The Healer

Still not a huge blues fan, but The Healer has a vulnerable quality to it which I really dig. Some great collaborations and a more playful approach to the blues format than I expected from a 70+ year old Hooker.

The Healer not only boasts an impressive array of guests - John Lee Hooker himself also sounds incredibly vigorous considering he recorded this after turning 70. I’m still not a blues man to be honest. But Hooker is far from the worst choice, should I put on a blues record one late evening.

Blues ain't ma thing. Okay I guess if you like blues

Pretty sweet but doesn't really stand out to me

2.6 per track

I like Blues music, but not sure if this is classic JLH

Op eerste nummer na erg lekker

pretty good

Didn't do too much for me. Blues legend but this seemed a little too watered down and overproduced. I thought it said it came out in 1969 when I glanced at the year at first, but when I realized it was 1989 it made more sense. Probably just a money grab.

Not my style, but a good album

Easy listen

Little slow for my liking but there’s no denying he shreds on the guitar in these

Take out the eighties cheesefest with Santana that that the title track is, and then that rather hackeneyed version of "I'm In The Mood For Love" sung with Bonnie Raitt (never was a fan of the by-the-number nature of the song anyway), and what you have is a nice later album by a legendray blues artists, which sounds increasingly authentic the more you dig further. Can't personally select it as an "essential" album given the two misfires that open it, though. An essential album can't be introduced by stinkers, I'm afraid. 🤷‍♂️ 3/5 for the purposes of this list, translating to a 8/10 grade for more general purpose. (10 minus 2--the first two tracks always weigh heavier when you take into account a tracklising). Number of albums left to review: 386 Number of albums from the list I find relevant enough to be mandatory listens: 280 Albums from the list I *might* include in mine later on: 146 Albums from the list I won't include in mine (many others are more essential to me): 194 (including this one)

Best song: The Healer Worst song: That's Alright Has some good songs and it's cool how it has a bunch of features. A little generic of a blues album nothing too innovative.

solid blues album.

Straight up blues but not the really great heartache blues of old. Some great features. Very polished sound.

blues is kinda hit or miss for me. this one was right down the middle. Top Tracks: 1) The Healer 2) My Dream 3) No Substitute

Enjoyed this.

This is quite good. Big Black Snake Moan impression (which was invariably influenced by this)

An album that gets the foot tapping. Works for me :)

This one really faded into the background. Couldn't tell you what I've listened to after "The Healer".

Had never heard! JLH has taste to bring in Santana, Bonnie Raitt, and George Thorogood. I think the problem for me is that so many blues albums feel SO down the middle of the road, and while that's kind of the point of good blues it doesn't change the fact that it doesn't elicit much of a reaction from me.

Good blues but nothing spectacular. I liked his voice.

It is a collab album and some of them are much better than others, the opener had me worried with the Carlos Santana wankery but it picked up. Really liked Sally Mae with George Thorogood

Not a bad blues album. His voice is haunting and leaves no doubt why he is considered one of the greats.

Dommage pour The Healer mais ça fait déjà deux jours que j'ai guéri de ma sinusite.

Un enième chanteur à la voix de gros baiseur, rien à signaler.

some good shit

Sounded like jimmy hendricks, and I’m not a huge fan of his, but this was pretty good.

Pretty decent. This is my first John Lee Hooker album which is probably not the best introduction to his music considering this is a collaboration album, but I don't hate the idea of having an album with different collaborations and especially since he was about 79, I think this project makes sense for someone like him at that point in his career. Thematically it still had some artistic beauty to it wit that last three songs being just him and it his way of showing his own style in an album full of other people's styles

Except for the marble frame, love this album cover. The album didn't break through very much but it also was not a waste of time. Solid background that is probably solid foreground if I could just sit and listen to it.

I own this album. I have no memory as to how I came by it. I love John Lee Hooker. I never listen to The Healer. I think these are consistent statements. Pressaging the likes of Santana's (who appear here) 'Supernatural' album, this was a guest-laden comeback...that works best when Hooker is left to his own devices. In terms of the cameos, I actually don't mind the gentle Latin roll of the title track; and Bonnie Raitt's duet on 'I'm in the Mood' is suitably steamy. However, the rest of the album tends to sink into a whorl of perfunctory blues workouts. It only comes alive near the end where Hooker gets a couple of solo spots. They demonstrate that Hooker was a master of spare, hypnotic blues music that doesn't need too many bells and whistles. Still, that voice, eh? Special. I just wish we were listening to 'Boogie Chillin'' or 'One Bourbon, One Scotch, One Beer'.

