When John Lee Hooker made the transition from regional indies to the larger independent label Vee-Jay in the mid '50s, he began to work with larger backing groups. Now, John Lee Hooker has made a lot of records, and many of them have the same songs recorded over and over again. 1962's Burnin' is no exception, but it's got a big sound, and it benefits greatly from its latest mastering job. A nice mixture of classics and obscure numbers, this might be the best Hooker album cut with a large group. There's even a tenor sax on here, alongside the stride piano, bass drums and second guitar. Hooker's voice is lower in the mix than typical, but it's fine, given the way that it's been swathed in echo and surrounded by his session player pals.

The Hook is not at his deepest and darkest, by any means. There are no gloomy numbers about the flood in Tupelo, Mississippi, for instance. On the contrary, this record seems to have been made for partying. The slow, stomping "I Got a Letter This Morning" never achieves the modal endless boogie it might in a different setting, but the airy, light arrangement makes it easier… read more »