EW's GRADE
A+

Details Lead Performance: Robert Johnson; Genres: Blues, Reissues

Robert Johnson lived fast, died young, and left a body of music that has been so widely covered it serves as a cornerstone of the blues. Whether he created or merely adapted such songs as ''Cross Road Blues,'' ''Dust My Broom,'' and ''Milkcow's Calf Blues,'' the Mississippi singer-guitarist's passion-filled recordings have influenced and inspired performers from Howlin' Wolf to Eric Clapton. Depsite the noisy sound quality on some of these 1936-37 sides, the soul-felt truth of Johnson's performances is crystal clear. The Complete Recordings is exactly as billed: 41 takes of 29 songs, all of Johnson's surviving studio work. An exceptional tribute to a richly deserving artist. A+

Originally posted Jul 14, 2009 Published in issue #36 Oct 19, 1990 Order article reprints
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