John Lee Hooker – Burning Hell

Recorded in Detroit in April 1959 (during a session that also produced 1960’s The Country Blues of John Lee Hooker), Burning Hell was a stylistic outlier for the artist, who was better known at the time for his electric, R&B-influenced sound. Instead, Riverside sought to highlight Hooker’s Delta roots, capturing him in an intimate setting where he was accompanied only by his acoustic guitar. The resulting album showcased Hooker’s commanding presence as an artist, as he delivered a soulful blend of original songs (“Graveyard Blues,” “You Live Your Life and I’ll Live Mine” and the title track, among them) as well as a selection of blues standards, including Big Joe Williams’ “Baby, Please Don’t Go,” Howlin’ Wolf’s “Smokestack Lightnin’,” and the Charlie Segar/Big Bill Broonzy-penned “Key to the Highway.”

As powerful as the recording was, Burning Hell wasn’t released until 1964—not long after Hooker had become a sensation in the UK, amid the Blues revival. Originally only available in Europe, the album quickly became a sought-after rarity, coveted by Blues and Folk aficionados across the globe. Today, it remains a standout title in Hooker’s prolific catalog of work. In a retrospective review, AllMusic hailed Burning Hell “among John Lee Hooker’s most edgy and focused performances,” while UKVibe wrote that “There is a freshness to the interpretations that transcends time and place.”

This long-awaited reissue of Burning Hell marks the first worldwide reissue on a single vinyl LP as well as its debut in hi-res audio.

Purchase your copy from the John Lee Hooker store HERE