and more straight-forward blues. My favorite of these is the last song "No Substitute." A stomping beat. Acoustic blues guitar. Hooker reaching back for some soulful vocals...maybe his best on the album. All of these collaborations work really well creating a fusion of both artists involved yet fully in the blues genre. The thunderous Hooker vocals. His guitar is perfectly placed always there never completely dominating. Great production by Roy Rogers and a recommended album for all music fans.

Great opening track. Overall nice easy to listen blues. 3,5/5

lo ame

John Lee Hooker is a blues legend whose career started before anyone else on the 1001, and it’s pretty cool that his late career work like “The Healer” gets representation here, won Grammys, and helped new generations find the blues.

Nice.

I felt pretty cool listening to this, feel its pretty telling that the best songs on it have other artists, starts to lose its way towards the end. Still good stuff

Riktigt bra!

Starts off very well then gets a bit samey.

Great blues album for a Friday afternoon

I like John Lee Hooker in general. He has a track or two that I will probably always come back to. The Healer was new music to me. I saved just over half of the tracks from the album for a re-listen later, including "Baby Lee", "Think Twice Before You Go" and "Rockin' Chair". Overall this album was fairly mellow, but with enough groove to keep toes tapping.

I’m not a blues guy, but if I want to listen to the blues, I’m coming back to this. 1 - bad 2 - average 3 - good 4 - great 5 - outstanding

cool 7.5/10

John was 73 years old when he recorded this album and he sounds as good as ever. Delta Blues has such a unique sound and feel, and John was a founding father. If you love the Black Keys, you'll recognize where their sound came from after hearing John (they even cover Crawlin King Snake). Fav song - In The Mood.

Man, I really like the blues. I am relatively unfamiliar with John Lee Hooker though. From what I read from other reviews, the collaborations tainted the album, but not knowing the difference I thought the album was really good. I'm going to listen to more John Lee Hooker for sure.

Just fantastic. Love John Lee Hooker. Love this genre. Favorite song was In the Mood with Bonnie Raitt

Classic blues, its great but not my thing.

Love me some John Lee Hooker.

Really great blues tunes

4 I’m glad to see more regular blues popping up on this list. I can start putting names to specific sounds and styles I like and feel particularly nostalgic for. John Lee Hooker in my family is up there with BB King, Muddy Waters, and Buddy Guy as one of the major blues greats. John Lee Hooker was also the subject of how I learned what a cameo is because of his very brief appearance in 1980’s cult classic film “The Blues Brothers”. On the subject of this album though, one thing I’m finding myself impressed with is the balance of sounds going on. Nothing sounds out of place or too loud without reason. I can’t deny though that it does get kind of samey near the middle but there’s something about the rhythms and instrumentals that keeps me invested. I guess blues is my folk music. The slower more straight up blues tracks are where I think this album shines brightest, especially near the end when the featured artists step off and John Lee Hooker is the one on display. The faster paced songs also brought about a nice change but I think it’s when the album makes attempts to modernize is where it has trouble. It’s probably just me but I always found keyboard has a tendency to clash with the intent and vibe of blues and it kinda just becomes rock music. I wish I was more familiar with the featured artists so I could understand better what each one brings to the table but by no means was anyone a detractor. All-in-all I thought this was a really nicely done blues album that makes me feel all warm and happy inside. Favorites: I’m in the Mood, Baby Lee, Cuttin’ Out, Think Twice Before You Go, Sally Mae, Rockin’ Chair

Bon album de blues, je m'y connais pas assez pour dire si chef d'oeuvre ou pas mais belle voix et bien accompagné

PREFS : Baby Lee, Cuttin' Out, Think Twice Before You Go, Rockin' Chair, My Dream, No Substitute MOINS PREF : I'm in the Mood

Rating: 7/10

Couple of standouts kick off this album, then it flows to solid, but less-inspired, blues numbers through the end. Duet albums always seem a bit disjointed in my opinion. The closing solo tracks are stronger than the middle bits. 3.5 and rounding up! Boom Boom

Cool blues

Very enjoyable blues album from a legend. Could've done without the Santana-smothered opener though.

