 |
 |
|
|
|
Hello Central: The Best of Lightnin' Hopkins(Columbia/Legacy) First Appeared in The Music Box, July 2004, Volume 11, #7 Written by John Metzger
Born in 1912, Sam "Lightnin’" Hopkins played a crucial role in the
development of Texas blues, but the advent of rock ’n‘ roll, combined with his
reluctance to alter his style, left him nearly forgotten until the advent of the
’60s folk revival. Like many of his peers, he re-emerged briefly only to see his
popularity wane as mainstream fashion turned its attention elsewhere.
Nevertheless, he continued to tour and record until his death in 1982, remaining
a favorite among blues enthusiasts, if not the public at large. The recently
released Hello Central: The Best of Lightnin’ Hopkins is somewhat of a
misnomer, simply because it focuses upon a very small portion of Hopkins’
estimable career — all 20 of its tracks were recorded between 1950 and 1951 —
and it omits such notable compositions as Katie Mae, Penitentiary
Blues, and Mojo Hand. Still it’s a remarkably strong collection, one
that highlights his dexterous skill as a guitarist, his masterfully mournful
vocals, and his talent as an improvisational troubadour. On each track, Hopkins’
allows each turn of phrase to hang in the air as he picks some of the most
intricate and moving guitar accompaniments this side of Mississippi John Hurt.
Many of the songs are anguished laments, though his pained delivery is more than
just a tad compelling, and when he breaks into a shuffling rhythm as he does on
Gotta Move and Coffee Blues, he demonstrates that he easily could
have given Chuck Berry a run for his money. In total, Hello Central
hardly scratches the surface of Hopkins’ recordings, especially since he
released more music during his lifetime than virtually any other bluesman, but
it does offer an insightful glimpse into an extremely fruitful period of his
magnificent legacy. Hello Central: The Best of Lightnin' Hopkins is available For Canadian orders, please Click Here! For UK orders, please Click Here!
Ratings 1 Star: Pitiful
Copyright © 2004 The Music Box
|
|
