Song Draft
Boom Boom
Album: Burnin’
Written by: John Lee Hooker
Time: 2:29
Might as well continue the confusion train and add in some blues with the Hook. This is one guy I regret not getting to see live. I did see BB King and Bo Diddley, but missing out on the Hook is one of my biggest misses.
This is a blues standard song, and though it has been covered by a lot of people, there is nothing that compares to hearing John Lee Hooker belt out the ‘how-how-how-how’ of this song.
Hooker stated that he wrote this song during a long term engagement at a Detroit bar called the Apex.
Technical aspects of the song from wiki – The original “Boom Boom” is an uptempo (168 beats per minute) blues song, which has been notated in 2/2 time in the key of F. It has been described as “about the tightest musical structure of any Hooker composition: its verses sedulously adhere to the twelve-bar format over which Hooker generally rides so roughshod”.The song uses “a stop-time hook that opens up for one of the genre’s most memorable guitar riffs” and incorporates a middle instrumental section Hooker-style boogie.
I know everyone has heard this song in one format or another, but enjoy the original version.
slicethelife 
Always loved that song- no matter who was covering it- but John Lee -the best.
I agree
Yup. Up there on my pile.
Mine too
One of the greats with a great song.
Two thoughts: First, this is a great addition to the draft. I love it! Second, as it started playing, I instantly heard the song ‘Gimme Some Money’ from Spinal Tap. I wonder if the soundtrack composers meant it to be a satire take on Boom Boom. A lot of the early 60s British Invasion groups got their start doing covers of US blues standards, and Spinal Tap is definitely a parody of 60s British Invasion groups.
Yes! I love this song! John Lee Hooker is one of the great Blues legends! Great influence on a lot of artists and many covered his stuff. Loved his cameo in The Blues Brothers….doing this song!
Great pick – a real classic! Recently, I watched a great documentary about Buddy Guy during which he mentioned it was Hooker’s Boogie Chillin’ that got him into music.
Guy also told a great story about how he met Hooker for the first time in Germany. It was at some hotel. When Hooker heard Guy play Boogie Chillin’, he walked up to Guy, asking him what he was doing, heavily stuttering. Guy had no idea Hooker stuttered since he never did when he sang. At first, he didn’t believe he had just met the man who had inspired him as a child. Then Big Mama Thornton, who was also around, confirmed Guy was taking to Hooker.
Great tune!
Ooooo…NCIS: New Orleans! Great stuff. Have y’all heard the John Lee Hooker/Big Head Todd & the Monsters version?
Todd and the Monsters cook.