Boring. A sad addition to the list if this is all we’re getting from this legend.

This is a very late-80s inspired blues album. Some of the guest artists on this record stand out like a sore thumb if I'm being honest (Carlos Santana), others blend in perfectly (Bonnie Raitt, George Thorogood).

Not a bad album. Blues is a mood

Some great collaborations here. 3.5 stars.

There's the saying that something isn't perfect when there's nothing left to add, it's perfect when there's nothing left to remove. I think when applied to music, that might be especially true with the blues. The fact that this isn't an absolute dumpster fire is just tribute to John Lee Hooker himself and how incredible of a songwriter the dude is. But would it not be better with rawer production and with fewer extraneous elements? Qualities easily found on his older material? Some of the collabs aren't TOO bad though. Once I got past the 3rd song or so, I did find I was enjoying myself. And look, I actually LIKE both Santana and Bonnie Raitt. But did they actually improve this album, or the songs they're on even? I press X to doubt. Anyway... This is pretty tepid from what I expect from the man. 3.5 seems about right (rounded down per protocol). P.S.: I love John Lee Hooker! But this ain't the one IMHO.

Great album to get. Enjoyed

¯\_(ツ)_/¯

As a straight ahead blues album, this is pretty much as concrete of an example as you can get. And I really did enjoy the treatment of it for the vast majority of the album. However, this book has exposed me to so many other treatments of the blues that are so much more interesting and unique than this. Still, it is a very good album with badass instrumentation and good collaborations. Favorite track: Cuttin' Out

This album is good,, but somehow doesn't feel like the real thing. I'm pretty sure any number of albums would have been more appropriate for this list.

Classic blues + late 80's collaborations and productions. Honestly some pretty nice music, but nothing blowing me away. I’m liking the last few stripped down songs more. Might check some other Hooker stuff in that vein. 3/5

It's a blues album. It was good. I didn't skip any songs but probably wouldn't choose to listen to it again.

Pretty nice sounding blues

A decent blues record when you're in the mood.

Great slow blues. Not my favorite John Lee Hooker songs. Something about it just didn’t take it to that next level for me.

Good blues but with all this artist on the album I hade expert more...

Inject swampy blues straight into my veins. I love it and the music it inspires. Cool to hear more of the inception albums in this list

Perfectly good blues album. The Santana duet is the high point (well of course it is) and it passes by perfectly simply from there. Blues just isn't exciting enough a lot of the time.

I enjoyed the first two tracks on this album a lot. I also enjoyed "Sally Mae". The rest of the album was just okay, the rest of the tracks weren’t bad but were nothing special.

It’s fine, but he’s done better stuff

It’s fine

I thought the guitar playing/other instrumentation on this album was really good. I wasn't a big fan of the singing but that's just because this isn't a genre I typically love.

Pretty good, but a weird choice over the work he did in his prime. The features are pretty good and add flavor to the songs (except for the last 3, which don’t have any). Overall, it’s fine, but not something I’d listen to again.

Slow blues, oldish

John Lee Hooker is obviously a Blues icon, but found myself not loving the collaborative nature of this record. Wanted more solo songs. 3/5

I don't normally go for these 80's fundraisers and find them too safe but this is pretty good despite all the 'friends' involvement. Not as good as the early stuff but there's enough of the raw edge - he really was a titan of the Blues.

Monday morning blues... Seemed to fir the day.

Strong 5/10

Overall, this was a pretty typical blues album for me, but the augmented surprise that set it apart were some of the collaborators, especially Bonnie Raitt who is a total blues assassin.

There's a lot here to admire, but found it difficult to connect with.

This was a big career revival album for John Lee Hooker, but I don’t understand the hype. I like the blues a lot, but this is mediocre, which means it’s still listenable. The keyboard in the opening song was a big turnoff…80s yuck, but the rest was OK.

Solid, well-crafted Blues album with some more energetic takes on the genre. Not wholly my thing but I can respect the craft here.

It was an ok listen, lost my attention at a couple of points for sure but I have no objection to hearing more

I’ve not really listened to any blues music before but this was pretty good. Some of the songs felt pretty similar but the 3 solo songs at the end were my favourites especially the closing track, no substitute.

First track was a lowkey bop but the rest of the album was just boring. Some of the tracks sounded like someone randomly strumming a guitar in their room. An inoffensive but dull album really.

Its was a chill album

Didn’t really grab me.

