The Swarthmore Concert

The Swarthmore Concert, subtitled King of the Blues, is a live album by the blues musician Lightnin' Hopkins, recorded at the Swarthmore College Folk Festival in 1965. It was originally released as part of the seven-CD box set Lightnin' Hopkins: The Complete Prestige/Bluesville Recordings, in 1991, before being reissued on Bluesville as a single CD in 1993.[1][2]

The Swarthmore Concert
Live album by
Released1993
RecordedApril 6, 1964
VenueSwarthmore College Folk Festival, Swarthmore, PA
GenreBlues
Length33:46
LabelBluesville
00025218056328
ProducerShel Kagen
Lightnin' Hopkins chronology
Goin' Away
(1963)
The Swarthmore Concert
(1993)
Down Home Blues
(1964)

Reception

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Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic     [3]
The Penguin Guide to Blues Recordings    [4]

AllMusic reviewer Cub Koda stated: "this languished unissued in Fantasy Records' vaults until its release in the early '90s. That's a shame, because this concert captures Lightnin' at his beguiling best, spinning tales and blues magic with every track. ... If you want a disc that clearly showcases Lightnin' Hopkins at his enchanting best, start your collection with this one; it's a charmer".[3]

Track listing

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All compositions by Sam "Lightnin'" Hopkins except where noted

  1. "Baby, Please Don't Go" (Traditional ) – 2:09
  2. "My Black Cadillac" – 1:44
  3. "It's Crazy" – 2:32
  4. "Mojo Hand" – 3:02
  5. "My Babe" (Willie Dixon) – 2:20
  6. "Short Haired Woman" – 3:52
  7. "Mean Old Frisco" (Arthur Crudup) – 1:53
  8. "Trouble in Mind" (Richard M. Jones) – 2:44
  9. "The Twister" – 3:04
  10. "Green Onion" – 1:31
  11. "Sun Goin' Down" – 3:20
  12. "Come Go Home with Me" – 2:28
  13. "I'm a Stranger" – 3:07

Personnel

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Performance

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References

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  1. ^ Wirz' American Music: Sam "Lightnin'" Hopkins discography accessed November 26, 2018
  2. ^ Discogs album details accessed November 26, 2018
  3. ^ a b Koda, Cub. Lightnin' Hopkins: Swarthmore Concert – Review at AllMusic. Retrieved November 26, 2018.
  4. ^ Russell, Tony; Smith, Chris (2006). The Penguin Guide to Blues Recordings. Penguin. p. 280. ISBN 978-0-140-51384-4.