This year commemorates the 75th anniversary of the release of John Lee Hooker's "Boogie Chillen'." Recorded in Detroit in September 1948 by Bernard Besman, who operated his own Sensation label, the record was subsequently licensed to Modern Records in Los Angeles and officially released on November 3rd, featuring "Sally May" on the B-side.
The record achieved instant success, with estimates suggesting it sold nearly one million copies in 1949. This remarkable achievement firmly established Hooker as one of the most esteemed blues artists of his era.
The original release was a 78rpm single, a format retained in the 2020 reissue, which included "Boogie Chillen’ #2" on the flip side.
