Customer Reviews

Hellhound on My Trail: Songs of Robert Johnson

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While blues music has always been an ever-evolving art form, there are essential elements deeply rooted in the genre that simultaneously offer continuity and growth to blues form. Content of lyric, song structure, melody and instrumental dynamic, controlled arrangements, the walking bass line, the metronomic "anti-fill" drum discipline, authentic emotional vocal inflections, microtonal sensitivity and control, creative lead lines and memorable riffs in a 12 or 16 bar box, etc. are all elements that make great blues music. The beauty and subtle complexity of a properly executed bottleneck slide guitar composition, for example, is sheer joy.

Alas, high volume, sloppy song writing and structure, foot pedal gadgets, and fancy studio techniques have dominated modern blues music to the point of homogenization. What passes for modern blues is often reworked rock `n roll. It seems that few modern blues artists, producers, and engineers today care about producing a blues recording that is true to the art form.

Listening to the modern yet authentic interpretations of Robert Johnson's music on this disc makes me happy and sad at the same time. Happy because the talent and treatment of Johnson's material is of such high quality; so reverent; and so well arranged and executed. Sad because we rarely get to hear great original music from modern artists that is of this caliber. I don't think it is because the talent doesn't exist. It may be that the business of making music combined with the boutique aspect of the blues art form has relegated it to the ultra-specialty pile where few gems are ever heard, or even attempted.

This is a fantastic compilation of modern artists interpreting the great songs of Robert Johnson. These are authentic, heart-felt interpretations of a blues legend's music. This release will most assuredly be a strong Handy and maybe even Grammy nominee. Thanks to the talented blues artists and Telarc for this release.

An interesting compilation of many of Robert Johnson's most famous songs, with wide variation in the quality of performance. The album is worth having if you're interested in blues, especially if you like to understand the roots of the music and its development over time. As a series of performances, however, the album is fairly weak.

The album features some well known blues singers such as Taj Mahal, and Honeyboy Edwards, now a very old man, who actually played with Robert Johnson. Edwards' interpretation of of a Johnson song may well reflect Johnson's actual style quiteaccurately.

Overall, this is an album that will interest committed blues fans, but probably won't appeal much outside that group.

I'm usually not much of a fan of "tribute" anthologies, but this new release starts off with a rousing version of "Crossroads" by Taj Mahal and just keeps going full-tilt for more than an hour. Wow! With acoustic contributions by blues artists both old and young, this is one mighty fine recording. Rock and roll fans should enjoy hearing where many rock licks and lyrics came from, blues fans will enjoy hearing a variety of blues artists playing the real thing, and music lovers of all stripes should be able to enjoy the musical spirit abundant on every cut of this recording. This is a CD that every music lover should have in his or her collection. This is the real thing!

Music fans have reason to be wary when it comes to tribute albums; many of these recordings feel like half hearted attempts to cash in on a great artist's name and feature performers with little connection to the artist they are paying tribute to. I am happy to report that this is not the case with Telarc's Hellhound on my Trail: Songs of Robert Johnson. This CD features an all star cast of modern blues artists covering songs originally written and performed by the "King of Delta Blues," Robert Johnson. The performances vary from straightforward cover versions to some innovative arrangements of Johnson's work.

The disc opens with Taj Majal singing the familiar "Crossroads" in a deep, authoritative growl. Blues stalwarts Robert Jr. Lockwood and Carey Bell turn out a fine version of "I'm a Steady Rollin' Man." Two veterans of Muddy Water's band, Bob Margolin and Pinetop Perkins team up for performances of "Kindhearted Woman Blues" and "Sweet Home Chicago", featuring Bob and Pinetop on vocals respectively. The interplay between Bob's blistering delta guitar and Pinetop's piano makes for especially nice listening. Another highlight is an innovative arrangement of "Stones in My Passway" featuring Lucky Peterson on 9-string guitar. Listen carefully for the quote from Jimi Hendrix's "Voodoo Child" that is slipped into the arrangement. Fans of Joe Louis Walker's recent acoustic work will enjoy his version of "Dust My Broom." The disc features a total of 16 tracks, which are mostly excellent performances.

Hellhound on my Trail should appeal to both casual listeners and serious blues fans alike. For serious fans, this disc features some heartfelt performances of Robert Johnson's material by some of today's finest blues musicians. For more casual listeners, this disc is an excellent way to become more familiar with the music of a blues legend.

Not an alternative to the original recordings of Johnson by any means. But, definitely a potential to re-discover them and to gain an enhanced appreciation via recordings with 100% better fidelity than the originals. (That is - assuming that you have a decent sound system and fidelity is of importance. Believe me, Telarc's Pure Digital Mastering will put these guys in your living room!). At least this was my experience with "Hellhound. . .", especially with the more straight forward re-interpretations. In fact most of the tracks are acoustic & straight forward covers, which is the difference between this CD and other "Tribute" albums. Incidentally, If you like or love this cd, you'll also want to check out "Screamin' and Hollerin' the Blues" released by Shanachie a year before Telarc's "Hellhound. . . " and the perfect companion CD. I always play them back-to-back .

All of the people that lives at nowadays,have the fantastic opportunity to hear those magnific lyrics and songs of the legendary,Robert Johnson,played by a sort of the best bluesmen of our actually days.And it resulted in a fantastic record,by Telarc,called Hellhound on my trail.This cd is fantastic,really a gem and a must have for bluesfans everywhere.All the entire cd was worked with rare competency,and the presences of Joe Louis walker,Eric Gales,James Cotton,and others enriched this like only few others did!!!The quality of sound is well,and the atmosphere is inebriated with Robert Johnson's spirit,all over the tracks!!Great cd!!!!

Believe me, this one is a keeper. All TRUE BLUES FANS; This is a real gem. GREAT BLUES MUSIC,BY GREAT BLUES ARTISTS FOR TRUE BLUES MUSIC LOVERS! Even Robert Johnson would agree!

You'll prefer Will Oldham if you don't actually like the blues...or want to meet them. If you do, this is one of the better releases of recent years, and it can also serve as an intro to some fine young players, including Chris Thomas King and Keith Brown.

Something old, something new, a varied set of interpretations of Robert Johnsons work. "Stop Breakin' Down Blues" performed by Carl Weathersby is a great rendition. carlweathersby.org