Santana takes Hooker's raw blues and serves them overcooked. Other than that a decent album.

Unfortunately, the title track is what can only nominally be considered a blues track - it's really a Santana track, so I was a little suspicious at first, but thankfully things pick up quickly after that. Robert Cray's guitar on "Baby Lee" is fantastic, and "Think Twice Before You Go" actually made me want to get up and dance. Friends, NOTHING makes me want to get up and dance, so that's saying something. Charlie Musselwhite's harmonica on "That's Alright" is more than alright. And Hooker's deeply soulful vocals and lyrics on "My Dream" and "No Substitute" round out a really enjoyable album.

First track almost made me throw up but the rest of it is solid

Classic

I grew up on John Lee hooker.

Some of that good ass blues

The kinda blues where you’re so horny you gotta sit on a rocking chair and rock real fast and make up a blues song about how you’re doing the horny rocking chair dance

Solid blues with some great guest appearances.

Gentle, lots of guests, a legend. Nothing to hate, nothing that makes be see the world in a new way. Four stars for longevity.

I was going through a big blues phase in the late 80s, and John Lee Hooker was my favorite bluesman. I just loved the style of his guitar playing. So when this album came out I was really into it. John Lee Hooker is such a blues legend, it was great to see him finally get his due and that this album enabled him to live out his later years in comfort. I got to see him live right around this time, which was amazing. It's really nice to revisit this album after all these years. 4 stars.

Very bluesy. I imagine it’s Mary Alice’s cup of tea! Definitely something I’d listen to on vinyl while cooking or cleaning at home.

Some very good songs. Had never gotten into him. Great voice.

I didn't know what to expect with this album at all. The first song I thought, "this sounds a lot like Santana, was Santana considered blues?"...its because Santana collaborated on the song. Great album.

One of the great classics

This was a lovely experience! Roots blues music is perfect for Mondays! It's not one of the best albums of my life, but is absolutely good to listen to these clean guitars!

For coming out in 1989 this certainly had an old jazz feel which was cool! I enjoyed this!

This was a major comeback for the 72 year old blues legend, during a time I was very much into blues music myself. My obsession with the blues has faded a lot over the years, but after a few listens I can still appreciate the album today. Most of the songs have a very stripped down setting, which I have always preferred when it comes to this genre. The recording sounds very crisp as well, and there are several interesting guest appearances to check out.

Very good. Never thought that blues could be this good.

I could listen to this all day, and I almost did. A great and accessible blues record with some big name guest appearances. Rating: 4/5 Playlist track: I'm In The Mood Date listened: 07/10/22

blues!!! loved.

It's OK. His voice is lovely.

I thought this was a pretty good album calling back to classic Blues music. I quite enjoyed this, though I admit some of the songs seemed a little repetitive. Favourite: Cuttin' Out

I enjoyed this, but then I knew I would. John Lee Hooker is The Tits when it comes to blues. This isn't quite what I expected, being a touch more 80s than anything I've heard by him before. Good though.

I'm not sure how to describe this album, it's not a perfect album but also it isn't bad, it's just blues that I could enjoy listening from time to time. Some songs are repetitive but even that doesn't make the album boring it's just a peculiar album

Even though in some ways this is the kind of blues that ends up all sounding the same to me, I think the different guests really made the songs they were on distinctive. And I liked his singing, and the guitar was really good.

valid blues

Really enjoyed the blues style and pacing

Good bluest album

Skip the first song, rest is golden.

Great Blues with lots of great collaborators

Not my preferred genre but nonetheless an enjoyable album!

Some fantastic rockin' blues from a true legend.

