Otis Verries Hicks
b. March 13th, 1913 in Good Pine (Louisiana)
d. July 27th, 1974 in Detroit (Michigan)
IT'S MIGHTY CRAZY
Ace
March 1954 - June 1958
D'après les chercheurs Eric LeBlanc et Bob Eagle, on sait désormais que Lightnin' Slim est né à Good Pine en Louisiane. Dans la région de Baton Rouge, il apprend la guitare avec son frère Layfield. C'est le disc-jockey Ray Meaders (alias Diggy Do) qui amène Lightnin' Slim devant le producteur J.D. Miller. Ses premières séances sont enregistrés pour le label Feature de Miller dans ses studios de Crowley en mars 1954. Mais rapidement, Miller revend le matériel au label Excello d'Ernie Young qui a de meilleures capacités de distribution. Cette première oeuvre définit le Swamp Blues : rythme lent et répétitif mais imparable, guitare simple mais excitante, voix paresseuse. On trouve de nombreuses pépites irrésistibles : "Rock me mama", "Bad luck", "Lightnin' blues", "Just made twenty one", "Bad luck and trouble", "Love me mama", "Hoodoo blues", "It's mighty crazy", "Bed bug blues". Derrière Lightnin' Slim - superbement évocateur - on trouve d'excellents musiciens pleins de feeling : les harmonicistes "Wild" Bill Phillips, "Lazy" Lester ou "Schoolboy" Cleve White, les batteurs Sammy Drake ou Clarence "Jockey" Etienne.
According to researchers Eric LeBlanc and Bob Eagle, we now know that Lightnin' Slim was born in Good Pine, Louisiana. In the Baton Rouge area, he learned the guitar with his brother Layfield. It is disc-jockey Ray Meaders (aka Diggy Do) who brings Lightnin' Slim in front of producer J.D. Miller. His early sessions were recorded for Miller's Feature label at his Crowley studios in march 1954. But quickly, Miller sold the material to Ernie Young's Excello label which had better distribution capabilities. This first work defines the Swamp Blues : slow and repetitive rhythm, simple but exciting guitar, lazy voice. There are many irresistible gems : "Rock me mama", "Bad luck", "Lightnin' blues", "Just made twenty one", "Bad luck and trouble", "Love me mama", "Hoodoo blues", "It's mighty crazy", "Bed bug blues". Behind Lightnin' Slim - superbly evocative - we find excellent full of feeling musicians : harmonica players "Wild" Bill Phillips, "Lazy" Lester or "Schoolboy" Cleve White, drummers Sammy Drake or Clarence "Jockey" Etienne.
KING OF THE SWAMP BLUES
Flyright
March 1954 - June 1961
L'oeuvre de Lightnin' Slim fut essentiellement rééditée par Ace et Flyright. Ce recueil Flyright compile des titres fondamentaux du swamp blues comme "Love me for myself", "Poor Lightnin' blues", "Don't mistreat me", "The blues and my woman", "I'm goin' join the army", "I'm tired of waiting baby" et une prise alternative de "Bad luck". Un rythme trainant et excitant, terrien et puissant, on retrouve toute la verve et l'inspiration de Lightnin' Slim bien supporté par des sidemen remarquables. Le programme comprend aussi un titre de Wild Bill Phillips (la reprise de "Paper in my shoe") et un autre de "Schoolboy" Cleve White (le sensationnel "She's gone").
Lightnin' Slim's work was mostly reissued by Ace and Flyright. This Flyright collection compiles fundamental titles of the swamp blues like "Love me for myself", "Poor Lightnin' blues", "Don't mistreat me", "The blues and my woman", "I'm goin' join the army", "I'm tired of waiting baby" and an alternate take of "Bad luck". A dragging and exciting rhythm, down-home and powerful, we find all the verve and inspiration of Lightnin' Slim well supported by remarkable sidemen. The program also includes a track by Wild Bill Phillips (the cover of "Paper in my shoe") and another by "Schoolboy" Cleve White (the sensational "She's gone").
ROLLIN' STONE
Flyright
March 1954 - March 1962
I'M EVIL
Ace
March 1954 - February 1964
Superbe recueil de la meilleure époque de Lightnin' Slim, un des fleurons du Swamp Blues, un style de Blues hypnotique et excitant. On trouve ici un programme remarquable qui offre un superbe panorama de son oeuvre avec des classiques comme "Bad luck", "Rock me mama", "Bad luck and trouble", "Lightnin's troubles", "It's mighty crazy" mais aussi des morceaux moins connus, souvent avec le soutien de l'harmoniciste "Lazy" Lester : "I just don't know", "Nothin' but the devil", "My little angel child", "I'm evil" ou "The strongest feelin'".
