I met Muruga Booker a few weeks ago, and have been blessed to experience him doing drum solos live and up close. Was amazing, the energy flowing from him through his music. This is definitely a world class musician, and recommend anyone catching him live if they get the chance. He's having a 70th birthday bash at Woodruff's in Ypsilanti Dec. 26, with more fine musicians helping him celebrate.
I was director on this shoot. It was part of an early noncommercial version of WABXs Detroit Tubeworks. It was shot at Wayne State University TV, which at the time had its studios in the Maccabees Building. It was not recorded on a 3/4" "master" but on 2" quad broadcast quality videotape. The original is long gone and only crappy dubs show up on TH-cam. You really cannot "enhance" tor "upgrade quality' to recover generation loss.
Dear Mr. crvideo: Thank you for the work you did here. This was really some incredible stuff, despite whatever low quality of video recording. The sound was great! But the work as a whole of Tubeworks... I'm so sorry that I missed out on it all. I was too young, and didn't live in Detroit.
+crvideo The sound is not bad for a 1970 video recording. You should be proud of the fact that you were part of preserving this intimate John Lee performance. Well done.
I saw John Lee twice in '70, when I was 17. Once at the Chessmate in Detroit, probably in the winter, then again in the summer at the 1970 Ann Arbor Blues Festival, which I recorded using an Electro-Voice mic into a Lafayette cassette deck. I still have the tapes, which also include Howlin' Wolf, Jimmy Dawkins and Might Joe Young, all playing on the same afternoon! Aaron Bookvich, I managed Oz's Music when your dad was teaching there. He told me about playing drums (with John Lee), and I discovered yet another connection with him when I found out his (Muruga's) house was the HQ for Integral Yoga, which I was taking at the time. I was supposed to into Detroit to receive my mantra one evening, but my VW Beetle broke down. At Oz's, he told they gave everyone the same words for their mantras, LOL!
@Waterlec The Chessmate was my very first bar as well. I remember hearing that John Lee Hooker was playing there. I had pretty much no money so I walked up Livernois from my neighborhood near Davison. I was underage but they put me at a single table near the bandstand. No alcohol, of course. I remember John Lee getting ready to play. Just before he started he looked at me and said "How you doin" kid?" An amazing moment for a 16-year old. Thanks for that John, and the good people at the Chessmate.
BTW, I always heard my dad talking about playing with John Lee and although I never thought he was making it up... I did take it with a grain of salt since there never seemed to be a record of it... like always though my dad was saying it how it was and seeing this video really made my year. My dad is the drummer Muruga Booker aka Steve Booker.
Hey Aaron, its Derek ...I hear ya brother. You know I'm always a huge fan of your dad's and often mention him is one of my very favorites. Great running into you over here on this page. Best to you and the fam!
You can still catch Muruga Booker playing around Detroit/Ann Arbor time all the time. Take some time to gift yourself with the wonderful experience of a "LIVE' performance.
Other than the bassist being in the wrong key at around 11:45 (oops) this is golden. Lol.... Almost psychedelic at moments.... thanks for posting. Love it
Emily, not sure would have to ask my dad but I am sure your pops knew John Lee too as he and my dad were such close pals back when my dad would play with Hooker. They booked them as Hooker & Booker at times... btw we have some multi track recordings of your Dad and my Dad playing as a duo doing Jazz... really need to mix these and put them out some how. Your dad the GREAT Pat LaRose was the BEST. Miss him.
dam he's really telling it like it is on "i'll never get out of these blues alive" i dont know which is better that song or hobo blues on this live set.
the bass is on the E string out of tune too low, strange that the bassman is not able to retune it while playing or even have the choice not to use this string till the end of the song...
I met Muruga Booker a few weeks ago, and have been blessed to experience him doing drum solos live and up close. Was amazing, the energy flowing from him through his music. This is definitely a world class musician, and recommend anyone catching him live if they get the chance. He's having a 70th birthday bash at Woodruff's in Ypsilanti Dec. 26, with more fine musicians helping him celebrate.
Never get out of this blues alive.... What a song!
this footage is priceless. god bless the boogie man.
Nothin better than great blues like this ! Great backup band, too.
I remember watching this on Channel 56 Detroit of course on the WABX Tube Works!
I was director on this shoot. It was part of an early noncommercial version of WABXs Detroit Tubeworks. It was shot at Wayne State University TV, which at the time had its studios in the Maccabees Building. It was not recorded on a 3/4" "master" but on 2" quad broadcast quality videotape. The original is long gone and only crappy dubs show up on TH-cam. You really cannot "enhance" tor "upgrade quality' to recover generation loss.
Thank you for the insight.
I thank you so much!!
Dear Mr. crvideo:
Thank you for the work you did here. This was really some incredible stuff, despite whatever low quality of video recording. The sound was great!
