John Lee Hooker was an American blues singer and guitarist who recorded from 1948 to 2001. His discography includes recordings issued by various record companies in different formats.
Hooker's music blended elements of Delta blues, talking blues and early North Mississippi hill country blues. His early recordings, like "Boogie Chillen'" (1948) and "Crawling King Snake" (1949), featured Hooker alone on electric guitar.
In February 2022, it was announced that BMG had acquired Hooker's music interests from his estate. The agreement included his entire publishing catalog in addition to his recorded and performance royalty income, as well as a selection of Hooker's recorded catalog spanning Alone, Vol. 1 (1980) through to Black Night Is Falling (2019).
Studio albums + Title 1960 The Country Blues of John Lee Hooker Riverside (12-838) 1959 ; Travelin' Vee-Jay (1023) 1960 ; That's My Story Riverside (12-321) 1960 1961 The Folk Lore of John Lee Hooker Vee-Jay (1033) 1960–1961 ; 1962 Burnin' Vee-Jay (1043) 1961 ; 1963 The Big Soul of John Lee Hooker Vee-Jay (1058) 1962 ; 1964 John Lee Hooker on Campus Vee-Jay (1066) 1963 ; 1965 ...And Seven Nights Verve Folkways (3003) 1965 1966 It Serve You Right to Suffer Impulse! (A-9103) 1965 The Real Folk Blues Chess (1508) 1966 1967 Urban Blues BluesWay (6012) 1967 ; 1969 Simply the Truth BluesWay (6023) 1968 ; If You Miss 'Im...I Got 'Im BluesWay (6038) 1969 Get Back Home Black & Blue (333.023) 1969 1971 I Feel Good! Carson (3662) 1969 ; Hooker 'n Heat Liberty (35002) 1970 Endless Boogie ABC (720) 1970 ; 1972 Never Get Out of These Blues Alive ABC (736) 1971 ; 1973 Born in Mississippi, Raised Up in Tennessee ABC (768) 1971 1974 Free Beer and Chicken ABC (838) 1974 ; 1986 Jealous Pausa (7197) 1982 1989 The Healer Chameleon (03323 74808 26) 1987–1989 1991 Mr. Lucky Pointblank (07567 91724 26) 1990–1991 1992 Boom Boom Pointblank (07777 86553 29) 1987–1992 1995 Chill Out Pointblank (72438 40107 20) 1986–1995 1997 Don't Look Back Pointblank (72438 42771 23) 1996 2003 Face to Face Eagle Records (ER 20023-2) 1991–2001
Live albums + Title 1963 Live at Sugar Hill Galaxy (8205) 1962 1964 Concert at Newport Vee-Jay (1078) 1963 1966 Live at Cafe Au Go Go BluesWay (6002) 1966 1972 Live at Soledad Prison ABC (761) 1972 1973 Kabuki Wuki BluesWay (6052) 1971 ; 1978 The Cream Tomato (2-7009) 1977 1979 Live In 1978 Lunar #2 Recordings (L2S-200) 1978 1980 Alone, Vol. 1 Labor Records (4) 1976 1994 The Rising Sun Collection Just A Memory (RSC 0001) 1977 2020 Live At Montreux 1983 & 1990 Eagle Records (60250 895534 1) 1983, 1990
Selected compilations
+ Title 1959 House of the Blues Chess (1438) 1951–1954 I'm John Lee Hooker Vee-Jay (1007) 1955–1959 1960 The Blues Crown (5157) 1948–1952 John Lee Hooker Sings Blues King (727) 1949–1950 1961 John Lee Hooker Plays & Sings the Blues Chess (1454) 1951–1952 Sings the Blues Crown (5232) 1948–1954 Wilgus, D. K. “From the Record Review Editor.” The Journal of American Folklore 76, no. 299 (1963): 87–90. https://doi.org/10.2307/538091. 1962 Folk Blues Crown (5295) 1951–1954 The Best of John Lee Hooker Vee-Jay (1049) 1956–1961 1963 Don't Turn Me from Your Door Atco (33-151) 1953, 1961 1964 Is He The World's Greatest Blues Singer? Vee-Jay (8502) 1955–1963 The Great John Lee Hooker Crown (5353) 1948–1954 Burning Hell Riverside (008) 1959 Original Folk Blues Kent (5025) 1948–1954 1969 That's Where It's At! Stax (2013) 1961 ; 1971 Goin' Down Highway 51 Specialty (2127) 1948–1951 ; 1980 Sittin' Here Thinkin' Muse (5205) 1961 1989 Boogie Chillen Official (86 029) 1948–1954 1990 The Hot Spot: Original Soundtrack Antilles (422-846 813–2) 1990 1991 More Real Folk Blues: The Missing Album Chess/MCA (9329) 1966 The Ultimate Collection Rhino (R2 70572) 1948–1990 1992 The Vee Jay Years Charly R&B (CD RED BOX 6) 1955–1964 1993 Everybody's Blues Specialty (7035-2) 1950–1954 1994 The Legendary Modern Recordings Ace (1438) 1948–1954 The Early Years Tomato (9906/7-2) 1955–1964 1995 Alternative Boogie: Early Studio Recordings Capitol/EMI (72438 33912 26) 1948–1952 1998 The Best Of Friends Pointblank (72438 46424 26) 1987–1998 2017 Whiskey & Wimmen: John Lee Hooker's Finest Vee-Jay (VJR-00003; 088807 202058 0) 1954–1964 2025 The Standard School Broadcast Recordings BMG (4099 96411189 7) 1973
