Product Description

The journey began in Clarksdale, Mississippi in 1917. When it finally ended in 2001, a 6 decade long boogie tornado had left a path of one of the most influential marks on the music world. The deep voice, the distorted guitar, and that foot that tapped away like an out of control metronome brought him out of Mississippi to the far reaches of this country. Included among the vintage footage are performances of Hooker jamming with the Rolling Stones, Eric Clapton, Van Morrison, Ry Cooder, and Bonnie Raitt. Also included are archive performances throughout his storied career from many of the various television appearances he made as well as vintage interview clips with Hooker. Bonus features include a discography, a bonus interview clip with John Lee, an interview with Zakiya Hooker (his daughter), and a bonus clip of John Lee Hooker and Roy Rogers performing "Boogie Chillin'". This film is presented by the John Lee Hooker Estate.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #20726 in DVD
• Released on: 2004-06-01
• Rating: NR (Not Rated)
• Aspect ratio: 1.33:1
• Formats: Color, Dolby, DVD, Black & White, NTSC
• Original language: English
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 127 minutes

Amazon.com
The back cover promises "complete archival performances of [John Lee Hooker's] most popular songs," all courtesy of the Hooker estate. That's good news for anyone used to music programs containing only frustratingly brief clips of their subjects at work, and it's exactly what Come and See About Me delivers--in spades--in this superb, two-hour compilation featuring the late bluesman in live performance by himself, with various bands, and in collaborations with a host of famous partners. Hooker's blues was a dark, menacing, sexy sound, and some of the best moments here come when he is playing solo, with only his guitar, his stomping foot, and what guitarist Ry Cooder (who joins him for "Hobo Blues") calls his "deep, well-like" voice accompanying songs like "It Serves Me Right to Suffer" (from 1969) and "Bad Like Jesse James" (1986). But the collaborations are swell too, including those with Van Morrison, Cooder, Bonnie Raitt, John Hammond, and the Rolling Stones ("Boogie Chillen'" comes from the Stones' Steel Wheels tour, with Eric Clapton on hand as well); there's even an appearance with Brit blues rockers Foghat from 1978, with the great Paul Butterfield adding harmonica. The bonus features (a couple of interviews, discography, another "Boogie Chillen'" take) aren't much, but little matter--for blues fans, this is the motherlode. --Sam Graham

Customer Reviews

Long Live The Boogie King
John Lee Hooker was the last of the unstructured real country Bluesmen. He was a semi-urbanized Robert Johnson-style one man band and was even born in Clarksdale, Mississippi where WC Handy had first seen slide guitar playing. I can remember seeing John Lee in Central Park in 1967 playing second fiddle to Al Kooper and the final stages of the Blues Project. He came out all alone, no band, just a chair and blew them totally away. You can't beat the real thing! This DVD is a definite must have for any Blues fan. As the ranks of real Blues originals diminishes we need to cling on to these type of records. This compilation is well edited and put together. It is over two hours long which is what Blues fans want.

The songs are a great overview of JLH's career including his classic Newport Jazz Festival appearance and his famous 1965 European American Folk Blues Festival version of "Hobo Blues". Also included is a track from his excellent 1980s "Maintenance Shop Blues" appearance (I wish they would re-release the Albert King Set!).

All in all this is a wonderful compilation. It shows Hooker in all stages of his playing; by himself, with various guest artists, with bands and of course with Santana doing "The Healer". I would also strongly recommend the two JLH DVD's from Vestapol: "John Lee Hooker and Friends" and "John Lee Hooker:Rare Performances"(Amazon can get these by Special Order). This DVD is must for all Blues and American Music fans!

This is one not to be missed
I dont often purchase "archival" performances on DVD due to the often poor quality of both picture and sound. This one, however transcends the archival dust truely conjures up old nuances and feelings that modern bluesmen rarely pull out of the hat. Johns 1965 performance of "Hobo Blues" is a tribute to his dark and smoothly melodic blues. "Im in the Mood" with Bonnie Raitt, raises gooseflesh on me like no other wonderfully performed, almost extemperaneous blues rendition either modern or historical. This collection of both very old and performances from the sunset of his life is full of rare jewels that keeps me poping the DVD back into the player. I applaud and thank the Estate of John Lee Hooker for allowing us the ability to bring him into our homes. He is truely missed, but I hear him all the time listening to Van, Eric, Bonnie, Susan and even myself when I perform. He lives on in us.

Keeps going back into the player
I keep going back to this DVD to hear "Boogie Chillen", where the Rolling Stones and Eric Clapton are the backup band, just to hear him sing and play. The inspiration for most of the Brisitsh rockers of the 60s and 70s, as Carlos Santana points out he influenced everyone in rock. On this DVD you notice Van Morrison, Santana, Clapton and others lifting his licks in their styles.

Great foot-stompin' boogie, but also killer blues from a giant talent. Not so much a greatest hits as an exploration of his style in role in defining the sound for blues rock.

Well worth the price.