John Lee Hooker worked from a stylistically limited palette, and the gutbucket blues stomp of his signature songs like "Boogie Chillun" and "Boom Boom" remained enduring and influential because of their simple, primal structure. Like an old junkyard dog, Hooker only knew a few tricks, but he did them so well that it really never mattered. This 20-track collection from Snapper Records is drawn from his years with Vee Jay Records, and does a good job of dropping the listener into Hooker"s reverb-laden, swampy world. Both the above songs are included here, along with a pair of interesting and atmospheric modal blues pieces, "Moanin" Blues" and "Dirty Ground Hog," and a marvelous and soulful version of "Don"t Look Back" that shows Hooker really did know a few other ways to the river. ~ Steve Leggett, Rovi