Guitarist, singer and songwriter Lightnin' Slim (real name Otis Hicks) was born in Louisiana in 1913 and was a pioneer and first prominent exponent of the "Swamp Blues" style, coming relatively late in life to recording in his early 40s to record his best-known work during the late 1950s and early '60s, before retreating from the business until being re-discovered and brought back to performing in the early 1970s. His music became a significant influence on British artists during the '60s blues boom. Swamp blues, focused in the clubs of Baton Rouge, is a laid-back but highly rhythmic blues style, influenced by Cajun music, and which the book "Music USA: A Rough Guide" states is characterised by "eerie echo, shuffle beats, tremolo guitars, searing harmonica and sparse percussion". This great-value 46-track 2-CD set comprises all the titles which Lightnin' Slim recorded for the Feature, Ace and Excello labels during these years, including the only R&B chart hit of his career "Rooster Blues". He is accompanied on these recordings by a variety of other Louisiana musicians, most notably the harmonica player Lazy Lester. This collection offers an entertaining insight into the music of a highly individual artist as well as a distinctive strand of regional blues.

Tracklist:

Bad Luck
Rock Me Mama
New Orleans Bound
I Can't Live Happy
Bugger Bugger Boy
Ethel Mae
She's Gone
Strange Letter Blues
Bad Feeling Blues 1
Lightnin' Slim Boogie 1
I Can't Be Successful 1
Lightnin' Blues 1
Sugar Plum 1
Just Made Twenty One 1
Goin' Home 1
Wondering and Goin' 1
Bad Luck and Trouble 1
Have Your Way 1
Mean Ole Lonesome Train 2
I'm Grown 2
I'm a Rollin' Stone 2
Love Me Mama 2
Hoodoo Blues 2
It's Mighty Crazy 2
My Starter Won't Work 2
Long Leanie Mama 2
I'm Leavin' You Baby 2
Feelin' Awful Blue 2
Sweet Little Woman 3
Lightnin's Troubles 3
Rooster Blues 3
"G.I." Slim 3
Tom Cat Blues 3
Bed Bug Blues 3
Too Close Blues 3
My Little Angel Chile 3
Cool Down Baby 3
Nothing But the Devil 3
I Just Don't Know 4
Somebody Knockin' 4
I'm Tired Waiting Baby 4
Hello Mary Lee 4
Mind Your Own Business 4
You're Old Enough to Understand 4
I'm Warning You Baby 4
Winter Time Blues

UPC: 824046332129
Label: Acrobat
Release Date: 1.17.20
Format: CD

Lightnin Slim - Complete Singles As & Bs 1954-62 (CD)