He's a fantastic musician - Sweet Home Chicago, Cross Road Blues, If I Had Possession Over Judgement Day. It's a pity he didn't get a chance to do more really.
It is true that he should be even with Muddy Waters and co though, but untimely death does tend to increase popularity of musicians (look at Michael Jackson).
On the Clapton album, it's very good IMO. Bit different to the way Johnson performed them, but then, Clapton is allowed to put his own touch on it. And I don't think there's anything wrong to do a cover album of your idol. Bryan Ferry of Roxy Music did a cover album of Bob Dylan, and if I ever got into the music industry (this is hypothetical, of course) I would certainly do an album of Beatles covers. Johnson deserves a tribute album just as much as Dylan and the Fab Four do, he's certainly as influential.
Spike this maybe a real dumb qestion, but you said "One of his better known numbers was "Canned Heat Blues" which described his affection for sterno" I don't think I have ever heard it, so I was wondering why he loved sterno? Did he like to cook with? Or did he some how huff it and like the high from it?
Sterno is actually the drink of choice of the those who absolutely, positively need to keep it real! No suburban high school kids or other poseurs need apply.
Sterno, it gets you there fast! But it's only for those man enough not to complain once they get there.
Feldster:
...but untimely death does tend to increase popularity of musicians (look at Michael Jackson).
I might not hold the little sister boy in such contempt had he been doing covers of Robert Johnson material.
His legenedary status has been catapulted to the highest orbit by modern musicians and with good reason. I still havn't heard anyone truely capture his unique style he was a one off. I agree with DaKillerWolf about Robert Johnson and Howlin' Wolf but also Son House and Muddy Waters as my big four.
I need to check out Son House, Sox. What would you say his 2 best releases are ?
__________________
Nothing in the world can take the place of Persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent. The slogan 'Press On' has solved and always will solve the problems of the human race.
To be honest DKW I would kick off with something like.. The Original Delta Blues.
It's only a few £/$ and gives a good flavour of the man's style. If you want to spend more I guess The Library Of Congress Sessions or Son House Father Of The Delta Blues.
As you probably know Son House just disappeared off the scene only to be rediscovered in the 60's and he had to be almost retaught how to play his own music.
I think that's what I would do DKW start with a good compilation.
Robert Johnson is one of thE most underated musicians of all time.. especially to stupid punkass kids like.. well .. not like me.. but in my age-range. Im actually doing a school project on robert j this second..
What do you think about claptons rj tribute..
Clapton is one of my favorite electric blues player.. but i think it was a bit chinsey to do a whole album of rj covers..
at least it wasnt a tribute to himself..
brits are kind of strange, but i like em.
I disagree and I absolutely enjoyed watching Clapton during the tour to promote this particular album. I thought it was a great idea and I would like to see other bands/musicians cover artists that they found inspiring.....IMO
I love Robert Johnson, I have his collection, I suspect that there are some more lost recordings out there somewhere but I will carry on listening to the complete collection I have on cd for now. I also like Muddy Waters and Howlin' Wolf, they have made some pearlers and worked with some other great musicians over the years. As for Son House, he is another legend on his own level.
Ordered a comp. from Amazon tonight it was pretty cheap now all I have to do is is wait.
Listening to that first video you can really hear Johnson's influence on Jimmy Page's playing
__________________
Nothing in the world can take the place of Persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent. The slogan 'Press On' has solved and always will solve the problems of the human race.
In memory of Robert Johnson! Robert passed away on this day in 1938.
"Me and the Devil, walking side by side."
~Robert Johnson~
May 8, 1911 – August 16, 1938
One of the most well known details of Robert Johnson's life is the legend that he sold his soul to the Devil at a country crossroads. It's embedded in our popular culture. Almost nobody brings up the idea of selling one's soul to the Devil without mentioning Johnson.
Blues greats Son House and Charley Patton played house parties and juke joints around the Mississippi Delta for fun and change. As Son House told it, when they'd stop in between sets, young Robert Johnson would go play around with their guitars, making a racket and annoying everybody around him. He simply couldn't play! Then he disappeared, (which wasn't unusual in those days) and came back a year or two later a blues guitar master. Nobody could figure out how he learned to play so well in such a short period of time. Folks said he must have sold his soul to the Devil to play that well. The fact that he came back with songs about going down to the crossroads (to make a deal), walking side by side with the Devil, and Hellhounds on his trail only added to the mystery. Not long after that, the Devil came to collect. Johnson died mysteriously at age 27.
There are a number of accounts and theories regarding to Johnson's death with most claiming he was allegedly poisoned from whiskey laced with strychnine. He was inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame (1980), Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (1986), Mississippi Blues Musician Hall of Fame (2000) and in 2006, he posthumously received the Gammy Lifetime Achievement Award.
Re: The Official Robert Johnson Thread 
Re: The Official Robert Johnson Thread 
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