Lightnin' Hopkins_ His Life and Blues - Alan Govenar [148]
Summer 1951. Probably ACA Recording Studio, 5520–22 Washington Ave., Houston, TX. Producer: Bob Shad
Vocal/acoustic guitar with Donald Cooks, bass.
“Sad News from Korea” Mercury 8274
“Let Me Fly Your Kite” Mercury 8274
“Gone with the Wind” Mercury 8293
“She’s Almost Dead” Mercury 8293
“Ain’t It a Shame” Mercury 70081
“Crazy ‘Bout My Baby” Mercury 70081
“My Mama Told Me” Mercury 70191
“What’s the Matter Now” Mercury 70191
Note: These singles were credited to “Lightening Hopkins.”
July 29, 1953. Probably ACA Recording Studio, 5520-22 Washington Ave., Houston, TX. Producer: Bob Shad
Vocal/electric guitar with Donald Cooks, bass; Connie Kroll, drums. Overdubbed crying*.
“Merry Christmas” Decca 48306
“Happy New Year” Decca 48306
“Highway Blues” Decca48312
“Cemetery Blues”* Decca 48312
“I’m Wild About You Baby” Decca 48321
“Bad Things on my Mind” Decca 48321
“The War is Over” Decca 28841
“Policy Game” Decca 28841
Note: All Decca pressings are credited to “Lightening Hopkins.” Most reissues of “Cemetery Blues” use the original master, without the overdubbed “crying” as originally issued.
Original issues are on black Decca labels. “Merry Christmas” b/w “Happy New Year” was reissued in the early 1960s with the multi-colored Decca label.
c. November 1953. Probably ACA Sound and Film Studio, 5520-22 Washington Ave., Houston, TX. Producer: H. M. Crowe
Vocal/electric guitar.
“Late in the Evening” TNT 8002
“Lightnin’ Jump” TNT 8002
“Leavin’ Blues” TNT 8003; 8010
“Moanin’ Blues” TNT 8003; 8010
Note: TNT 8010 is a c.1956 reissue of TNT 8003, credited to “Lightin’ Hopkins.”
c. April 1954. ACA Sound and Film Studio, 5520-22 Washington Ave., Houston, TX.
Vocal/electric guitar with Donald Cooks, bass; Ben Turner, drums; Ruth Ames, vocal*.
“Don’t Think ‘Cause You’re Pretty” Herald 425, 504, LP 1012
“Lightnin’s Boogie” Herald 425, 504, LP 1012
“Life I Used to Live” Herald 428, 547, LP 1012
“Lightnin’s Special” Herald 428, 547, LP 1012
“Sick Feeling Blues” Herald 436, 542, LP 1012
“Moving On Out Boogie” Herald 436, 542
“Early Mornin’ Boogie” Herald 443, 531
“Nothin’ but the Blues” Herald 443
“They Wonder Who I Am” Herald 449
“Evil Hearted Woman” Herald 449, LP 1012
“My Baby’s Gone” Herald 456, LP 1012
“Don’t Need No Job” Herald 456
“Blues for My Cookie” Herald 465
“Had a Gal Called Sal” Herald 465
“Lonesome in Your Home” Herald 471, LP 1012
“Hopkins’ Sky Hop” Herald 471
“Grandma’s Boogie” Herald 476, 531
“I Love You Baby” Herald 476
“That’s Alright Baby”* Herald 483
“Finally Met My Baby”* Herald 483
“Shine on Moon” Herald 490
“Sittin’ Down Thinkin’” Herald 490, LP 1012
“Remember Me” Herald 497
“Please Don’t Go Baby” Herald 497
“Bad Boogie” Ace 516/Herald 520, LP 1012/Parade 8020
“Wonder What is Wrong with Me” Ace 516/Herald 520
“Walkin’ the Streets” Chart 636/Parade 8020
“Mussy Haired Woman” Chart 636
“Walkin’ and Drinkin’”* unissued
“God Made Man”* unissued
Notes: These sessions probably occurred over several days in or around April 1954. Reverb was added to all songs except “Walkin’ the Streets” and “Mussy Haired Woman.”
Herald 483 credited to “Lightnin’ Hopkins with his Protégé Ruth (Blues) Ames.”
Ten songs from these sessions were retitled and reissued by Herald in the late 1950s. These are detailed below.
“Don’t Think ‘Cause You’re Pretty” was edited and retitled “Blues Is a Mighty Bad Feelin’” on Herald 504.
“Lightnin’s Boogie” retitled “Boogie Woogie Dance” on Herald 504.
“Life I Used to Live” retitled “Gonna Change My Ways” on Herald 547.
“Lightnin’s Special” retitled “Flash Lightnin’” on Herald 547.
“Sick Feeling Blues” retitled “I’m Achin’” on Herald 542.
“Moving On Out Boogie” retitled “Let’s Move” on Herald 542.
“Early Mornin’ Boogie” retitled “Hear Me Talkin’” on Herald 531.
“Grandma’s Boogie” retitled