Robert Johnson - The Complete Recordings: The Centennial Collection *

Artist:

Johnson, Robert

UPC:

886978590725

See Also:

Peter Green - The Robert Johnson Songbook [11/11] Big Head Blues Club/Big Head Todd & the Monsters - 100 Years of Robert Johnson

Description:

Liner Note Authors: Stephen C. Lavere; Ted Gioia.
Recording information: 11/23/1936-06/20/1937.
Photographer: Robert Johnson.
In practical terms, there`s not much need for Robert Johnson`s The Complete Recordings: The Centennial Collection. There are no undiscovered master or alternate takes, new remastering can only improve the original acetates and 78s so much, and apart from the sequencing of alternate takes after the masters, a debatable merit for listenability, the original 1990 box set The Complete Recordings did everything right. So, The Centennial Collection exists to celebrate Johnson`s 100th birthday, and to offer improved sequencing and sound, both of which are evident on the double-disc set that provides the foundation for this entire reissue project. As strong as this compilation is, what`s really noteworthy in this centennial celebration is the box set designed for the very wealthy among us, a handsome, lavish fetish object for collectors coming complete with a hardcover book containing 45-rpm replicas of the original 78-rpm singles; a double disc of Johnson`s originals; a double disc of Rarities from the Vault that places Johnson into the context of his times by offering a disc of blues cut between 1928-1932 and a disc of Texas country, folk, and Mexican music; and then a DVD documentary of Johnson`s legacy. Naturally, this luxurious item is more attractive and interesting than its bare-bones companion, but it doesn`t necessarily offer greater musical insight than its slimmer cousin. Johnson`s legacy can fit onto a mere two discs, so the rest of the set is essentially well-dressed extras, with the two CDs of contemporary blues, country, and folk offering a nice sampling of Johnson`s peers even if they`re by no means extensive. And when you spring for a set of this magnitude, what matters isn`t the content so much as the presentation -- and in that regard, the four-disc set is impeccable. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine

Track Listing:

DISC 1: SAN ANTONIO RECORDINGS/ALTERNATES:

1. Kind Hearted Woman Blues
2. I Believe I`ll Dust My Broom
3. Sweet Home Chicago
4. Ramblin` on My Mind
5. When You Got a Good Friend
6. Come on in My Kitchen
7. Terraplane Blues
8. Phonograph Blues
9. 32-20 Blues
10. They`re Red Hot
11. Dead Shrimp Blues
12. Cross Road Blues
13. Walkin` Blues
14. Last Fair Deal Gone Down
15. Preachin` Blues (Up Jumped the Devil)
16. If I Had Possession Over Judgment Day
17. Kind Hearted Woman Blues
18. Ramblin` on My Mind
19. When You Got a Good Friend
20. Come on in My Kitchen
21. Phonograph Blues
22. Cross Road Blues

DISC 2: DALLAS RECORDINGS/ALTERNATES:

1. Stones in My Passway
2. I`m a Steady Rollin` Man
3. From Four Until Late
4. Hell Hound on My Trail
5. Little Queen of Spades
6. Malted Milk
7. Drunken Hearted Man
8. Me and the Devil Blues
9. Stop Breakin` Down Blues
10. Traveling Riverside Blues
11. Honeymoon Blues
12. Love in Vain Blues
13. Milkcow`s Calf Blues
14. Little Queen of Spades, A
15. Drunken Hearted Man
16. Me and the Devil Blues
17. Stop Breakin` Down Blues
18. Guitar Figure [Test Groove Before Traveling Riverside Blues]/Traveling Riverside Blues
19. Johnson Speaks [Test Groove Before Love in Vain Blues]/Love in Vain Blues
20. Milkcow`s Calf Blues

Album Information

Release Date:

04/26/2011

Type:

Performer

Genre:

Blues

Subgenre:

Delta

Label:

Columbia (USA)

Producer:

Don Law; Stephen C. Lavere

Catalog Number:

85907

Original Release Year:

2011

# of Discs:

2

Mono/Stereo:

Stereo

Runtime:

110 : 55

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