Artist: JOHN LEE HOOKER
Album: FACE TO FACE (CD)

Year: 2003
EAN/UPS: 5034504126527
Media type: CD

FACE TO FACE is the last album John Lee Hooker recorded before his death on June 21, 2001. It combines previously released material from John Lee Hooker with unfinished tracks he was working on before he died. Compiled by the estate of Hooker, with his daughter Zakiya at the helm, the unreleased material leans heavily toward soul-blues united with Hooker's patented electric Delta boogie. "Loving People," "Funky Mabel," "Six Page Letter" (a ballad with synth strings), and "Rock These Blues Away" are highlights. Zakiya Hooker takes the spotlight on "Mean Mean World," singing lead alongside her father, and the acoustic "Wednesday Evening Blues" features George Thorogood on guitar. Hooker staples "Dimples," "It Serves Me Right to Suffer," "Mad Man Blues," and "Boogie Chillen" also make their perennial appearances. While there are no real surprises here, Face to Face still sounds great and is recommended alongside John Lee's last official releases, Chill Out and Don't Look Back, both on Pointblank.

TRACKLIST:

1. Big Road
2. Dimples
3. Loving People
4. Face to Face
5. Funky Mabel
6. It Serves Me Right to Suffer
7. Up and Down
8. Mad Man Blues
9. Six Page Letter
10. Stop Jivin' Me
11. Mean Mean World
12. Turn Over a New Leaf
13. Wednesday Evening Blues
14. Boogie Chillen'
15. Rock These Blues Away

LINE-UP:

John Lee Hooker (vocals, guitar); Ron Thompson (guitar, organ); Dickey Betts, Elvin Bishop, Robert "Red Top" Young, Anthony Cook, George Thorogood, Billy Friday Johnson (guitar); Johnny Winter, Warren Haynes (slide guitar); Dean McKinney Moore (saxophone); Dan Zemelman (piano); Jim Pugh, Tony Saunders (organ); Joe Thomas , Ruth Davies (upright bass); Kevin Williams , Marlon Green, Kevin Hayes , Scott Mathews, Bowen Brown (drums); Terrance Kelly, Tina Bryant, Gary Benson (background vocals)