mail: daniel_fjall@hotmail.com
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the best of friends
The Best of Friends This is a compilation of songs recorded with various mainstream superstars guesting, either offering some vocals or simply lending a guitar part or two. One could wonder why, since John Lee Hooker got more experience and power in both areas than the guests combined. Hooker possesses an authority that few do, and in his most inspired moments he may very well be the greatest of the old bluesmen. However, in 1989 the album The Healer was released and the first of many John Lee Hooker albums to feature well known stars. People bought the albums because of the guests, rather than to hear the real deal. Even if for the wrong reason, the albums sold good and The Best of Friends is simply the record company’s way to make some easy money. Even though overbearingly slick in some places and Carlos Santana’s solos in “The Healer” lacking any sort of taste, The Best of Friends has some truly fine glimpses as well. Eric Clapton plays some dirty guitar on the extremely cool “Boogie Chillen”, Jimmy Vaughan (brother of Stevie Ray) sits in on the utterly overplayed, but still smokin’ nonetheless, version of the classic “Boom Boom” and when Van Morrison shows up on the drastically different, but oh so beautiful ballads “I Cover The Waterfront” and “Don't Look Back” the time seems to stand still. What is left is very competent and enjoyable, but hardly essential. Reading the credits is overwhelming, as the list of names such as Ry Cooder, Robert Cray, Emmylou Harris, Booker T. Jones, Nick Lowe, Ike Turner, Bonnie Raitt and Los Lobos seemingly goes on forever. Just remember that they participate for a reason. They pay tribute to someone who truly earns it and outshines each and everyone on the album; John Lee Hooker.
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