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King Of The Delta Blues Singers | 
| Artist: Robert Johnson
Label: Legacy
Category: Music
List Price: £4.99
Buy New: £2.98
You Save: £2.01 (40%)
New (21) Used (3) Collectible (2) from £1.85
Rating:  5 reviews
Sales Rank: 5083
Media: Audio CD
Discs: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2
Dimensions (in): 5.6 x 5 x 0.5
UPC: 724349300620
EAN: 0724349300620
ASIN: B000023ZO5
Release Date: January 18, 1999
Shipping: Eligible for Super Saver Shipping
Availability: Usually dispatched within 24 hours
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| Tracks:
| • | Cross Road Blues | | • | Terraplane Blues | | • | Come On In My Kitchen | | • | Walkin' Blues | | • | Last Fair Deal Gone Dow | | • | 32-20 Blues | | • | Kind Hearted Woman Blues | | • | If I Had Possession Over Judgement Day | | • | Preachin' Blues (Up Jumped The Devil) | | • | When You Got A Good Friend | | • | Ramblin' On My Mind | | • | Stones In My Passway | | • | Traveling Riverside Blues | | • | Milkcow's Calf Blues | | • | Me And The Devil Blues | | • | Hell Hound On My Trail | | • | Traveling Riverside Blues |
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| Editorial Reviews:
Amazon.co.uk Review
When this collection was first released, back in 1961, it soon became the bible of that decade's folk-blues revival, a set of songs which had scorched deep lines in the blues psyche, subsequently modified, electrified and boogie-fied. This reissue also includes a freshly exhumed alternative take of "Travelling Riverside Blues", as good an excuse as any to upgrade from old vinyl. The original album pulled together all of Johnson's classic songs, his ghost suddenly made corporeal for a generation that had only heard of the rare 78s via whispered rumour. "Cross Road Blues", "Terraplane Blues", "Hell Hound On My Trail": they're all tortured cries for help, Johnson most likely at the end of his teens when he recorded his only two sessions, first in 1936, then 37. He was a complete individual: these songs may well be fodder for countless cover versions, but few modern artists can hope to reproduce the originator's stylistic mannerisms. Johnson favoured uneven lines, unpredictable emphasis, strumming and plucking around an implied central melody. For the experienced listener, it's probably wise to invest in Complete Recordings, but as an introduction to Johnson's unique art, this disc has certainly stood the test of time. --Martin Longley
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| Customer Reviews:
 All the important recordings are on this album, the rest are just average blues November 7, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
Unlike the other reviewers I would say that if you want to have a collection that shows you can tell the difference between inspiration and the run-of-the mill then you should have this original release (at least on a major label) and if you must have the rest for purposes of comparison then it is best kept to one side. The rest does not demonstrate anything except the difference, and also that the basic blues can be pretty boring even when played by it's foremost artist. I bought this on vinyl in 1968 and can still remember how disappointed I was a year or so later when I got vol.2. There was a lot more of the same but without the intensity. Whoever compiled this first album did a very good job and got it right every time.
The reason is simply that there is no contrapuntal tension in the other recordings and without that there is nothing worth listening to. Johnson's best tracks belong to the 'neo-contrapuntal' category of music with their jumpy, unpredictable Dionysian rhythms in unstable time signatures, and with him playing and singing in different rhythms. He shares this category with the best of Cream's music live, and Stravinsky's 'Rite of Spring'. When live and playing in their most exciting manner, Led Zeppelin and Tom Verlaine's Television sometimes also belong in this category. Studio recordings usually iron out this valuable and rare quality so that the 'life of the body' is removed from the music.
 Sound Quality excells! June 17, 2007
2 out of 3 found this review helpful
Being a great fan of Robert Johnson I own most of his cds and this one has without doubt the best sound quality of them all. My only reservation is that unlike some of the other cds it does not include all of his tracks which is a pity. For true Robert Johnson fans I would recommend "The Complete Recordings", the sound quality is not quite as good but it is more comprehensive and in my opinion represents better value.
A Perfect Introduction To A Legend March 25, 2007
6 out of 7 found this review helpful
As a musician, I'm always keen to explore new horizons in sounds, hence Johnny Cash, hence The Specials, hence Bob Dylan being in my collection, however I don't think any of those artists could have prepared me for the power of Robert Johnson.
Armed with nothing more than his acoustic and his heart aching voice, Johnson defined the genre known as the blues. Whilst he may not be as popular as the likes of BB King, Stevie Ray Vaughn or T Bone Walker, he still stands a figurehead and this album could be seen as a history lesson in itself.
Recorded in the late 1930's and remastered for the new millenium, Johnson's songs talk about broken relationships, sadness and satanism. Of course, if you have read the stories then you will have heard about how Johnson sold his soul to become a fantastic musician. However, you should not let this put off, songs like Cross Road Blues, 32-20 Blues, Come On In My Kitchen and Last Fair Deal Gone Down are testaments to his talents.
It must be noted there are some glitches, particularly in Terraplane Blues, where Johnson's voice scratches (don't forget this was in the 1930's so there wasn't the technology we have today) but again its almost like finding an ancient artifact.
If you like your music to be relaxed occasionally, with smooth playing and soulful singing, then here you'll be in for a treat. Never has anyone played an acoustic with such skill and remain distinctive, simply put there will never be another like him.
Go on treat yourself :-)
Superb remastering February 5, 2004
12 out of 14 found this review helpful
This is the official 1998 CD edition of the first-ever Robert Johnson compilation, issued by Columbia in 1961.
It has been remastered off the best-quality original 78s available, and Johnson's guitar takes on a fullness never heard on previous reissues (the equalization on this disc is extreme to a degree where it even sports some minute turntable rumble in the low end).This CD really brings Johnson's music alive, and if there is such a thing as a "greatest hits" package available on Robert Johnson, this landmark album would certainly be the one.
I still say that there is no really good reason to buy this CD instead of Columbia's 1990 box set "The Complete Recordings", but if you are looking for a single-disc overview, this one has almost all of Johnson's best songs, and the sound quality is as good as that on any Robert Johnson album, and better than most.
Great but not the one to get October 28, 2002
20 out of 24 found this review helpful
This collection was the holy grail for folk blues fans for decades. The songs, lyrics, riffs and emotions contained within it were recycled with varying degrees of success by thousands of would-be bluesers, rock and rollers and pop stars.It remains the BLUEprint. But these days, and for only a few quid more - you can have Robert Johnson's Complete Works which has the songs here plus some alternative versions. This music is so important you should really have it all, so best buy the complete works.
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