John Lee Hooker - Plays & Sings the Blues Vinyl LP

Expected: 12/11/2026

John Lee Hooker was born and raised in the Mississippi Delta, but the singer/guitarist was something of an omnipresent figure as electric blues began to come into its own. His impressive voice, amplified guitar and gripping compositions (including the standards 'Boogie Chillen' and 'Boom Boom') were heard on at least 20 different labels under multiple aliases throughout the 1950s — including a stint on Chess, which helped bring his approach to the genre into sharper focus.

Released by Chess Records in 1961, Plays & Sings the Blues captures Hooker at the absolute zenith of his early, unfiltered power. Gathering prime studio cuts recorded between 1951 and 1952, this compilation showcases 'The Hook' in his signature element: solitary, hypnotic, and fiercely rhythmic, driven only by his electric guitar, deep vocal rumble, and heavily amplified foot-tapping.

Chess curated this defining collection by combining tracks originally cut directly for the Chicago label alongside acquired gems like 'Mad Man Blues' and 'Hey Boogie' (purchased from the short-lived Gone label). The result is an essential artifact of raw Detroit blues, capturing a legendary innovator at his most primal and unvarnished.

Tracks:

Side A
1. The Journey
2. I Don't Want Your Money
3. Hey Baby
4. Mad Man Blues
5. Bluebird
6. Worried Life Blues

Side B
1. Apologize
2. Lonely Boy Boogie
3. Please Don't Go
4. Dreamin' Blues
5. Hey Boogie
6. Just Me and My Telephone

Label: Interscope Records