Vee-Jay Records of Chicago came up with an unlikely formula to put John Lee Hooker on both the rhythm & blues and pop music charts with the catchy original version of his bad-man theme, ‘Boom Boom.’ Prior to this 1961 session, Hooker had scored his first hits in when he recorded by himself in Detroit, playing guitar and stomping his feet. But this time the stomping rhythm was provided by none other than the cream of the Motown label’s session men, later known as the Funk Brothers, including bassist James Jamerson, drummer Benny Benjamin, and pianist Joe Hunter. ‘Boom Boom’ made it to No. 16 on the R&B charts in 1962 and hit No. 60 in the pop field. It was the last John Lee Hooker single to make the charts, although he would enjoy renewed success with his albums in the 1980s and ’90s when a host of rock stars helped him boogie to the end.
