Lightnin' Hopkins - Lightnin' In New York

"Based upon the diversity of music, quality of product and their extraordinary rate of progress, Pure Pleasure Records is our re-issue record company of the year." - hi-fi+

Another incredible Lightnin' Hopkins performance, this one with the man on vocal, guitar and piano. Recorded at Nola Penthouse Studios in New York City in November of 1960. Reissue mastered from the original analog master tapes by Ray Staff at Alchemy. Pressed on 180-gram vinyl by Pallas.

This is another in Pure Pleasure's Candid Series, featuring reissues from an incredible label that met its demise some 40 years ago. The American Candid label has achieved a near legendary status among the critics and the International jazz and blues public. The series was born in 1960 when Archie Bleyer, owner of the Cadence label decided to indulge his love of jazz and blues and create his own line - called Candid. Archie approached Nat Hentoff - a likeable and knowledgeable critic, author and journalist active in New York at the time. Hentoff accepted the challenge of producing the albums and history was made. However, the label went out of business in 1961 and remained that way for a quarter of a century. Then Alan Bates acquired the masters and renamed his Black Lion Productions company Candid. Bates made the Candid titles available again on CD. These Candid titles were very well recorded and the performances generally are stunning. Great sound and music.

“Wowsa. This is one GREAT album!…I think when you hear this record you’ll get a good idea why I am so smitten with the blues…For what it’s worth, this Pure Pleasure release destroys the UK Barnaby issues…Highest recommendation.” Recording = 9.5/10 Music = 10/10 – Richard Foster, Hi-Fi+, Issue 41, page 138

1. Take It Easy

2. Mighty Crazy

3. Your Own Fault, Baby, To Treat Me The Way You Do

4. I’ve Had My Fun If I Don’t Get Well No More

5. The Trouble Blues

6. Lightnin’s Piano Boogie

7. Wonder Why

8. Mister Charlie

9. Black Cat

Customer Reviews (4.40 Stars) 5 person(s) rated this product.

Lightnin' In New York posted on 06/02/2021 5 Stars Reviewer: John Simpson Was this a casual recording session? It sure feels like it. It's Lightnin’ Hopkins, his guitar and piano. The recording puts you sitting right in front, listening as he runs through the tracks. It’s wonderful to listen these performances. The recording sounds so present and the pressing is as good as it gets. Top marks to Lightnin’ Hopkins, the recording engineer and Pure Pleasure Records! It's my new favorite record ...

Lightnin' In New York posted on 04/08/2012 3 Stars Decent sound but not great.

Properly Named posted on 08/09/2008 5 Stars Reviewer: Rex Stewart i claim to love the Blues, but spend a small percentage of my time listening to Blues. This is the real deal. The sound is excellent. What is most amazing is that it is almost a solo album. I cannot help tapping my foot to this amazing playing. I must confess this is the album i have been looking for all these years as my mother and a couple of her musically progressive female friends let me tag along to hear lightnin hopkins 40 years ago, when i was about 13, in downtown Houston. I was amazed then and am now. My intermediate efforts at capturing his music (via cd) have been failures. This is the real deal, amazingly engaging acoustic blues.

lightnin' up new york posted on 08/02/2007 5 Stars an't go wrong when its mr hopkins singing & playing

Great performance and good sound quality posted on 08/01/2006 4 Stars

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