4. Lightnin’ HopkinsPenitentiary Blues

Lightnin’ Hopkins met Brownie McGhee and Sonny Terry for the first time at a late night session, and the next day, alongside Big Joe, they were booked into the studio to record some off-the-cuff tunes. My dad had this in his collection, and it always stood out to me as a very unique record, due to the long tunes and late night hazy atmosphere of the recording. When I left home, I vowed to get my own copy. I eventually picked one up in a shop in Edinburgh about ten years ago for £10. It reminds me of spending time with my dad, and more often than not, this was the album I asked him to put on. He has since lost his copy, so I managed to get him a replacement too.