John Lee Hooker: "Boom boom" (Live - 1962)

"Boom Boom" is a 1961 song written and performed by John Lee Hooker that is listed in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's 500 Songs that Shaped Rock and Roll. Hooker's single was recorded in late 1961 with Ivy Jo Hunter, piano; Hank Cosby, tenor saxophone; Andrew "Mike" Terry, baritone saxophone; James Jamerson, bass; Larry Veeder, guitar; Benny Benjamin, drums. It was not a big U.S. hit when originally released, but became a UK hit after featuring in a Lee Jeans commercial in 1992, peaking at #16 in the UK Singles Chart.

In 1961, Hooker's version peaked at #60 while The Animals' version peaked at #43 on the U.S. pop singles chart in 1965 (#14 in Canada). This version became one of the most recognizable songs from that time when The Animals added "shake it baby" to the refrain alongside Burdon's screaming "come on and shake..."

Many other recordings exist, by The Yardbirds, Belast Gypsies, Shadows of Knight, CCS (1970), Dr. Feelgood (1974) and others. In the film The Blues Brothers, Hooker performs the song as a South Side Chicago street musician, but the song itself is not included in the soundtrack of the film. Over the years Eric Burdon released re-recordings and live recordings of the song. Alan Price, [former Animals keyboard player] has also covered it in recent years. On Hooker's 1972 album Live at Soledad Prison, the track is titled and performed as "Bang Bang Bang Bang." The Animals did a reunion tour in late 1983/early 1984. The version recorded at the Wembley Arena from 31 December 1983 was released in August 1984. They added a few sequences more.

According to wikipedia, Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band frequently covered the song, in a fashion similar to the Animals' version, on their 1988 Tunnel of Love Express Tour. In 1997, Big Head Todd & the Monsters recorded a cover of the song for their album Beautiful World, releasing it as a single the following year. In 2009, The Oak Ridge Boys recorded a cover of the song featuring bass singer Richard Sterban on the lead vocals. Their rendition is closer to The Animals' rendition in that they include the "shake it baby" refrain. The song was included in the "Boom Boom trailer" for the 2010 video game Mafia II by 2K Czech.


- Lyrics:

Boom boom boom boom
I'm gonna shoot you right down,
right offa your feet
Take you home with me,
put you in my house
Boom boom boom boom
A-haw haw haw haw
Hmmm hmmm hmmm hmmm
Hmmm hmmm hmmm hmmm

I love to see you strut,
up and down the floor
When you talking to me,
that baby talk
I like it like that
Whoa, yeah!
Talk that talk, walk that walk

When she walk that walk,
and talk that talk,
and whisper in my ear,
tell me that you love me
I love that talk
When you talk like that,
you knocks me out,
right off of my feet
Hoo hoo hoo
Talk that talk, and walk that walk