Ah, the old trope: "If the old guy can't sell the record on his own, let's get people who are influenced by him to guest on the album." (Although if we got everyone influenced by JLH there would be no room to hear anyone...) Still, for the most part, I liked the album. I didn't feel like they were trying to pigeonhole him into songs he wouldn't really do. I thought the last two songs dragged on a bit too much, but sometimes that happens in the blues. They overstay their welcome. Never been a big fanned of Canned Heat, but they weren't as overbearing as I thought they would be on Cuttin't Out. The album, as a whole, isn't as straight-up blues as I was expecting. But even so, I enjoyed it for what it was. Probably the stand out songs here were the first three tracks and the one with Los Lobos.

Feels like a tale of two albums here. I did not like the over-produced first half with all the guest appearances. Too much hokey extra "flare" added in, like on the title track (sounded like a Sade song) and the tracks with Canned Heat and Los Lobos. I didn't mind his duet with Bonnie Raitt since they were just playing and singing; ditto for Baby Lee, Sally Mae, and That's Alright where the guests were just playing guitar or harmonica. Still, I much preferred the stripped down last three tracks especially Rockin' Chair and No Substitute. Feels like a 3.5, but I'm rounding up because the legend was 73 and still holding it down when he put out this album.

He’s got the Blues

Typical 80's overproduction. The songs were good, but too polished for Hooker's style of blues. Thank heaven for the last 5 tracks, from "Sally Mae" to the end. THAT was John Lee blues.

I was torn between a 4-5 star. Lots of bops, cool guests, cool sounds

Well not normally my cup of tea but this is actually a nice restrained and classy blues album - surprising for me to find it enjoyable because normally I find the genre tiresome. Listen to this on a swelteringly hot humid day for maximum pleasure.

Amazing!

Wow, pretty late album from JLH. Very solid, very bluesy. (7/10) FT: The Healer, Think Twice Before You Go

Excellent newer blues.

Sounds good! Nice for a background

pretty good blues album. there are a few songs where the 80s production shows but other than that it's a solid album

Highlights: Healer, In the Mood.

Some great collaborations with Uncle John. What a man, singer and guitarist he was. Particularly love the Santana collab.

What a great album! The guitar play is textbook perfect, without being too much or overshadowing the vocals.

Solid Blues and Rock n' Roll

pretty good blues sounds. I liked to variety of artists paired with John Lee.

Great album, and I have another of his albums that includes a number of the songs on this one. Very much enjoyed some good old blues with modern(ish...) artists. 4

5th April 2022 Listened in the morning while working from home before going out to meet sav and watch the Liverpool match (benfica 1-3) and he asked me to be one of his best men! Wasn’t crazy about the Santana combo to open but you can’t not love a bit of JLH. Elder statesmen of the blues.

Loving Santana's collaboration on the title track, along with the percussion. Great combination. Awesome singing and guitar by Bonnie Rait on 'I'm in the mood'. Otherwise great guitar work and vocals throughout the album.

Leuk blues album

It was really good but probably my least favorite so far.

What a bop. Had no expectations and loved this start to finish. Lyrically it's not particularly inspired but musically fantastic with a high energy start that melds into a more mellow mood by the end. It's a 4.5, if the system would allow!

Okay, now this is my shit right here. What an absolute vibe. Pure blues, pure vibes, pure 4/5, close to a 5, just needed to be longer.

I went to the Church of Blues today, and it was healing.

Some great blues from JLH and some of 1989's more mainstream artists. Loved The Healer with Carlos Santana, I'm in the Mood with Bonnie Raitt, Baby Lee with Robert Cray, Cuttin' Out with Canned Heat, and Think Twice Before You Go with Los Lobos. I found the second half of the album much less fun. (I guess I like my blues to be fun.) I'd love to hear more from John Lee Hooker though.

It's an album with lots of collaborations with other artists. Some, like Los Lobos, work a lot better than others, like Santana. After the terrible first song of the album is slowly turns into a real bluesy John Lee Hooker album. 3,5 stars

Absolute class.

very epic!

