During the last quarter of the 20th century, and thanks largely to Eric Clapton's remarkable devotion to his memory, Robert Leroy Johnson posthumously became the most celebrated Delta blues musician of the pre-WWII era. Among numerous editions of his complete works and various anthologies that combine his recordings with those of his contemporaries and followers, J.S.P.'s The Road to Robert Johnson and Beyond combines many of his essential performances with those by dozens of other blues artists from Blind Lemon Jefferson and Henry Thomas to Muddy Waters and Elmore James. 105 tracks fill four CDs with several decades' worth of strongly steeped blues that trace the African American migration from the deep south on up into Chicago. This is a fine way to savor the recorded evidence, as primary examples from Blind Blake, Charley Patton, Son House, Charlie McCoy, Walter Vincson, Skip James, Ma Rainey, Tampa Red, Kokomo Arnold, Scrapper Blackwell, Leroy Carr, Lonnie Johnson, and Peetie Wheatstraw lead directly to early modern masters like Big Joe Williams, Sonny Boy Williamson, Big Bill Broonzy, Johnny Temple, Leroy Foster, Johnny Shines, Homesick James Williamson, Robert Jr. Lockwood, Snooky Pryor, Little Walter, and David Honeyboy Edwards, among many others.
Here are the great musicians and singers that inspired Robert Johnson’s legendary performances. Peetie Wheatstraw, Charley Patton, Kokomo Arnold, Blind Lemon Jefferson, Skip James, Johnny Temple, Blind Blake, Leroy Carr, Tampa Red, The Mississippi Sheiks, Son House and more! These are the sources of both his powerful performing style and his compositional vision. This CD is a companion to the book “Escaping the Delta: Robert Johnson and the Invention of the Blues”.
In a day and time (post-2000) when tribute albums spring up before a singer has a chance to die, much less become an immortal, it's a relief to get an album that switches the formula. Back to the Crossroads traces the roots - not the influence - of Robert Johnson, perhaps the most eulogized singer in blues history…
Towering figure of the Delta blues, whose high, ghostly wail and dauntingly nimble guitar work lent his music frightening emotional power.
If the blues has a truly mythic figure, one whose story hangs over the music the way a Charlie Parker does over jazz or a Hank Williams does over country, it's Robert Johnson, certainly the most celebrated figure in the history of the blues. Of course, his legend is immensely fortified by the fact that Johnson also left behind a small legacy of recordings that are considered the emotional apex of the music itself…
The album features return guest appearances by Chuck Leavell, (Stones, Allman Bros., Sea Level, John Mayer) Willie Weeks (bass, Eric Clapton) and Jim Brock (drums Kathy Mattea) as well as some of the best musicians from the Washington, D.C. area including members of Tom's current performing and road band: Tommy Lepson - keyboard & vocals, Joe Wells - drums, Josh Howel - vocals & percussion, Steve Wolf bass, and two different horn sections led by arranger/baritone saxophonist Christ Watling. This CD is comprised entirely of original compositions. The title cut refers to Robert Johnson, who was a legendary Mississippi delta blues musician in the 1930's whose music and life are surrounded by much legend and folklore.
The Robert Johnson Songbook is Peter Green's first recording made entirely of covers of the music written by the King of the Delta Blues. Unfortunately, though pleasant, The Robert Johnson Songbook lacks the warmth and soulfulness of its successor - Hot Foot Powder. The Robert Johnson Songbook features Green's Splinter Group, plus a guest appearance by Paul Rodgers.