Albert King, John Lee Hooker
Albert King and John Lee Hooker were legendary blues guitarists known for their influential electric blues styles. Both artists shaped modern blues and rock through powerful performances and recordings. Their careers highlight the transition from Delta blues to urban electric sounds.
Albert King, born Albert Nelson on April 25, 1923, in Indianola, Mississippi, stood at 6'4" and was nicknamed "The Velvet Bulldozer" for his massive presence and smooth yet forceful guitar tone. He began playing guitar young, influenced by Delta blues but adopted a unique right-handed style despite being left-handed, using a Gibson Flying V upside down. King's breakthrough came in the 1960s with Stax Records hits like "Born Under a Bad Sign" (1967), which became a blues standard covered by Cream and Jimi Hendrix; he recorded over 20 albums, blending soulful bending notes with horn sections. He performed with B.B. King (no relation) and influenced Stevie Ray Vaughan, earning induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2013; King died on December 21, 1992, in Memphis [ from prior context]. [ from prior context].
John Lee Hooker was born on August 22, 1917, near Clarksdale, Mississippi, son of a sharecropper preacher who forbade secular music, but his stepfather taught him guitar. He moved to Detroit in the 1940s, working factory jobs while playing clubs, and exploded with his 1948 debut "Boogie Chillen'" on Modern Records, a raw, stomping hit that topped R&B charts. Hooker's hypnotic boogie style, deep growl, and foot-stomping rhythm produced over 100 albums, including Vee-Jay hits like "Boom Boom" (1962) and late-career triumphs like "The Healer" (1989) featuring Santana and Bonnie Raitt, earning Grammys and a 1991 Rock Hall induction. He appeared in films like The Blues Brothers and influenced the Rolling Stones and ZZ Top, passing away on June 21, 2001, in Los Altos, California.
King and Hooker occasionally crossed paths, notably on live recordings like "I'll Play the Blues for You" and "Born Under a Bad Sign," showcasing their commanding guitar interplay. Both thrived in the 1960s blues revival, touring Europe and inspiring British Invasion bands. Their Discogs profiles highlight extensive discographies, with King's Stax era and Hooker's prolific output defining electric blues.
I’ll Play The Blues For You
Performer – Albert King
5:25
2 The Very Thought Of You
Performer – Albert King
4:30
3 I Worked Hard
Performer – Albert King
6:25
4 When You Down
Performer – Albert King
6:25
5 Feel Good
Performer – John Lee Hooker
9:12
6 Boom Boom
Performer – John Lee Hooker
4:48
7 Serves Me Right
Performer – John Lee Hooker
4:15
8 One Bourbon, One Scotch, One Beer
Performer – John Lee Hooker
5:00
9 King Snake
Performer – John Lee Hooker
4:40
Label: Tomato – 2696142
Format: CD, Album
Country: US
Released: 1989
Genre: R&B Blues
Style: Chicago Blues, Country Blues, Delta Blues
The collaborative album I'll Play the Blues for You (1989) is a significant live document featuring two blues titans, Albert King and John Lee Hooker, recorded during an October 1977 performance at The Double Door in Chicago.
Reviews highlight this release as an "essential" piece of blues history that captures both artists in a raw, high-energy club setting.
King is praised for his soulful "Stax-style" fusion, backed by a powerful horn section. Reviewers frequently mention his spine-chilling rendition of "The Very Thought of You" and his signature funky blues-rock style on tracks like "Born Under a Bad Sign".
Hooker provides a stark contrast with a smaller, more economical band, delivering raw, feedback-heavy takes on classics like "Boom Boom" and "Crawling King Snake".
Critics describe the album as "hardcore old school Blues perfection," noting the atmospheric quality that makes listeners feel as if they can "smell the sweat" in the room.
The album remains a sought-after title on secondary markets like Discogs, where it maintains a strong average rating of 4.37/5. As of early 2026, original 1989 CD and vinyl copies often sell for a median price of approximately $35.29.
I ll Play The Blues For You