John Lee Hooker

Ace Records is celebrating the late blues legend John Lee Hooker (1912 or 1917 - 2001) with a historic new box set. Documenting the Sensation Recordings 1949-1952 accomplishes just that feat. When Ace purchased Sensation Records from Bernard Besman, a number of Hooker sides were among the acquisition. Besman had previously sold some of Hooker's recordings to United Artists and Greene Bottle. Until now, Ace hadn't completed research into the total contents of the acquisition. Over 3 CDs and 71 songs, the label has now brought together all of the sides purchased from Besman to chronicle this seminal period in Hooker's career. The 71 tracks here do not include any sides that appeared on the United Artists or Greene Bottle releases; as such, 19 previously unissued versions or alternate takes of those songs premiere here. The detailed sessionography included in the booklet has the recording date, commentary, matrix number, original issue, first reissue, and first Ace reissue of every title.