Solid blues 3/5

Nice to get a new genre in the mix. Especially something I don't listen to normally. Title track was good. I enjoyed the album but nothing spectacular. 3.5/5

first listen probably not his strongest record

Just a matter of taste - this kind of blues just isn't gonna make it on my rotation, but it's definitely got some weight behind it. Was worried after the Santana track but it picked up. Fave track: My Dream

Electric blues, 80'er produktion, masser af collabs, lidt psykedelisk vokal,

Decent blues.

The track with Santana was a bit meh. The rest of the album was pretty cool.

Good old roots blues, great guests.

Pretty good Blues

It was alright but nothing I’d listen to too much, maybe more so as background music or something

The title track might be my least favorite, but enjoyed most the others.

Kinda boring

Good straightforward blues. The deep timbre of his voice is impressive, though his singing is mostly pretty understated. Starting with the Santana collaboration makes sense but also makes me want to hear more Santana guitar. I liked the guitar plucking on “Rockin’ Chair.” Not sure I’ve heard something quite like that before. It gets a little chaotic each time but then he snaps it back into place.

Toe tappin' blues

Decent, but I’ll likely never return to it

Some of the songs were really catchy. There were a couple tracks that had collaborating artists, like Carlos Santana or Bonnie Raitt. I thought it was a pretty decent album.

First thing I noticed was the number of different artist that performed with Hooker. Pretty cool all the different types of artist too. 2nd thing I noticed was this guy has a great voice. Starting to realize my "southern fried rock" and THIS blues album not much different outside of a heavier side to the rock. But I guess that's why they call the Blues.... Healer good tune with a definitive Santana sound. Really enjoyed Bonnie Raitt in I'm in the mood. There were some really slow parts but enjoyed the sounds of most of this album. Very good background music at work. Also enjoyed Think twice before you go, My dream and Substitute. Especially enjoyed the lyrics to Substitute. Overall solid album and probably my favorite Blued album off the list. Solid 3 3

3 Wild that homeboy was 73 when this came out, especially considering it was the most successful release of his career. In some ways, it feels like a celebration of Hooker’s music and legacy with all the guest appearances on the album. I wasn’t too impressed with it at first when things kicked off with the title track, as it felt like an 80s “modernization” of his sound, but as things shifted to a more old school blues style I began to enjoy it a lot more. Hooker sounds great by his own merit (I particularly like his style of singing), but the guest musicians really help make this album stand out. Though I didn’t care for the backing music on The Healer, Santana’s guitar work is a highlight, and while I’ve never been the biggest George Thorogood fan, his slide guitar on Sally Mae is absolutely excellent. That all being said, the best moment here has to be Bonnie Raitt on I’m in the Mood - not only does she sound great, but her musical chemistry with Hooker is nothing short of blues at its best. Not everything is amazing or noteworthy, but aside from the title track (which is ironically the biggest hit), don’t think you can go wrong listening to anything here. I’m curious now to hear some of his older stuff.

A solid enjoyable blues album, not much else to say.

I'm not a huge blues fan, especially not in a live setting. But, this is a pretty eclectic blues album with all the guests on it. I do think the songs with guest are stronger (probably because they bring a little bit of flair and blend genres a bit. Not to mention, Hooker can play a mean guitar. The album as a whole is probably a "one and done" for me, but I could see myself returning to a few of the tunes.

3.6 - I'm taken back to my days living in New Orleans where blues music like this seems to pervade the city like sweet cigar smoke. I like the collaborations, especially Bonnie Raitt on "I'm In The Mood."

Enjoyed the feel but found myself irritated by the looseness, like I was straining for the great moments to break through

I enjoy Blues, but I’m not sure what I’m supposed to get from this album that’s substantially different.

Очень незапоминающийся альбом ввиду своей музыкальной и текстовой однообразности. По сути музыка хорошая, но она совершенно не оставила никакого следа у меня в памяти. (5)

Some great blues tracks, but it never really goes beyond cliches. The guests are great, but again this doesn't really push the genre anywhere. Nothing I've never heard before. 3.5/5

Bit of a blues collaboration album that put some money in JLHs pocket. A tad overproduced but solid enough. A blues guitar album that doesn't break any ground.3

Blues of this variety isn't really my thing. Happy to have listened to this one though. Super glad that it picked up a bit after the first song, which was quite mumbled.

Solid 80s blues rock by a veteran master of the genre

Pretty good

Cool vibe but didn't stand out sorry!!!

dues-paying blues tends to the snooze

Good blues album deserves its place on the list, and one I might come back to.

Well made music in a genre I will admit I don't fully appreciate.

