Lightnin' Slim | Rooster Blues

Rooster Blues Review

 

by Rovi Staff

When people talk about Louisiana swamp blues, this is what they're talking about. Excello Records' first foray into albums came with this wonderful collection of singles by Lightnin' Slim, largely issued around the success of the title track, an R&B hit in 1960. "Long Leanie Mama," "My Starter Won't Work," "It's Mighty Crazy," "Hoo-Doo Blues," "Tom Cat Blues," "Lightnin' Troubles," "G.I. Slim," and "Feelin' Awful Blues" are all certified swamp blues classics and about as lowdown as the genre can get possibly get. With Lazy Lester on harmonica for the majority of the tracks here, the stripped-down approach to Slim's brand of blues gives these sides a decidedly front-porch ambience, with the added pulsating tape echo and oddball percussive effects just making everything on here sound even more doom-laden. An essential blues purchase.

Lightnin' Slim | Rooster Blues

0:00 Rooster Blues 2:31 Long Leanie Mama 4:37 My Starter Won't Work 7:26 "GI" Slim 9:51 Lightnin's Troubles 12:31 Bed Bug Blues 15:05 Hoo-Doo Blues 17:24 It's Mighty Crazy 19:58 Sweet Little Woman 22:10 Tom Cat Blues 24:53 Feelin' Awful Blues 27:50 I'm Leavin' You Baby Vocals and guitar - Lightnin' Slim Harmonica - Lazy Lester or Slim Harpo Guitar - Guitar Gable Piano - Tal Miller Drums - Kenneth "Sam" Sample, Clarence "Jockey" Etienne or Roosevelt Semple Percussion - Monrie Vincent Label: P-Vine Records - PCD-2326 Year: 1991