Sensation: Documenting The Sensation Recordings 1948-1952 [Import]

I've been a fan of John Lee Hooker for years, and this import pressing finally gives his raw 1948-1952 recordings the clarity they deserve. The non-12-bar structures really come alive on vinyl, making each track feel unpredictable. A must for any serious blues collection.

The audio quality on this import pressing is remarkably clean for recordings from the late '40s, letting Hooker’s unconventional, non-12-bar phrasing really breathe. I’ve been spinning side one on repeat and it’s like hearing the raw Detroit club atmosphere in my living room.

The track listings are solid, though the import pressing has a bit of surface noise between cuts that's noticeable on quieter passages. Still, it's great to have these early recordings that show how he breaks away from the typical 12-bar format.