Pretty good guitar driven blues-y stuff. Not much stuck out to me but I will definitely revisit when I'm in need of less in your face music. Standouts: The Healer

This album is considered a classic in the genre and has received positive reviews from critics and fans alike. One of the strengths of this album is John Lee Hooker's powerful and emotive singing. His voice is raw and soulful, conveying the emotion of the lyrics perfectly. The album features a mix of slow, soulful ballads and upbeat, foot-stomping tracks that showcase Hooker's versatility as a musician. It is a more accessible blues album than many because of the high profile duets as well. The guitar work on the album is also noteworthy, with Hooker's fingerpicking style being a highlight. The guitar riffs are simple but effective and perfectly complement the vocals. The production on the album is also noteworthy, with a raw and unpolished sound that adds to the overall authenticity of the album. One of the standout tracks on the album is "I'm in the Mood", which features Hooker's signature guitar riff and his smooth and seductive vocals. The song is a great example of Hooker's unique style and has become one of his most well-known tracks. Overall, The Healer is a great album that showcases John Lee Hooker's talents as a singer, songwriter and musician. It is a must-listen for fans of the blues genre, and it's a great introduction to Hooker's music for those who are unfamiliar with his work. It may not be perfect but it's a solid piece of music that showcases Hooker's signature style and raw talent.

Smoooooooth. John Lee Hooker is obviously fantastic, but don't really like the modern leanings or the collaborations. That opener killed the album for me. Five stars for JHL, minus 2 for Santana.

I'm just not the biggest fan of easy-listening blues. Nice for background music though.

I’ll put it this way — I would never be mad that this album was on. It’s very listenable and pleasant blues. Didn’t have any specific favorites so I’m going to give it a 3 but I’d easily listen again.

3/5. A good blues album but feels a little long. All the guest appearances were great but it maybe should have ended there.

Yllättävän mellow. Tykkäsin ihan, sopii perjantaiaurinkoon ja hieman väsyneen tunnelmaan.

The 80s production was not great, but John Lee Hooker’s blues phrasing comes through nonetheless. Overall, this was not a terribly strong album, and seems to be buoyed by its collaborative nature, but it’s a very interesting artifact of its time, when blues was in the midst of a revival.

Tracks: The Healer I'm in the mood Sally Mae

Nice blusey number

I enjoyed it. 3.5

As a teen (indeed into my early 20s) my entire music collection was cassettes. Quite a few of these came off the bargain rack at a (now defunct) retail chain department store in my small hometown. Among these were a bunch of cheap, indifferently mastered compilation albums of Blues Legends - Muddy Waters, Bo Diddly, B.B. King - and John Lee Hooker. A friend turned me on to this - the closer to the source origins of the versions we'd been introduced to in Clapton and Led Zeppelin records. So I was (through little merit of my own) a little ahead of the curve when Hooker had his return to prominence with this album. I think it's a very good though not great album, and value it mainly for it affording him both a little of the recognition he deserved and a comfortable living in his later years.

Du gros blues, pas mauvais mais devient fade plus l'album avance

Tak wlasnie wyglada personifikacja bluesa pomyslalem patrzac na postac pana Hookera, krazek z 89 nagrywany gdy mial juz 73 lata, a patrzac na historie jego dyskografii jeszcze bardziej poteguje to odczucia sluchania prawdziwego czlowieka bluesa, sam 41 minutowy krazek mozna podzielic na a side ktory byl nagrywany wraz z dosc bogatym gronem gosci, w tym nawet banda santanty na openingowym healerze, ktory zdecydowanie jest tym trakiem ktory robi najwieksze wrazenie na sluchaczu, oraz strona b ktora z niewielkimi wyjatkami jest praktycznie solowym dzielem pana hookera, wiec slychac jedynie jego gitarke oraz wymeczony juz zyciem glos, ktory pomimo lat potrafi brzmiec, potegowane jest to przez echowe efekty, ktore slychac najbardziej wlasnie gdy nie ma zbyt duzego instrumentalu wokol, jak przystalo na bluesowanie jest niebiesko, zdecydowanie nietrafilem z nastrojem na taki odsluch, obok nieszczesliwych milosnych songow znalazly sie takze traki dotyczace najgorszej kochanki pana johna, wiec bluesa, slychac sporo reflekcji na zycie spedzone na graniu, pewnie jest tutaj troche trakow recyklingowanych, ale to chyba nie dziwne jesli pan gral prawie przez pol wieku, na plejke z pierwszej strony dodam openingowego healera a z drugiej thats alright

Second half is infinitely better than the watered down blue in the first half he was 73 when this was recorded!

