Beggin

Texas bluesman Lightnin’ Hopkins career was both long and fruitful. He performed live for six decades and recorded for over 30 years amassing a catalogue that was larger than almost any of his contemporaries. Not only was he prolific but he was also a great raconteur and a very good live performer with an ‘act’ honed to perfection at pre-war dances and parties. His guitar playing was unconventional, some have even called it ragged, but it is not as a guitarist that he will be remembered. Somehow the way he set his songs seemed totally apposite and it gave everything he did an authenticity that few others were ever able to match.

Mod brings together 4CDs containing 100 tracks that encapsulate the spirit of a sub cultural youth movement that began in London in 1958 focusing on music and fashion.

Pruning 16 tracks from Hopkins' extensive catalog for a best-of meant that some hard choices had to be made. The ones Rhino came up with won't satisfy everyone, but the label did take the correct road by sticking exclusively to the earliest part of his career, 1947-61. Perhaps the decision will offend some fans who feel that his 1960s and '70s work should be represented, but two things should be acknowledged. First, Hopkins, as is the case with most artists, did his most interesting recordings in the earlier part of his career. Second, as is the case with many blues artists, he did not vary his approach substantially throughout the decades. So what you have is a good assortment of his first 15 years on disc, taken from about ten labels, including both originals and covers, and placing the singer/guitarist in various instrumental contexts: with a full electric band (Sonny Terry is on a couple of 1961 cuts), as a solo guitarist, or accompanied by nothing more than a bass or additional guitarist. It's a good deal for those who want only one Hopkins disc, and for those who want a best-of that's more extensive, there's Rhino's own two-disc anthology, Mojo Hand.

Ultimate 60s Jukebox is a fantastically groovy collection capturing the sound of one of the most exciting eras in pop music. Gathered together are some of the most loved and cherished 60s hits from the greatest icons of the time, including The Troggs, The Spencer Davis Group, The Beach Boys, Petula Clark, Status Quo, Fleetwood Mac, Tom Jones, Marmalade plus many more. Also featured are big signature Soul classics, courtesy of Dobie Gray, Edwin Starr, Barrett Strong, James Brown, Marvin Gaye, The Foundations plus beautiful heartwarming melodies from The Mamas and The Papas, The Flowerpot Men, The Righteous Brothers, Thunderclap Newman, The Yardbirds and many more superb names. This is an enjoyable collectable album of cool tunes that encapsulate this exciting time. Take a journey down memory lane to the most exhilarating decade in music.