An Introduction to Lightnin' Hopkins

Although the sticker on the front of this Lightnin' Hopkins' collection (drawn largely from his work for Stan Lewis' Jewel Records in the mid-'60s) promises unique performances and rarities, it sounds like any number of Hopkins sets on the market, and most (if not all) of these tracks are available elsewhere. That said, it actually works as a compilation, since Hopkins is featured mostly as a solo performer playing either acoustic or electric guitar (the two-part "Vietnam War Blues," a rare example of Hopkins being directly political, is one of the few cuts here to add drums and bass), a setting that was generally his best bet, since he was notoriously erratic when it came to such things as steady rhythm and appropriate and timely chord changes, leaving even the sharpest session players scrambling to follow him. Random as this set appears, there's a lot to like, including the half-spoken, half-sung two-part "Mr. Charlie," the swampy and atmospheric "Vietnam War Blues," the intimate solo acoustic "You Got to Work to Get Your Pay," and a poignant live take on "You Treat Po' Lightnin' Wrong," making this package at least as good as most of the other countless Hopkins packages on the market, and maybe a half-step above.