In the Key of Lightnin' is an album by blues musician Lightnin' Hopkins, recorded at the sessions that produced Lightnin'! in California in 1969, but not released until 2002 on the Tomato label.[2]

In the Key of Lightnin'
Studio album by Lightnin' Hopkins
Released	August 27, 2002[1]
Recorded	May 20, 1969[1]
Studio	Sierra Sound Laboratories, Berkeley, California
Genre	Blues
Length	43:31
Label	Tomato TOM 2098
Producer	Chris Strachwitz, Jim Malloy, Kevin Eggers
Lightnin' Hopkins chronology
Lightnin'! (1969) In the Key of Lightnin' (2002) Lightning Hopkins in Berkeley (1969)

Reception

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
The Penguin Guide to Blues Recordings	[3]

The Penguin Guide to Blues Recordings said: "In the Key of Lightnin' contains unissued material from the Poppy sessions with the full band on "What'd I Say" and "Katie May". Five tracks are snatches of inconsequential talking".[3]

Track listing

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

1. "Lightnin' Declares" – 0:20
2. "Cryin' Shame (Shake That Thing)" – 2:32
3. "Last Night I Lost the Best Friend I Ever Had" – 2:52
4. "Baby, Please Lend Me Your Love" – 3:14
5. "Short Haired Woman" Discourse – 0:28
6. "Short Haired Woman" – 3:27
7. "Cigar" Chatter – 0:41
8. "Pneumonia Blues" (Blind Lemon Jefferson) – 2:42
9. "What'd I Say" (Ray Charles) – 2:32
10. "Katie Mae" – 6:38
11. "Black Cadillac" – 3:03
12. "One for the Gamblin'" – 3:45
13. "I Gave Up Card Playin'" Pronouncement – 0:28
14. "I Once Was a Gambler" – 1:45
15. "Where Did You Stay Last Night?" – 3:46
16. "Careless Love" (Traditional) – 1:59
17. ""Black Lightnin'" Rap" – 0:30
18. "Lightnin' Slow Blues" – 2:49[1]

Personnel

Performance

• Lightnin' Hopkins – electric guitar, vocals
• Francis Clay – drums (tracks 2, 3, 6, 8–11, 15, 16 & 18)
• Jeff Carp – harmonica (tracks 9 & 10)
• Paul Asbell – guitar (tracks 9 & 10)
• Moose Walker – piano (tracks 9 & 10)
• Geno Skaggs – bass (tracks 1, 9 & 10)[4]

Production

• Jim Malloy, Kevin Eggers – producer[4]

References