- This topic has 5 replies, 3 voices, and was last updated 9 years, 1 month ago by
.
-
Posts
-
-
To say Robert Johnson was extremely talented is an understatement, he seems to have been a musical genius, but another major aspect of his enduring appeal is his sad and mysterious 1939 death by poison, and the myth that he “sold his soul to the Devil” in return for his amazing musical skills.
Johnny Shines, Robert Junior Lockwood (the “Junior” in his name is because he was Robert Johnson’s stepson, but the two weren’t all that much different ages), Sonny Boy Williamson II (Rice Miller), Elmore James, among his friends and peers, all outlived him by many years. I was surprised to learn that Hound Dog Taylor ran with the same crowd (although he may never have hung out with Robert Johnson, he seemed much younger to me).
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
There’s a lot of interesting information about “Love In Vain” at Wikipedia. One thing is kind of strange, although it mentions the woman who inspired it, it only gives her first name. She was Willie Mae Powell.
One of the Wiki authors mentions that R.J. borrowed the melody from Leroy Carr’s “(In The Evening) When The Sun Goes Down” (what did we do before just about every fact was correlated with just about every other?).
Just because, here’s Big Bill Broonzy’s “When The Sun Goes Down.”
Here’s take 1 of what Robert Johnson recorded in Dallas on Sunday, June 20, 1937 (from the remastered 2011 centennial release)
Here’s take 2 (if you’ve never heard these remasters, you’ve never really heard Robert Johnson sound as good as possible).
Here’s a YouTube playlist containing the two songs and some others.
Here’s the Rolling Stones’ cover from Let It Bleed (the last album with Brian Jones and the first with Mick Taylor). They first credited either “traditional” or Woody Payne, but after a lawsuit, Robert Johnson was credited and his heirs were paid. It looks like it was more oversight than malice in the first place on the Stones’ part. Recorded between November 1968 and November 1969, it was the second song on side 1 of Let It Bleed, released on Friday, December 5, 1969. The Wikipedia article for the album mentions that Mick Jagger asked artist M.C. Escher to design a cover for the album but he declined.
Here’s their cover from the live Get Yer Ya-Ya’s Out! The Rolling Stones in Concert (recorded Wednesday, November 26, 1969, Baltimore [rest of the record was recorded at Madison Square Garden on the next two days], released September 4, 1970).
The Faces, live (1972)
Peter Green Splinter Group from The Robert Johnson Songbook (1998)
Eric Clapton from Me and Mr. Johnson (2004)
Keb’ Mo’ on Legends of Jazz with Ramsey Lewis “Roots: The Blues Episode” (2006)
I had to do this in a hurry. I’ll be back with some additional versions.
Don D.
-
-
-
My very favorite cut with Rod Stewart was an early one with Aynsley Dunbar’s group of the moment, Peter Green on guitar, Jack Bruce on bass doing Buddy Guy’s “Stone Crazy.” It’s said to be the only recording by that lineup. I’ve posted it here so if you search the forum, it should turn up.
This isn’t meant to be a substitute for New Lesson Friday. Have a nice weekend!
Don D.
-
-
The one you found is better but here’s the one I mentioned, 1965, I think.
https://www.youtube.com/shared?ci=YGTZk4wQWG0Don D.
-
- You must be logged in to reply to this topic.
