Rory Block: Recalling a magical time when a teenaged Rory Block learned from a master, here's her tribute to the seminal music of the Reverend Gary Davis
Stony Plain releases I Belong to the Band, the fourth in the American guitarist's recreations of the work of the classic blues artists of the past
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:4.5 out of 5 stars 13 reviews
18 of 18 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 starsBluesLady30 Aug 2006
By Gaylen Halbert - Published on Amazon.com
Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase
After seeing Rory perform in July, I eagerly anticipated this release. A number of artists have done justice to this collection of Robert Johnson songs, notably Eric Clapton, Peter Green, John Hammond and recently Dion. I really believe that Rory matches or exceeds these guys in getting into Robert's skin/soul. Rory's slide guitar is easily as good as Bonnie Raitt and her vocal delivery really communicates. She does not "sing" these songs: she wears them, owns them and breathes them in a most authentic way. Rory is not limited to the blues---check out her cd Tornado.
13 of 13 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 starsRory's Best--(so far)13 Sep 2006
By Michael Bushey - Published on Amazon.com
Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase
Unless you've been living on another planet you've heard of Robert Johnson and heard these songs. They've been covered more times by more people than anyone can count-but never like this! Rory Block herself has even recorded them in the past-but never like this!
I have been a Rory Block fan for a long time and she has long been known as one of the best traditional blues artists around. Her passion and reverence for this music is unmatched and all that passion and reverence come pouring out of this album in a flood. Her singing is straight from the heart and gut and her always superb guitar work is some of the best blues playing I've heard. It just has that Robert Johnson feeling.
The most telling words come from Robert Johnson's grandsons themselves, who gave their full support to this project. "Rory Block should have a Doctorate in my grandfather's music"-Steven Johnson. "When I hear Rory Block's music, it's as if my grandfather is here all over again"-Greg Johnson.
No one else alive has done these songs better; this is the best traditional blues album I've heard in years!
11 of 11 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 starsThe Lady Plays & Sings Mr. Johnson Without Rival16 Jan 2007
By Thomas H. Moody - Published on Amazon.com
Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase
One would be hard pressed to find any other performers take on Johnson's material which would earn 5 stars - it's just no that easy to do!. But Block does so with what appears to be great ease.
Of course that's not to say that she picked up her talent and insight overnight. She's been paying hommage and performing the works of the old blues greats for quite sometime. (I saw her solo at a coffee house in Hartford, CT back circa 1984!)
However, this music has now become such an integral part of her that she tosses it off with what appears to be a type of flowing essence - both in skill and interpretion.
This recording stands at the top of the heap of all the recent Johnson collections!