Dark Was the Night

Anyone looking to find the very best in gospel and blues music must add this CD to their collection.

Quite brilliant.


A one man voice and a whole gospel tradition.   December 1, 2000
 42 out of 42 found this review helpful

This best selection from Blind Willie Johnson recorded output will alienate you at your first listening. I can only compare this artist's manner, to present day Tom Waits. Accompanied by own guitar and occasional backing guitar or vocals, Johnson dishes out a whole tradition of Texan gospel blues. The recordings have a very good sound quality, unlike those by Blind Lemon Jefferson or some Charley Patton ones. His singing is a rough growling style, but the tunes are there- in the brilliant slide guitar playing (usually with the use of a pocketknife) which duets with his singing. His idea of chopping rhythm was different from today's pounding beats. He does allow a softer singing style to suite the sing-alongs like "Let your Light Shine On Me" or "Sweeter As the Years Go By." In my opinion, his full-throated expression of "Motherless Children" rests unsurpassed even by the numerous covers that include Son House and Bob Dylan. "Dark was the Night-Cold was the Ground" is considered by many as a classic blues recording, in which Johnson sticks to a wordless, hummed singing, letting the slide have complete say. Believe me this is a search worth taking. I would never part with these recordings.