LIGHTNING HOPKINS THE BLUES 1st UK FONTANA ToP AuDiO DeLtA BlUeS RoCk MiNt CoVeR

	£		92
	$		122

LIGHTNING HOPKINS ''THE BLUES''

1st UK PRESS FONTANA LABELS CAT NO.TL 5264 ((MONO))

RECORDING FIRST PUBLISHED 1965 

#1#1 MATRIX  BARELY EVER PLAYED VINYL! AWESOME TOP AUDIO NO CLICKS OR POPS! THICK CARD 1ST UK ISSUE COVER NEAR MINT!

STUNNING BLUES ALBUM!

For Youtube Video of this album track ''Dirty House Blues' (Please Click Below)

Another from my personal collection! Purchased in the early seventies and initially only ever played to record to tape and then stored with the vinyl seperated from the sleeve and cover for protection to prevent ringware! This is how I have always stored my records! Played at loud volume one time prior to listing the audio is clear and vibrant throughout. These recordings made by Lightning Hopkins during 1950 and 1951, which are considered by most critics as the finest sides ever recorded by Lightning' Please allow for minor very light background static only on one or two tracks due to the fact that these are from original early recordings! Importantly there are no needle scratches on the playing surface that i can see that would cause any loud clicks or pops! Very rare to find like this after 40 years! The cover is in exceptional condition! graded at very near mint in my opinion! 

This album of Lightning is uniquely interesting in that it was recorded at one of the peaks of his career—in 1950 and 1951. Bob Shad, an A&R man who then as well as now knew more about the blues than almost any other record company executive, had been traveling frequently through the South recording several first-rate blues singers and also inviting them to New York. Lightning made many records for Shad's labels, and these sessions—cut from November, 1950 to July, 1951—represent some of the best. (It was during his recording for Shad, incidentally, that Lightning had his two biggest hits—"HELLO CENTRAL" in late 1950 and "COFFEE BLUES" in 1951.)

Lightning, as all good blues singers, improvises most of his lyrics, reshaping fragments from old blues and making up new ones to fit recent experiences or the actual situation at the time of recording. "Show me where to cut his throat," Lightning begins "FREIGHT TRAIN." A man in the studio was bugging Shad, Lightning picked up on it, and then led naturally into the song. On another date, just arrived in New York, he started off "LONG WAY FROM TEXAS," making it up as he went along.

Sam Hopkins, according to the chapter on him in Charters' blues book, was born in Center- ville, a small town north of Houston on U.S. 75, on March 15, 1912. When he was eight years old, he made his first contact with Blind Lemon Jefferson, who showed him a few things on the guitar. He then learned from a cousin, "Texas" Alexander who later recorded for Okeh. During the depression, he did hard, endless farm work. Although he had been playing and singing on the side for years, he didn't start singing for a living until 1946. He recorded in Houston, and with pianist Thunder Smith, went to Los Angeles to make more records. (The team name, "Thunder and Lightning" led to Sam's nickname.) He recorded again in Houston, began to build a reputation, and then cut for many companies in New York and Hollywood in the next ten years. The later records were marred by overemphasized drum and bass accompaniment and attempts to consciously cash in on the rock and roll frenzy that was then invading the sales charts.

It's not all tragedy though. Lightning continues the blues tradition of using irony as a\ weapon of survival as well as of getting whatever peace of mind is possible under the circumstances. "I give her my last nickel," he sings in 'DONT THINK I'M CRAZY,' "and that was my last." (But, he adds in an aside to himself as well as to whoever's listening, "I had one left.") All in all, Lightning reminds me of the musician being interviewed by a man from a trade magazine who enthusiastically asked him his future plans. "To survive," said the musician.

Charlotte Phelan told in the Houston Post of the time Lightning made up a song when he was told Queen Elizabeth was in Chicago. Included in his "Blues For Queen Elizabeth" were the lines: "Yeah, you know, Baby, the whole world's in a tangle. It's just spinning 'round and 'round."

A listener reprimanded Lightning for calling the Queen of England "baby." Lightning looked up through his habitual dark glasses and grinned. "I wasn't talking just to her."

Side 1.

Hello central
Coffee Blues
Long Way From Texas
Mad Ss I Can Be
New Shorthaired Woman
Gotta Move

Side2

Everybody's Down On Me
Feight Tain

 Prayin' Ground Blues
Don't Think I'm Crazy
Dirty House Blues
Everything Happens To Me

The Matrix

Side 1 ''683705 1L#1''

Side 2 ''683705 2L#1''

The Vinyl

This vinyl gleems as a new vinyl! This is the original thicker heavier vinyl (only early press) Lays perfectly flat on the turntable! Please note! This vinyl looks like it has only ever been played a handful of times, I certainly don't recall ever playing this vinyl since i initially purchased this in the early seventies! Any marks that could possibly be seen would be sleeve removal scuffs only, importantly no marks that would cause any loud clicks or pops!

