ENDLESS BOOGIE features a host of session musicians including, interestingly enough, Steve Miller on six cuts. The variety and range these musicians add to Hooker's straight-up blues stylings makes for a textured and interesting combination. Hooker's tunes touch on the traditional themes: feeling down ("Sitting In My Dark Room"), getting a good woman ("I Got A Good 'Un"), money troubles ("House Rent Boogie") and standing at the crossroads ("Standing At The Crossroads"). Hooker's irresistibly gritty guitar and voice, combined with fine session work and the novelty of unusual elements like electric piano, makes this disc one of his best collaborative projects.

This edition of Beat Goes On's two-fer series features a pair of LPs by the British boogie blues band Savoy Brown: Skin 'n' Bone and Savage Return, originally issued on London in 1976 and 1978. Highlights among the 15 tracks include "Get on Up and Do It," "She's the One," and "Rock 'n' Roll Man." Casual listeners should pick up The Savoy Brown Collection on Polygram before delving into these recordings. ~ Al Campbell