Country Blues
The famous bluesman's stellar recordings for Tradition epitomized Lightnin's spare "country blues" which was in contrast to the brash and bold Chicago blues so commercially appealing at the time. Lightnin' started his career singing on Houston's street corners for change and drink and his best performances are those intimate concerts.  Lightnin's first two albums for Tradition (AUTOBIGRAPHY IN BLUES and COUNTRY BLUES) were just that--down and dirty, out and out blues, honest and true--perfect documents of Lightnin's style, songs and performance.  Country Blues showcases Hopkins in his element, vividly coloring in the standards and originals with emotion, energy, longing, and wiry wit.  Standards like the uptempo "See See Rider" and the slow bottomless "Backwater Blues" are made his own.  As well, Country Blues is full of love--all the blue shades of love--the lost love in the moanful "Baby," the betrayal of love in the pondering "Hear My Black Dog Bark," and the love left behind (just in time) in the breathless "Long Gone."  Those who came later to the life of the blues were deeply influenced by Lightnin'.  The Tradition reissue of this album includes the original comprehensive liner notes by Producer Mack McCormick.  The mastertapes were sonically cleansed and digitally remastered for this release.