Release Date: 14 November 2011
Label: Proper Box
Packaging Type: Box Set
No of Units: 4
Barcode: 0805520021647
Genres: Blues
Description
Lightnin' Hopkins was one of the blues' greatest talents, whose spare, expressive guitar playing, taciturn vocals and crisp versification all place him firmly in the tradition of Texas blues. Hopkins recorded every kind of Texas blues there was, documenting the various traditions that Blind Lemon Jefferson had first indicated and establishing a personal and often autobiographical genre of his own. His style was born from spending many hours playing informally without a backing band. His distinctive style often included playing, in effect, bass, rhythm, lead, percussion, and vocals, all at the same time. His musical phrasing would often include a long low note at the beginning, the rhythm played in the middle range, then the lead in the high range. By playing this quickly - with occasional slaps of the guitar - the effect of bass, rhythm, percussion and lead would be created. He was an influence on Jimmie Vaughan's work, and, more significantly, on the vocals and blues style of Ron "Pigpen" McKernan, the keyboardist of the Grateful Dead until 1972. He was also an important influence on Townes Van Zandt, the Texan folk/blues songwriter and performer, who often performed Hopkins numbers in his live performances. Jimi Hendrix became interested in blues music listening to Lightnin' Hopkins records with his father and a song named after him was recorded by R.E.M. on their album Document.
Tracklisting
Peggy Lee
Various Artists
Tubby Hayes
Sonny Clark
Ella Fitzgerald
Louis Prima & Keely Smith/Sam Butera
Pete Seeger
Various Artists
Lightnin' Hopkins
Lightnin' Hopkins
Lightnin' Hopkins
Lightnin' Hopkins
Lightnin' Hopkins
Lightnin' Hopkins
Lightnin' Hopkins
Lightnin' Hopkins