Albums in the charts + Title 1967 House of the Blues — — — — — — — 34 1971 Hooker 'n Heat 73 — – — — — — — Endless Boogie 126 — — — — — — — 1972 Never Get Out of These Blues Alive 130 — — — — — — — 1989 The Healer 62 — 17 9 6 38 15 3 1991 Mr. Lucky 101 25 13 27 9 16 10 3 1992 Boom Boom — — 35 84 37 41 20 15 1995 Chill Out 136 3 26 27 78 38 18 13 23 1997 Don't Look Back 163 3 48 31 — 18 35 39 63 1998 The Best of Friends — 4 — 31 45 15 54 44 — 2002 Winning Combinations: John Lee Hooker & Muddy Waters — 6 — — — — — — — 2003 Face to Face — 3 — — — — — — — 2007 Hooker (box set) — 14 — — — — — — — 2015 Two Sides of John Lee Hooker — 12 — — — — — — — 2018 Early Recordings: Detroit and Beyond — 5 — — — — — — — 2020 Live at Montreux: 1983 & 1990 — 9 — — — — — — — "—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.
Early singles (1948–1955) In the 1950s, Hooker often recorded variations of his songs for different studios for an up-front fee. To evade his recording contract with Modern Records, he used various pseudonyms, including John Lee Booker (for Chess Records and Chance Records in 1951–1952), Johnny Lee (for De Luxe Records in 1953–1954), John Lee, John Lee Cooker,Liner notes. Alternative Boogie: Early Studio Recordings, 1948–1952. Texas Slim, Delta John, Birmingham Sam and his Magic Guitar, Johnny Williams, and the Boogie Man.
Release year-month Title Label Pseudonyms Album1948-11"Sally May" b/w "Boogie Chillen'"ModernJohn Lee Hooker & His Guitar A-side: The Great John Lee Hooker (1963)B-side: The Blues (1960)1948-12"Black Man Blues" b/w "Stomp Boogie"KingTexas SlimN/A1949-xx"Grievin' Blues" b/w "Wayne County Ramblin' Blues"DancelandLittle Pork Chops"Miss Rosie Mae" b/w "Highway Blues"StaffJohnny Williams and His Guitar 1949-02"Helpless Blues" b/w "Goin' Mad Blues"RegentDelta John 1949-03"Low Down-Midnite Boogie" b/w "Landing Blues"SavoyBirmingham Sam and His Magic Guitar "Hobo Blues" b/w "Hoogie Boogie"ModernJohn Lee Hooker & His Guitar The Blues (1960)1949-04"Do the Boogie" b/w "Morning Blues"AcornThe Boogie Man N/A1949-07"Whistlin' and Moanin' Blues" b/w "Weeping Willow Boogie"ModernJohn Lee HookerThe Blues (1960)1949-08"Devil's Jump" b/w "The Numbers"KingTexas Slim Sings Blues (1960)1949-10"Crawlin' King Snake" b/w "Drifting from Door to Door"ModernJohn Lee Hooker and His Guitar A-side: The Blues (1960)B-side: Sings The Blues (1961)"I'm Gonna Kill that Woman" b/w "Nightmare Blues"KingTexas Slim Sings Blues (1960)1949-11"Burnin' Hell" b/w "Miss Sadie Mae"SensationJohn Lee Hooker and His Guitar N/A1949-12"Canal Street Blues" b/w "Huckle Up Baby"1950-01"Playin' the Races" b/w "Howlin' Wolf"ModernA-side: N/AB-side: The Great John Lee Hooker (1963)"Heart Trouble Blues" b/w "Slim's Stomp"KingTexas Slim Sings Blues (1960)1950-02"Wandering Blues" b/w "Don't Go Baby"1950-03"Let Your Daddy Ride" b/w "Goin' on Highway #51"SensationJohn Lee Hooker and His Guitar N/A1950-04"No Friend Around" b/w "Wednesday Evening"ModernA-side: N/AB-side: Sings The Blues (1961)1950-05"Late Last Night" b/w "Don't You Remember Me"KingTexas Slim Sings Blues (1960)"My Baby's Got Something" b/w "Decoration Day Blues"SensationJohn Lee Hooker and His Guitar N/A1950-07"Thinking