Early Recordings (Lightnin' Hopkins album)

Early Recordings is an album by blues musician Lightnin' Hopkins featuring tracks recorded at Gold Star Recording Studios between 1946 and 1950, eight of which were originally released as 10-inch 78rpm records on the Gold Star and Jax labels, along with eight others that were previously unissued.[1][2][3] Arhoolie reissued The Gold Star Sessions on two CDs through Smithsonian Folkways in 1990.[4]

Early Recordings
Studio album by
Lightnin' Hopkins
Released1965
Recorded1946–50
StudioGold Star Recording Studios, Houston, TX
GenreBlues
Length45:52
LabelArhoolie
R2007
ProducerChris Strachwitz
Lightnin' Hopkins chronology
Early Recordings
(1965)		 Early Recordings Vol. 2
(1971)

Reception
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[5]

AllMusic reviewer Eugene Chadbourne stated: "Much of the body of this blues artist's song catalog kind of runs together into a long odyssey, delivered in a rubato medium feel, sometimes locking into a steady beat but often hovering somewhere behind and ahead. As if performing an endless series of card tricks with only three cards, he comes up with variation after variation on the basic 12-bar form and a series of blues riffs that he has ready to fit any and all occasions. Listeners may not be able to tell one track from the next, but Hopkins' feel on guitar and charismatic, lilting voice has proven to be a winner with blues fans decade after decade. The ever adventuresome Hopkins cut some tracks on organ during this period ... Although the resulting "Organ Boogie" certainly provides some variety, the songs with the guitar are of much more lasting music value, the organ numbers mostly of interest as an oddity".[5]

Track listing

All compositions by Sam "Lightnin'" Hopkins

  1. "Bluebird Blues" aka "Glory Be Blues" – 3:11 previously unreleased
  2. "Walking Blues" – 2:47
  3. "Unkind Blues" – 3:00
  4. "Mad With You" – 2:32
  5. "SomEbody's Got to Go" aka "Goodbye Blues" – 2:43 previously unreleased
  6. "Automobile Blues" – 2:47
  7. "Seems Funny Baby" – 3:03 previously unreleased
  8. "Coolin' Board Blues" aka "Thunder and Lightnin' Blues" – 2:43 previously unreleased
  9. "Airplane Blues" – 2:42
  10. "Loretta Blues" – 2:45 previously unreleased
  11. "Whiskey Blues" – 2:42 previously unreleased
  12. "You Don't Know" – 2:43
  13. "Organ Boogie" – 2:59 previously unreleased
  14. "What Can It Be" – 2:39
  15. "Ida Mae" – 2:40
  16. "Goin' Back and Talk to Mama" – 2:56 previously unreleased

Personnel

References
  1. Wirz' American Music: Arhoolie Records Discography accessed November 23, 2018
  2. Wirz' American Music: Sam "Lightnin'" Hopkins Discography accessed November 23, 2018
  3. O'Brien, T. J. Lightnin' Album of the Week: Week 17 – December 25, 2010 accessed November 23, 2018
  4. Smithsonian Folkways: Lightnin' Hopkins catalog accessed November 23, 2018
  5. Chadbourne, Eugene. Lightnin' Hopkins: Early Recordings Vol. 1 – Review at AllMusic. Retrieved November 22, 2018.
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