Blues Hoot
Live album by Lightnin' Hopkins
Released May, 1995
Recorded August, 1961
Genre Blues
Length 52:42
Label DCC/Davon/Horizon
Producer David Hubert
This album consists of Lightnin' Hopkins solo, Sonny Terry and Brownie McGhee together, and then all 3 jamming together, along with Big Joe Williams. Lightnin' tells stories to the responsive crowd and is in good form. Sonny and Brownie take you back to a real country feel -- the harp playing is wild.
Professional ratings
allmusic 3/5 stars
Review by Steve Leggett of allmusic:
Blues Hoot is a live recording from 1961, taped at the Ash Grove in Hollywood, California, featuring short acoustic sets from Lightnin' Hopkins and the folk- blues duo Sonny Terry and Brownie McGhee, as well as a middle set where all three play together, joined by Big Joe Williams. Highlights include "Big Car Blues" by Hopkins, and a spirited version of"Down by the Riverside" by Terry and McGhee, as well as two bonus tracks by the duo "("I'm a Stranger Here,"" "Trouble In Mind") recorded at the Troubadour. There's nothing groundbreaking here, but it's a pleasant show with all participants in peak form.
Review by Steve Marshall of The Night Owl:
When it comes to blues guitarists, there aren't many who have been as influential as Lightnin' Hopkins. His ragged, unconventional style of guitar playing has inspired countless musicians over the years. Anyone who plays guitar has stolen licks from him at one time or another. Hopkins was also a master storyteller. Blues Hoot shows off these abilities as it captures Hopkins in 1961 collaborating with fellow blues legends, Sonny Terry and Brownie McGhee.
Recorded live in Hollywood at the Ash Grove, the sound quality on the 24K gold CD is stunning. It sounds like it was recorded yesterday. Tape hiss is nonexistent, and the dynamic range will make you sit up and take notice. The best tracks are the solo Hopkins tunes and the Terry & McGhee instrumental, "Blowin' the Fuses." Channel separation on the solo Hopkins material is superb--vocals on the left, guitar on the right.
Blues Hoot includes four bonus tracks, plus all the original liner notes. This isn't the definitive Lightnin' Hopkins CD, but it's an entertaining disc.
Review by Bruce Eder of Rovi:
Lightnin' Hopkins is the star of this live recording, made at an August 1961 concert at the Ash Grove in Hollywood featuring Hopkins, Sonny Terry and Brownie McGhee (with Big Joe Williams sitting in on three numbers). It isn't remotely unique, joining a long list of club recordings by all three, although the original LP (on the Davon and Horizon labels) was obscure enough that collectors may welcome this CD. The sound is excellent, and the original master tape has yielded one extra Terry/McGhee track ("Po' Boy") and one extra Hopkins/Terry/McGhee song ("Early Morning Blues") from the same show--the producers have also added on two more songs ("I'm A Stranger Here," "Trouble In Mind") from an L.A. Troubador show by Terry and McGhee, bringing the running time up to 60 minutes. The sound is excellent, the performances are spirited enough, and the addition of the ominous "Early Morning Blues" shifts the record more toward blues than the folk/hootenanny orientation of the released Hopkins/Terry/McGhee tracks. "Blues For the Lowlands" is the best of the Terry/McGhee tracks, beautifully showcasing their harmonica/guitar interplay. It is difficult to say, however, anything distinguishes this set from the other folk club recordings that Hopkins, Terry and McGhee left behind on other labels. ~ Bruce Eder, Rovi
LP track listing
Side One
Lightnin' Hopkins
1. "Introduction to Big Car Blues" (Lightnin' Hopkins) Ð 3:57
2. "Big Car Blues" (Lightnin' Hopkins) Ð 3:13
3. "Coffee House Blues" (Lightnin' Hopkins) Ð 2:16
4. "Stool Pigeon Blues" (Lightnin' Hopkins) Ð 3:14
5. "Ball of Twine" (Lightnin' Hopkins) Ð 3:32
Lightnin' Hopkins with Sonny Terry, Brownie McGhee and Big Joe Williams
6. "Blues For Gamblers" (Traditional) - 6:53
7. "Right On That Shore" (Traditional) - 2:48
Side Two
Sonny Terry & Brownie McGhee
8. "Early Morning Blues" (Traditional) Ð 5:17
9. "Walk On" (Brownie McGhee, Ruth McGhee) Ð 3:11
10. "Blues for the Lowlands" (Brownie McGhee, Sonny Terry) Ð 4:45
11. "Down by the Riverside" (Traditional) Ð 3:15
12. "Po' Boy" (Brownie McGhee, Sonny Terry) Ð 2:43
13. "I'm a Stranger Here" (Traditional) Ð 4:09
14. "Trouble in Mind" (Brownie McGhee, Sonny Terry) Ð 3:29
Personnel
* Lightnin' Hopkins - guitar, vocals
* Sonny Terry - guitar, vocals
* Brownie McGhee - harp, vocals
* Big Joe Williams - vocals