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with Lightnin’ and could tell that Lightnin’ was more savvy about the record business. He sensed that the record companies were ripping him off, but he didn’t trust them to pay him any royalties. Consequently, he demanded his money up front. “He’d be playing places here in Houston,” Brown says, “and I’d be playing in different clubs. We had kind of a nighttime thing together. I used to get off my gig and go by his at night on weekends. And afterwards we’d sit there … and we’d share a gin bottle together and talk over business, who was playing where and who was getting what. We’d go to a little bar on the corner of Cleburne and Dowling. He didn’t talk about one thing in particular. We just be discussin’ how gigs went and where we going to be playing next…. He played out in The Heights, and then he played out in Acres Homes, and in a place in the Fifth Ward, they used to call Pearl Harbor [so named for the violence that occurred there], and it was just about like they said, Pearl Harbor.”68

Between 1951 and 1953, Lightnin’ recorded ten sides for Mercury, followed by another eight for Decca, and four for TNT. The Mercury and Decca sessions were done for Shad, who worked for both companies in addition to running the Sittin’ In With and Jax labels. Lightnin’ played acoustic guitar and was accompanied by Donald Cooks on bass for not only the Sittin’ In With and Mercury sessions in 1951, but for the Decca session in 1953. Several of the songs Lightnin’ recorded during this period were original compositions, and the topical “Sad News from Korea” was especially poignant.

Well, poor mother run and cryin’

Wonderin’ where could my poor son be (x2)

Whoa, I just want you to have some of my prayer

“Please, sir, God, Send my poor child back to me”

For the Decca session on July 29, 1953, Lightnin’ was once again accompanied by Donald Cooks on bass, but Connie Kroll was added on drums. The trio sounded tight, suggesting they had been playing together for a while and were not simply thrown together in the studio. Lightnin’s song choices were also carefully selected. “The War Is Over” was a topical song at the end of the Korean War. “Policy Game” was the only song Lightnin’ ever recorded about policy, or “the numbers,” which was essentially an illegal lottery in which individuals bought a betting slip in a cafe or other small business and picked the amount they wanted to gamble and the combination of numbers that they thought would come up when the policy wheel was turned.69 In Lightnin’s song, he reflected on the futility of policy, but also on how the game was a metaphor.

Everybody winning policy, oh Lord, but poor me (x2)

I played 72, but I done decided to play 23

Tell me, sweet baby, somebody gone win for you

In the end, Lightnin’ was determined to win, but didn’t know when to pull back and quit.

Played number 10 but God knows I couldn’t win (x2)

I’m gonna keep on bettin’ till my bluff comes back again

“I’m Wild About You Baby,” “Merry Christmas,” “Happy New Year,” and “Highway Blues” are all strong, up-tempo numbers that Lightnin’ sang and played with a much brighter tone and an enthusiasm rarely heard on his later recordings. “Merry Christmas” and “Happy New Year” were in the great tradition of holiday blues numbers and were likely suggested by the producer because such songs were “evergreens” that could be sold each holiday season.

In “Highway Blues,” Lightnin’ is exuberant about hitting the road:

I’m going to take my girl, have some fun

If my money don’t spend, I can shoot my gun

I’m going, yes, I’m going, yes, I’m going on that highway

About “Highway Blues,” Billboard wrote, “Another good blues reading from the chanter—and in his usually effective style,” and also praised “Cemetery Blues,” which backed it on Decca 48312: “Hopkins’ tale of Grandpa’s death is told via his guitar, singing, and talking passages for a mighty effective side with lots of folk quality. The gimmick of a crying voice thruout [sic] adds appeal.”70 There’s no indication of how well the Mercury sides sold; none ever charted.

The next sides Lightnin