| | Robert Johnson King Of The Delta Blues Singers CD Robert Johnson Discography of CDs
 (3 Customer Reviews)
This reissue of KING OF THE DELTA BLUES SINGERS contains 1 previously unreleased track.
Solo performer: Robert Johnson (vocals, acoustic guitar).
Producer: Don Law.
LP reissue producer: Frank Driggs.
CD reissue producer: Lawrence Cohn.
Recorded in San Antonio, Texas on November 23 & 26-27, 1936 and Dallas, Texas on June 19-20, 1937. Original LP released on Columbia Records (1961). Includes original liner notes by Frank Driggs. Includes reissue liner notes by Peter Guralnick.
Digitally remastered by Robert Vosgien (CMS Digital, Pasadena, California).
Solo performer: Robert Johnson (vocals, acoustic guitar).
Compilation producer: Frank Driggs.
Reissue producer: Lawrence Cohn.
Recorded in San Antonio, Texas on November 23 & 26-27, 1936 and Dallas, Texas on June 19-20, 1937.
This is part of Columbia/Legacy's Master Sound series.
Master Sound releases are 24-karat gold CDs remastered from first-generation masters. This process utilizes 20-bit technology and Sony's "Super Bit Mapping" system.
Personnel: Robert Johnson (vocals, guitar).
Audio Remasterer: Stanley Weiss.
Liner Note Author: Peter Guralnick.
Recording information: 11/23/1936-06/20/1937.
Editor: Frank Driggs.
Unknown Contributor Role: Michael Donaldson.
Reading about the power inherent in Robert Johnson's music is one thing, but actually experiencing it is another matter entirely. The official 1998 edition of the original 1961 album was certainly worth the wait, remastered off the best quality original 78s available, of far superior quality to any of the source materials used on even the 1991 box set. Johnson's guitar takes on a fullness never heard on previous reissues, and except for a nagging hiss in spots on "Terraplane Blues" (the equalization on this disc is extreme, to even sport some minute turntable rumble in the low end), this really brings his music alive. If there is such a thing as a greatest-hits package available on Johnson, this landmark album, which jump-started the whole '60s blues revival, would certainly be the one. The majority of Johnson's best-known tunes, the ones that made the legend, are all aboard: "Crossroads," "Walkin' Blues," "Me & the Devil Blues," "Come On In My Kitchen," and the apocalyptic visions contained in "Hellhound On My Trail" are the blues at its finest, the lyrics sheer poetry. And making its first appearance anywhere is a newly discovered (in 1998) alternate take of "Traveling Riverside Blues" that's appended to the original 16-track lineup. If you are starting your blues collection from the ground up, be sure to make this your very first purchase. ~ Cub Koda
Of all the early blues singers and players, Robert Johnson towers above all the others. He lived fast, died young, and left a small body of music that laid the groundwork for electric blues as well as rock & roll. Johnson had a unique voice, capable of deep growlings and grumblings and eerie, almost ghostly wails and moans. His guitar illustrated his stories, making any other instruments irrelevant. His songs conveyed a sense of a man trying to outrun a pack of demons ("Hell Hound on My Trail," "Cross Road Blues"), were autobiographical ("I'm a Steady Rollin' Man") and, of course, dealt with love troubles ("From Four Until Late," "Love in Vain"). Johnson's songs have become blues standards--"Sweet Home Chicago," "Dust My Broom," and many others have been adapted by many rock bands, from the Rolling Stones' version of "Love in Vain" to the Red Hot Chili Peppers' "They're Red Hot." If you want to hear the main architect of the twin dynasties of blues and rock & roll (who also influenced folk and country music), Robert Johnson is the man, and KING is a beautifully annotated introduction.Rolling Stone (12/11/03, p.104) - Ranked #27 in Rolling Stone's "500 Greatest Albums Of All Time" - "...Johnson recorded only twenty-nine songs, but their evanescent passion has resonated through the decades..."
Rolling Stone (12/2/70, p.50) - "...Johnson is just incredible: a great guitarist, a brilliant song writer, a tremendous singer...it's the highest art, the greatest beauty imaginable..."
Q (7/01, p.86) - Included in Q's "50 Heaviest Albums of All Time" - "...Music that is stark, possessed and frighteningly intense..."
Down Beat (5/24/62) - 5 Stars - Excellent - "...He was a haunting singer and a poet....there is a variety of tempo and rhythm and attitude here that is a credit to the tradition, and in the hoarse directness of Johnson's voice there is an immediacy that cuts...through the 25 years since these tracks were made....His kind of emotional honesty takes bravery....Honor Robert Johnson...."
Down Beat (5/24/62) - 5 Stars - Excellent - "...He was a haunting singer and a poet....there is a variety of tempo and rhythm and attitude here that is a credit to the tradition, and in the hoarse directness of Johnson's voice there is an immediacy that cuts...through the 25 years since these tracks were made....Those words are strong on paper, but when one hears Johnson sing them they are stronger still, and beautiful. His kind of emotional honesty takes bravery....Honor Robert Johnson...."
Vibe (12/99, p.158) - Included in Vibe's 100 Essential Albums of the 20th Century
Living Blues (1-2/99, p.78) - "...will no doubt be irresistible to hardcore Johnson fans." King Of The Delta Blues Singers Music Robert Johnson King Of The Delta Blues Singers Songs King Of The Delta Blues Singers Music King Of The Delta Blues Singers Music Review Average Rating: (4.7 out of 5 stars)   Great Stories
The liner notes are worth the price of the disc!
This is a genuine good blues disc. The sound is not perfect by no means but I do have new discs that sound worse. great job remastering. This is a unique style of blues and it is well worth having.
Submitted by badavy13 (Winnipeg MB) 
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 Pure Blues
I originally had a CD with some Robert Johnson songs on a while back but the quality was so bad it made it impossible to listen to it, or get anything out of it, but a couple of years ago or so I found a copy of this an vinyl and really got into it, its an album that stays on my turntable for days and days as I become saturated in the music and Johnson's emotive soundscapes. It is a shame he died when John Hammond was looking for him for a concert which would have brought Johnson to a wider audience, this guy searched out plenty of talent and brought them to a wider audience and better recording conditions, but at least we have these from Robert J to treasure. It must have been amazing to have witnessed him back then, his style was so unique and he did things that were never attempted before. The first time Keith Richard heard Johnson he was convinced he was listening to two guitarist so bizarre was his style! Especially when he sang at the same time! The music is very basically recorded but each song contains so much passion and honesty and humor and of course great guitar playing. Every time I listen to Zeppelin, the Stones, Cream in fact countless 60s rock/blues bands his influence is loud and clear! Indeed, this IS where it all started, great collection from this master of the finger slide and blues riff and a great song writer too. The remastered sound is topo notch on this album and never taks from the original untensity of the music, essential
Submitted by philipbourke (Cork, Ireland)
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super master of the blues.
master of all greates blues singers,no doubt,hes the hero of all the chiefs of the good loving blues,long live forever to the memory of the more strongest and influential bluesmen of all time.
Submitted by danzig70 (Puebla,puebla, Mexico.)
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