Search - John Lee Hooker :: Cream

Death, as they say, can be a good career move. That's a cynical attitude to take toward the passing of one of the greatest legends in blues--in fact, one of the greatest legends of American music--but it's hard not to get cynical in the wake of all the reissues and dusted-off old recordings that have hit the shelves in the wake of John Lee Hooker's death in June 2001. That said, the aptly named The Cream is worth a listen. Recorded in Palo Alto in 1977, this live concert recording captures Hooker in a relaxed mood, taking things easy and jamming with the band. It's a good, solid set, especially in its closing number, "Boogie On," a jamming version of Hooker's classic "Boogie Chillen" that features some nice harp work from Charlie Musselwhite. While The Cream doesn't threaten the pride of place of Hooker's live Newport recording (itself recently reissued), it's plenty satisfying on its own terms. --Genevieve Williams