HL: “I’m in the Mood”, “That’s Alright”, “No Substitute” I like how Hooker gets the last couple songs to himself. The roster of all-stars is mostly enjoyable, I think some of them could have contributed more- except in cases like the title track where the scales tip in the opposite record & it feels like a Santana album. Charlie Musselwhite is a welcome guest (I saw him live a while back with Ben Harper) November 25, 2022

Some of the production here doesn't fit well with the traditionally blues vibe

Wel relaxed bluesje

Solid blues and the collaborations were cool but didn't quite pull me in enough to round up to 4 stars

This had a fun bluesy feel to it but ultimately it wasn't overly exciting. Relaxing listen but nothing groundbreaking.

I enjoyed the bluesy laid back atmosphere of the album. Nothing terribly grabbed me, but was nice enough to listen to.

not really my thing

I did a research project on John Lee Hooker in high school, so I have a soft spot for him. He is an amazing guitarist and his collabs on this album are with some amazing blues musicians. His few solo tracks on here are less exciting.

There's something about blues that just makes me thing of sitting outside, swatting the mosquitos away, and drinking a beer while the smoker is rolling and a big old pork butt is becoming pull apart tender. I don't know why blues music makes me feel this way, but it does, every time. This album is just fine, though. Started off fairly strong, but there was a bit towards the end where I got a little bit more bored than I thought I should have.

With arms outstretched like a ghost from blues' past, John Lee Hooker gets into the collaborative spirit with The Healer. While some collabs work more than others, this album ultimately gets the job done in letting Hooker do what he does best, which is demonstrating the blues and allowing his legendary talent to shine through. Favorites: I'm in the Mood, Baby Lee, Think Twice Before You Go, Sally Mae, Rockin' Chair, My Dream.

john lee hooker is great; why is a "___ and friends" cash-in record on this list?

Decent listen. The first couple songs with Carlos Santana and Bonnie Raitt sound a bit phoned in, but I'm glad this album made John Lee Hooker enough money to be comfortable. The rest of the album picks up a bit, but Concert at Newport is the more essential album.

cute

T3B 1. The Healer 2. Sally Mae 3. Cuttin’ Out What a really good jivin’ album to listen to at work. Hard 3!

It's ok but I prefer some older JLH music.

Decent blues album

5/10 solid

Solid good fun album There is lots of things i dont like about this album and I think there are to many collaborations on it... But nothing stops the blues baby

I appreciate blues artists but not my style. Within genres I understand there is going to be some similarities but I can't for the life of me distinguish between blues songs and for that reason I can't get into it.

Oh shit someone let the 80s get a hold of the blues, someone get that out of its mouth before someone gets hurt.

Some outstanding guitar work. on this album....especially the Santana collaboration....but the worst thing about this is Hooker's singing.....not his best stuff, IMHO

Average

3.5

Fine, just not my kind of blues

10/03/22 Fairly good at the start. Middle songs kinda mashed together. My dream and no substitute were amazing to me.

Ikkje så ille som eg frykta

Von allen John Lee Hooker-Platten ausgerechnet The Healer…Aber egal. John Lee Hooker geht immer. War immer gut, wird immer gut sein. Spielt immer das gleiche, das aber spielt keiner wie er.

Alright, not really my thing

3.5/5 Loved it ! First album of John Lee Hooker I listened to ever. The variety in the songs is not very big, but for some reason it doesn’t matter. Every song has its own thing and I just kept listening. I have to listen to it again to find my favourites on this album.

First blues I quite like it

sounds like a bbq w/ a special guests roster to match

Some good sound. Started to drag near the end.

More like 3.5, fun to listen to. Felt like I could have been in Mississippi on a hot, summer evening.

Some good riffs, but overall most of the songs blended together.

Not the best John Lee Hooker that I have heard, but you can see glimpses of the man shining through.

Favourite song: Sally Mae One for the car: I’m in the mood One for Karaoke: My Dream Could see myself drinking a whisky in the French Quarter of New Orleans to this

simple old time folk-blues but it is pretty nice

3/5 Cool blues album, but kinda dragged and was a little empty feeling in parts. Not bad by any means, just not that good.

Good blues album

Well it's Johnny Lee Hooker, so some quality here, but also nothing much grabbed me. It's alright.

Blues lentillo. Ni fu ni fa.

Blues.

Kinda nameless blues - not bad, not good, just existed. There are a kazillion guests on it but tbh I didn't notice. Couldn't say I hated it, but I'll never listen to this again. 3/5.

This was a good but ultimately unsurprising blues album.