Superb collection of the best era of Lightnin' Slim, one of the jewels of the Swamp Blues, an hypnotic and exciting Blues style. We find here a remarkable program which offers a superb overview of his work with classics like "Bad luck", "Rock me mama", "Bad luck and trouble", "Lightnin's troubles", "It's mighty crazy" but also lesser known pieces, often with the support of harmonica player "Lazy" Lester : "I just don't know", "Nothin' but the devil", "My little angel child", "I'm evil" or "The strongest feelin'".
BAYOU DRIVE
Chess
P-Vine
SHUCKIN' STUFF
Westside
March 1955
Cette séance fut réalisée par le producteur Johnny Vincent et son label Ace. Mais, le matériel fut revendu à Chess. On trouve Lightnin' Slim accompagné par "Schoolboy" Cleve White et Lloyd Reynaud. Des titres sympathiques ("Station blues") mais mineurs dans l'oeuvre de Lightnin' Slim. On trouve trois morceaux dans "Bayou drive" et deux prises alternatives supplémentaires dans le CD "Shuckin' stuff".
This session was organized by the producer Johnny Vincent and his label Ace. But, the material was leased to Chess. We find Lightnin' Slim accompanied by "Schoolboy" Cleve White and Lloyd Reynaud. Nice titles ("Station blues") but minor in the work of Lightnin' Slim. There are three tracks in "Bayou drive" and two additional alternate takes in the CD "Shuckin' stuff".
NOTHIN' BUT THE DEVIL
Ace
August 1956 - June 1961
Encore une indispensable collection de titres que Lightnin' Slim a gravé pour le producteur J.D. Miller dans ses studios de Crowley. Ces morceaux constituent une des meilleures parties du Blues avec de remarquables réussites comme "My starter won't work", "Blues at night", "Feelin' awful blues", "Just a lonely stranger", "Nothin' but the devil", "Death valley blues". Slim est un superbe chanteur à la voix trainante et un guitariste qui s'inspire de Lightnin' Hopkins. Derrière lui, on entend notamment l'harmonica de "Lazy" Lester mais aussi le guitariste Guitar Gable.
Another must-have collection of Lightnin' Slim's tracks cut for producer J.D. Miller at his Crowley studios. These pieces constitute one of the best parts of the Blues with remarkable achievements like "My starter won't work", "Blues at night", "Feelin' awful blues", "Just a lonely stranger", "Nothin' but the devil", "Death valley blues". Slim is a superb vocalist with a drawling voice and a guitarist inspired by Lightnin' Hopkins. Behind him, we hear in particular the harmonica of "Lazy" Lester but also the guitarist Guitar Gable.
WINTER TIME BLUES
Ace
March 1962 - January 1965
Ce recueil Ace reprend la dernière partie de l'oeuvre de Lightnin' Slim pour le producteur J.D. Miller. Au sommet de ses capacités, Lightnin' Slim enregistre des formidables pépites (avec le fidèle harmoniciste "Lazy" Lester) comme "Winter time blues", "You're old enough to understand", "You give me the blues", "Lonesome cabin blues" (avec le piano de Katie Webster), "Sittin' and thinkin'", "Can't live this life no more", "Bad luck blues". En 1966, à la suite d'un accident avec un véhicule appartenant à J.D. Miller son producteur, il prend peur et fuit à Detroit où il s'installe sans donner de nouvelles.
This Ace collection compiles the last part of Lightnin' Slim's work for producer J.D. Miller. At the height of his abilities, Lightnin' Slim is recording formidable gems (with the faithful harmonica player "Lazy" Lester) like "Winter time blues", "You're old enough to understand", "You give me the blues", "Lonesome cabin blues" (with Katie Webster on piano), "Sittin' and thinkin'", "Can't live this life no more", "Bad luck blues". In 1966, following an accident with a vehicle belonging to J.D. Miller, his producer, he took fright and fled to Detroit where he settled without giving any news.
HIGH & LOW DOWN
Excello
Sonet
Alive
THAT'S ALL RIGHT
Quicksilver
HAVE I GOT BLUES FOR YOU
Dressed to Kill
1971
Redécouvert par Fred Reif pendant l'été 1970 alors qu'il loue une chambre à sa soeur à Pontiac (Michigan) et travaille dans une fonderie, il obtient un nouveau contrat de la part du label Excello (dirigé à ce moment là par Bud Howell). Finalement, Lightnin' Slim enregistre cet album supervisé par le producteur Jerry "Swamp Dogg" Williams dans les studios de Muscle Shoals. Pour l'occasion, Slim est accompagné d'une section cuivres invasive et overdubbée et joue dans un style inhabituel Soul-Blues qui semble toutefois lui convenir. On apprécie notamment "Things I used to do", "Bad luck blues", "G.I. blues", "Can't hold out much longer", "Hoodoo blues". Cette séance a été rééditée sous de nombreux habillages.
