It's Lightnin' time.
Sam John Lightnin' Hopkins was according to Rolling Stone magazine the 71st greatest guitarist of all time.
He was also Houston's poet in residence for 35 years and was a mentor, friend and influence to Townes Van Zandt who in turn adopted the same role to Steve Earle -so an impressive legacy of quality music.
He allegedly recorded between 800 to 1000 songs during his long and illustrious career and reputedly recorded more albums than any other bluesman.
I'm not sure that Texas Blues is his best, indeed I'm not even sure that it is the best of the four Lightnin' albums that I own.
However it is part of The Blues Collection (number 31 of 90 in fact) so it is going on.
Recorded in New York on 15th December 1960 this album has him accompanying himself on piano and guitar.
It is easy to imagine him sitting noodling away and uttering the first words that come into his mind.
Indeed, the two songs chosen are somewhat rambling with unfeasibly long titles
Lightnin' Hopkins - Your Own Fault Baby, to Treat me the Way You Do
Lightnin' Hopkins - I've Had My Fun If I Don't Get Well No More
If you can find it there is a fabulous essay on Lightnin Hopkins by Grover Lewis. I've got it in a collection called Splendor in the Short Grass...it's called Lookin' for Lightnin. It's funny...him trying to find Lightnin and the games that were played on him but, by the end you will believe, with some justification, that Hopkins was the king of the universe.
ReplyDeleteMr. Charlie is my personal favorite...but no selection is less than great.
.......I don't suppose he played guitar and piano at the same time?
ReplyDeleteThe sleevenotes state "these tracks feature Lightnin' accompanying himself on either piano or guitar or, cleverly, both at the same time"!
DeleteTOPTASTIC!
DeleteBrilliant. He's a fave of mine for sure.
ReplyDeleteGreat selections, CC!
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