Customer Reviews

Lady & Mr Johnson

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

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.

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!

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!

I came to this cd out of interest in Robert Johnson without knowing a lot about Rory Block. It's a good introduction to her (I've since seen her in concert): very powerful vocals and effective country blues slide guitar. She cares about Robert Johnson's material and treats it well, though her style is a bit rough for me at times. I think Clapton's tribute to Robert Johnson is actually subtler, more varied and more interesting, but this is still good stuff by a dynamic musician.

Rory Block plays Robert Johnson as well as any guitarist now recording this material. This is an wonderful CD, and is well worth a listen.

Rory Block, being the great acoustic blues player she is, was a natural to release a collection of Robert Johnson music.

On "The Lady and Mr. Johnson," Block assays many of the blues pioneer's best remembered songs. Blues lovers will find great renditions of "Crossroad Blues," "Terraplane Blues," "Hellhound On My Trail," "Come In My Kitchen," and others.

Block's playing is phenomenal, and she evokes the mood and the feeling that these songs intended to bring. This record is a great primer for Robert Johnson, Rory Block, and a great example of how contemporary blues artists keep tradition alive by paying homage to the players who came before them.

Although tribute album still it's about creativity. Not only Rory Block's best, it's also there with the best Acoustic Delta Blues ever including singing which is improvement over the past, more accessible, no more screeching just pure soulful blues singing. How many guitar players man or woman can do the Delta Blues aka tap, pick, swing, slide the guitar and sing all at the same time? Only one this album is the only place in the past 3 decades that has all you need for A.D.B. The arrangement of songs is brilliant, a few examples although it's all continuous high quality, listen to the Hellhound arrangement it's addictive, so that you don't want to stop listen to it in a row, listen to the singing and the tilt rhythm quality on Me And The Devil, this album is going to be one of the biggest underrated because theres not enough ways to praise and appreciate it anyway. I usually don't review albums, but this album is a must have.

Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, and Rory Block flatters the Delta bluesman Robert Johnson no end. She has an uncanny ability to get into the heart and soul of Johnson's style, both as a singer and guitarist. Her slide guitar work is most impressive. Many people have done tributes to Jonson (though not so many entire albums) and some are better than others (Keith Brown knocks me out the most), but Block is right up there with the best. Country blues fans will definitely be bowled over by this CD, one of Block's best in a striking run of successful albums. Definitely worth checking out.

I had never heard of Rory Block until I recently heard the 32-20 blues and liked it so much I purchased the album. There is not a bad song on the album and I will be purchasing more Rory Block soon. Her guitar work is incredible, reminding me of Leo Kottke or Ry Cooder. I recommend it highly.

I can't stop listening to this CD!! Great picking and sliding, great singing. Rory makes these songs sound new. A great "bare bones" recording. Vocals and guitar very clear, and Rory's distinct 6 string sound couldn't be better. The liner information about the Johnson family is very interesting. If you dig the blues, get this CD. If you half dig the blues, get this CD.