Robert Johnson

[Pedro Alonso Lopez]

I know RedZeppelin listens to Robert but does anybody else. By the way Clapton is releasing an album of Johnsons songs which should be good.

For all of you who listen to the crap around today if you want to hear a man put his heart and soul into his music and remember he was never recognised for it, listen to his songs Crossroads and the haunting Hellhound on my tail.

[canikickit]

I wouldn't say that I "listen to him", but I've heard a good bit of his stuff, and very entertaining it is.

An acoustic guitar and a voice with emotion, that's all you get, and it sounds great. I like it because it is real; no samplers, sequencers or digital recording, just a mic thrown into the room and away he goes.

[Hampton]

Robert's a beautiful thing. I guess the most obvious thing about it is the sound, you put on a Robert Johnson record and it sounds like you're listening to it through Edison's phonograph. But since people like Leadbelly and some other folks have that sound, it's the intimacy and soul in his voice that puts it over the top.

But beyond that is just a man and his guitar making great music that would effect a whole lot of people. Although sometimes I think the whole mystique and legend that surrounds him is cared about more than his music, which is wiggity wack.

One thing I don't like is Clapton somehow attaching himself to every great blues musician that seemingly ever lived. He said Muddy Waters was like his father and he is adopted son, he records an album with B.B. called "Riding with the King" and on the cover he's driving the car, and now this with Robert Johnson. If I wanted to listen to Johnson covers I'd probally listen to Elmore James.

As Howlin Wolf would say "That's evil."

[Dr. Rosenpenis]

I don't listen to Robert regularly like I do most other artists that I admire. Like Hampton said, the recordings sound like crap.

Did anyone read the article on Guitar One a few weeks ago on Clapton and Johnson? It mentioned EC's new album with all the RJ covers on it. I'll probably get that eventually.

Even though Clapton re arranged Crossroads to the new, famous version we hear today, the original version was even more incredible considering it was written in like 1936 and performed with nothing but him and his guitar. Him alone. He was probably the most influential songwriter and guitarist.


One thing I don't like is Clapton somehow attaching himself to every great blues musician that seemingly ever lived. He said Muddy Waters was like his father and he is adopted son, he records an album with B.B. called "Riding with the King" and on the cover he's driving the car, and now this with Robert Johnson. If I wanted to listen to Johnson covers I'd probably listen to Elmore James.

I have to agree. As much as I admire Eric Clapton, it's not for his blues. He is a vastly over rated bluesman.

How many actual blues albums did he even do?

His guitar-playing talent is right up there with BB King, though, even better than BB, I think.

[Rastafari]

I was on a huge "Old Blues masters" kick a while ago. I listened to Robert Johnson and Blind Blake, Ma Rainey almost exclusively.

now I'm on a Muddy and Albert King path, so who knows

[Pedro Alonso Lopez]

Did anyone read the article on Guitar One a few weeks ago on Clapton and Johnson? It mentioned EC's new album with all the RJ covers on it. I'll probably get that eventually.

I did, but judging by what he said I'm not sure if the record will be anything like RJ since it came just from jamming sessions and there seemed to be a lot of talk about improvisation.

[Take the Power back]

I don't listen to anything Clapton after Cream, except "Slowhand" on occasion. I think part of the RJ mystique is the alleged deal with the devil he had. Interesting stuff.

[Dr. Rosenpenis]

I first thought that the Eric Clapton Robert Johnson cover album would be a lot like his cover of Crossraods, which is completely different from RJ's version. Not in a bad way, though. You can't deny that EC's version of Crossroads is incredible, it has an entirely different vibe than RJ's stuf, though. I don't think that stuff like EC's Crossraods comes very easily from jamming, though, does it? And EC is probably way beyond stuff like his version of Crossroads anyways.

This site has kind of destroyed my enthusiasm fro Eric Clapton :P So I'm not very excited about his new album. I'll buy it... evetually.

Robert Johnson is certainly some beautiful stuff. I think I'll go slip some in my CD player. I'll probably buy some authentic blues before I buy more Eric Clapton.