- Audio CD (18 Jan 1999)
- Number of Discs: 1
- Label: Legacy
- ASIN: B000023ZO5
- Other Editions: Audio Cassette | MP3 Download
- Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 9,943 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
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Product details |
Track Listings
| 1. Cross Road Blues |
| 2. Terraplane Blues |
| 3. Come On In My Kitchen |
| 4. Walkin' Blues |
| 5. Last Fair Deal Gone Dow |
| 6. 32-20 Blues |
| 7. Kind Hearted Woman Blues |
| 8. If I Had Possession Over Judgement Day |
| 9. Preachin' Blues (Up Jumped The Devil) |
| 10. When You Got A Good Friend |
| 11. Ramblin' On My Mind |
| 12. Stones In My Passway |
| 13. Traveling Riverside Blues |
| 14. Milkcow's Calf Blues |
| 15. Me And The Devil Blues |
| 16. Hell Hound On My Trail |
| 17. Traveling Riverside Blues |
Product Description
Amazon.co.uk Review
When this collection was first released, back in 1961, it soon became the bible of that decade's folk-blues revival, a set of songs which had scorched deep lines in the blues psyche, subsequently modified, electrified and boogie-fied. This reissue also includes a freshly exhumed alternative take of "Travelling Riverside Blues", as good an excuse as any to upgrade from old vinyl. The original album pulled together all of Johnson's classic songs, his ghost suddenly made corporeal for a generation that had only heard of the rare 78s via whispered rumour. "Cross Road Blues", "Terraplane Blues", "Hell Hound On My Trail": they're all tortured cries for help, Johnson most likely at the end of his teens when he recorded his only two sessions, first in 1936, then 37. He was a complete individual: these songs may well be fodder for countless cover versions, but few modern artists can hope to reproduce the originator's stylistic mannerisms. Johnson favoured uneven lines, unpredictable emphasis, strumming and plucking around an implied central melody. For the experienced listener, it's probably wise to invest in Complete Recordings, but as an introduction to Johnson's unique art, this disc has certainly stood the test of time. --Martin Longley
Product Description
(1936/37 'Vocalion') (46:09/17) Diese Ausgabe in ausgezeichneter Tonqualität kommt mit dem Originalcover der 1961 veröffentlichten LP und einer vor 1998 unbekannten alternativen Fassung des 'Travelling Riverside Blues'. Empfehlenswert
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
24 of 26 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
This is the official 1998 CD edition of the first-ever Robert Johnson compilation, issued by Columbia in 1961.
It has been remastered off the best-quality original 78s available, and Johnson's guitar takes on a fullness never heard on previous reissues (the equalization on this disc is extreme to a degree where it even sports some minute turntable rumble in the low end).
This CD really brings Johnson's music to life, and if there is such a thing as a "greatest hits" package available on Robert Johnson, this landmark album would certainly be the one.
I still say that there is no really good reason to buy this CD instead of Columbia's 1990 box set "The Complete Recordings", but if you are looking for a single-disc overview, this one has almost all of Johnson's best songs, and the sound quality is as good as that on any Robert Johnson album, and better than most. And I'll freely admit to having both this album and the box set...the sound on this one is just that good!
It has been remastered off the best-quality original 78s available, and Johnson's guitar takes on a fullness never heard on previous reissues (the equalization on this disc is extreme to a degree where it even sports some minute turntable rumble in the low end).
This CD really brings Johnson's music to life, and if there is such a thing as a "greatest hits" package available on Robert Johnson, this landmark album would certainly be the one.
I still say that there is no really good reason to buy this CD instead of Columbia's 1990 box set "The Complete Recordings", but if you are looking for a single-disc overview, this one has almost all of Johnson's best songs, and the sound quality is as good as that on any Robert Johnson album, and better than most. And I'll freely admit to having both this album and the box set...the sound on this one is just that good!
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
If you want the recordings of Robert Johnson make sure you buy King of the Delta blues singers volume I and II. Don't make the mistake of getting one of the other compilations as you will end up with an inferiour sound quality compared to King of the Delta blues singers volume I and II.
10 of 13 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
As a musician, I'm always keen to explore new horizons in sounds, hence Johnny Cash, hence The Specials, hence Bob Dylan being in my collection, however I don't think any of those artists could have prepared me for the power of Robert Johnson.
Armed with nothing more than his acoustic and his heart aching voice, Johnson defined the genre known as the blues. Whilst he may not be as popular as the likes of BB King, Stevie Ray Vaughn or T Bone Walker, he still stands a figurehead and this album could be seen as a history lesson in itself.
Recorded in the late 1930's and remastered for the new millenium, Johnson's songs talk about broken relationships, sadness and satanism. Of course, if you have read the stories then you will have heard about how Johnson sold his soul to become a fantastic musician. However, you should not let this put off, songs like Cross Road Blues, 32-20 Blues, Come On In My Kitchen and Last Fair Deal Gone Down are testaments to his talents.
It must be noted there are some glitches, particularly in Terraplane Blues, where Johnson's voice scratches (don't forget this was in the 1930's so there wasn't the technology we have today) but again its almost like finding an ancient artifact.
If you like your music to be relaxed occasionally, with smooth playing and soulful singing, then here you'll be in for a treat. Never has anyone played an acoustic with such skill and remain distinctive, simply put there will never be another like him.
Go on treat yourself :-)
Armed with nothing more than his acoustic and his heart aching voice, Johnson defined the genre known as the blues. Whilst he may not be as popular as the likes of BB King, Stevie Ray Vaughn or T Bone Walker, he still stands a figurehead and this album could be seen as a history lesson in itself.
Recorded in the late 1930's and remastered for the new millenium, Johnson's songs talk about broken relationships, sadness and satanism. Of course, if you have read the stories then you will have heard about how Johnson sold his soul to become a fantastic musician. However, you should not let this put off, songs like Cross Road Blues, 32-20 Blues, Come On In My Kitchen and Last Fair Deal Gone Down are testaments to his talents.
It must be noted there are some glitches, particularly in Terraplane Blues, where Johnson's voice scratches (don't forget this was in the 1930's so there wasn't the technology we have today) but again its almost like finding an ancient artifact.
If you like your music to be relaxed occasionally, with smooth playing and soulful singing, then here you'll be in for a treat. Never has anyone played an acoustic with such skill and remain distinctive, simply put there will never be another like him.
Go on treat yourself :-)
Most Recent Customer Reviews
Your Last Fair Deal
Upon hearing these recordings, your respective cities' deltas just won't seem to suffice like Robert Johnson's. Read more
Published on 22 Feb 2010 by M. Roberts
All the important recordings are on this album, the rest are just...
Unlike the other reviewers I would say that if you want to have a collection that shows you can tell the difference between inspiration and the run-of-the mill then you should have... Read more
Published on 7 Nov 2008 by Basiledes
Sound Quality excells!
Being a great fan of Robert Johnson I own most of his cds and this one has without doubt the best sound quality of them all. Read more
Published on 17 Jun 2007 by Rob Dylan
Great but not the one to get
This collection was the holy grail for folk blues fans for decades. The songs, lyrics, riffs and emotions contained within it were recycled with varying degrees of success by... Read more
Published on 28 Oct 2002 by doublegone
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