One of John Lee Hooker's lesser-known gems from his most inspired years, 'Burning Hell' was recorded in Detroit during April 1959. Hooker only plays acoustic guitar throughout the album, which is a country blues classic, and sings straight to the bone with his soul drenched vocal delivery. It was Hooker's second LP packaged for the folk/traditional blues market (following 'The Country Blues of John Lee Hooker', issued in 1959). 'Burning Hell' is quite different from his earlier recordings, most of which had featured Hooker on an electric guitar with his trademark reverb and stomping foot. Folk purists of the day were delighted with this long play, believing Hooker had returned to his roots, leaving the 'glitzy commercialism' of R&B behind.
Track Listing:
1. Burning Hell - John Lee Hooker
2. Graveyard Blues - John Lee Hooker
3. Baby, Please Don't Go - John Lee Hooker
4. Jackson, Tennessee - John Lee Hooker
5. You Live Your Life and I'll Live Mine - John Lee Hooker
6. Smokestack Lightnin' - John Lee Hooker
7. Crawlin' King Snake (Bonus Track) - John Lee Hooker
8. I Can't Believe (Bonus Track) - John Lee Hooker
9. How Can You Do It? - John Lee Hooker
10. I Don't Want No Woman If Her Hair Ain't No Longer Than Mine - John Lee Hooker
11. I Rolled and Turned and Cried the Whole Night Long - John Lee Hooker
12. Blues for My Baby - John Lee Hooker
13. Key to the Highway - John Lee Hooker
14. Natchez Fire - John Lee Hooker
15. Worried Life Blues (Bonus Track) - John Lee Hooker
16. Tupelo (Bonus Track) - John Lee Hooker
Year of Production: 1959
