My Life in the Blues
My Life in the Blues is an album by blues musician Lightnin' Hopkins recorded in late 1964 and released on the Prestige label the following year.[1][2][3] The album features Hopkins' performances interspersed with an interview conducted by Samuel Charters.
My Life in the Blues | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | 1965 | |||
Recorded | December 2, 1964 | |||
Studio | Van Gelder Studio, Englewood Cliffs, NJ | |||
Genre | Blues | |||
Length | 64:26 | |||
Label | Prestige PR 7370 | |||
Producer | Samuel Charters | |||
Lightnin' Hopkins chronology | ||||
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Reception
Review scores | |
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Source | Rating |
AllMusic | [4] |
The Penguin Guide to Blues Recordings | [5] |
The Penguin Guide to Blues Recordings said it "contains half a dozen unremarkable performances taped at what sounds like a noisy party, and eight far more interesting passages of reminiscence in which Lightnin' describes his family, learning to play guitar, meeting Texas Alexander, making records and other topics".[5] AllMusic's Ritchie Unterberger reviewed Straight Blues which collected the six songs from the project calling them: "typical Hopkins' performances, incorporating both narrative folky tunes with spoken introductions, and livelier boogies".[4]
Track listing
All compositions by Sam "Lightnin'" Hopkins
- I Growed Up with the Blues – 5:06
- "I Don't Want to Do Nothing to You" – 2:30
- My Family – 4:25
- "You Is One Black Rat" – 3:05
- I Learn About the Blues – 6:20
- "Got Nowhere to Lay My Head" – 6:25
- I First Come into Houston – 3:25
- "Just Boogyin'" – 2:15
- I Meet Texas Alexander – 5:15
- "Take Me Back" – 2:05
- They Was Hard Times – 6:10
- I Make My First Record and Get My Name – 6:35
- My Thoughts on the Blues – 5:30
- "I Was Down on Dowling Street" – 5:10
Personnel
Performance
- Lightnin' Hopkins – guitar, vocals, narration
Production
- Samuel Charters – producer
- Rudy Van Gelder – engineer
References
- Jazzdisco: Prestige Records Catalog: 7300 series accessed November 12, 2018
- Both Sides Now: Discography Preview for the Prestige label accessed November 12, 2018
- Wirz' American Music: Sam "Lightnin'" Hopkins discography accessed November 12, 2018
- Unterberger, Ritchie. Lightnin' Hopkins: Straight Blues – Review at AllMusic. Retrieved November 12, 2018.
- Russell, Tony; Smith, Chris (2006). The Penguin Guide to Blues Recordings. London: Penguin. p. 281. ISBN 978-0-140-51384-4.