John Lee Hooker – Come And See About Me: The Definitive DVD (Eagle/Shock)

It’s been over a decade since blues legend John Lee Hooker passed away. This DVD is basically 18 video clips from 1960 up until 1994. Along the way Hooker teams up with a myriad of artists including Van Morrison, Bonnie Raitt, Ry Cooder and The Rolling Stones.

John Lee Hooker began his long and esteemed recording career way back in 1948 with the country-blues classic Boogie Chillen’. His style was his own and it influenced musicians for generations to come including Canned Heat, The Doors and ZZ Top.

One of those influenced was Van Morrison; whose band Them recorded Baby Please Don’t Go in 1965. The first clip on this DVD finds Van and Hooker together in 1992 outdoor having a leisurely jam on the same tune…Van on harmonica and John on guitar.

Next up is a 1960 black & white clip of Hooker playing at the Newport Jazz Festival. It’s classic Hooker and he’s fine form.

The clips are linked together with brief interview segments, some with Hooker himself, others with his daughter Zakiya and some from his famous musician friends.

The three clips from the 60s show Hooker in an acoustic setting, but then we see him jamming on Crawlin’ Kingsnake with British blues-rockers Foghat in a 1978 concert clip.

The remainder of the clips are sourced from the 80s and 90s when Hooker underwent a resurgence of popularity. Highlights include a 1990 session with Bonnie Raitt performing I’m In The Mood and also from the same year, Hobo Blues with Ry Cooder.

Rolling Stones fans will want to catch the clip with Hooker leading the band through Boogie Chillen’ in 1989 with Eric Clapton joining in the fun.

My favourite clip features Hooker along in a studio in 1993. His performance of Tupelo Blues, about the devastating storm that struck the tiny Mississippi town in the 1930s (and which Hooker lived through) is absolutely mesmerizing. It seems like Hooker is a once re-living the event and writing the song as he sings it.

Bonus features include more interview footage with both John Lee and Zakiya Hooker and another performance.

I’m not sure if this qualifies as the “definitive” John Lee Hooker DVD, but there’s plenty of good stuff here.

Marty Duda

Click here to watch John Lee Hooker and Ry Cooder perform Hobo Blues: