The Blues Accordin' to Lightnin' Hopkins (1967)

[wideboybob]

what is the name of that track they are playing in this intro? got this on video from way back.

[ratstompmusic]

If you like delta blues, check out Rat Stomp :)

youtube.com/user/ratstompmusic

[squashedtomato]

The Blues According to Lightin Hopkins-ive been looking for this everywhere...its not easy to get. First saw it on the TV Grey Whistle Test Arena Blues Night back in early 1980's.. Why not show the whole thing...?! The BBQ is a classic and they are all hilariously drunk throughout this.

[MrAldoblue]

the best thing I have ever seen on the internet this man be a legend and I only listen to the white stripes bob dylan and ligtnin hopkins

[aclark619]

This was filmed about 30 minutes from my house! He was so fuckin awesome.

[BlacksuitDC]

Thank you Les Blank making this film and capturing this art forever.

[mrgregory121]

What's the name of the actual movie/video?

[pinoyblues69]

@mrgregory121 the blues according to lightning hopkins

[djdonnie68]

who the hell could dislike this video?????? this is the blues!!!!!!!!

[kstewintheart4u]

I remember those pink buttercup flowers in the early spring in south Texas . . . .

[jenzeppelin]

One of my favourite trailers on all of YouTube...I'm a huge fan of Les's work. This is an incredible reel out of time.

[incongra]

How come these people can enjoy themselves with so little and yet nowadays we have les pauls, stratocasters, digital recorders, etc and yet something is always missing? - It does make you think.

[paulipips999]

This whole film is well worth getting on DVD - the sound and visuals are stunning and it captures the feel of gritty raw spontaneous rural blues perfectly.

I've watched it loadsa times and still love it - Lightnin is a natural showman and some scenes where he is drunk and getting a bit 'lively' are hilarious......This is Blues the way it should be played with no need for lots of expensive equipment and endless rehearsals that so many modern ' Blues ' bands seem to rely on !

[brohmanski]

@paulipips999 - i'll bet it's tough to find on dvd...it would be too hard to upload the whole thing I guess? damn, they are a few "blues documentaries" on youtube, but not enough...i was in Clarksdale Mississippi 2 years ago, soaked it all in, and still wish i was there for more...cheers'

[buffalobilly]

Is that Mance Lipscomb on bended knee paying guitar?

[JohnnyHorton]

Fabulous

[JohnnyHorton]

Fabulous

[morradi75]

Lightnin was one of the greatest! Here is a tribute!!

[brohmanski]

i'd love to see the whole film on lightnin hopkins...where can we find it? can you upload more of it? the man is amazing!

[screwmaster404]

***** 5 just ain't enough

[leeliben]

Great!! i can feel the free!!

[subterranean47]

Never new Texas was so beautiful....

[tmjagger]

Dig the whiskey bottle in Lightnin's back pocket.

[lounalual]

l'harmonica est un animal non répertorié

[elkrobber]

I'm trying to work out the blow/draw rhythmn that the harp player is using there on that chugging tune... but tonight I just can't seem to get it right - anyone care to help please?

Incredible video of course.

[necklord007]

the harp player is lightnins cousin Billy Bizor.now with the name you might find some more on him and his style.

[djvideo0]

This film is awesome, I've watched it many times, without a doubt one of my all time favorites. Les Blanks did an excellent job on this film. And of course Lightnin, incredible as always

[jjgodioso]

karacas ! é de arrepiar . the beeeeesssssstttttttt.

[WHYNOTTTTTTyeah]

what song is he playing?

[PeaceAndJustice357]

I like the video But it's some bullshit we talking about 1967 Texas!!!! Texas so you know they was in the cut trying too stay out of sight. But good though!!

[cosmicfeedbackloop]

i caught this on public tv a few years ago and it is cool as hell

[SamSimonBlues]

possibly the best film ever made about the Blues

whole thing's about an hour long and shows Lightnin' in his hometown of Centerville Texas, playin' at a barbecue with friends and so much more

go to Les Blank's website and get the DVD y'all !

[spideysghost]

Anyone know where Skip Gerson is today? He was an old friend of mine in Houston.

[SereneTiger]

Skip was a friend of mine in Boston and I'd like to find him too. Last I heard he was staying with his brother on Long Island, but that was at least 20 years ago

[ITYO5B]

i have all of my uncles albums and accomplishments so any info you want just contact me and i'll help you with whatever you want

[toddallenhooper]

Is Lightnin' your uncle? I cannot begin to express in words how much his music has meant to me. i only found out about him a couple years ago. I'm 42 and was never exposed to his incredible music. I actually own more of his CD's than anything else I have. He's touched me in a place i didn't know existed...

[HM20V]

I have been after this ever since my betamax version got fried. I used material from it to write a dissertation on blues for an MA degree - I also quoted from his live performances - ever hear a track called Lightnin Talks? I suppose I should load it up as it's from a live performance in Croydon, UK, but my machine is so slow you'll find it somewhere else first. Thank you for entering some fact amongst all the trossacks:)

[brianjgourley]

this is lovely, I want the whole thing....jeff ?

[PressPlay2Go]

Class

[opticage]

Can you PLEASE post the whole thing in 10 minutes segments. PLEASE, cause this is a TEASE and its giving me the blues.

