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if you've never heard lightnin' sam, it will expose you to his work but i thought the selection was mediocre and the quality of the recordings was average to poor. i thought that the cd was no better than ok.
will most probably be ordering from you again. Just wanted to say that Item was every thing I expected of it and your attention and response to order was outstanding.
The songs on this CD were recorded between 1946 and 1961. Hopkins plays alone, with no backing instruments."Mighty Crazy", too, features no backing musicians. The instrumentation is spare, with--normally--only Hopkins or playing or only a couple other backing players (sometimes we don't even know who the other musicians were). The liner notes comment that (page 12): "They say he only knew three chords on the guitar.
He shows animated singing and spare but effective guitar work.The liner notes summarize Hopkins' place in the blues world (pages 11-12): "Lightnin' Sam Hopkins was one of the towering geniuses of American music. He surely displays a "lived in" voice. This cut features a nice rhythm section backing him (musicians' names not known). At a time when big-city blues was electrifying the world, Lightnin' brought us back to the basics. This has some of the best recording quality on the CD. They cover a wide range of his songs.
He begins the song, as with "Baby please don't go" with a repeat of the title four times.Finally, "Mojo Hand," one of his better known works. He infused his country sensibility and singular personality into every song he sang." This represents a nice introduction to the work of one of the finest blues players. This is unelectrified blues, hearkening back to an earlier era in the history of the blues.A handful of examples of his work on this CD:"Baby please don't go." The cut features simple and spare guitar work by Hopkins. I say that made him greater.I saw how he turned technical limitations to aesthetic advantage." He repeats the title line several times to set a tone and atmosphere and implores her not to go to New Orleans.
A definite 5 star pick, especially for all that Rhino has managed to pack on here for the inexpensive price. If you do not like this song, the blues are simply not for you. Let the music on this CD be your guide to Texas/folk blues. Now, it is one of my favorites to listen to, right up there with Buddy Guy, John Lee Hooker, and Muddy Waters.
The blues do not get any bluer than this. A must have.One thing to note however: If you believe from the outset that you will come to love Hopkins' music, Rhino's release of "Mojo Hand" is recommended; it is a 2-CD set of Hopkins career. Surely there can be no better guide for an introduction into this genre. This was my first foray into Texas/folk blues, and it will most certainly not be my last, as the music on this CD are some of the most representative blues music I have ever heard.
The album covers Hopkins career for a 20 year period, from 1941 to 1961, and is ideal for anyone who is starting out their Hopkins' collection(as I was).Sam "Lightning" Hopkins learned the blues, at least in part, from Blind Lemon Jefferson, and for a time even became his guide. Either way, you will not go wrong. One of my favorite songs is a song sung by both Hopkins and Sonny Terry, Conversation Blues. But every song on here is exceptional, something I had not expected as I picked this up more out of curiosity than anything else.
He grew up listening to Lightnin' Hopkins, so it really brought back some good memories for him. Bought this CD as a gift and he really loves it.
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