Lightnin’ Hopkins with Sonny Terry – Last Night Blues
This set of 8 vintage 1961 Prestige Records tracks recorded October 26, 1960, at the legendary Rudy Van Gelder Studio in Englewood Cliffs, NJ with a crack NY rhythm section is re-released pristinely by Craft/Concord. This imaginative teaming of Sam ‘Lightnin’ Hopkins, who came out of Texas with his storytelling blues & a 6-decade career is joined by the harmonica of Saunders “Sonny Terry” Terrell (half of the successful popular duo with Brownie McGhee).
Country-blues artist Lightnin’ Hopkins (vocals/fingerstyle guitar) wrote all the songs & the showcase was produced by Rudy Van Gelder.
Produced by Mason Williams for Lightnin’ Hopkins with Sonny Terry – Last Night Blues (Drops Sept 13/Craft/Concord/Prestige-Bluesville/36:46). Hopkins had been active as a blues troubadour since 1946. Recorded prolifically in the ’60s & his style was primarily a talking 12-bar blues free & loose. His blues could be serious, but Hopkins also added humor & would pepper some tunes with double entendres & clever introductions. There is no shortage of repertoire in Mr. Hopkin’s catalog.
Above all, this is a small combo performance & the way Lightnin’ Hopkins presents these blues allows each to be quite accessible & may even be how he sang in juke joints. These aren’t hard-edged blues with despair & hard cases but more melodic & well-played as in the case of “Rocky Mountain.” It’s relatively spare. Hopkins details places & relationships. He narrates with unique phrasing & Sonny Terry’s harmonica is always outstanding.
More vigor comes on “Got To Move Your Baby,” — as the guitar shines & gets toes to tap & whiskey to pour. At times Hopkins sings as if he’s talking to someone & that translates to the listener who then becomes the subject of the song. He sings in a declarative wry tone that sets him apart from other blues interpreters.
With the chug of “Take a Trip With Me,” Sonny Terry adds a steam engine drive on harmonica as Lightnin’ Hopkins lays down a persuasive acoustic guitar. His voice is slightly more manicured than on other songs. The voice is raw with a rural reserve but he retains his authoritative sense. Like a blues voice should be.
His career has had inspired recordings & not so inspired. This set has clarity & his output has its dazzling moments. “Lightnin’s Stroke” has a well-nourished guitar charge that suggests what rock would be later. With tunes like “Hard To Love a Woman,” Hopkins injects asides through the vocals as Ray Charles did.
The original issue LP liner notes are included in a 4pp insert.
Highlights – “Rocky Mountain,” “Got To Move Your Baby,” “Take a Trip With Me,” “Lightnin’s Stroke” & “Hard To Love a Woman.”
Musicians –Sonny Terry (harmonica/vocal), Leonard Gaskin (bass) & Belton Evans (drums).
B&W image courtesy of Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images & image of Lightnin’ seated with shades courtesy of Hopkins’ Wikipedia page. CD @ Amazon & eBay + https://craftrecordings.com/
Enjoy our previous coverage here: Music Reviews: Steve Young’s ‘Stars in the Southern Sky,’ plus Cat Stevens and Lightnin’ Hopkins
