These three CDs contain all of John Lee Hookers sides for the SENSATION record label. There has been meticulous tape research for best sources & the mastering far exceeds anything released before. (There were LP releases of some of this material on UNITED ARTISTS & GREEN BOTTLE but nothing this complete) 19 previously unreleased versions of songs including extended takes and alternative versions. There is an introductory note from Peter Guralnick and a comprehensive overview of the music from Dr Wayne Goins, Director of Jazz Studies at Kansas State University. It also comes with a sessionography covering all the tracks. These early Hooker recordings are akin to jazz as much as the blues, with an improvisatory feel, harking back to the pre-war era, but with a very distinct approach and a unique sound presaging the blues that was to come..............
2. War Is Over (Goodbye California) (Extended Version)
3. War Is Over (Goodbye California) (Alt Take)
4. War Is Over (Goodbye California) (Extended Version of Green Bottle LP 3130)
7. Drifting from Door to Door
9. Numbers Blues (Aka She Ain't Good for Nothin')
14. Hoogie Boogie (Instrumental)
15. Hastings Street Boogie (Extended Version)
16. Build Myself a Cave (Aka the World Is in a Tangle) (Take #1)
17. Build Myself a Cave (Take #2)
18. Build Myself a Cave (Take #3)
19. Build Myself a Cave (Specialty LP Version)
23. Sailing Blues (Aka Drifting Blues)
10. My Baby's Got Somethin'
11. Boogie Chillen' #2 (Take 1)
12. Boogie Chillen' #2 (Take 2)
13. Boogie Chillen' #2 (Take 4)
15. Boogie Chillen' #2 (Aka 21 Boogie) (Extended Version)
16. Roll 'N' Roll (Alt Take)
18. Three Long Years Today
19. Strike Blues (Extended Version)
20. Do My Baby Think of Me?
21. Give Me Your Phone Number (Alt Take)
22. The Story of a Married Woman (Alt Take)
23. Moon Is Rising (Alt Take)
1. John L's House Rent Boogie (Aka House Rent Boogie)
2. John L's House Rent Boogie (Fragment) (Alt Incomplete Take)
6. Women in My Life (Aka Goin' Away Baby)
7. Tease Me Baby (Aka Tease Me Over Baby)
8. I Need Lovin' (Aka Tease Me Over Baby)
10. I'm in the Mood (Three Voice)
11. I'm in the Mood (Humming Version)
12. I'm in the Mood (With Harmonica Overdub)
13. I'm in the Mood (Alt One Voice)
16. It Hurts Me So (Alt Take)
18. I Got Eyes for You (Take 2 or Take 5)
20. I Got the Key (Aka Key to the Highway)
23. It's Time for Lovin' to Be Done
24. That's All Right Boogie (Under Dub)