Great blues album

I'm in the Mood is just amazing & love this album!

Meget lækkert, især at de havde Santana med!

Vibey

Old friend from the Oakland days

7/10

pretty good

Great blues and amazing collaborations.

this one kicked off a huge boost in interest in the venerable bluesman - but it did so by remaining true to what made him special, honouring his roots, his great voice, and his heart. Many guests, great vibe throughout.

Excellent collaborations.

I really enjoyed this album. I had not really been all that familiar with John Lee hooker in the past.

Sinfully soulful. Will be checking this guy out more. Effortlessly cool and groovy

Legendary

Great blues album!

Sweet! John Lee Hooker on his own is always a great listen; throw in guest stars like Bonnie Raitt, George Thorogood, Robert Cray, etc....soooo good. Really nice album.

Great performances all around.

Clima bom com o blues com as participações especiais

Great blues. Cool features. Like Santana and Bonnie raitt

I'm not generally much for blues albums, but this one was really interesting. It incorporated a lot of elements of other musical styles into it. It's also nice to hear a blues album with good production, since so many albums from earlier eras suffer from a lack of production value 4/5

I forgot how much I enjoyed listening to the blues.

Great blues album. Definitely deserves a relisten.

Who knew that the blues could uplift? Great album.

Good stuff. Made for a nice compliment to an early morning l hot tub

Authentic Blues that is somehow stripped away while still having larger supporting instrumentation. Hooker asserts himself as a mainstay within the genre, and delivers an album worthy of his legacy.

Nice and smooth

Good collaborations. Some good tracks on here, mostly toward the beginning of the album. It definitely drops off.

Pretty good, I enjoyed it. Both very good instrumentation (a shame it can't all be with Santana though!) and a very good voice with just a little bit of grit.

Hab ich komplett durchgehört. Blues vom feinsten.

Titelsong the healer ist gleich ein Kracher. Santana auch eh super. Toller sound, gefühlvoll und trotzdem mit positivem vibe. Coverbild und titel haben mich auch angesprochen. 4 Sterne deluxe

Richtig gut. I'am in the mood ist mein favourite oder Think twice before you go?! Ich höre es einfach nochmal...

Blues muy fino y temas con canned heat, santana etc

Superb blues, and great use of guest artists

This was a great listen. Didn't love the first track, but even that wasn't bad.

As of this day, Wednesday 30th June 2021, I Nigel Peter Dandelion Spackman, have only murdered 7 hookers. If you read anything different, it's libellous.

Very nice, I could listen to this is most settings, in fact I’m trying to think of a setting where this wouldn’t fit... and I can’t really think of one.

Relaxte muziek! Ik kan er ook goed bij werken. En weer eens wat anders dan de Britse overkill hier de laatste tijd.

very good album in my opinion with great funky styles. simple yet effective and i couldnt really get bored of it at all

good blues and soul

Strong blues, "long, hazy summer day" vibes.

I really got into this in the end. At first I wasn't sure but it took a second listen. Easy going and cool

I think I just like blues

Like the collaboration and classic blues.

I realy liked this album. Blues is one of my many favorites.

Great stuff!

Liked this one - always enjoy some blues

Better than I thought, but not the best work of anyone involved.

3.5

Was really excited going into this with the abundance of artists featuring on songs I knew and loved. The first song with Santana was really cool but I just felt it got less interesting as it went on. Each song was fun for a minute but after 2 to 3 minutes I just wanted each song to end. Still a really cool album at parts atleast

It was an OK album but not John Lee Hooker’s best album so not sure why this album is highlighted on this list.

Stundstals lite sömnigt men nice ändå.

