The Healer

by

John Lee Hooker

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Putting an older artist together with younger blood is mostly a gimmick in the record business. The older artist gets an introduction to a new audience, the younger ones get a little reflected glory. But in this case, it is no gimmick, just a lot of terrific musicians who obviously love and respect each other and play beautifully together. John Lee Hooker had one of the most gorgeous, hypnotic voices of all blues singer, and unlike most singers, he did not lose a thing with age. I find his voice one of the most soothing things in the world to listen to (The Healer is a perfect title, HookerÕs voice could heal anything.) And the guest artists on here are incredible. Carlos Santana. Bonnie Raitt. Robert Cray. Los Lobos. George Thorogood. Charlie Musselwhite. In each case, playing with Hooker brings out the best in them. I am not a big Bonnie Raitt fan (I love her early stuff, but not her more recent pop albums), but her duet with Hooker on IÕm In The Mood is just about the bluesiest and deepest I have ever heard her sing. Los Lobos and George Thorogood are as tough as ever. And the Latin tinge that Santana lends to the title song is just gorgeous.

This is a must have album for anyone who loves blues or classic rock.

Don't get me wrong, I like John Lee Hooker a lot. It's just that this album adds little of interest to his legacy.

The loooong guest list makes "The Healer" a weird, unengaging and not very cohesive listen.

In my opinion, the guest stars detract from most of the songs rather than adding to them...most of these songs are just too slick and professional, lacking the grit and gravel (and the sincerity) of the original recordings. The title cut is a stylistic experiment gone (really, really) wrong, and why anyone would want to bring George Thorogood and Bonnie Raitt in to play guitar on a John Lee Hooker album is truly beyond me.

There are moments where it clicks, sure, but that's usually when the music doesn't greatly expand on the kind of stripped-down boogie that Hooker played for fifty years - like on the lean, mean "Baby Lee" and the harp-driven "That's Alright", and...well, that's pretty much it, actually. "Think Twice Before You Go" used to be such a good song before it was swamped by wailing guitars.

If you prefer band-backed Hooker, go look for "The Early Years" vol. 1 and 2 from Rhino Records. Most of these recordings are bland, run-of-the-mill blues rock, lacking the grit and power which made John Lee Hooker special, and "The Healer" is mostly one for people who would like to like John Lee Hooker but really don't...