# CD review: John Lee Hooker – The Healer 2023: Video, CD cover

- Link: https://jazzblues.eu/2023/02/01/cd-review-john-lee-hooker-the-healer-2023-video-cd-cover/
- Published: 2023-02-01T00:04:59+01:00
- Author: https://JazzBlues.EU

**Originally released in 1989 on Chameleon Records, The Healer quickly became the
highest charting album of John Lee Hooker’s storied career.**

Out of print for more than ten years, Craft Recordings has reissued the album as
originally formatted. After years of lurking out of the limelight, the blues legend
was matched up with a number of high-profile guests, all of whom worshiped Hooker
and his influence on their music.

One highlight of the album is that Hooker never gets pushed to the background, or
overshadowed by his musical compatriots. Credit for keeping the spotlight on him
goes to Roy Rogers, who produced the album along with adding his guitar to several
tracks, a role he handled as a decade-long member of Hooker’s band at the time.

The title cut gets the party started, surrounding Hooker with a deep Latin-tinged
rhythm punctuated by Carlos Santana’s guitar licks. While Hooker conveys the healing
power of the music with his vocal, the track glides along thanks to the stellar 
accompaniment of members of the Santana Band – Chepito Areas on timbales, Armando
Peraza on congas, and Ndugu Chancler on drums. The unsung hero is Chester Thompson
on keyboards and synthesizers, creating an ethereal mood with flute-like tones that
are a sharp contrast to Santana’s stinging attack.

Next, Hooker dusts off one of his classic songs, “I’m In The Mood,” joined by Bonnie
Raitt. Their lusty duet goes way down in the alley, and Raitt’s slide playing reminds
you of how good she has always been on guitar. It is a stunning track that took 
home the 1990 Grammy Award for Best Traditional Blues Recording, the first Grammy
in Hooker’s career.

“Baby Lee” has Hooker trading licks with Robert Cray over a rumba groove laid down
by Richard Cousins on bass and Scott Matthews on drums. He sounds right at home 
on “Think Twice Before Your Go,” backed by the members of Los Lobos. Cesar Rosas
and David Hidalgo tear it up on guitar, with Hidalgo adding a touch of sweetness
on his accordion. Another fine moment finds George Thorogood and Hooker alone with
their guitars on “Sally Mae,” with Hooker singing about love troubles while they
conjure up the primal sounds of Hooker’s earliest records.

In 1971, the bluesman released the double album Hooker ‘n Heat, recorded with Canned
Heat, who had scored several hit records with blues songs. The remaining living 
members of the band – Henry Vestine on guitar, Larry Taylor on bass, and Fito de
la Parra on drums – back Hooker along with Rogers on an uptempo romp through “Cuttin’
Out,” with the singer heading out on a train ride towards a better life. Hooker’s
exhortations are nicely framed by fills from Charlie Musselwhite’s harmonica. Rogers
and Musselwhite return on “That’s Alright,” another dark, moody track that epitomizes
the Hooker sound. Musselwhite blows streams of mournful tones over the intimate 
dialog between the guitars of Rogers and his boss.

The final three tracks remind listeners of the essence of Hooker’s legacy. “Rockin’
Chair” finds him alone with his guitar, promising that he will be a fool no more
as he tries to rock his blues away. His richly textured performance mixes gritty
tension with beautifully crafted imagery. Taylor and de la Parra back the master
om “My Dream,” a touching, country-tinged lament over a lost love.

The closing number, “No Substitute,” finds Hooker playing a 12 string guitar, giving
the music a brighter sound. As he plays and taps his foot, he tellingly sings about
past sins that have lead to realization that love is all that matters. It is a fitting
ending for an album that thankfully brought Hooker a new, well-deserved measure 
of world-wide attention while confirming that his ability to create powerful music
had not diminished with time. Undoubtedly one of the first albums to lean on the“
guest appearance” concept to increase the album’s marketability, The Healer has 
staying power as a true highlight of Hooker’s long career. Make sure you grab a 
copy if it is not already part of your blues collection!

![The Healer - Il blues che guarisce di John Lee Hooker e Carlos Santana -  BLOM!-
Blog of music](https://i0.wp.com/www.blomcommunity.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/
The_Healer-John_Lee_Hocker.jpg?w=640&ssl=1)

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