Post by rbbrslmn on Aug 2, 2010 1:52:07 GMT
Blog and 
I was trying to think of something great thats never really mentioned on the soapbox, and thought of this fella. the only CD I have of him was bought in asda for 2 quid or so years ago, and still give it a spin from time to time, I had ripped that but I thought that since it was on a shitty label (Prism Leisure) and was very hissy throughout I'd look on waffles for something a bit better, what I found was his complete recordings (which is only 29 songs, and some alternate takes) which happily are much cleaner than the cheapo thing I have.
Its nearly 75 years old but still sounds alive and vibrant, so for those reasons alone, aside from the historic importance of the songs you should check em out.
Robert Leroy Johnson (May 8, 1911 – August 16, 1938) was an American blues singer and musician. His landmark recordings from 1936–1937 display a remarkable combination of singing, guitar skills, and songwriting talent that have influenced generations of musicians. Johnson's shadowy, poorly documented life and death at age 27 have given rise to much legend, including a Faustian myth.
Johnson's songs, vocal phrasing and guitar style have influenced a broad range of musicians; Eric Clapton has called Johnson "the most important blues singer that ever lived". Johnson was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as an "Early Influence" in their first induction ceremony in 1986. He was ranked fifth in Rolling Stone's list of 100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time.
According to legend, as a young black man living on a plantation in rural Mississippi, Robert Johnson was branded with a burning desire to become a great blues musician. He was "instructed" to take his guitar to a crossroad near Dockery Plantation at midnight. There he was met by a large black man (the Devil) who took the guitar and tuned it. The "Devil" played a few songs and then returned the guitar to Johnson, giving him mastery of the instrument. This was, in effect, a deal with the Devil mirroring the legend of Faust. In exchange for his soul, Robert Johnson was able to create the blues for which he became famous.
This two-CD box contains all 41 recordings Johnson made, including 12 alternate takes, and each cut remains a classic. This set's release in 1990 caused quite a stir, selling more than 500,000 copies, and, on the basis of endorsements from Eric Clapton and Keith Richards, introduced a great number of rock fans to Delta blues. Amazingly, Johnson built his enormous legacy on the strength of just two recording sessions: the first session, in November of 1936, produced among others "I Believe I'll Dust My Broom," "Sweet Home Chicago," "Cross Road Blues," and "Walkin' Blues," making it perhaps the most influential single session in blues history.
Label: Sony
Release Date: August 28, 1990
Additional Information: Box Set with 2 Discs
Tracklist:
Disc: 1
1. Kindhearted Woman Blues
2. Kindhearted Woman Blues
3. I Believe I'll Dust My Broom
4. Sweet Home Chicago
5. Rambling on My Mind
6. Rambling on My Mind
7. When You Got a Good Friend
8. When You Got a Good Friend
9. Come on in My Kitchen
10. Come on in My Kitchen
11. Terraplane Blues
12. Phonograph Blues
13. Phonograph Blues
14. 32-20 Blues
15. They're Red Hot
16. Dead Shrimp Blues
17. Cross Road Blues
18. Cross Road Blues
19. Walking Blues
20. Last Fair Deal Gone Down
Disc: 2
1. Preaching Blues (Up Jumped the Devil)
2. If I Had Posession Over Judgment Day
3. Stones in My Passway
4. I'm a Steady Rollin' Man
5. From Four till Late
6. Hellhound on My Trail
7. Little Queen of Spades
8. Little Queen of Spades
9. Malted Milk
10. Drunken Hearted Man
11. Drunken Hearted Man
12. Me and the Devil Blues
13. Me and the Devil Blues
14. Stop Breakin' Down Blues
15. Stop Breakin' Down Blues
16. Traveling Riverside Blues
17. Honeymoon Blues
18. Love in Vain
19. Love in Vain
20. Milkcow's Calf Blues
21. Milkcow's Calf Blues
I was trying to think of something great thats never really mentioned on the soapbox, and thought of this fella. the only CD I have of him was bought in asda for 2 quid or so years ago, and still give it a spin from time to time, I had ripped that but I thought that since it was on a shitty label (Prism Leisure) and was very hissy throughout I'd look on waffles for something a bit better, what I found was his complete recordings (which is only 29 songs, and some alternate takes) which happily are much cleaner than the cheapo thing I have.
Its nearly 75 years old but still sounds alive and vibrant, so for those reasons alone, aside from the historic importance of the songs you should check em out.
Robert Leroy Johnson (May 8, 1911 – August 16, 1938) was an American blues singer and musician. His landmark recordings from 1936–1937 display a remarkable combination of singing, guitar skills, and songwriting talent that have influenced generations of musicians. Johnson's shadowy, poorly documented life and death at age 27 have given rise to much legend, including a Faustian myth.
Johnson's songs, vocal phrasing and guitar style have influenced a broad range of musicians; Eric Clapton has called Johnson "the most important blues singer that ever lived". Johnson was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as an "Early Influence" in their first induction ceremony in 1986. He was ranked fifth in Rolling Stone's list of 100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time.
According to legend, as a young black man living on a plantation in rural Mississippi, Robert Johnson was branded with a burning desire to become a great blues musician. He was "instructed" to take his guitar to a crossroad near Dockery Plantation at midnight. There he was met by a large black man (the Devil) who took the guitar and tuned it. The "Devil" played a few songs and then returned the guitar to Johnson, giving him mastery of the instrument. This was, in effect, a deal with the Devil mirroring the legend of Faust. In exchange for his soul, Robert Johnson was able to create the blues for which he became famous.
This two-CD box contains all 41 recordings Johnson made, including 12 alternate takes, and each cut remains a classic. This set's release in 1990 caused quite a stir, selling more than 500,000 copies, and, on the basis of endorsements from Eric Clapton and Keith Richards, introduced a great number of rock fans to Delta blues. Amazingly, Johnson built his enormous legacy on the strength of just two recording sessions: the first session, in November of 1936, produced among others "I Believe I'll Dust My Broom," "Sweet Home Chicago," "Cross Road Blues," and "Walkin' Blues," making it perhaps the most influential single session in blues history.
Label: Sony
Release Date: August 28, 1990
Additional Information: Box Set with 2 Discs
Tracklist:
Disc: 1
1. Kindhearted Woman Blues
2. Kindhearted Woman Blues
3. I Believe I'll Dust My Broom
4. Sweet Home Chicago
5. Rambling on My Mind
6. Rambling on My Mind
7. When You Got a Good Friend
8. When You Got a Good Friend
9. Come on in My Kitchen
10. Come on in My Kitchen
11. Terraplane Blues
12. Phonograph Blues
13. Phonograph Blues
14. 32-20 Blues
15. They're Red Hot
16. Dead Shrimp Blues
17. Cross Road Blues
18. Cross Road Blues
19. Walking Blues
20. Last Fair Deal Gone Down
Disc: 2
1. Preaching Blues (Up Jumped the Devil)
2. If I Had Posession Over Judgment Day
3. Stones in My Passway
4. I'm a Steady Rollin' Man
5. From Four till Late
6. Hellhound on My Trail
7. Little Queen of Spades
8. Little Queen of Spades
9. Malted Milk
10. Drunken Hearted Man
11. Drunken Hearted Man
12. Me and the Devil Blues
13. Me and the Devil Blues
14. Stop Breakin' Down Blues
15. Stop Breakin' Down Blues
16. Traveling Riverside Blues
17. Honeymoon Blues
18. Love in Vain
19. Love in Vain
20. Milkcow's Calf Blues
21. Milkcow's Calf Blues