But the work as a whole of Tubeworks... I'm so sorry that I missed out on it all.
I was too young, and didn't live in Detroit.
Whew lawd.. it's like blue candy, this film. I cannot thank you enough.
+crvideo The sound is not bad for a 1970 video recording. You should be proud of the fact that you were part of preserving this intimate John Lee performance. Well done.
Priceless
Totally priceless
This is great!
Wow! This really rocks, thanks, crvideo from the UK
thank you so much! :)
I saw John Lee twice in '70, when I was 17. Once at the Chessmate in Detroit, probably in the winter, then again in the summer at the 1970 Ann Arbor Blues Festival, which I recorded using an Electro-Voice mic into a Lafayette cassette deck. I still have the tapes, which also include Howlin' Wolf, Jimmy Dawkins and Might Joe Young, all playing on the same afternoon!
Aaron Bookvich, I managed Oz's Music when your dad was teaching there. He told me about playing drums (with John Lee), and I discovered yet another connection with him when I found out his (Muruga's) house was the HQ for Integral Yoga, which I was taking at the time. I was supposed to into Detroit to receive my mantra one evening, but my VW Beetle broke down. At Oz's, he told they gave everyone the same words for their mantras, LOL!
@Waterlec The Chessmate was my very first bar as well. I remember hearing that John Lee Hooker was playing there. I had pretty much no money so I walked up Livernois from my neighborhood near Davison. I was underage but they put me at a single table near the bandstand. No alcohol, of course. I remember John Lee getting ready to play. Just before he started he looked at me and said "How you doin" kid?" An amazing moment for a 16-year old. Thanks for that John, and the good people at the Chessmate.
January + the Blues...perfect together.
WOW! Amazing...very cool! Love it. What a rare gem.
Amazing. Perfect.
BTW, I always heard my dad talking about playing with John Lee and although I never thought he was making it up... I did take it with a grain of salt since there never seemed to be a record of it... like always though my dad was saying it how it was and seeing this video really made my year. My dad is the drummer Muruga Booker aka Steve Booker.
Hey Aaron, its Derek ...I hear ya brother. You know I'm always a huge fan of your dad's and often mention him is one of my very favorites. Great running into you over here on this page. Best to you and the fam!
Muruga was on our public access television show. He is a class act!!!
What a treat to see him perform with John Lee Hooker. Thank you for uploading!
You can still catch Muruga Booker playing around Detroit/Ann Arbor time all the time. Take some time to gift yourself with the wonderful experience of a "LIVE' performance.
Other than the bassist being in the wrong key at around 11:45 (oops) this is golden. Lol.... Almost psychedelic at moments.... thanks for posting. Love it
Hah! I was waiting to see if someone else would comment about the wrong key. It's still great footage and the sound quality was really nice.
Being a musician and a bassist no less, I can't help but notice. But I totally agree, great footage and awesome sound quality. A true Gem!
This is fucking great
Emily, not sure would have to ask my dad but I am sure your pops knew John Lee too as he and my dad were such close pals back when my dad would play with Hooker. They booked them as Hooker & Booker at times... btw we have some multi track recordings of your Dad and my Dad playing as a duo doing Jazz... really need to mix these and put them out some how. Your dad the GREAT Pat LaRose was the BEST. Miss him.
Great.
Hooker & Booker !
Didn't he play at my dads bar back in the day....in detroit..
"..nothing but the best, and later for the rest."
"Nuthin´ but the best and later for the rest."
this is the real deal
This has to be several generations down from the 3/4 inch master which I have. I could seriously upgrade the quality for you.
Please, please upgrade the quality for us. What a treasure you have!
yourtubesteak Please!
FYI I now have a digital file struck from the original 2" broadcast sludio master. No amount of "serious" upgrade can make the TH-cam clip any better.
@@basscommavocal I am computer and technology illiterate. I wouldn't know how to do it to save my life.
The both are John Lee's sons. Robert and Joe Hooker respectively.
dam he's really telling it like it is on "i'll never get out of these blues alive" i dont know which is better that song or hobo blues on this live set.
I'm Facebook Friends with the Drummer 🤘
Where is part 2????
It was shot in 1970.
Why does it look like it was shot in 1938?
do you have humble pie doing "going to Alaska" I watched most all wabx / ch 56 tube works shows
0 dislikes :)
January 1969.
What's the title of the first song? I recognized "Maudie" (song 2) and "It serves you right to suffer" (song 3), but wasn't sure on the first one.
the first song is called "i'll never get out of these blues alive"
last song ??
What's the first song?
the bass is on the E string out of tune too low, strange that the bassman is not able to retune it while playing or even have the choice not to use this string till the end of the song...
Miles Davis isn´t as cool as John.
January + the Blues...perfect together.