CD Details
Synopsis
Amazon.com essential recordingIt's hard to tell where or when exactly these recordings originated, but they seem to be mostly from 1959 and 1960, when a resurgence of interest in folk music carried Lightnin' Hopkins along with it, exposing his music to new (white) audiences and expanding his fan base, giving him star status. A mix of live and studio recordings, Drinkin' in the Blues contains both acoustic and electric music, as well as backup from such luminaries as Big Joe Williams, Sonny Terry, and Brownie McGhee. Hopkins had a gift for brilliant execution on the guitar, strong songwriting skills, and expressive vocals. He also had, as the opening track on this CD illustrates, impeccable comic timing; the monologues on "Big Black Cadillac Blues" must be ranked among this collection's finest moments. Given the quality of the music on this CD, that's high praise indeed. --Genevieve Williams
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CD Reviews
Some nice cuts, but the packaging is horrible. A. Wert | Sesame Place, PA USA | 04/14/2001 (3 out of 5 stars) "Cuts 10-15 are from an Everest Records recording titled "Lightnin Hopkins Volume II". I have the original LP I purchased 20+ years ago. To me, for these cuts alone the CD is worth purchasing. Cuts 10-15 present Lightnin on acoustic guitar ( sounds miked or with a pickup )in a simple ensemble of bass and drums ( an occasional trombone(?)adds a nice effect )that produces a clean and, even on CD, warm sound. Considering the age of these recordings the sound is decent. Fugitive Blues, Grand Ma Told Grand Pa, and Last Night are priceless country blues.I cannot speak for the origin of the other cuts on the CD though the sound quality is poor for cuts 1-7. Big Black Cadillac Blues is a gem, showcasing Lightnins story telling.It is disturbing that Collectables provides no documentation with the CD. No credits, no dates etc. They are clearly to blame for the confusion. Many music lovers lament CD reissues not including liner notes from the LPs. For the record I provide an excerpt from the back cover of the Everest LP:[...This exciting new album was recorded on October 4 & 5th, 1965 in Los Angeles. Much of its success must be attributed to a sensitive and imaginative producer, David Hubert. The morning of the 25th(?) found Lightnin' in an excellent mood; as a matter of fact, a number of bands required only one "take" at the session, most unusual under any conditions....Jimmy Bond on bass, and Earl Palmer on drums, laid down a quiet, but bluesy beat that "turned Lightnin' on"....]"
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