Lightning Hopkins – The Goldstar Session – Volume 1 – Arhoolie CD-330 

Founded in 1941 by Bill Quinn, Goldstar Records started an independent label that grew out of the original imprint based in Houston, Texas, Quinn Recording Company, one that was devoted to recording blues, country, and Cajun types of music.  In addition to our subject here, Lightning Hopkins, other prominent musicians who recorded at Gold Star Records includes George Jones, Freddy Fender, The Sir Douglas Quintet, Roy Head, and Harry Choates, among many others.  Even The Big Bopper’s big hit, “Chantilly Lace”, was released by Gold Star Records.

One of the utmost admired post-World War II Texas country blues singers, poets, story tellers, and guitarists of all-time, the 24 selections here hail from Hopkins’ fertile 1947-1950 period, and showcase his astonishing vocal improvisations (the man could simply create great blues out of thin air), and distinguishing and efficacious guitar style that combined tattered rhythms and accurate, deliberate picking.  Hopkins was astounding in his capacities to play bass, rhythm, lead, and percussive guitar parts at the same time, in essence, becoming something of a one-man band.  In 2010, Rolling Stone Magazine chose Hopkins as #71 of its 100 greatest guitarists of all-time.

There is not, as they say, a “clunker” on this Hopkins collection, and his trek into zydeco music on “Zolo Go (Zydeco)” is testament to his broad influences. 

Below are the CD’s tracks and running order.  With a little effort, this brilliant anthology can become part of your personal blues collection.

Song Titles

• Short Haired Woman
• Baby Please Don’t Go
• Going Back Home (Going Back To Talk To Mama)
• Automobile Blues
• Big Mama Jump
• Loretta Blues
• Seems Funny Baby
• Thunder And Lightning Blues (Coolin’ Board Blues)
• Grosebeck Blues
• Tim Moore’s Farm
• Lightning Blues
• Traveler’s Blues
• Goodbye Blues
• Unkind Blues
• Fast Life Woman
• Zolo Go (Zydeco)
• You Don’t Know
• Treat Me Kind
• Somebody Got To Go
• Death Bells
• Mad With You
• Airplane Blues
• Racetrack Blues
• Unsuccessful blues

Essential by any measure!