Lightnin' Hopkins established himself as one of the greatest of all postwar bluesmen, epitomizing the plaintive sound of Texas country blues. It was quite apparent to one and all that he wasn't a throwback. Instead, he was absolutely timeless. Hopkins left us plenty to remember him by. He was one of the most prolific bluesmen of the postwar generation. Lightnin' recorded for countless labels large and small in both electric and acoustic formats with a vast array of sidemen, from his down-home Houston pals (always the best option) to admiring folkies and psychedelic rockers. Rarities & Gems gathers 30 tracks - some previously unavailable on CD, others previously unreleased and live concert performances.