Loved the start of the album. Second blues album I've got from this and did really enjoy it

2/10, 20%

Muy tranquilo de escuchar con una guitarra monocorde y voz grave. Sin duda, para entusiastas del género

Wasn't this the big thing around that time, to take a well-known but maybe not as popular as they used to be artist and pair them with current artists? But for all the bells and whistles, my favorite tracks were the last three that were mostly just John Lee Hooker alone. My Dream was the one that most hooked me when I first listened. Of the tracks with guests, I'm in the Mood with Bonnie Raitt was probably my favorite. Cuttin' Out (w/ Canned Heat) was also pretty good. I thought The Healer (with Santana) sounded like they pulled from every 80s soft rock cliche. Enjoyable enough listen, but I don't see myself returning to it.

Its fine

It’s not horrible because it’s Tony Lee Hooker an amazing guests. But seems like a very past his prime album to put on here

Just okay. Would be interested in his earlier work.

very decent blue(rock) album

Didn't mind this - though agree with other reviewers wondering whether this could be seen to be a 'watered down' record, with perhaps other earlier tracks having a stronger claim to inclusion

Col.laboracions de primer nivell en una mena d'auto-homenatge a un dels grans del blues. El disc, però no destaca especialment. Blues rock de qualitat amb la guitarra i veu tan característiques del protagonista. Res per perdre la són

Pretty good

Blues

I preferred the last few tracks of the “true” Blues. Once again I wish I could give this album a rating of 3.5.

I gave this three play throughs and it never really landed for me, but that might just be a question of mood... Fave track - "Cullin Out", maybe? ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Decent jam album

un blues sabroso, suave, se disfruta de la guitarrita. las rolas más movidillas no llegan a ser demasiado, se mantiene como un buen rock and roll de los viejitos no me encanta, no es algo que escucharía casualmente, pero no es nada malo

Fun album will have to give it another listen.

Nothing really hooked me. Solid guitar work but won't revisit

Pretty dirty blues. I have limited patience for this kinda music. Prefer something with a little more pep. Hard to knock the guitar work though, esp. in the early tracks.

Good blues album

Blues honestly is not my favorite genre and I know I completely miss the point of it. I can tell these folks were vibing and the quality was good, but I was left feeling bored.

yes

The chill atmosphere is really nice

Bored me 2 Got pretty chill around halfway though Not bad 3

pleasant and well-produced but not very exciting

Decent blues not something I can really get behind though

Enjoyable music... emotion laden blues with strong guitar and harmonica. The lyrics and voice don't do a lot for me... it seems a very small vocabulary with lots of saying the same thing over and over again (more than with most songs). Nice variety.

The blues, but make it 80's! Good thing I love both. Unexpected Bonnie Raitt is never, ever, a bad thing.

Good ol revival blues.

Este es un disco para escuchar en una tarde lluviosa. Me gusta el blues rabioso y urgente, pero también puedo disfrutar de uno más acompasado, paciente, meditativo, como el de este disco.

hell of a guitar player and I really enjoyed the first track with santana

3.2 - good blues, but didn’t really standout in the genre to me (although not my deepest/biggest affinity for this type of music)

3/5

Blues lentillo. Ni fu ni fa.

3, very nice

Bit backgroundy

jpense il a du pécho un max

The First song was just ok. I like the start to the 2nd one so far. Easy to listen too and enjoyable. Definitely a Blues Jam!

Interesting, not an unpleasant listening experience.

How is this on the list????? JLH must have done a better album than this !?

Guys, I think his baby left him. The collaborations in the first half are really quite dull and mar the album. But unleash Hooker solo at the end of the record and there’s something special he creates with voice and guitar, slowly drawing you in to the blues. It’s really rather beautiful.

Back half of this one made a much stronger impression than the front half, although the opener with Santana was pretty cool. My Dream specifically resonated with me. Such strong emotion on this one. Hooker was in his 70’s when he made this record. Makes you think about what people you’ll miss and the moments gone by that you’ll reflect on at that age.

Not my favourite Hooker record but still good

A nice blues mix, with some songs definitely rising above the rest (e.g., the Santana collaboration).

I want to like this more. It's got lots of soul. Everything is recorded and mixed well. It sounds like it was a really fun record to make. Unfortunately, the blues just makes me snooze. I know it's not an album trying to break barriers; it's a style that's been done a million times before, but only occasionally has it been done this well. I can appreciate how good it is even if it's not my thing. The Los Lobos track is a good old-time rock and roll song that kicks in at the right time and brings some much-needed energy to the mix.

40 minutes of generic blues music. I'm indifferent towards this one.

Good music but like all blues, every song sounded the same when listening in the background

Очень приятная гитара.

