Customer Reviews

The Complete Prestige/Bluesville Recordings

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This seven disk, expensive box set is often a difficult pill to swallow, but I am glad that I did. On six disks twelve Lightnin' albums from the 60's are combined. If you are interested in Lightnin', do the math. The Complete Prestige/Bluesville Rocordings is a value. The seventh disk is full of interviews that may seem dull to some, but to a fan willing to spend $ to get the blues they are a welcome addition. A very interesting way to learn about the man is from his own voice in interviews like these. The liner notes are a simple histoy, a few pictures and a discography. Again, I am glad I bought it.

This is one fantastic collection of music! However, I was a little disappointed by the apparent lack of effort that went into the finished product. With such a comprehensive assortment of music, I expected to find at least liner notes or a booklet with some biographical material or reviews. Also, it should be noted that the final disk in this set is only spoken word. While the novelty of it is awesome, and you get to here Lightnin's stories first hand, at my first listening I was somewhat off set because I wasn't expecting it. However, those things aside, this set is worth every penny!

Lightnin' Hopkins was extremely over-recorded during the 1960s, a fact that this set makes blindingly clear. The best stuff here is Lightnin' solo with guitar, or with an acoustic bass and drums. The sessions with a thrown together pick-up band are painful to listen to, particularly with the harmonica player and pianist. Lightnin' wasn't Muddy Waters. He didn't have Willie Dixon writing songs for him with bridges and nice long sections for a harmonicist or pianist to stretch out on, like Muddy did. In Lightnin's music, a harmonica and piano is simply extra baggage that distract from the song rather than add to it. Furthermore, a lot of the songs here are just inferior repeats of songs that he had recorded earlier (in better versions) during his peak years (1946-1954).

Finally, they could have used the original mono mixes, but chose instead to use stereo mixes. Anyone who is into vintage blues and R&B at all can tell you that this stuff *always* sounds better in mono, especially if it's just a three-piece band. The punch and impact is gone.

Unless you're a total Lightnin' freak, I'd recommend just buying the individual CDs that feature Lightnin' solo. And if you get a chance to pick up the original albums in mono, take it.

This is the finest blues collection by any blues artist that I have had the pleasure to hear. At my home it is mandatory listening at least once a week. Guests are totally in awe of Lightnin' as a story teller and guitarist. As the 'HITMAN' says, he's the best there is and the best there ever will be.

For a Hopkins fan or a music historian this set is fantastic. Sam Hopkins was a master story-teller - period - and there is a lot of spoken material that inter-weaves his personal history, regional blues history, and general reflections from a different time and a predominantly rural black culture. Having grown up in the rural South as a small boy, I sat at the feet of such story tellers for hours transformed by their spell. That said, if one only wants to listen to Sam Hopkins's music, there are better recordings or at least better quality recordings and one can obtain a suitable collection for less dough. This is a must-have set for a special sub-genre of enthusiasts and for them it is a rare treasure, indeed.

Yes, it is expensive but if you are interested in the blues then it's a really good deal. As has already been explained, the 7th disc is only interviews. But the 6 discs of music are incredible. I had to work up my nerve to make this purchase a few years ago. Luckily, I did get a discount but I still say it's worth the hefty price tag. I'm listening to 'Last Night Blues' right now and it's just as haunting today as it was when I first bought the set.

Sam "Lightnin'" Hopkins was and still is one of the most under appreciated bluesmen of all time. This box set contains a treasure trove of songs recorded by Lightnin' including the legendary Swarthmore Concert that is worth the price of the box set alone. Fans of "real" blues guitar playing will not be disappointed with anything in this collection delivered with Lightnin's trademark guitar licks and vocal stylings. Highly recommended.

why do people keep saying how expensive this is?!? 7 let me repeat 7 discs for under $40. this is CHEAP for how much you get. keep things in perspective people. you'd spend over $100 for all of it individually

I first heard a song from Lightnin' Hopkins off a "Muddy Waters" Pandora radio station. "Come Back Baby". I went searching and found this collection. The audio quality is great and worth the purchase. I bought it when it was on sale, and I think it was less than [...] bucks. So if that's what it costs, than it's worth it.

One note. The last CD actually has an interview with Hopkins. Good for fans and those who'd like to learn more. Good stuff.

I love lightnin'. This has it all... literally. If you like lightnin' and don't have any albums or only have records/ tapes/ yadda yadda. This is most definitely the collection to get.