Lightnin’ Slim – The Complete Singles As & Bs – 1954-62 – 2CD

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.

Track Listing:

CD1:
1. Bad Luck - 2:58   2. Rock Me Mama - 2:44   3. New Orleans Bound - 2:46   4. I Can't Live Happy - 2:59   5. Bugger Bugger Boy - 2:03   6. Ethel Mae - 3:14   7. She’s Gone - 2:10   8. Strange Letter Blues - 2:50   9. Bad Feeling Blues - 2:57   10. Lightnin' Slim Boogie - 2:34   11. I Can't Be Successful - 3:00   12. Lightnin' Blues - 2:55   13. Sugar Plum - 2:46   14. Just Made Twenty One - 2:09   15. Goin' Home - 2:39   16. Wondering And Goin' - 2:53   17. Bad Luck And Trouble - 2:54   18. Have Your Way - 2:37   19. Mean Ole Lonesome Train - 3:10   20. I'm Grown - 2:47   21. I'm A Rollin' Stone - 2:24   22. Love Me Mama - 2:26   23. Hoodoo Blues - 2:19

CD2:
1. It's Mighty Crazy - 2:36   2. My Starter Won’t Work - 2:49   3. Long Leanie Mama - 2:06   4. I'm Leavin' You Baby - 2:27   5. Feelin' Awful Blues - 2:56   6. Sweet Little Woman - 2:13   7. Lightnin’s Troubles - 2:41   8. Rooster Blues - 2:31   9. "G.I." Slim - 2:26   10. Tom Cat Blues - 2:42   11. Bed Bug Blues - 2:33   12. Too Close Blues - 1:56   13. My Little Angel Chile - 2:41   14. Cool Down Baby - 2:12   15. Nothing But The Devil - 2:57   16. I Just Don’t Know - 2:12   17. Somebody Knockin' - 3:05   18. I'm Tired Waiting Baby - 2:45   19. Hello Mary Lee - 2:42   20. Mind Your Own Business - 2:18   21. You're Old Enough To Understand - 2:44   22. I'm Warning You Baby - 2:07   23. Wintertime Blues - 2:42