Blues 130 Items

Promo copy with stamp. tear in spine

US original.
Sleeve and label have handwriting.

Paul Butterfield was an iconic blues harmonica player and singer, famous for his in 1963 formed Paul Butterfield Blues Band. Their 1966 releases classic East West is one of the outstanding albums in which they integrated psychedelic rock in traditional blues music. The supergroup consisted at that time of guitar hero Mike Bloomfield, keyboardist Mark Naftalin, bassist Jerome Arnold, drummer Billy Davenport and, of course, the master himself, Paul Butterfield. The authentic blues sounds are woven in the sounds of jazz and raga music. It’s an exciting trip in which you can hear the talented individuals, but also how they created their music together. The album proved to be one of the essential albums in the blues-rock movement of the 60s.

Paul Butterfield died in 1987 at the age of 44. During that time he was still recording new songs. In 2006 he was inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame and in 2015 again as part of his own Paul Butterfield Blues Band.

Aaron Thebeaux "T-Bone" Walker was all but destined for performance from the start. After all both of his parents were musicians, who taught him how to play guitar, ukulele, banjo, violin, mandolin, and piano. He was even an early protege of Blind Lemon Jefferson, who was a friend of the family, and often came over to dinner. Walker began performing blues music during the late 1920s and early 1930s, cutting his first singles, while performing as a sideman across the country, often performing alongside Blind Lemon Jefferson himself, as well as contemporaries like Douglas Fernell, Big Jim Wynn, and Charlie Christian. By the 1940s, Walker had begun to perform more frequently as a solo act, recruiting his own backing band, and being among the first to adapt a guitar technique that would change the course of music history: electric amplification.Were it not for Walker leading the charge and pioneering the electric blues sound, contemporary music might have been very different. His sound help set the stage for essential Chicago Blues artists like Muddy Waters, Howlin' Wolf, and Willie Dixon, while providing key influence to the likes of B.B. King, Jimi Hendrix, Chuck Berry, and innumerable others.

Born Booker T. Washington White, Bukka’s trajectory as a blues performer follows a familiar template for his
time. Born in Mississippi, maybe in Houston, MS – maybe in Aberdeen, MS – maybe in 1902, maybe in 1909
or even 1906 he recorded throughout the 1930s. Bukka even recorded while incarcerated in the Mississippi
State Penitentiary aka Parchman Farm. Asked about his time at Parchman White commented “Well, I mostly
played guitar.”
During the 1940s and 50s as Blues moved from the Delta to Chicago, from rural to urban, Bukka’s career went
dormant. And then, like many of his time, his talent was “rediscovered” in the early 60s, in no small part thanks
to a brilliant guitarist in his own right, John Fahey. Performances and all new recordings happened throughout
the 60s, building interest in Bukka White’s Delta roots. This compilation of White’s best early material was first
issued in 1969 (1970 in the US), collecting Bukka’s 78s recorded for Vocalion and Okeh. His influence on rock
performers of that day cannot be understated. He opened for rock bands he’d inspired at venues like The
Fillmore, played his instrument in such a fashion that some said it’s like he was trying to destroy that guitar, his
most famous guitar, a 1933 National Duolian, was even known as “Hard Rock.” And then there’s the fact that
his song “Shake‘em On Down” was so influential on Led Zeppelin that they, “borrowed” from the song for both
“Hats Off To Roy Harper” and “Custard Pie.”
Bukka White was many things, a strong influence on his cousin B.B. King, a cotton picker, a mule driver, a hobo,
a player in the old Negro Leagues, a boxer, a preacher, a convict, a factory laborer and, as celebrated here,
one of America’s blues pioneers.

180 gram pressing!

180 gram vinyl!

US original. Vinyl with many scuffs and hairlines. Cover with shelf wear

Santa Maria Pressing.
Ships in a brand new plain sleeve.

"Lightnin'" is among the rewarding acoustic dates Lightnin' Hopkins delivered in the early '60s. The session has an informal, relaxed quality, and this approach serves a 48-year-old Hopkins impressively well on both originals like "Thinkin' 'Bout An Old Friend" and the familiar "Katie Mae" and enjoyable interpretations of Sonny Terry & Brownie McGhee's "Back To New Orleans" and Arthur 'Big Boy' Crudup's "Mean Old Frisco". Hopkins' only accompaniment consists of bassist Leonard Gaskin and drummer Belton Evans, both of whom play in an understated fashion and do their part to make this intimate setting successful. From the remorseful "Come Back Baby" to more lighthearted, fun numbers like "You Better Watch Yourself" and "Automobile Blues", "Lightnin'" is a lot like being in a small club with Hopkins as he shares his experiences, insights and humor with you.

Cover with long open seam splits

Original US stereo pressing. Beginning seam split.

Original US Terre Haute pressing.

Bottom spine is torn. Original inner sleeve.

Cover has slight wear, seam split in bottom spine,Vinyl has some scuffs and light scratches. Original US mono pressing.

Record is close to VG.

Original US mono pressing. Top spine is torn.