[willy4u4u]

they got this whole film at my local library on vhs..5,000 stars!

[PennyTraition]

Yeah, a million stars! Multiverses! Well said. Thanks for the share, Sparks (sparkalot) I love this...X

[imairlax]

can i give this a million stars somehow?

[sparkalot]

I'm SO with you on that! It ALL began with the blues....

[DUKEWII]

so real just three guys on a dirt road having fun with the wiskey in the pocket lol playin the soul of all american music- blues

[Wavelength247]

The blues is the soul of all modern music.

[pinofrancominghella]

Truly the mojofull energy.

The world should never forget this great man and his poetry along with his fellow bluesmen sonnies from the delta, off course.

[bbb2blues]

I just Love the internet and for that LOVE of real BLUES when its played?????

[cojakvskaldi]

this full movie is available out there and is even better than the trailer leads it to believe (which is amazing). it is a les blank film. search it. sooooooooooo good!!

[jorgeandreartea]

ei dude ples tellme where find that movie pliss?

[imairlax]

unfortunately i think you have to buy it from him and it wasn't cheap...its like a 35 minute movie and i think it was like a $30 dvd.

that being said, 1000% worth the price if you're a fan.

[glazeminer]

you can get it on amazon. I got the digital download, not knowing you can only watch it on your computer. If you contact me you can watch my copy there...

[barneycordell]

buy it dude.....

[Blackdiamond045]

how can i watch the video? I'd love to see it..

[livingstonrednek]

Check out that pint in the back pocket at

1:21, Lightnin liked that Old grand Dad.

[Igotdablues]

That "Old grand Dad" is Mance Lipscomb. If you look closely Lightnin' is just playing rythm while Mance does lead and vocals. It looks like he's trying to copy Mance's playing if you watch closely at 1:15 and see him do it at 1:43.

[lastfirstface]

I think he was referring to Old Grand Dad Whiskey.

[MarcTwyman]

I love it when Lightnin says "The blues comes so many different ways, It is hard to explain" & also seeing Lightnin' cutting it up with Mance Lipscomb. I had never see that before. Thanks for posting it.

[oldmtnfart]

I love this one. I listen to it every couple days.

[ariellehunter]

Thank the Lord for Youtube. This stuff is so great.

[imairlax]

two of the most underappreciated musicians in american history jamming together on a dirt road somewhere...absolutely love this clip.

[JosephNScott]

"two of the most underappreciated musicians in american history jamming together on a dirt road somewhere...absolutely love this clip." Mance Lipscomb was old enough to be Hopkins' father but you wouldn't know it from the way he got down on one knee...

[imairlax]

i know, thats another reason i love this clip. lightnin's playing rhythm for a significant portion of the song. i've seen most of the other clips of him performing with others and this is the only case where he ever seems to defer to anybody. he respected his elders!

[imairlax]

ps - gotta love the whiskey in the back pocket, too!

[pieszko]

I wonder what happened to the little girl at 1:26?

[WEIR4EVER]

Look at 'em cute kids! Ooooooooh..... : )

[tommyau2006]

don't ya just love it?

[ruotze]

Lightnin'...he the MAN!

[hannahmontanarockz90]

You can't beat the sound of Lightnin' Hopkins!

[jukeboxdude]

No you can't and stop playing with my account!!!! (she's my little sister for those that don't know)

[hannahmontanarockz90]

jacob shutup and i hate this guy whoevr is singin and how did u get on my account

[Yehudi]

Lightnin' and Mance's music got me through my worst days at Texas A&M, just a little up the Brazos from the location of this video. I cherish my old albums; although I still need to get them transfered to CD. Artists like these guys come once in a hundred years; and then they're gone forever. Many thanks for posting these...you've brightened my day!

[fawsta]

couldnt they have slaughtered just one of those cows and made a dang geetar strap

[WEIR4EVER]

how easily people who feel entitled do away with other creatures lives....

Well I love COWS

THWY

[elpanchito421]

good ol' texas blues

[damascoboy]

This is one of the best music documentaries every made

[jonnyalgar]

yeh it is i had and i lost it where can i get it from? cheers gypsy jonny

[aacotter]

Damn, lightnin's got the gold teeth, that slick due and the pimpas' shades. Lightnin' Hopkins: original gangsta.

[bb62g]

excellent!!! Even if it was way too short!

[doggeds]

damn!!! MANCE LIPSCOMB, LIGHTNING HOPKINS,and some awesome blues harmonica guy ( what's he called?)all jamming together , this is every old blues fans wet dream lol

[JosephNScott]

"some awesome blues harmonica guy ( what's he called?)" Billy Bizor.

[tommyau2006]

yup Billy Bizor. He played harp on Lightnin's "How Many More Years I Got" album back in 1962. Absolutely awesome harp and album

[indiolaiche]

That's a lot of ducklins for one mamma!

[matthewreuter]

i love the part when he talks about th big black pig and the judge.

[Fliefer]

Yes, this film is available on DVD, as are all of his films. Check out his website for more info.

[4thPOC]

This is a Les Blank flick, one of the first he ever made. It's on DVD, I think it's distributed by Flower Films, and its still in print. It's freakin' UNBELIEVABLE, one of the best music films I've ever seen.

[lampens]

Damn, Isn't there more footage of this movie?