You can tell Mr Hooker is starting to get up there in his age upon release of this album. While he is surround by Allstars , I would not choose this particular album for the list. There are many better in his catalog. I believe this one was a miss. He still gets 3 stars because he is John Lee Hooker.

Definitely worth a listen. High-quality blues. Blues is a respectable genre The song with Santana had epic guitar, as one would expect

Unexceptional blues rock

Buen disco

JLH was 73 when h recorded this. Wow. The late 80's production brings out the best of the blues guitar. It's a little trudge laden in places, but that's the blues, innit.

Good blues, but I don't care for blues

Really enjoying the more up-tempo songs at the start of this album, but it does drop off from Sally Mae onwards as it slows down a lot. Absolutely amazing musicians and great skill in this, I'm just not blown away in the 2nd half.

2022.01.27

Decent blues album. Haven’t listened to John Lee hooker much but this felt like him at the tail end of his career. The guitar playing was solid and the songs were very typical bluesy. 5.6/10

That's Alright: 0/10 for relationship advice Enjoyed this, got a wee bit lost in the middle but the last two songs were very pretty

Enjoyed this one, some vibey songs, especially towards the start of the album. I did get a bit bored as it went on though.

This was inoffensive yet plain porridge.

Nothing much stuck with me here, but there were immaculate blues vibes peppered across the entire tracklist. Some of the guitar playing was absolutely filthy and the range of collaborations was great, with the featured artists bringing a slightly different flavour to each of their tracks before a much more subdued and emotional closing run

Pa dobro. Nis special ali jako slušljivo. Santana uvijek dobrodošao

Ma jazz album, pozadinski, nimalo loš. Just like that.

Seems to be dialling it in, not sure why i had to listen to that particular album before i die

Haven't heard it all yet but so far so good

Not too sure, no sparks but finished it any way.

Soulin

Awesome album

Blues!

I’m far impressed with his previous work. This album was a far departure in style and it doesn’t work well stylistically.

kunnon hyvää letkeetä blues meininkiä, ebin santana :D ehkä en kehtaa myöntää että tykkäsin niin paljon että ansaitsis neljä tähteä, mutta 3.5 ainakin.

Hyvin toimii ja herätti janon kuunnella enemmänkin bluesia.

ihan kivaa bluesia. jotenkin vähän valui toisesta korvasta ulos, ei jääny kovinkaan voimakkaasti mieleen.

lovely voice, excellent guitar, lovely jazz

hey do you guys like the blues

Pretty good blues album

Another name that I am familiar with but haven't really listened to. Decent blues album.

Okay-ish blues.

Chilled

Good blues. 3.0/5

Chill blues album. Songs become very repetitive and samey as it goes on. There's a smoky, magical sound to some of the tracks which feels good and Hooker's voice is soft and smooth and perfect for this kind of music, but it's just too much of the same.

While initially frightened by those healing hands (looks like babadook) this album was anything but scary. Classic blues in the best way with Santana even joining in the fun. Enjoyed this one!

John Lee Hooker is forever Aces in my book for his appearance in The Blues Brothers alone. I can't help but think this isn't the John Lee Hooker album that should be on the list to represent his greatness. He's a bit overshadowed here by the likes of Bonnie Raitt (who was experiencing something of a career renaissance at the time) and George Thorogood. And he's not doing himself any favors hanging out with Carlos Santana. But you've got to have some Hooker on this list. I just wish the album had "Boom Boom".

Mnie, tranca.

Good, not my style.

Pretty good blues album with some big names. Don't care for it enough to relisten.

Weird. Sounds like it’s music for guys that wear lots of rings.

Not bad.

I read that this got Hooker the recognition he deserved his whole life, got him a Grammy, and the royalties allowed him to live his late life in relative comfort. Those are great things, but for the little I know of his other music, this doesn't show why he was great. The Bonnie Raitt song and the tracks near the end after he dropped the collabs were the best, and getting there.

Nice sound. Groovy, Rock, Good background music.

Enjoyed this more than expected, I was putting if off but the it didn’t bore me like blues has a tendency to do.

Schön, aber so richtig Hooker hör ich nicht raus…

I think this album is decent, but I just didn’t enjoy it. His voice is just too monotonous and distorted. I’m not into it.

This is fun actually

Good soulful blues this is. Enjoyed the title track a lot, kinda got bored in the end, but glad I listened

As much as I really wanted to like this one, I mostly found it too repetitive for my taste. I do like his voice and can hear the good guitar playing, but I didn't really enjoy listening to it all that much.

