''Endless Boogie'' is a studio album by American
blues
Blues is a music genre and musical form that originated among African Americans in the Deep South of the United States around the 1860s. Blues has incorporated spiritual (music), spirituals, work songs, field hollers, Ring shout, shouts, cha ...
musician
John Lee Hooker
John Lee Hooker (August 22, 1912 or 1917 – June 21, 2001) was an American blues singer, songwriter, and guitarist. The son of a sharecropper, he rose to prominence performing an electric guitar-style adaptation of Delta blues that he develo ...
, released in 1971 through
ABC Records
ABC Records was an American record label founded in New York City in 1955. It originated as the main popular music label operated by the Am-Par Record Corporation. Am-Par also created the Impulse! jazz label in 1960. It acquired many labels bef ...
. Produced by
Bill Szymczyk
William Frank Szymczyk (; born February 13, 1943) is an American music producer and recording engineer best known for working with rock and blues musicians, most notably the Eagles in the 1970s. He produced many top albums and singles of the ...
and
Ed Michel, the
double album
A double album (or double record) is an audio album that spans two units of the primary medium in which it is sold, typically either records or compact disc. A double album is usually, though not always, released as such because the recording ...
was recorded at Wally Heider Recording with session musicians such as
Jesse Ed Davis
Jesse Edwin Davis III (September 21, 1944 – June 22, 1988) was a Native American guitarist. He was well regarded as a session artist and solo performer, was a member of Taj Mahal's backing band and played with musicians such as Bob Dylan, Eri ...
,
Carl Radle,
Steve Miller, Gino Skaggs and
Mark Naftalin.
American
blues rock
Blues rock is a fusion music genre, genre and form of rock music, rock and blues music that relies on the chords/scales and instrumental improvisation of blues. It is mostly an electric ensemble-style music with instrumentation similar to electri ...
band
Endless Boogie is named after the album.
Critical reception
Cub Koda of
Allmusic
AllMusic (previously known as All-Music Guide and AMG) is an American online database, online music database. It catalogs more than three million album entries and 30 million tracks, as well as information on Musical artist, musicians and Mus ...
wrote: "Although Hooker has always had trouble finding bands that could keep up with his idiosyncratic timing, it's not an impossible task, and the musicians on board for this session just seem to be endlessly riffing rather than providing a sympathetic framework for John Lee to work his magic." Koda also criticized John Lee Hooker's "scarce involvement" in the album and further stated: "There are lots of John Lee Hooker albums in the bin; pass this one by."
In contrast, ''
Rolling Stone
''Rolling Stone'' is an American monthly magazine that focuses on music, politics, and popular culture. It was founded in San Francisco, California, in 1967 by Jann Wenner and the music critic Ralph J. Gleason.
The magazine was first known fo ...
'' critic Gary von Tersch was positive in his assessment, stating: "Throughout, it's Hooker all the way he makes it his brand of blues with the case and dexterity of the genius he is all the textures and highlights paced with his ever-churning, heavy-bassed electric guitar and his rough down-and-out voice."
Music critic
Robert Christgau
Robert Thomas Christgau ( ; born April 18, 1942) is an American music journalist and essayist. Among the most influential music critics, he began his career in the late 1960s as one of the earliest professional rock critics and later became a ...
wrote: "The white audience hasn't much changed Hooker's sound, so the timeliness of ''Endless Boogie'' is an unmitigated plus, and producers Bill Szymczyk and
Ed Michel get a relaxed groove out of a cast of supporting musicians who can boogie
Canned Heat
Canned Heat is an American blues rock band that was formed in Los Angeles in 1965. The group has been noted for its efforts to promote interest in blues music and its original artists. It was launched by two blues enthusiasts, Alan Wilson and ...
right out of the studio."
Track listing
All songs written by
John Lee Hooker
John Lee Hooker (August 22, 1912 or 1917 – June 21, 2001) was an American blues singer, songwriter, and guitarist. The son of a sharecropper, he rose to prominence performing an electric guitar-style adaptation of Delta blues that he develo ...
.
# "(I Got) a Good 'Un" – 5:12
# "House Rent Boogie" – 6:23
# "Kick Hit 4 Hit Kix U (Blues for
Jimi
Jimi may refer to:
* Jimi language (Cameroon)
* Jimi language (Nigeria)
* Jimi languages
* Jimi system, administration system of ancient China
* Jimi River, in Papua New Guinea
* Jimi Valley, in Papua New Guinea
* Jimi District, in Papua New ...
and
Janis)" – 6:41
# "Standin' at the Crossroads" – 6:08
# "Pots On, Gas On High" – 11:22
# "We Might As Well Call It Through (I Didn't Get Married to Your Two-Timing Mother)" – 8:04
# "Doin' The Shout" – 3:31
# "A Sheep Out On The Foam" – 6:27
# "I Don't Need No Steam Heat – 4:17
# "Sittin' in My Dark Room" – 5:38
# "Endless Boogie, Parts 27 And 28" – 8:44
Personnel
*
John Lee Hooker
John Lee Hooker (August 22, 1912 or 1917 – June 21, 2001) was an American blues singer, songwriter, and guitarist. The son of a sharecropper, he rose to prominence performing an electric guitar-style adaptation of Delta blues that he develo ...
– guitar, vocals, songwriting
*
Carl Radle – bass guitar (5, 6)
* Gino Skaggs – bass (1–4, 7–8, 10)
* Billy Ingram – drums (1, 10)
*
Jim Gordon – drums (5–6)
* Ken Swank – drums (tracks: 1–4, 7–8)
* Reno Lanzara – drums (9–11)
*
Cliff Coulter – electric piano (1, 3, 5, 6, 8, 10), Fender bass (9), guitar (11)
* John Turk – electric piano (9); organ (11)
*
Bill Szymczyk
William Frank Szymczyk (; born February 13, 1943) is an American music producer and recording engineer best known for working with rock and blues musicians, most notably the Eagles in the 1970s. He produced many top albums and singles of the ...
– engineering, production
* Dan Alexander – guitar (2, 8)
* Jerry Perez – guitar (11)
*
Jesse Ed Davis
Jesse Edwin Davis III (September 21, 1944 – June 22, 1988) was a Native American guitarist. He was well regarded as a session artist and solo performer, was a member of Taj Mahal's backing band and played with musicians such as Bob Dylan, Eri ...
– guitar (5–6)
*
Mel Brown – guitar (1, 9–11)
*
Steve Miller – guitar (1–2, 4, 7, 9–11)
* Dave Berger – harmonica (2, 11)
*
Mark Naftalin – piano (2, 4–6, 9–11), guitar (3)
* Ed Michel – production
* Ken Swank – tambourine (11)
References
External links
*
{{Authority control
1971 albums
John Lee Hooker albums
Albums produced by Bill Szymczyk
Albums produced by Ed Michel
ABC Records albums