Next time you’re listening to Z.Z. Top, George Thorogood, the Animals, R.L. Burnside, and a whole host of classic rockers and post-’50s electric bluesmen who’ve written percolating one-chord stomps, think of John Lee Hooker.
The Mississippi blues legend, who was born on August 22, 1917 — just 92 years ago — had patented the chugging muted-and-strummed sound well before cutting the smash that established it as an enduring rock ‘n’ roll blueprint, 1948’s “Boogie Chillen.” Hooker, who favored hollow body electrics including Gibson ES-125s, ES-135s, and Epiphone Sheratons — credited the powerful, churning drone to his stepfather Will Moore, who taught him guitar, but it will forever be associated with Johnnie Lee’s own name. And he used it frequently throughout his half-century career.
Here’s a list of the Hook’s top 10 guitar boogie tunes:
1) “Boogie Chillen” (1948): JLH’s first big hit, which reached the pinnacle of the R&B charts, remains the foundation for guitar boogie as well as an anthem of youthful rebellion cut five years before Elvis even stepped into Sun Studio. The blues legend played “Boogie Chillen” throughout his career, even as such far-flung artists as Z.Z. Top (“La Grange” ) and R.L. Burnside (“Snakedrive”) also made it their own.
2) “Boom Boom” (1961). This stomper became a staple of the British blues scene — a hit for the Animals in 1965 that was also recorded by the Yardbirds, Alexis Korner’s CCS, and Dr. Feelgood. The early Rolling Stones played it live, too. “Boom Boom” enjoyed a revival in 1980 when Hooker himself, playing a street musician, performed it in The Blues Brothers movie.
3) “I’m In the Mood” (1951). Proof that boogie can be lowdown and sexy, this tune was another number one R&B smash for Johnnie Lee upon release, and enjoyed a famed resurrection when he cut it again with Bonnie Raitt for 1989’s The Healer.
4) “Big Legs, Tight Skirt” (1965). “Big Legs” ’s loping variation on the boogie theme is a perfect grinder for juke joint dance floors. And if you don’t get the message, Mr. Hooker lays it out: “Big legs, tight skirt/Knocks me outta my mind.” ’Nuff said.
5) “One Bourbon, One Scotch, One Beer” (1966). This tribute to the great American pastime — drinking to forget — is one of Hooker’s best-known and -loved tunes. It was covered to perfection by George Thorogood on his 1977 debut George Thorogood & the Destroyers and remains a killer entry on that Gibson slinger’s set list.
6) “Dimples” (1956). The sliding lick that’s the spine of this song was eventually reworked by Hooker into “Boom Boom,” but when it comes to chugging boogie with a foot stomping beat, this horn dog anthem (“I love the way you walk…”) — which the Animals also covered — stands on its own.
7) “John L’s House Rent Boogie” (1951). Another testament to Hooker’s recycling: this one evolved into “One Bourbon, One Scotch, One Beer” 16 years later. But this ultra-stark track from the beginning of his recording career in Detroit puts you so deep into the post-midnight house party vibe that you can smell the beer and frying catfish.
8) “Teachin’ the Blues” (1966). This isn’t just a boogie; it’s a guitar lesson. John Lee tells the story of how he learned to play his boogie pattern and offers some guitar tips over the signature good-foot groove.
9) “Huckle Up Baby” (1949). Coupling the six-string boogie to a dirty double entendre pumped this ditty up to number 15 on the R&B charts. That’s still a sexy combination 50 years later. Lonesome George Thorogood’s kept this one in his trick bag, too.
10) “Moses Smote the Water” (1949). Here’s rockin’ proof that gospel can boogie, too. This live track stayed in the vaults until 2004 when the house party tape it’s part of was released as Jack o’ Diamonds, making a valuable addition to the recordings of Hooker’s sparsely documented acoustic picking.