Shawn Pittman Stompin' Solo (CD)

(Must Have Music) 15 Tracks - Digipack
As most of you already know, I am predominantly an electric guitarist. Over the years of my playing, I have also greatly admired musicians like Lightnin' Hopkins, Mance Lipscomb, Lil' Son Jackson, Bukka White, J. B. Lenoir and Mississippi John Hurt. These guys are not only great acoustic guitarists and singers, but incredible storytellers! They are part of our oral tradition, as important as any document you can find. They inspired me to follow in their footsteps and work on a story, a song, and an acoustic guitar.

With 2020 coming to a close, a year none of us will ever forget (a pandemic of historic and catastrophic proportions had many of us confined to our homes), I thought now might be a good time to strengthen my skills as a solo artist, out of necessity, as it made traveling and playing easier.

So I put together this collection of songs: both originals and covers, some of which I've been playing for years.
Instrumentals like 'Lightnin's Stomp' ... 'Mance's Rock' ... and something I heard from Lipscomb called 'Spanish Flang Dang', but also songs I wrote: 'Take a Real Good Look', which is about the mass and loss leader sales method, with some parallels to the entertainment industry and my Mafioso-inspired "You're Pressing Your Luck". And then some from my everyday life like "Fly Swattin 'Woman," the Bukka White inspired "Early in the Mornin" and "Ode to Texas."

I also wanted to see what some of my electric covers would sound like, playing Johnny 'Guitar' Watson's 'Sweet Lovin' Mama, and I added some songs by my writing partners Lewis Dickson and Bracken Hale. I love musical challenges that take me out of my comfort zone. This particular endeavor certainly did that, and I feel it helped me get back to my roots. Born in Oklahoma, I played music in Texas for over 20 years. Maybe this acoustic recording is a combination of both sounds.

Shawn Pittman