Well that was underwhelming. Coming into this album, I already had my doubts about a well known 60s blues musician trying to make music in 1989, but listening to the album, it was honestly really boring. I’ve always thought that you have to be a really good blues musician to create blues music that doesn’t make it seem like I could find it better somewhere else, and that’s not discrediting Hooker’s musicianship, which I’m sure is incredible, but it doesn’t shine through on this album. All the songs sound like the same blues shuffle that any other song on the album does, even the features from people like George Thorogood don’t improve the album, as he’s only there for one guitar solo. Bonnie Rait’s is the most effective, but even then I wouldn’t find myself listening to it again. At the very most, its sales allowed John Lee to live out the rest of his days comfortably, which is a good thing overall. However, this album did kind of just feel like if you repeated the Bad To The Bone riff for a whole album, as awesome as that song is. Not a fan, but maybe my next foray into blues will be better.

Hyvää bluesia, featti kappaleet oli hyviä. Viimeiset 3 kappaletta ei niin. Pakko kyllä sanoa että ajatukset oli aika muualla niin moni kappale meni aika ohitse. Parhaat: The Healer, Baby Lee, That's Alright

Solid blues album. I enjoyed it and added and song or two to my likes.

not my kinda music

Hooker is one of the all time blues greats but it is only the last few songs, where it is just him and his guitar, that really stood out for me. The rest, other than the title song with Carlos Santana, blended together into boring sameness. I could appreciate the contributions of Bonnie Raitt, George Thoroughgood, etc. And I'm sure it was a dream come true to work with a blues legend, but it's best when it's simple and straightforward like with the last few songs.

...

Pretty decent blues tunes. I enjoyed reading about the life & times of Mr. Hooker more than the music itself, but altogether it was an enjoyable album.

3.5

3 stars - blues no standouts but no let downs

Oof. Why a blues record by a blues master that’s all gayed up with collaborations? And the first thing out the gate is Carlos Santana’s Latin -infused noodling…which not only does not sound like blues music at all, but actually makes John Lee Hooker sound like a daggum mariachi artist. Granted, the Santana influence only lasts for one track. But isn’t that really the problem? Every track with a new collaborator takes on the flavor of the collaborator and you kind of just wind up with a watered down version of the guy you’re actually here to hear. I got time for John Lee Hooker, but this record kinda sucks as a selection for this project. 6/10 This record did get better as it went; it really gets off on the wrong foot with Santana, who I just don’t enjoy anyway. I think my point about this record still stands though: there had to be a better John Lee Hooker option out there than The Healer.

2.5 not my favorite Hooker album

what

Solid but predictable Blues from the legend. Cant fault it. Won’t buy it.

Not my genre at all really but some very fun songs

Interesting enough, but not sure it's worth another listen.

Liked about half, but it all kind of blended together

Sleepy. Needs more George Thorogood-style boogie for my tastes.

The first half with Santana and friends feels pro forma to me. It was not my thing. But My Dream is most definitely my thing. The last two songs do a lot of redeeming and upgrading on this one.

I love John Lee Hooker but the 80's really did a number on this album.

Another fine album.

dnl

Nothing wrong with it; it sounds good but I just don’t feel that passionate about it

