Lightnin' Slim Complete Singles As & Bs 1954-62 CD

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.

1. Bad Luck 2. Rock Me Mama 3. New Orleans Bound 4. I Can't Live Happy 5. Bugger Bugger Boy 6. Ethel Mae 7. She's Gone 8. Strange Letter Blues 9. Bad Feeling Blues 10. Lightnin' Slim Boogie 11. I Can't Be Successful 12. Lightnin' Blues 13. Sugar Plum 14. Just Made Twenty One 15. Goin' Home 16. Wondering and Goin' 17. Bad Luck and Trouble 18. Have Your Way 19. Mean Ole Lonesome Train 20. I'm Grown 21. I'm a Rollin' Stone 22. Love Me Mama 23. Hoodoo Blues 24. It's Mighty Crazy 25. My Starter Won't Work 26. Long Leanie Mama 27. I'm Leavin' You Baby 28. Feelin' Awful Blue 29. Sweet Little Woman 30. Lightnin's Troubles 31. Rooster Blues 32. "G.I." Slim 33. Tom Cat Blues 34. Bed Bug Blues 35. Too Close Blues 36. My Little Angel Chile 37. Cool Down Baby 38. Nothing But the Devil 39. I Just Don't Know 40. Somebody Knockin' 41. I'm Tired Waiting Baby 42. Hello Mary Lee 43. Mind Your Own Business 44. You're Old Enough to Understand 45. I'm Warning You Baby 46. Winter Time Blues