The Audio Quality

I have very carfully played this vinyl one time track for track prior to listing at very loud volume on a top system. Importantly using a dedicated mono cartridge! The audio can not be surpassed on these early UK pressings in my opinion truly stunning throughout!,

The audio is cristal clear and vibrant all of the way through! Importantly there is no loud clicks or pops heard during the audio, no distortion and certainly no skips or jumps. Any light background crackle or isolated ticks heard during quiet places would probably be due to the fact that this vinyl has been in storage laying dormant for the past 40 years or more and it is important to note that these are recordings taken from 1950 -1951 so please make allowences for this! A constant clean before each play is highly recomended and would enhance the audio quality! This is very minor indeed.  I would class myself as highly critical , please look at my completed listings of records that I have sold of this calaber and you will see that I normaly get it right! The audio quality on was at least excellent plus! Very rare to find after 40 years!

Please note! I always add this disclaimer! That I have given my honest opinion when describing the audio quality of this vinyl. and have played it through track for track. !, Please allow for the odd isolated static (not) consistant through out the audio! Remember this is an original (not) a reissue that is 44 years old and would have been played on a system that is 44 years old!

Please look at my completed listings of records that i have sold of this calaber and you will see that i normally get it right!

Please note! A constant clean before each play is highly recomended! This vinyl has been stored laying dormant for over 40 years! A buld up of dirt and dust in the grooves causes static/ crackle. A clean before each play will drastically reduce static and enhance the audio quality!

The audio is graded at the very very top!

The Labels

These are the original Fontana black/silver  Any viable spider marks seen angled to the light can even be counted on one hand!  No spindle ware (the hole is perfectly round) This looks like it hasn't ever been played in my opinion! 

The Cover

This is the 1st issue , Thick card type pasted rear cover! This is clean and straight without any splits or tares at the edges! Please note! On initial inspection this is like a new cover! (no) nast names written! Amaizingly there are no real creases to mention! Clean and straight as it should be. (see photos) This cover must grade at least excellent plus to near mint in my opinion!

For Youtube Video of this album track ''Dirty House Blues' (Please Click Below)

HOW I SEND MY RECORDS!

THIS ALBUM WILL BE SENT IN A LARGE BOX WITH CARDBOARD STIFFENERS THE ALBUM IS ALWAYS PUT IS A POLY SLEEVE AND ENCASED IN THE BOX WITH PLENTY OF BUBBLEWRAP FOR ADDED PROTECTION (SEE PHOTOS)

As always I have tried to give my honest personal opinion when describing items listed! Although it is my honest opinion! I always urge others to do their own personal research on any items that they are interested in purchasing, before, they commit to bidding!) I have Highlighted all aspects as clearly as possible!! I have taken time to play this vinyl track for track to give a clear and accurate description of the audio quality as i hear it. (please look at my completed listings of albums that I have sold of this calaber (more than 1000 items) and you will see that I normally get it right) I have also provided as many photos as I can and supersized so that all aspects can be seen clearly in strong light!!!!!Please note! These photos are the actual item for sale and not copies of other items!!!!!!!

Please do not hesitate to email me with any questions regarding this item or any other items that I have listed!

I HAVE 100% POSITIVE FEEDBACK SO PLEASE BID WITH TOTAL CONFIDANCE!!!!

SHIPPING TO THE USA\CANADA\JAPAN\AUSTRALIA IS 11.76GBP INCLUDES INTERNATIONAL SIGNED FOR DELIVERY WITH INSURANCE AND TRACKING

SHIPPING TO EUROPE IS 8.76GBP INCLUDES INTERNATIONAL SIGNED FOR DELIVERY WITH INSURANCE AND TRACKING

POSTAGE WITHIN ENGLAND IS FREE SENT BY RECORDED DELIVERY

(ALL ITEMS ARE COVERED BY AN INSURANCE UP TO A VALUE OF £42.00 FOR LOSS OR DAMAGE OF GOODS IN TRANSIT. AN ADDITIONAL (OPTIONAL) FEE WILL BE CHARGED FOR ANY INSURANCE OF A HIGHER VALUE. PLEASE NOTE, THAT SOME COUNTRIES HAVE A MAXIMUM AMOUNT ONLY TO A CERTAIN VALUE THAT CAN BE INSURED! 

Please note! All items are now despatched by Royal Mail signed for 1st class delivery!!!! I normally despatch weekdays within the next working day on receipt of cleared funds!!!I POST ON WEEKDAYS ONLY (NOT OVER THE WEEKEND)!! Tracking details are always emailed to the winning bidder after despatch.

All items are despatched securely with ample reinforcement (It is my prime interest to make sure that the items arrive in the same condition that they left me!!!!

I offer a postage discount for multiple purchases!!!,, but i do insist that the buyer pay for the items as they are won! I can not any longer allow winning bidders to run up a large bill and then not pay! I do not have a problem with holding the goods to be despatched untill they are ready (at the buyers request), for multiple items purchased!!!!!

MY NEW POLICY! Because of the unfortunate recent problems that I have had with non payments, Any new ebayers with low,poor or no real history,  Please do not bid on my records without first contacting me! These bids will be cancelled and the bidder will be blocked from further attempts to bid on my items.   

PLEASE LOOK AT MY OTHER RARE 1ST UK PRESSINGS LISTED NOW!!!! (click the link bellow)

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PLEASE LOOK AT MY OTHER RARE 1ST UK PRESSINGS LISTED NOW!!!! (click the link bellow)

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