Hey, this album. I've seen it while flicking through my copy of the book - the cover stands out to me. Honestly, I like this album cover. The silhouette looks pretty neat. If I'm not mistaken this is a jazz album, though the 1989 release window is a little suspect. I'll hedge my bets on a jazz fusion release. Here goes. Nope, blues. I have no clue why I had jazz on my mind, though my jazz fusion guess was a valiant attempt. This was fine. I don't care much for blues, though I was content with letting this one blow over me. The runtime is about perfect for this style of music, though it does kind of dick about during the second half thanks to some unremarkable, empty-sounding tracks. Anyways, this album is thoroughly unambitious but executes itself well. The subdued, rocking style of the music is at just the right tempo to be engaging and there's a commendable level of depth to the instrumentation as well. Given that most of the blues releases on this list are from the 50s and 60s, I appreciated the contemporary production and absence of blown-out vocals/instrumentals. The guitarwork is the obvious highlight of this album. There's a decent level of variety in the styles which feature on here, with the moments where the guitars adopt a harmonica-esque sound being the most interesting. The confident, funky guitars on the title track were also pretty decent. Overall, I didn't mind kicking back to this one. Book time. Hooker was apparently a key figure in blues and R&B music from the 40s through to the 60s, though his career faltered throughout the 70s and 80s, with this album being his comeback. The album name is in reference to the healing quality of blues. Won a Grammy and carried Hooker's career through to his death in 2001. Features a few guests, which the book attributes to part of its success. The album is "...built upon some truly inspired guitar work". Wikipedia says that this album was generally well-received by critics and only charted in Australia of all places, where it peaked at No. 17 and was the 78th best-selling album of 1990 on the year-end charts. This album was a bit of a strange choice. I don't know why they selected a late career return to form over Hooker's earlier releases, assuming he really is a key player in blues/R&B music. Maybe Hooker was more of a singles act in his early career than an artist with acclaimed and influential albums. Funnily enough, the albums following this release also only appear to have charted in Australia, with 1995's "Chill Out" notably peaking at No. 8 on the Aussie charts. The rest of his discography doesn't appear to have charted anywhere save for "Never Get Out of These Blues Alive", which peaked at No. 130 on US jazz charts. This does appear to be Hooker's most acclaimed and notable release, so I guess I can't fault this album being on here. I cosign this inclusion.

Very bluesy, although a lot of songs where really not my thing too much bluesy fingerpicking stuff, I could appreciate some softer songs, and Santana carries this on his own from a 2 to a 3. 1. The Healer - feat. Carlos Santana & The Santana Band 2. My Dream 3. No Substitute

I think this is a fantastic blues album. It's a bit more modern than some of the purest of blues, but I think that broadens its appeal.

It's okay. Good stuff all the way through, but I didn't like the Santana track with it's elevator type 80s sound. 3/5.

Some solid blues soundtracked a 5knrun thoroughly enjoyed it

Fine

Pretty nice blues album. Not terribly special but not bad.

Definitely more listenable than most of the blues I’ve listened to. No more than a 3 though.

All older respected musicians need an album like this where they showcase younger artists they like and want to pass the torch down to. Some really good songs but maybe too mellow for my blues taste. Cant really hate on it as its a wonderful album full of good songs a living tribute to the artists and his legacy

It's tempting to refer to this as *Let's Save John Lee Hooker's House* (which it did, apparently) - a star-filled attempt to give an old-school artist a deserved hit or two. In that sense this is basically the same formula that Santana's *Supernatural* would follow a decade later: classic compositions decorated with a revolving cast of younger, hipper guest artists (Santana himself among them). And there's nothing wrong with that, obviously - Hooker is still talented as a singer and player, and he absolutely deserved better than the music industry had given him up the point when he made this album (cut to shot of Page and Plant, looking uncomfortable). More broadly, I respect this for the same reasons why I always rolled my eyes when my friends in Intro to Music Theory would complain about having to listen to Gregorian chant - because I recognize that a proper sense of history is a critical building block of modern musical understanding. But I don't really listen to Gregorian chant these days either, and I think it's unlikely I'll come back to this.