Rediscovered by Fred Reif during the summer of 1970 when he rented a room from his sister in Pontiac (Michigan) and worked in a foundry, he obtained a new contract from the Excello label (directed at that time by Bud Howell ). Ultimately, Lightnin' Slim recorded this album under the supervision of producer Jerry "Swamp Dogg" Williams at Muscle Shoals studios. For the occasion, Slim is accompanied by an invasive and overdubbed horn section and plays in an unusual Soul-Blues style which, however, seems to suit him. We particularly appreciate "Things I used to do", "Bad luck blues", "G.I. blues", "Can't hold out much longer", "Hoodoo blues". This session has been reissued under many packagings.
BLUE LIGHTNING
Indigo
March 1972
De passage en Europe (il était déjà venu en Grande Bretagne à l'automne 1971), Lightnin' Slim se produit sur la scène du Marquee Club de Londres. Ces bandes devaient initialement être publiées par le label Blue Horizon de Mike Vernon mais restèrent inédites jusqu'à leur parution en CD en 1992. Slim se montre à l'aise bien épaulé par un groupe compétent même si son feeling Swamp est un peu dilué. Malgré tout, un album plutôt plaisant qui mérite l'écoute.
Passing through Europe (he had already come to Great Britain in the fall of 1971), Lightnin' Slim performed on the stage of the Marquee Club in London. These tapes were originally to be released by Mike Vernon's Blue Horizon label but remained unissued until their release on CD in 1992. Slim is at ease well supported by a competent backing band even if his Swamp feeling is a little diluted. Nevertheless, a rather pleasant album that deserves listening.
LONDON GUMBO
Excello
Blue Horizon
Sonet
March 1972
Quelques jours après le concert de "Blue lightning", Slim enregistre cet album pour le producteur Mike Vernon. Un programme inspiré et intense avec des titres importants comme "Just a little bit", "Miss Sarah's a good girl", "Mean old Frisco", "Hey little girl", "I got a little woman" sans oublier une puissante reprise du "Too much monkey business" de Chuck Berry.
A few days after the "Blue Lightning" concert, Slim recorded this album for producer Mike Vernon. An inspired and intense program with important titles like "Just a little bit", "Miss Sarah's a good girl", "Mean old Frisco", "Hey little girl", "I got a little woman" without forgetting a powerful cover of Chuck Berry's "Too much monkey business".
MONTREUX BLUES FESTIVAL
Excello
Sonet
LIVE FROM MONTREUX
Verve
June 1972
Au début des années 70, Lightnin' Slim gagne enfin la reconnaissance internationale qu'il méritait. A l'affiche du célèbre festival de Montreux en compagnie de son compère Whispering Smith et des Aces, il délivre une performance pleine de conviction et de feeling. Ses deux duos avec Whispering Smith - "Lonesome cabin blues" et "My starter won't work" - sont remarquables. On apprécie aussi les morceaux dans lesquels il est épaulé par les Aces (Louis & Dave Myers, Fred Below) en particulier "Caress me baby", "Baby what you want me to do" et "Got my mojo working".
In the early 1970's, Lightnin' Slim finally gained the international recognition he deserved. On the poster of the famous Montreux festival with his friend Whispering Smith and the Aces, he delivers a performance full of conviction and feeling. His two duets with Whispering Smith - "Lonesome cabin blues" and "My starter won't work" - are remarkable. We also appreciate the tracks in which he is supported by the Aces (Louis & Dave Myers, Fred Below) in particular "Caress me baby", "Baby what you want me to do" and "Got my mojo working".
AMERICAN FOLK BLUES FESTIVAL '72
Atlantic
L+R
October 1972
Désormais reconnu internationalement, Lightnin' Slim est engagé pour la tournée de l'American Folk Blues Festival de 1972 avec l'harmoniciste Whispering Smith. Dans ce disque, Slim joue une superbe version de "Winter time blues".
Now internationally recognized, Lightnin' Slim was engaged for the 1972 American Folk Blues Festival tour with harmonica player Whispering Smith. In this album, Slim plays a superb version of "Winter time blues".
AMERICAN BLUES LEGENDS '73
Polydor
February 1973
Lightnin' Slim participa aussi à la tournée American Blues Legends organisée par Jim Simpson sur le sol anglais. On trouve dans ce recueil deux titres de Slim en compagnie de Whispering Smith et Boogie Woogie Red en particulier l'excellent "Love bug".
Lightnin' Slim also took part in the American Blues Legends tour organized by Jim Simpson on english ground. We find in this collection two titles of Slim alongside Whispering Smith and Boogie Woogie Red in particular the excellent "Love bug".