Lightnin’ Hopkins – Lightnin’ Strikes [Stereo] (Verve Acoustic Sounds Series Edition)

(AAA) — Lacquers cut from an analog tape copy by Matthew Lutthans at The Mastering Lab at Blue Heaven Studios.

Lightnin' Hopkins — Lightnin' Strikes

Acoustic Sounds Series reissues from Verve/Universal Music Enterprises!

Monthly releases highlighting the world's most historic and best jazz records!

All-analog mastering by Matthew Lutthans at The Mastering Lab

180-gram vinyl pressed at Quality Record Pressings

"The 2025 (Verve/Acoustic Sounds Series) edition improves on (the album) in just about every way. With the compression stripped away, Hopkins' vocal track really blossoms; you can practically hear the nicotine stains in his pipes. Of course, the mix is the mix, so the bass is still fairly low, but it levels up in depth and detail. The reverb trail from each snare thwack is cleaner, more thorough. To say nothing of Hopkins' guitar; he had liquid phrasing, and every one of his fingers seemed to be a member of the band. As with every other element of this Lightnin' Strikes; this is how you hear it. Hopefully somehow, someway, the old man knows his life's work, and the essence of his inimitable sound, is in very good hands." — Music = 9/11; Sound 9/11 — Morgan Enos, TrackingAngle.com, March 4, 2025. Read the entire review here.

Recorded in 1966 for the Verve Folkways label, Lightnin' Strikes may not have the notoriety as some of Hopkins' other albums, but this set backed by Jimmy Bond (bass), Earl Palmer (drums) and Don Crawford (harmonica) is classic Lightnin'. From the opener, "Mojo Hand," to the ballad "Woke Up This Morning," Lightnin' Strikes showcases classic blues from one of the best there was. Verve's Acoustic Sounds Series features transfers from analog tapes and remastered 180-gram vinyl in deluxe gatefold packaging.

Music

Sound

Ratings from Morgan Enos @ trackingangle.com

(Above description from AcousticSounds.com)