어우 듣기좋아

Great opener in The Healer. Though I sincerely hope the album contains tracks that are not five-minute, two-chord jam sessions. But it's good stuff. A nice smooth synth-keyboard part accompanies improvisational singing. And the two selected chords are the most forgivable possible (i and IV). Pink Floyd would be proud. Not a fan of Santana's contribution, even though the guy by himself (or with his band) can be brilliant. I'm not in the mood for I'm In The Mood. Don't get me wrong, it's a solid track – but it comes across as the second consecutive jam track in an album shaping up to be dull in virtue of said tracks. At least we have a different chord progression this time, in the form of blues (though the very next song, Baby Lee, also uses the 12-bar blues progression). Not a huge fan of Bonnie Raitt's contribution to vocals – reminds me of the mess that is Billy Joel's Code of Silence (feat. Cyndi Lauper). Baby Lee is a reasonable length and pulls off the blues a little better, featuring a more convincing hook in the bassline. I'm pretty hesitant about the brash country honk that is Cuttin' Out. That harmonica is played with so much Midwestern gusto that it gets just a little grating. Still a decent song, though. Sally Mae... devoid of all musicality. What is this, an folk inebriation convention? George Thorogood is thoro and good in some contexts, but not this one. Musselwhite's harmonica in That's Alright meshes a bit weirdly with the rest of the performance, cluttering the mix whenever it and the guitar play at the same time. Then we get to Rockin' Chair. Man... Rockin' Chair. What is there to say? It kills any momentum the album might've gathered prior to that point. Kind of impressive, honestly. Not the creation of an empty, thin-textured blues track with a limp and arrhytmic acoustic guitar part. That's pretty straightforward. But I admire Hooker's (presumed) utter confidence that placing this track on the album, rather than as a bonus track, was even close to a good idea. Then My Dream, despite not being that remarkable, becomes a beautiful ray of sunshine in comparison. 3/5 Key tracks: The Healer, Baby Lee

Like every album I've listened to on this list I've had it on in the background whilst working. It was very easy listening. Although I enjoy Blues music, I didn't get the impression this was a 'standout' album of that genre. Still, nothing wrong with it at all. I think this is a bog-standard 3 stars for me.

This seems like an odd choice for an album from one of the legends of blues. I can't imagine there is another from him on this list, and an album full of collaborations just seems like it wouldn't really be representative of him as an artist. Although I suppose the list is albums to hear before you die, not albums that best represent the work of said artist to hear before you die. It's a good album, but I feel like it's one that a lot of people would get bored with. Traditional blues like this is, sort of by definition, pretty much all the same. I mean I get that there are different phrasings, chord progressions, turnarounds, etc. but because the overall structure of the music it is a lot more constricted than a lot of other genres it tends to all blend together after a while. Anyway, I feel like this album was good but if a John Lee Hooker album was going to make the list, this isn't what I would have picked. My favorites from this album were the songs without a guest artist. 3/5

It was alright a low 3

weird

Great slide playing. Eclectic set. Beautiful guest performances by people that you may have heard of. Superb blues playing.

never listened to blues. Tbh it was better than I expected. Still though not quite my tune

This was fine but I’m not really sure why it’s on the list. I guess because JLH got his groove back by enlisting a bunch of new school blues musicians. And frankly Bonnie Raitt smokes this collab.

best lekker

Very good album! "The Healer" was indeed amazing.

What a weird album to showcase. The cameos are hit and miss but the album shines at the end.

Start heel sterk maar daarna wordt het rap heel saai

Creepy cover. Enjoyable inoffensive blues

A great artist, a bit last his prime.

Hm. I was excited to see that we got A John Lee Hooker album, but I'm not sure how I feel about a late career collaboration album as the sole choice; at times it feels a bit like the posthumous Townes Van Zandt album "A Far Cry From Dead" where the producers/label just shoehorned modern session band music onto demo recordings. But unlike that album, this has John Lee Hooker fully participating, and with great choices for guest artists (especially Bonnie Raitt, but Santana is in great form too, and fun to get Los Lobos too), plus I really liked finding out that the album's commercial success gave him a lot of financial security for the remainder of his life. I don't know Hooker's music well enough to know if this is really his best album, but I'm glad he got included, friends and all.

laid back blues with a sort of 80s sound to the production. I liked the pairing of Hooker with various "guests" but the overall sound never grabbed my attention as much as I'd hoped it would.

The great John Lee Hooker represented by a compilation album from 19-fucking-89? This is an egregious miss. I love the man and the music, but this is a travesty. Still a few good tracks here though.

An all around nice listen, with a few standouts. I prefer John Lee Hooker's classic stuff than the collaborations on this album, but there's nothing wrong with them either.

