Soul Blues is an album by the blues musician Lightnin' Hopkins, recorded in 1963 and released on the Bluesville label.Jazzdisco: Prestige Records Catalog: 7300 series accessed November 8, 2018Both Sides Now: Discography Preview for the Prestige label accessed November 8, 2018Wirz' American Music: Sam "Lightnin'" Hopkins discography accessed November 8, 2018
Reception
The Penguin Guide to Blues Recordings wrote: "Soul Blues has a few distinctive pieces like 'I'm Going to Build Me a Heaven of My Own' – not out of atheistic contrariness but in order to give 'lovin' women a happy home'. 'I'm a Crawling Black Snake' which has little in common with Blind Lemon Jefferson's song, is framed by oddly impressionistic guitar". AllMusic reviewer Roundup Newsletter stated: "A true poet of the blues, Lightnin' Hopkins was a master of tall, tongue-in-cheek tales, often made up on the spot in the recording studio".
Track listing All compositions by Sam "Lightnin'" Hopkins except where noted "I'm Going to Build Me a Heaven of My Own" – 5:56 "My Babe" (Willie Dixon) – 3:20 "Too Many Drivers" – 3:30 "I'm a Crawling Black Snake" – 4:50 "Rocky Mountain Blues" – 3:50 "I Mean Goodbye" – 3:00 "The Howling Wolf" – 3:50 "Black Ghost Blues" – 3:30 "Darling, Do You Remember Me?" – 3:40 "Lonesome Graveyard" – 5:30
Personnel Performance Lightnin' Hopkins – guitar, vocals Leonard Gaskin – bass (tracks 1–3, 5–8 & 10) Herbie Lovelle – drums (tracks 1–3, 5–8 & 10)
Production Ozzie Cadena – supervision Rudy Van Gelder – engineer
References