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Samuel John Hopkins was born in 1912 to a poor sharecropping family in Centerville, Texas. He immersed himself in the blues at an early age, having met Blind Lemon Jefferson at a church picnic not long after having struck out on his own. In 1946, Hopkins was "discovered" by Aladdin Records' talent scout Lola Anne Cullum, who convinced him to travel to Los Angeles from Houston. There, he cut sides both as a solo artist and as part of a duo with pianist Wilson Smith. It was during his stint at Aladdin that he acquired his nickname, while his partner was dubbed "Thunder." Shortly thereafter, Hopkins returned to Houston, his home base for the balance of his life.

The legendary blues guitarist performed at Los Angeles' famed Ash Grove venue on many occasions over the club's decade-and-a-half existence. Ten of the selections on this set are compiled from two separate performances at the club, and none of the performances on the album have previously been available commercially. The album's A-side consists of acoustic tracks from a set recorded on November 29, 1970. The B-side collects a couple of acoustic performances from September 22, 1965, and the disc is rounded out with four electric tracks with his band from Palo Alto's In Your Ear club recorded on August 18, 1971. While most of the tunes are originals, the set lists include some distinctive cover versions of the R&B classics "What I'd Say" and "Hi-Heel Sneakers," along with some folk/gospel nuggets, "Don't The Moon Look Pretty" and "How Long Has It Been." Whether solo or with a band, Hopkins imprints all the tracks with his special electricity... you might call it "Lightnin'."

The 40-minute live collection LP will have a limited-edition pressing on black vinyl. Includes some rare photos and liner notes.

Track Listing

Sales Points

• His songs have been covered by the likes of Van Morrison, Dion, BB King, the Grateful Dead, Johnny Winter, Joe Perry, Hank Williams Jr., Townes Van Zandt, and others
• Pressed on limited-edition black vinyl
• Live performances never previously available
• Ranks in Rolling Stone's Top 100 Greatest Guitarists Of All-Time
• Inducted into the Blues Foundation Hall of Fame in 1980
• Major guitar influence on Jimi Hendrix, Stevie Ray Vaughn, Jimmie Vaughn and others
• Inducted into the Texas Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2022

Press Quotes

Robert 'Mack' McCormick '(he was) the embodiment of the jazz-and-poetry spirit, representing its ancient form in the single creator whose words and music are one act'.

     —Robert 'Mack' McCormick, Musicologist

one of the great country blues singers and perhaps the greatest single influence on rock guitar players'.

     —New York Times

What distinguished Hopkins as a blues artist was the spontaneity of his performance and the unabashed power of his personality,'

     —Alan Govenor, Biographer