Samuel John “Lightnin’” Hopkins was born on March 15, 1912, in the heart of East Texas’ Piney Woods. His family history was marked by tragedy—his grandfather, a former slave, took his own life, and his father, a hard-drinking gambler who had served time for murder, was killed in an argument when Lightnin‘ was only three years old leaving his mother to raise the family, which included Alice, Joel, A.B., and young Sam.
Even before he was old enough to work the fields, Hopkins was captivated by music. Inspired by hearing his brother play guitar, he fashioned his first instrument from a cigar box, a plank, and screen wire. He carried his homemade guitar to a Baptist church social in nearby Buffalo, where the legendary Blind Lemon Jefferson hoisted Sam onto the hood of a truck so they could perform together.
In his teens,Hopkins played music with a fiddler, serenading passersby and earning money by passing the hat. By day, he worked in the fields, chopping cotton and driving a mule. Throughout the 1920s and 1930s, his life was turbulent—he was frequently in and out of prison due to fights that landed him on chain gangs. When free,Hopkins often rode the rails, staying in hobo camps as he traveled.
His musical career began in earnest in the 1940s, but it wasn’t until the folk-blues revival of the 1960s that Hopkins achieved national recognition. He performed alongside Joan Baez and Pete Seeger at Carnegie Hall, recording the traditional song “Oh Mary Don’t You Weep.” Over the next few weeks, he recorded nearly four dozen songs across various New York studios, including two albums for Bluesville, a Candid LP, and the Fire Records release of “Mojo Hand,” a song rich in voodoo imagery that would become his signature tune.
Hopkins’ distinctive style was shaped by countless hours spent playing informally without a backing band. His finger picking technique allowed him to play bass, rhythm, lead, and even percussion simultaneously, creating a rich, full sound. His approach incorporated both “alternating” and “monotonic” bass lines, as well as chromatic turnarounds and single-note leads. He often tapped or slapped the body of his guitar to add percussive rhythm.
“Goin’ Away” originally released by Prestige Bluesville in 1963, is a prime example of his Texas country blues style. The album captures Hopkins‘ laid-back, improvisational approach to guitar playing and storytelling.
Lightnin’ Hopkins passed away in 1982, but his legacy endures as one of the most influential figures in blues history.
Cut directly from the original analog master tapes, through our unique all valve 1965 Ortofon / Lyrec vinyl cutting system in stereo. No equalisation, compression or any other processing was added during the cutting process.
All sleeve artwork letter-pressed and hand made.
This edition of 300 copies is priced at £395.00 UK pounds.Order here.
Original master tape.
Original master tape (detail).
ERC sleeve.
