mail: daniel_fjall@hotmail.com
|
from four til late
From Four Til Late Released: 2004 Rating: Unrated Track Listing: 1. Terraplane Blues/ 2. Stop Breakin’ Down Blues/ 3. If I Had Possession Over Judgement Day/ 4. Stones In My Passway/ 5. From Four Til Late/ 6. Come On In My Kitchen/ 7. Love In Vain/ 8. Malted Milk/ 9. Travelling Riverside Blues/ 10. Sweet Home Chicago/ 11. Me And The Devil Blues/ 12. Rambling On My Mind/ 13. Cross Road Blues/ 14. They’re Red Hot/ 15. I’m A Steady Rollin’ Band/ 16. Walking Blues/ 17. I Believe I’ll Dust My Broom/ 18. Hellhound On My Trail/ 19. Kind Hearted Woman/ 20. Last Fair Deal Gone Down I’m not sure if it is quite possible for people today to fully comprehend the impact and importance of Robert Johnson. To do that, it is not enough just hearing the music, but you must also put it in the right context. I admit that I rather listen to somebody like Kelly Joe Phelps or Ry Cooder’s bluesier side than I listen to Johnson. However, the mystique and circumstance surrounding the Robert Johnson legend finds its way into the music. The scratchy recordings might make it difficult for the average listener to embrace the performances, but it also adds to the fascinating stories and perhaps making the listening even more spectacular. This is a man who changed blues music with thrilling guitar playing and a different singing style compared to what had been done before. He is fully capable of playing the bass rhythm and the chords at the same time as playing the melody. Previously the blues performers stuck with playing one of those three. Although, one of my favorite blues performers, Skip James (whom influenced Johnson hugely), did something similar before Johnson had the chance to record his music. Johnson’s songwriting also touched on different topics than previously. Whilst he did the traditional blues themes about finding Jesus and suffering from the segregation, he also paints a world full of hellhounds, devils and ghost, heavy drinking, fights and raw sexual meetings. It seems odd to hear today’s parents complain about the lyrics for whatever Eminem song that might be played on MTV at the moment, considering that a fully respected and highly regarded man sang about squeezing lemons “until the juice comes running down my leg” and “I’m gonna beat my woman until I’m satisfied” 70 years ago. Seventy! His influence is further proved by the classics songs popularized by younger (and much whiter) artists. The Rolling Stones did their own version of “Love In Vain”, Cream did a furious remake of “Cross Road Blues” (well, Cream guitarist Eric Clapton made two albums purely with Johnson material and covering loads of Johnson’s songs during his career) , even Dan Akroyd’s Blues Brothers recorded Johnson’s songs (including “Sweet Home Chicago”) and Led Zeppelin did “Travelling Riverside Blues”. Yet, despite this incredible importance to his followers and contemporaries, very little is known about Robert Johnson. The date of his birth varies depending on the source and how he died is not known. Some say he was stabbed, some say he was poisoned by a jealous woman and some believe the devil came to claim his pay. Legend has it that Johnson sold his soul to the devil by a crossroad in favor of his musical abilities. The beginning and end of Johnson’s life is still is uncertain and his grown life is poorly documented. There are few photographs available and basically the only proof of his existence is 29 songs (along with alternate versions) recorded in 1936 and 1937. It may be more of a museum piece than a music piece. The emotional performances doesn’t fail to reach the listener, but somehow it feels like “listening to an art gallery of the blues” or something. Artists such as previously mentioned Cooder and Phelps along with Jimi Hendrix, Stevie Ray Vaughan and many others may be just as good guitarists (or at least not far behind) and their work is easier to take to heart than Johnson’s, simply because of the developed recording techniques. On the other hand, if it weren’t for Johnson, those guys never would have had a career to begin with. Also, Johnson's influence changed so much that it is nearly impossible to imagine the world before he made his mark. Still, there are even worse recorded blues musicians I prefer over Johnson. People that did almost the same thing he did, but he did have something unique and he is the one modern blues and rock musicians refer to. He is the one being credited for everything, making him a myth, an icon. I enjoy each and every song he’s recorded, but it takes so much energy and focus from the listener to get inside the music to completely understand it that I refrain from giving his work a traditional rating. I mean, there’s no denying that Johnson had something special. An unique voice that grabs the listener, he was a good storyteller and a fabulous guitarist. Whilst the historical importance cannot in any way be compromised, it is at the same time impossible to understand it today. You can’t compare Johnson to the modern music, because he (despite borrowing many ideas from Skip James and Tommy Johnson) probably is the very foundation of it. If you have any interest in pre-war blues (which you probably have if you’re reading this), I think you should get your hands on one of his albums. It doesn’t matter if it is his original release, King of The Delta Blues Singers, or one of the many compilations circulating. Don’t forget to check out Skip James, Big Bill Broonzy, Blind Lemon Jefferson, Son House, Tommy Johnson or Blind Willie McTell while you’re at it. They’re all great in their own way, even if their reputations never grew into legends. [NOTE: This record is put together by Snapper Records, who also have produced other excellent compilations by great blues artists such as Albert King, John Lee Hooker, Muddy Waters, Buddy Guy, Son House and many others. They're all worth tracking down, believe me.]
|