JLH is a legend. This album is one of his better latter albums. Still a little too polished.

I like this and appreciate it for the soulful blues that is is, but it doesn't excite me particularly.

Man, I hope this is not the only John Lee Hooker album on this list... It's alright but I would much rather listen to an earlier record of his without all the guests.

John Lee Hooker's shtick at this point feels a bit old, not bad but not sure any new material does much for me.

Pretty cool. Very much like Gil Scott Heron crossed with Ali Farka Toure. Santana guitar mixed in too. Hard to rate, not a genre I'd regularly go back to but I do seem to have a soft/spot for blues/Country vibes from time to time. Seems like the quality of music deserves more than a 3,but I think Il give it a 3 just cos I'm not sure if it's quite a 4 for me personally. 3

It’s insanely “cool” in parts

Liked a few songs. Some good star power here

Blues yes

Fine? I'm sure Hooker has better albums that could have been included here

Good blues album.

Bello ma nn penso il migliore

Puro blues

Ok steady blues...good for the right move and mood

Ik herken meteen Carlos Santana in het eerste nummer, dat sowieso erg bekend klinkt. Vervolgens ook een bekende damesstem (Bonnie Raitt) in het tweede nummer. Dit is heerlijk bluesmateriaal, al had ik wat meer up-tempo willen hebben voor de vrijdag, laatste dag van de week. Mark zal blij zijn, want van hem leerde ik gisteren Stevie Ray Vaughan kennen, dus vast een enorme liefhebber van het genre. Helaas ook bij dit blues-album is dat alle liedjes snel op elkaar beginnen te lijken. Uiteraard kun je dan naar de tekst gaan luisteren, maar het blijft muziek he, geen boek. Voor mij een prima album, niks mis mee. Favoriet blijft titelsong "The Healer". Ik ga nog een nachtje (update: weekendje) slapen over het aantal sterren.

Fijne sound, aantal herkenbare tracks. Niet genoeg om mijn aandacht hele album vast te houden.

Redelijk album, beetje te commercieel naar mijn smaak en vooral een weinig origineel. Kan er verder goed naar luisteren, vooral de eerste twee nummers uiteraard, maar geen hoogvlieger

The title track might be my least favorite, but enjoyed most the others.

R&B de abuelos pero no en un mal sentido

Chill. Ok

Smooth easy listening

Blues is the one genre I can’t get super excited about but this one was nice

The first track is genuinely a little bit healing... nice.

Track 1 and 2 are goat, blues bangers all round.

-Great intro and guitar in general in "The Healer" -Great of it wasn't too exciting

Great Blues.

Mixed feelings about this one. It's so clearly a master at work, collaborating with other superstars. Yet this album has somehow failed to draw me in. I'd be into it in one moment, then it would fade to background music the next.

Cool 90s rap with some darker undertones

Good old blues.

Liked this. Thought the collaborations brought something a bit more to the album.

Etwas frickelig, ich mag die großen Gitarrenhelden. Müsste das aber noch Mal in Ruhe hören...

Solider Blues und zum Teil echt schicke Solis. Ich möchte auch die rauchige Stimme. Außerdem bedeutend passender zu meinem Hörrythmus (morgens nach dem Aufstehen).

i couldn't be arsed with all the roadhouse blues stuff, its just cheesy, even if he was the guy that came up with it. the slow blues towards the end, now some of that was excellent.

Thought this was excellent. Enjoyed the guitar playing throughout.

Alright but not amazing

Unexpected treat. Nice smooth music, never heard of this guy before.

Some nice collaborations > I liked the Bonnie R song and Carlos' guitar didn't need an introduction. A lot less edge here than on earlier Johny Lee material. Due to his age, I'm sure, & the slick production. A bit smooth for me.

3 ruhig und nett

Just eh.

Liked it a lot, but I rarely feel in the mood for the blues.

Typically classic blues stuff doesn't do it for me, but this one's pretty good. I like the different featured guests, so sometimes a little too much 80s glossy sheen creeps in.

Solid blues jams. The first track blew me away and I was like “holy shit he sounds like Santana”.... the track just featured Santana tho lol

5.5/10 FT: I'm in the mood

6/23 Disco blues. Standout Tracks: The Healer, Cuttin' Out, Sally Mae

This feels unfair. A grizzled old bluesman who was in his pomp in the 60s and 70s, but they've decided to represent him with this late 80s selection of so-so collabs. I wish it did more for me because he's influential and I love blues guitar. But I found it a bit of an uninspiring listen that doesn't really showcase Hooker as well as I'd like alongside the other names featured.