Early Recordings is an album by the blues musician Lightnin' Hopkins featuring tracks recorded at Gold Star Studios in Houston, Texas between 1946 and 1950, eight of which were originally released as 10-inch 78rpm records on the Gold Star and Jax labels, along with eight others that were previously unissued.[1]Arhoolie reissued The Gold Star Sessions on two CDs through Smithsonian Folkways in 1990.[2]
AllMusic reviewer Eugene Chadbourne stated: "Much of the body of this blues artist's song catalog kind of runs together into a long odyssey, delivered in a rubato medium feel, sometimes locking into a steady beat but often hovering somewhere behind and ahead. As if performing an endless series of card tricks with only three cards, he comes up with variation after variation on the basic 12-bar form and a series of blues riffs that he has ready to fit any and all occasions. Listeners may not be able to tell one track from the next, but Hopkins' feel on guitar and charismatic, lilting voice has proven to be a winner with blues fans decade after decade. The ever adventuresome Hopkins cut some tracks on organ during this period ... Although the resulting 'Organ Boogie' certainly provides some variety, the songs with the guitar are of much more lasting music value, the organ numbers mostly of interest as an oddity".[3]
Track listing
All compositions by Sam "Lightnin'" Hopkins
"Bluebird Blues" aka "Glory Be Blues" – 3:11 previously unreleased
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