Guitarist, singer and songwriter Lightnin' Slim (real name Otis Hicks) was born in Louisiana in 1913

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. He came to recording relatively late in life, doing his first sessions in his early 40s and recording 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

• Bad Luck
• Rock Me Mama
• New Orleans Bound
• I Can't Live Happy
• Bugger Bugger Boy
• Ethel Mae
• She's Gone
• Strange Letter Blues
• Bad Feeling Blues
• Lightnin' Slim Boogie
• I Can't Be Successful
• Lightnin' Blues
• Sugar Plum
• Just Made Twenty One
• Goin' Home
• Wondering And Goin'
• Bad Luck And Trouble
• Have Your Way
• Mean Ole Lonesome Train
• I'm Grown
• I'm A Rollin' Stone
• Love Me Mama
• Hoodoo Blues

• It's Mighty Crazy
• My Starter Won't Work
• Long Leanie Mama
• I'm Leavin' You Baby
• Feelin' Awful Blue
• Sweet Little Woman
• Lightnin's Troubles
• Rooster Blues
• 'G.I.' Slim
• Tom Cat Blues
• Bed Bug Blues
• Too Close Blues
• My Little Angel Chile
• Cool Down Baby
• Nothing But The Devil
• I Just Don't Know
• Somebody Knockin'
• I'm Tired Waiting Baby
• Hello Mary Lee
• Mind Your Own Business
• You're Old Enough To Understand
• I'm Warning You Baby
• Winter Time Blues

Additional Details

Label: Acrobat

Genre: Blues

Language: English

Run Time: 143 mins

Region: 0

Release Date: 01/17/20

UPC: 824046332129