Customer Reviews

Legend of Tommy Johnson Act 1

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This is an ambitious album, and a very successful one.

The tracks, in order, summarize the 20th century evolution of the blues. The first songs on the album, both King's originals and the covers, are very much in the style of early blues recordings: one voice, one guitar...even the scratchy static of the old 78s is duplicated.

I confess my partiality to early delta guitarslingers, and I really like King's take, from his straight up cover of Willie Johnson's "Trouble Will Soon Be Over" to the archetypally bluesy original "Flooded in the Delta". This is great stuff, and the hilariously deadpan liner notes (spoofing every "how I discovered the blues" story you ever read) are a perfect complement -- I admit, they had me going for a minute.

The tracks then evolve through the rollicking piano blues of "John Law Burned Down the Liquor Sto'" to electric guitar to rhythm 'n' blues, including a purported cover by the Voodoo Dolls (King) of a song by the legendary Tommy Johnson (also King). This is good stuff, too, though less my cup of tea.

This is the only CD of King's I've listened to -- yes, I was drawn to this through O Brother, Where Art Thou? -- but I certainly want to hear more.

When organic American music was given a shot in the arm by the Coen Brother's movie O Brother, Where Art Thou, Chris Thomas King was among the artists who benefited with King's role as blues musician Tommy Johnson and his song O Brother Where Art Thou. King took full advantage of this opportunity and produced an ambitious concept album The Legend of Tommy Johnson. Imagine an obscure blues artist who sold is soul to the devil down on some Delta crossroads for the ability to play music. He wanders around the delta singing on the corners of "Magnolia and Main" as the cover says. Maybe he serves a stint in prison and becomes part of a chain gang and then upon release wanders to Chicago to try his hand with electric guitar. This is the story of a composite of blues artists throughout the twentieth century and Chris Thomas King has penned, sang, played and produced all the songs on this CD. It is a skillful and artistic cd which demonstrates King's love and appreciation for the music.

Blues music has roots in a range of styles as Chris Thomas King aptly demonstrates. O Brother Where Art Thou and Trouble will Soon Be Over borrow from gospel/spiritual styles. Canned Heat Blues, Flooded in the Delta and Watermelon Man are delta styled acoustic blues. Canned Heat Blues shows the strong relationship which exists between the blues and bootleg liquor. King tips his hat to Charlie Patton and other in singing about delta floods. He sings "People seeking higher ground, the sky is falling and the whole world is sinking down." Watermelon Man is a pleasant journey through the delta in the back of a pickup truck while eating "sweet and juicy" watermelon. You can almost feel the juice running down your chin. John Law Burned down the Liquor Store is blues with country edges with the promise of bootleg liquor after a day of hard and sweaty work. We move north to Chicago with Red Shoes and Bonnie and Clyde in D Minor. Red Shoes is a grind it out blues guaranteed to get the joint hopping on Saturday night in a mode reminiscent of Elmore James or Hound Dog Taylor. Bonnie and Clyde is a haunting "you done me wrong" blues. Do Fries Go with that Shakes explores the early era of rock and roll. Finishing out the cd is Spread the Glory a soulful tribute to Tommy Johnson.

Chris Thomas King has clearly demonstrated his skill as singer, songwriter and musician in producing such a CD as this one. The Legend of Tommy Johnson displays the range and sincerity of Chris Thomas King's pleasant voice. I have hopes that we will continue to hear more from him.

I am familiar with King's work only from the movie O BROTHER WHERE ART THOU. He has wisely jumped onto that musical bandwagon by recreating his character from the movie, Tommy Johnson, and doing a solo CD as Mr. Johnson, blending history (the real Tommy Johnson) with fiction (O BROTHER. . .). Great idea, very good results. I am not a true blues afficianado, but I loved the song he did in the movie and figured I'd give this disc a run. The opening song, "O Brother, Where Art Thou?," is a very cool song that moves along at a nice pace--some nice a capellla and good guitar work, also. "Canned Heat Blues" calls to mind his song from the movie. "John Law Burned Down the Liquor Sto'" is a fast-moving, bluegrass-ish song that is a riot--the tites are so good sometimes! "Red Shoes" is a more electric kind of sound--good song. "Bonnie & Clyde in D Minor" is good, old-fashioned, slowed-down traditional delta blues--great song. The album concludes with two songs performed by the Voodoo Dolls, both of which were probably unnecessary and a bit out of place.

On the whole, this was a very entertaining CD, full of a variety of paces, styles-within-the-style, and instrumentation (he plays a variety of instruments, including mandolin, upright bass, piano, harmonica, and all guitars). He knows how to sing, and he is smart enough to cash in on the O BROTHER phenomenon. If you are a general blues fan, a Chris Thomas King fan, or an O BROTHER fan, you will probably enjoy this CD a great deal.

O'Brother was the summer movie for me. After I saw the movie I then got the soundtrack and upon hearing the whole album, I immediately liked the track by Mr. King and I read that he was a muscian first so I decided to see what else he had done. Due to the obvious set up of this album it was an easy buy. I wasn't dissapppointed by a single track. They are all well performed and the instruments and choosen perfectly. The right types of guitar and the right use of Piano, to the perfect use of back-up vocals this man does it all. Good Show and more power to him.

Tommy Johnson is a fictional character portrayed by Chris Thomas King in the movie "O Brother Where Art Thou?" This CD carries the fiction one step further by presenting "a collection of rare and unreleased recordings of the greatest innovator of all delta bluesmen, Tommy McDowell Johnson". Of course, all songs are actually penned by King.

Not since King's "Red Mud" has King released an all, or mostly all, acoustic CD and while "Red Mud" is nothing to snivel at, "Legend" has it beat hands down. Not only has King breathed live into his character by introducing 11 original tunes but, he plays an overwhelming array of musical instruments in the process as well. On the CD, King plays all instruments including, the mandolin, drums, percussion, harmonica, upright bass, grand piano, electric guitars, acoustic guitars and bass guitar. With the exception of some background vocals performed on "O Brother", King is virtually a one-man band.

All songs are uplifting and spiritual and recall the heyday of famous Mississippi Delta bluesmen such as Charlie Patton, Son House, John Hurt and Skip James, with a 21st century ambiance. This entire CD is nothing short of fantastic and one would be hard pressed to pick a favorite song from the lot. If there is a downside its that "Act 1" spans from 1900-1990's, and it is unlikely that we will ever see an act two. Hopefully, King will introduce another character in the near future or simply, let his alter ego free for an encore.

Chris Thomas King is one of the most talented musicians since Stevie Ray Vaughn. Multi talented, great range to his voice as well as being able to play all nine instruments, used on this CD. The movie "O'Brother Where Art Thou?" doesn't begin to show off his talents. Doesn't even come close. I loved it, especially the song "Spread the Glory." Also a great song and fun to listen to is "John Law Burned Down the Liquor Sto'"; but all of them are supurb.

I became familiar with Chris Thomas King through O Brother Where Art Thou. I saw the O Brother tour and thought Chris was very talented so I purchased this CD and although it is not a bad CD I really only like half the songs and would not recomend buying this CD. I will look into purchasing another CD by him because I feel he is very talented as from when I saw him and some of the songs on this cd.

I just saw him in concert tonight in Flagstaff, AZ and he was signing his new album which came out today. It reminds me of his previous style (before joining 21st century blues) and I loved every moment of it BOTH in concert AND on CD. Check him out if he's playing a local club, but if you can't the CD will give you that same feel in your home. A must buy