Search - Lightnin Hopkins :: Blues Masters: The Veery Best of

Lightnin' Hopkins Is the Real Deal

Steve Vrana | Aurora, NE | 11/19/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"It's encouraging to hear contemporary artists like Keb Mo', Robert Cray, and Kenny Wayne Shepherd carry on the blues tradition into the new millennium. However, I'm always drawn back to the originals like Muddy Waters, Elmore James, Howlin' Wolf and of course Lightnin' Hopkins.This newly packaged collection of songs from Rhino is an excellent companion to Rhino's 1993 anthology Mojo Hand. The Very Best of duplicates seven tracks from that release and focuses on Hopkins' work from 1947 to 1961, but offers enough new material to make this a worthwhile purchase. And with Hopkins' lack of loyalty to any one record label, no fewer than seven different labels are represented on this 16-track collection.On many of these songs Hopkins performs solo accompanying himself on guitar (and adding piano on "Mighty Crazy"). On a handful of tracks he is backed by a bass player and on "Shotgun Blues," a second guitarist. Only on "Conversation Blues" and "Last Night Blues" is there a full band of bass, drums and harmonica (provided by Sonny Terry) backing Hopkins.This is an excellent introduction (or addition) for fans of acoustic Texas folk/blues performed by one of the genre's greatest practioners. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED"

The blues do not get any bluer than this.........

Brian Kerecz | PA, USA | 08/17/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The blues do not get any bluer than this. 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. One of my favorite songs is a song sung by both Hopkins and Sonny Terry, Conversation Blues. If you do not like this song, the blues are simply not for you! But every song on here is exceptional, something I had not expected as I picked this up more out of curiosity than anything else. Now, it is one of my favorites to listen to, right up there with Buddy Guy, John Lee Hooker, and Muddy Waters. 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. Let the music on this CD be your guide to Texas/folk blues. Surely there can be no better guide for an introduction into this genre.



A definite 5 star pick, especially for all that Rhino has managed to pack on here for the inexpensive price. 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. Either way, you will not go wrong."

I agree lightnin' hopkins is the real deal

.Richard | england | 01/01/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"i'm a huge fan of deep south blues..this is really passionate blues..some blues get on my nerves not enough passion and repetitive you get none of that with lightnin' hopkins he sings writes and played from the heart and fantastic collection by a superb artist that's up there with the best blues artist's

i.e jimmy page,jimi hendrix peter green muddy waters....

the reason i got into lightnin' hopkins was because i was watching a program on john peel's record box and "mojo hands" was in that box and they had about 30 seconds of performance footage i was hooked by the sheer brilliance..my best of it vagely different to this compltation but as i see there has been many that shine the torch on the brillance that is lightnin' hopkins"