The Healer is a blues album by John Lee Hooker, released in 1989 by Chameleon Music Group Chameleon. The album features collaborations with Bonnie Raitt, Charlie Musselwhite, Los Lobos and Carlos Santana, among others.
The Healer | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | September 1989 (1989-09) | |||
Recorded | Russian Hill Recording Studios, San Francisco | |||
Genre | Blues | |||
Length | 41:43 | |||
Label | Chameleon | |||
Producer | Roy Rogers | |||
John Lee Hooker chronology | ||||
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Review scores | |
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Source | Rating |
AllMusic | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Rolling Stone | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
The Village Voice | B+[3] |
Encyclopedia of Popular Music | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
The Penguin Guide to Blues Recordings | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
The Healer peaked at number 62 on the Billboard 200 and "I'm in the Mood" won the Grammy Award for Best Traditional Blues Performance. The album was produced by Roy Rogers of the Delta Rhythm Kings,[2] and executive produced by Mike Kappus[6] (who conceived the idea for the project) and Stephen Powers, founder and president of Chameleon Records. Powers and Kappus knew each other from the music business in Wisconsin — Rosebud Agency was originally based in Milwaukee, and Powers' label, Mountain Railroad Records, was headquartered in Madison. Chameleon had recently acquired Vee-Jay Records and reissued Hooker's numerous albums for Vee-Jay, plus a "Best of" compilation of Hooker's early work titled "The Hook."
The video for "The Healer" featuring Carlos Santana and John Lee Hooker was filmed in the Chameleon warehouse in Hawthorne, CA amidst stacks of Hooker's old vinyl LPs, and live on stage at "The Palace," a Hollwood nightclub across from Capitol Records on Vine St.
John Lee Hooker was 73 years old when the album was released. It was his first Grammy win. The album had such success that it "permitted John Lee Hooker to live out the end of his life in comfort".[7] Powers recounts with joy sending a large royalty check to Hooker, and the deep gratitude he felt for the opportunity to help him to finally achieve the recognition he deserved.
It was voted number 424 in the third edition of Colin Larkin's All Time Top 1000 Albums (2000).[8]
All tracks are written by John Lee Hooker, except where noted.
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Guest musician(s) | Length |
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1. | "The Healer" | Hooker, Roy Rogers, Carlos Santana, Chester D. Thompson | Carlos Santana | 5:36 |
2. | "I'm in the Mood" | Hooker, Bernard Besman | Bonnie Raitt | 4:30 |
3. | "Baby Lee" | Hooker, James Bracken | Robert Cray | 3:43 |
4. | "Cuttin' Out" | Canned Heat | 4:35 | |
5. | "Think Twice Before You Go" | Los Lobos | 2:58 | |
6. | "Sally Mae" | Hooker, Bracken | George Thorogood | 3:15 |
7. | "That's Alright" | Charlie Musselwhite | 4:23 | |
8. | "Rockin' Chair" | 4:09 | ||
9. | "My Dream" | 4:02 | ||
10. | "No Substitute" | 4:07 | ||
Total length: | 41:18 |
Chart (1990) | Peak position |
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Australian Albums (ARIA Charts)[9] | 17 |
Chart (1990) | Rank |
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Australian Albums (ARIA Charts)[9] | 78 |
Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
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Australia (ARIA)[10] | Gold | 35,000^ |
Netherlands (NVPI)[11] | Gold | 50,000^ |
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. |
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