Blues" b/w "Moaning Blues"KingTexas Slim Sings Blues (1960)"Miss Eloise" b/w "Boogie Chillen' #2"SensationJohn Lee Hooker and His Guitar N/A1950-08"Give Me Your Phone Number" b/w "Roll 'n' Roll"Modern1950-10"Never Satisfied" b/w "Notoriety Woman"Regal1950-11"Wandering Blues" b/w "House Rent Boogie"StaffJohnny Williams and His Guitar 1950-12"Let Your Daddy Ride" b/w "One More Time"ModernJohn Lee Hooker and His Guitar A-side: Sings The Blues (1961)B-side: The Great John Lee Hooker (1963)"Boogie Now" b/w "Mad Man Blues"GoneJohn Lee Booker Plays & Sings The Blues (1961)1951-xx"Prison Bound" b/w "Bumble Bee Blues"StaffJohnny Williams N/A1951-03"John L's House Rent Boogie" b/w "Queen Bee"ModernJohn Lee Hooker The Blues (1960)"Questionnaire Blues" b/w "Real Gone Gal"GothamJohnny Williams N/A1951-05"Tease Me Baby" b/w "Women in My Life"ModernJohn Lee Hooker A-side: The Great John Lee Hooker (1963)B-side: N/A1951-08"Leave My Wife Alone" b/w "Ramblin' by Myself"ChessJohn Lee Booker House Of The Blues (1959)1951-09"I'm in the Mood" b/w "How Can You Do It"ModernJohn Lee Hooker A-side: The Blues (1960)B-side: The Great John Lee Hooker (1963)1951-10"Louise" b/w "Ground Hog Blues"ChessJohn Lee BookerHouse Of The Blues (1959)1951-11"Miss Lorraine" b/w "Talkin' Boogie"ChanceJohn Lee Booker and His Guitar N/A1951-12"Turn Over a New Leaf (1952 Blues)" b/w "Anybody Seen My Baby"ModernJohn Lee Hooker A-side: Sings The Blues (1961)B-side: The Blues (1960)1952-xx"Little Boy Blue" b/w "My Daddy Was a Jockey"GothamJohnny Williams N/A1952-01"I Love to Boogie" b/w "Graveyard Blues"ChanceJohn Lee Booker and His Guitar 1952-03"Mean Old Train" b/w "Catfish"GothamJohn Lee "Cold Chills All Over Me" b/w "Rock Me Mama"ModernJohn Lee HookerA-side: The Blues (1960)B-side: Sings The Blues (1961)1952-04"High Priced Woman" b/w "Union Station Blues"ChessHouse Of The Blues (1959)1952-05"Walkin' the Boogie" b/w "Sugar Mama"1952-06"609 Boogie" b/w "Road Trouble"ChanceJohn L. Booker and His Guitar N/A1952-07"It Hurts Me So" b/w "I Got Eyes for You"Modern John Lee Hooker and "Little" Eddie Kirkland The Great John Lee Hooker (1963)1952-10"Bluebird Blues" b/w "Key to the Highway"John Lee Hooker A-side: N/AB-side: The Great John Lee Hooker (1963)1953-xx"No More Doggin'" b/w "Boogie Rambler"JVBJohnny Lee Hooker N/A1953-01"Rock House Boogie" b/w "It's Been a Long Time Baby"ModernJohn Lee Hooker A-side: Folk Blues (1962)B-side: N/A1953-05"It's Stormin' and Rainin'" b/w "Ride 'Till I Die"N/A1953-07"Love Money Can't Buy" b/w "Please Take Me Back"1953-09"Blue Monday" b/w "Lovin' Guitar Man"DeLuxeJohn Lee Booker A-side: N/AB-side: Don't Turn Me From Your Door (1963)1953-10"Too Much Boogie" b/w "Need Somebody"ModernJohn Lee Hooker N/A"I Came to See You Baby" b/w "I'm a Boogie Man"DeLuxeJohnny Lee 1954-01"Pouring Down Rain" b/w "Stuttering Blues"DeLuxeJohn Lee Booker A-side: N/AB-side: Don't Turn Me From Your Door (1963)1954-02"Down Child" b/w "Gotta Boogie"ModernJohn Lee Hooker Folk Blues (1962)1954-03"It's My Own Fault" b/w "Women and Money"ChessHouse Of The Blues (1959)"My Baby Don't Love Me" b/w "Real, Real Gone"DeLuxeJohn Lee Booker Don't Turn Me From Your Door (1963)1954-05"I Wonder Little Darling" b/w "Jump Me (One More Time)"ModernJohn Lee Hooker N/A1954-07"I Tried Hard" b/w "Let's Talk it Over"A-side: N/AB-side: Folk Blues (1962)1954-08"Everybody's Blues" b/w "I'm Mad"SpecialtyN/A1954-10"Cool Little Car" b/w "Bad Boy"ModernA-side: N/AB-side: Folk Blues (1962)1955-01"Half a Stranger" b/w "Shake, Holler and Run"Folk Blues (1962)1955-05"You Receive Me" b/w "Taxi Driver"N/A1955-08"Hug and Squeeze" b/w "The Syndicator"Sings The Blues (1961)1955-10"Lookin' for a Woman" b/w "I'm Ready"A-side: Folk Blues (1962)B-side: N/A
Singles in the charts