WHO’S GOT THE BLUES? DEPT…

Robert Johnson
The Complete Recordings
Sony Legacy
www.thecompleterobertjohnson.com

Various Finger Picking Depression Era Artists
Blue From The Vaults
Sony Legacy
www.thecompleterobertjohnson.com
By George W. Harris

Yes, this material by the legendary bluesman, who’s music here has influenced EVERYONE that’s every put a guitar on his lap, has been released before. But, as the sticker on the cover says so diplomatically, this time around, the music has been “exquisitely re-mastered” making the sound as real as you’re ever going to get. And it’s pretty darned good!

As far as the songs themselves, where do you start? Johnson, who would be 100 on May 8, discusses timeless issues like love (“Love In Vain Blues”), the devil (“Preachin’ Blues”) and demon rum (“Drunken Hearted Blues”). Some things just never change! Johnson’s picking is still with us in the form of artists like Keith Richards, Keb Mo’, Eric Clapton and Bonnie Raitt. Tunes like “Cross Road Blues” or “Ramblin’ On My Mind” have been ripped off, sliced and diced by a million guitarists, but no one did it better than here. Johnson, who only recorded in 1936 and 1937, in San Antonio and Dallas, says more on these 42 tunes (16 of which are alternates) than every indie band that released something the past 5 years. You can’t just play it, you’ve also got to FEEL it. You’ll feel it here.

The second disc collection serves more than anything as a time capsule
companion to The Complete Robert Johnson Centennial Edition. The
charming conglomeration here has 34 tunes from a wide variety of blues,
western swing and Mexican folk artists, all delivered with an earnest
energy and dirty fingernail veracity that is missing in today’s sterile
musical environment.

Some fairly well known artists like Sleepy John Estes and Memphis
Minnie are represented here with some earthy renditions of “Expressman
Blues” and “I Never Told A Lie” respectively. Quite intriguing are the
tunes recorded during the same time span as the Robert Johnson
sessions. Western (NOT Country) tunes like “The Eyes Of Texas” by The
Light Crust Doughboys or “Breeze” by Zeke Williams have a layer of dust
on their saddles, while “Que Sera?” and “Que Piensas…” by Hermanas
Brazza and Andres Berlanga evoke images of a soundtrack for The
Treasure Of Sierra Madre. Lonesome and heart on sleeve emotions, with
penetrating gravitas is in abundance in every chord. A fascinating time
capsule.