Released 40 years ago
Jealous
John Lee Hooker · 1986
37 min · 10 tracks · blues
A gritty blend of blues and rhythm, where raw emotions meet intricate guitar work and dynamic storytelling.
Top tracks — play these first
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Jealous Start here — The title track encapsulates the album's emotional core, showcasing Hooker's signature guitar style and vocal intensity that convey deep feelings of longing and betrayal.
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Ninety Days — This track stands out with its rhythmic drive and lyrical narrative about heartache and time, reflecting Hooker's mastery of storytelling through music.
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When My First Wife Left Me — A poignant exploration of loss and regret, this song highlights Hooker's ability to weave personal experiences into universal themes, anchored by his soulful delivery.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
The album showcases solid blues structures with engaging performances but lacks standout innovation.
What we noticed
- The album features a consistent use of a walking bass line throughout, providing a steady foundation for the guitar and vocal melodies.
- Each track typically follows a traditional twelve-bar blues structure, allowing for improvisation within familiar patterns.
- Several songs incorporate call-and-response elements between the vocals and guitar, enhancing the interactive feel of the music.
- The final track is a reprise of 'Ninety Days', which creates a thematic closure to the album.
- Composition 25% of the score
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6/10
- Craft 20% of the score
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7/10
- Durability 25% of the score
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5/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
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6/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
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6/10
the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics
production, performance, arrangement
whether it rewards returning to it
whether it sounds like itself
running order, pacing, length
Little footprint beyond its audience. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.
Is this for you?
Good fit if you like
- fragmented listening sessions
- nostalgic reflections on love
- short bursts of emotional release
- intimate moments of storytelling
- late-night solo contemplation
Maybe skip if you
- seeking lengthy immersive experiences
- prefer upbeat continuous energy
Where this album fits
- In the catalog
- Late Career Highlight — Revitalizes Hooker's sound in the 1980s, showcasing his adaptability and continued relevance.
- Themes
- heartbreak narratives· soulful storytelling· raw emotional intensity
- Career context
- In 1986, John Lee Hooker was in a period of revitalization, having gained renewed attention in the 1980s after decades of influential blues music. 'Jealous' marked his return to the studio after several years, following his acclaimed work in the earlier part of the decade, including collaborations and performances that introduced his sound to a younger audience.
- Stylistic neighbors
- Muddy Waters· Howlin' Wolf· Albert King
Moments worth listening for
Where the writing does something specific.
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Jealous
The final verse shifts from personal anguish to a broader reflection on love's complexities, capturing a moment of clarity amidst pain.
Tracklist
- 1 Jealous Start here 3:28
- 2 Ninety Days 3:24
- 3 Early One Morning 4:02
- 4 When My First Wife Left Me 4:31
- 5 Boogie Woman 4:27
- 6 Well Well 4:47
- 7 I Didn't Know 3:00
- 8 We'll Meet Again 3:58
- 9 Worried Life Blues 2:27
- 10 Ninety Days (Reprise) 3:20
If this landed
Records by other artists that run on the same instinct.
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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