King of Delta Blues Singers

Robert Johnson | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (September 15, 1998)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Sony
• ASIN: B00000AG6X
• Also Available in: Audio Cassette  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (40 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,317 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #9 in Music > Blues > Delta Blues
  • #15 in Music > Blues > Slide Guitar
  • #17 in Music > Blues > Vocal Blues

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

If there is a recording that is required listening for every blues fan, it's this one. Robert Johnson wasn't just King of the Delta blues; he was one of its founding fathers, and these re-mastered tunes are as timeless and important today as they were all those years ago. The songs that passed into the blues canon, to be covered by countless guitarists over the years, are here: "Crossroad Blues," "Preaching Blues," "Come On In My Kitchen," "Walking Blues," and more. And on this particular version of this often-reissued recording, there's an additional treat: a previously unreleased version of "Traveling Riverside Blues." Absolutely essential. --Genevieve Williams

Product Description

One of the most important and influential blues albums of all time has been digitally remastered and includes a newly-discoverd, previously unreleased alternate version of "Traveling Riverside Blues." version of
No Track Information Available
Media Type: CD
Artist: JOHNSON,ROBERT
Title: KING OF DELTA BLUES SINGERS
Street Release Date: 09/15/1998
Domestic
Genre: BLUES TRADITIONAL

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

57 of 57 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent remastering, September 4, 2004

By 

Lee C. Grady (Madison, WI USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: King of Delta Blues Singers (Audio CD)

This is some of the best delta blues ever recorded, but enough has been written about that. The reason to get this compilation and its companion "King of the Delta Blues Singers Vol. 2" is for the wonderful remastering. The sound on these two issues is far better than the 1990 "Complete" box set (and better even than the remastered 1997 version of that set). Both volumes of "King of the Delta Blues" employ minimal noise reduction. While this leaves some high end hiss and low end rumble, it makes the recordings clearer, more full bodied and natural sounding than any versions of Johnson's recordings that I have ever heard. His voice and guitar do not sound as thin as they do on previous issues. I also prefer the sequencing on this CD over the "Complete" set, which has back to back alternate takes. The only thing you miss out on with "King of the Delta Blues" volumes 1 and 2 are a handful of alternate takes which appear only on the "Complete" box set. It should be noted, however, that this CD contains a version of "Traveling Riverside Blues" that does NOT appear on the "Complete" box set. Highly recommended!

18 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The true classic blues record, November 22, 1998

By 

Jeff Jones (USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: King of Delta Blues Singers (Audio CD)

If you only own a select number of Blues records this should be one of them. It even includeds a newly discovered alternate bersion of Traveling Riverside Blues. This version was unearthed by the Library of Congress. This artist has influenced countless rockers from Keith Richards to Eric Clapton to Jimmy Page. This record is a classic 5 star album.

20 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars ALMOST TOO GOOD FOR ME, July 9, 2004

By 

Damon Heim (San Rafael, CA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: King of Delta Blues Singers (Audio CD)

Please, pardon my unskilled grammar and punctuation (and possibly, spelling).

I bought the Robert Johnson Boxed set years ago, because I felt it was a recording that you were supposed to have, if you considered yourself a true music obsess - o - file, but I later sold it, because I "did not get it." I knew of Johnson's mystique and reputation, but I could not connect with the "genius" thing that surrounded his music. Well, just about a month ago, I thought I would give Robert Johnson another try, so I purchased this album. And this time, "i got it."

I can only describe the multi dimensionality of these songs, which had previously escaped me, as staggering. You feel you are listening to the very architecture of almost every popular music style we hear today. What I find most amazing about his songs, is that you are almost convinced that you are listening to 3 guitar players and 2 or 3 singers, harmonizing with unreal precision. His voice jumps between registers, in such a way as to suggest there is another singer between them, much like one watches "2 frames of a film," but sees the magic of the "1 moving picture."

The relationship between the cords he is playing and the finger picking, again, seem to connect and relate in such a way as to suggest there are more fingers and chords being played than can be played with only 2 hands, and with unbelievable ease. He plays like he doesn't even have to think about it. And it all sounds freakishly "time nonspecific", as if he were playing, in the past, while copying his own sounds, from the present, like they were actually being written and defined today, and he was prophesying. I guess that would be the dictionary definition of "timeless." I find myself stuck between studying his songs from an objective point of view, and listening to them from a music fan point of view.

And his lyrics have a sophistication that belie his level of education. As if you are hearing the equations of very high brow poetry, filled in with the figures and variables of Johnson's substantially more modest and bleak cultural experience. And there is a genuine joy in his voice. THAT, I did not expect. As if he is saying "I CAN PLAY AND I AM BEING RECORDED AND LOWDY, MAMA! I AM A SOMEBODY!"

I naturally have to recommend this recording, but I would advise the newbie to the Johnson sound to, not "force" him or her self to see the brilliance of his work. That was what I was doing the first time around, and I missed it. It was only when I gave it permission to reveal itself, that Johnson's genius came forth.

And in all honesty, I don't really "enjoy" all these songs, as much as I marvel at all these songs. I listen with a distant awe, rather than from the perspective of personal taste. But I hope that over time, I will begin to enjoy this recording as I enjoy many of my favorite modern artists, of today. So, do purchase this album and give Mr. Johnson a go at it, but don't get down on yourself if you don't immediately hear what all the accolades are about. It took me 2 tries and 10 years to "get it."