Rock blues

Pa onako, lijep album, ali mi je mrvicu underwhelming većinom bio. Nakon nekog vremena slušanja istog, fali mi dinamike. 3/5, 5/10

Feels more like a novelty record, with all the features, but John Lee deserves to be on this list.

I agree with Ian on this one! Amazing musician, but sadly not his best work added to this list! I'm off to listen to Boom Boom.

Solid. Favorite song: In the Mood For Love with Bonnie Raitt

This was a decent blues album. There were some really good grooves here and there, but overall it was kinda middling to me.

Ok

Im gonna be honest, I didn't listen to the whole album because blues is honestly a little boring for me, but I do really appreciate the craftsmanship put into this album and into the genre itself. apparently this guy is one of the best so I'm glad I got to listen to this.

A surprising one. Didnt expect to like a late career blues album such as this one.

A solid '..and friend's' album from the great man.

Blues.

6/10

Nice, but nothing groundbreaking

The fact that this is the only John Lee Hooker album on the list is insane

It's a nice little album. Probably this one of my first experiences with straight blues and not a derivative - like blues rock. John Lee Hooker's voice is quite wobbly and sounds unstable, not too sure how I feel about it as I'm not certain if he is deliberately doing it or not. The nocturnal moody feel is pretty sweet. This one was fine, nothing too exciting. Highlight Song/s: "I'm in the Mood"

3.0 - Ok

Du blues, pas trop mon truc

Mmmm yes of course.... Ahhh

Listens: 3 Standout Tracks: The Healer, Cuttin' Out A second blues album in as many days. This felt entirely more toned down than Muddy Waters, almost like a B-side arrangement of songs. The Carlos Santana feat was quite nice, and I am honestly surprised I haven't had at least one Carlos Santana album yet. I must admit, compared the other blues albums I've heard, I wasn't super impressed. It was a completely fine album, but almost none of the songs really popped out for me. It was adequate background music for biking to and from work. Maybe I just feel this way because I didn't get a chance to reset from the Muddy Waters album the previous day. In any event, no complaints from me about this.

I know this isn’t a Carlos Santana album but his guitar work never ceases to amaze me. I enjoyed the collaborations on this album.

Lovely album! I’m twirling in my room like a ’90s girl in my little step up dance shoes, caught somewhere between nostalgia and motion. The good vibes flow effortlessly, carried by a melodic rhythm that feels both grounding and liberating. I don’t usually listen to this kind of music, but there’s something about it that pulls me in. If I had lived back then, I think I would’ve been the kind of person to lose myself at his concerts.

This wasn’t anything remarkable. It wasn’t terrible though either.

Doesn’t have same impact as his first album

Low 3 for me, really enjoyed some of it but much of it i found a little samey, not bad though!

I own this one. It starts strong, but about half way thru, I stop caring. Just a bit repetitive.

最初の曲はこういうブルースもあるのかと感心したけどそのあとはずっと凪

Interesante country jazz

The blues isn't one of my go-to genres, I don't have any favorite artists or albums. This was good though, I really enjoyed how you could hear 'the dude behind the guitar' in the way he played. My Dream was an especially nice tune. Good stuff.

Good concept, okay execution. Bonnie Raitt and G Thorogood songs are standouts.

It's still Hooker. But it doesn't need most of the production and ensemble.

I would say an inessential JLH album. A bluesman who surely doesn't need accompaniment to sound great.

the blues are a total nothing burger for me. Just never got into them. This album would have to do a lot to get above a 3 and it doesn't really do enough. The album get's better for the last couple tracks when he stops doing duets and focuses on just himself "My Dream" being the stand out track. I used to have a roommate in university who played the blues on guitar and there was a huge gap between his ability and the blues-y face contortions he'd make while he played.... that has nothing to do with anything though, album is a 3.

Decent, but it would be better as a solo album than the stream of celebrity cameos