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Robert Johnson - King of the Delta Blues Singers Audio CD

A fair review of the Robert Johnson "King of the Delta Blues Singers" Audio CD. Please note that the below review is the views of the authors, and authors only. You can get a complete list of all Robert Johnson reviews here, or go back to the Robert Johnson tabs.

Robert Johnson Band: Robert Johnson
Title: King of the Delta Blues Singers
Rating:
Release Date: 1998-09-15
Media: Audio CD

Tracks: 1: Cross Road Blues 2: Terraplane Blues 3: Come on in My Kitchen 4: Walking Blues 5: Last Fair Deal Gone Down 6: 32-20 Blues 7: Kindhearted Woman Blues 8: If I Had Possession over Judgement Day 9: Preaching Blues (Up Jumped the Devil) 10: When You Got a Good Friend 11: Rambling on My Mind 12: Stones in My Passway 13: Traveling Riverside Blues 14: Milkcow's Calf Blues 15: Me and the Devil Blues 16: Hellhound on My Trail 17: Traveling Riverside Blues [Alternate Take]

Prepare to have the hairs stand up on your neck!

Having listened to quite a lot of Charlie Patton, Son House, Kid Bailey, and Willy Brown, the difference in sound quality is downright striking. Oh, my gosh!
I long ago listened to a friend's copy of the Sony "The Complete Robert Johnson," but I was not quite prepared for this experience.
American Record Company did it right in that hotel room in San Antonio in 1936 and that warehouse in Dallas in 1937, when they captured these historic recordings of a TRUE blues master at work.
The SQ, while certainly not up to modern, or even mid-1960s standards, is still a revelation, with the ambience of the hotel room and warehouse wonderfully recorded.
I can't even begin to give a rundown of the entire disk, but I will quickly mention the three that first jumped out at me.
The opening of "Crossroad Blues" absolutely made me tingle, with that stunning bottleneck and Johnson's incredible wailing of despair. Anyone who has seen the movie "Crossroads" will immediately recognize this as the song used at the very beginning showing Johnson playing with his back to the recording engineers. Could ANYTHING possibly better convey a man's sorrow?
Fans of the great Son House will immediately recognize his "Walkin' Blues," with Johnson's subtle embellishments and high singing contrasting with House's basso vocals. Just as with House's original, this is one that will grab you right off.
"Preachin Blues" is fantastic, another rework of Son House, featuring the forever classic opening line "I woke up this morning, with the blues walking just like a man. " Johnson goes into intricate and aggressive bottleneck played at breakneck speed, bellowing his vocals. Stunning work, without doubt.

All the tracks featured on this are true works of art, and anyone unfamiliar with what blues really COULD be, would be well advised to make this his first stop.
You will be absolutely spellbound.
Trust me.


the master
Of course, it ain't smooth. There is no better example of raw delta blues. But he is the King of the Delta Blues Singers . . . . . . . . and guitarists. This is the album that showed Bob Dylan there was more to music than Woody Guthrie (or Elvis).
Very highly reccomended !.


Delta Blues v. Delta Blues Singers
1"? I see King of the Delta Blues Singers, Vol. I am sure both are excellent, but if I were to chose one, would you recommend "King of the Delta Blues" or "King of the Delta Blues Singers, Vol. I listed as #27 on Rolling Stones list of the 500 Greatest Albums but then the cover photo is the other album, King of the Delta Blues.


Surface noise on track 2??
its wonderdul. on track 2 "Terraplane Blues" theres some very loud hiss and surface noise when Johnson does his "ooooooooos!" which werent present on the same recording on the box set, anyone else have this problem? aside from that a truly great release worth it to anyone interested in music. the sound quality IS alot better though on this cd than on the box. its well worth it.


The spooked genius of Robert Johnson
The Complete Recordings box is all fine and good, but this disc has (drastically) better sound quality, better sequencing, and more historical value (if you're into that sort of thing). If you're new to Robert Johnson, start here. It's also cheaper, and less bulky. Plus, it cherrypicks most of Johnson's best recordings. Of course, Robert Johnson never recorded a bad song, but these sixteen (seventeen, if you count the previously unreleased alternate take of "Traveling Riverside Blues" that was discovered after the release of the box set) are the cream of the crop. My only complaint is the absence of "I Believe I'll Dust My Broom," which has long been one of my favorite blues songs, but that's just a nitpick. This record really is the bee's knees.

Snag a copy of King Of The Delta Blues Singers, and you'll make the acquaintance of such potentially life-changing songs as "Kindhearted Woman Blues" and "Ramblin' On My Mind. " You'll encounter nightmarish poetry and primal guitar genius. You'll wander lonesome dreamscapes full of poison whisky and evil women. You'll feel the devil's breath on your neck and the sting of loneliness in your heart. You'll hear evil moans and frightened cries, and you'll smell the mud and blood of Mississippi. Your spine will freeze and your skin will crawl at the panicked desperation of "Hell Hound On My Trail. " Your toes will tap and your dark side will flare up at the jubilantly psychotic "Preachin' Blues (Up Jumped The Devil). " You'll marvel at "32-20 Blues," whose casual misogyny is so unflinchingly convincing that it puts most gangsta rap to shame. Once you've absorbed the length and breadth of this classic record, move on to King Of The Delta Blues Singers Volume 2. Enjoy!.


You can see a complete list of all Robert Johnson discography, or go back to the Robert Johnson tabs. There is also a good guide on how to read guitar tabs here.

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