Search - Lightnin Hopkins :: Complete Aladdin Recordings

Hopkins revels in the limitless possibilities of 12-bar Texas blues. With his ability to improvise clever lyrics and his penchant for subtle modifications in rhythm and structure, Hopkins's music was remarkably fresh despite a relative lack of stylistic variety. Because of his idiosyncratic tendencies, Hopkins almost always recorded as a solo artist. However, the first 13 of these 43 cuts include barrelhouse pianist Wilson Smith, adding spice to the music. Unbelievably, the final 26 cuts are from one marathon solo session of February, 1948, including up-tempo country-flavored boogies and slower, intense blues workouts. Hopkins's urgent guitar work--featuring powerful strumming, forceful single-string runs, and piercing double stops--remains an inspiration to a variety of instrumental disciples. --Marc Greilsamer