The Complete Recordings is a compilation album by American Delta blues musician Robert Johnson. The 41 songs were recorded in two sessions in Dallas and San Antonio, Texas for the American Record Company (ARC) during 1936 and 1937. Most were first released on 78 rpm records in 1937. The Complete Recordings, released August 28, 1990, by Columbia Records, contains every recording Johnson is known to have made, with the exception of an alternate take of "Traveling Riverside Blues".
| The Complete Recordings | ||||
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| Compilation album by | ||||
| Released | August 28, 1990 | |||
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| Genre | Delta blues | |||
| Length | 104:53 | |||
| Label | Columbia | |||
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| Robert Johnson chronology | ||||
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The Complete Recordings peaked at number 80 on the Billboard 200 chart. The album sold more than a million copies,[1] and won a Grammy Award in 1991 for "Best Historical Album."[2] In 1992, the Blues Foundation inducted the album into the Blues Hall of Fame.[3] It also was included by the National Recording Preservation Board in the Library of Congress' National Recording Registry in 2003.[4] Eric Clapton and Keith Richards contributed to the album liner notes with essays on Johnson's influence on their music.[5]
Background and recording
editPrior to his death in 1938, through the help of H. C. Speir Johnson recorded 29 songs for the American Record Company (ARC). His complete canon of recordings includes these 29 masters, plus 13 surviving alternate takes, all recorded at two ARC sessions held in San Antonio and Dallas, Texas. The Mississippi Delta—200 miles of fertile lowlands stretching from Memphis, Tennessee, in the North to Vicksburg, Mississippi, in the South—was one of the primary locales in which the blues originated and developed.[6] He is said to have been heavily influenced by early blues artists like Skip James,[7] who was recorded in 1931, around the same time that Johnson amazed his elders with his mastery of the guitar. James's eerie, distinctive style is reflected throughout Johnson's recordings, especially "32-20 Blues," which he adapted from James's "22-20 Blues."
Johnson's first session in San Antonio took place over three days – November 23, 26, and 27, 1936. Sixteen songs were recorded in the Gunter Hotel, where ARC had set up equipment to record several musical artists. "Kind Hearted Woman Blues" was the first song recorded. Also captured in San Antonio were "I Believe I'll Dust My Broom" and "Sweet Home Chicago," both of which became post-war blues standards. "Terraplane Blues," known for its metaphoric lyrics, became a regional hit and Johnson's signature song. Most of the selections were released on Vocalion 78 rpm records, but three songs and several interesting alternate takes remained unissued until they appeared on the Columbia albums. Six months later, on June 19 and 20, 1937, other recording sessions took place at the Warner Brothers/Vitagraph Building in Dallas where, once again, ARC had set up its recording equipment to capture many different musicians. This time 13 songs were recorded and 10 were released during the following year.[8]
Reception and influence
edit| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |  [9] |
| Baltimore Sun | (favorable)[10] |
| Chicago Tribune | [11] |
| Down Beat | [12] |
| Entertainment Weekly | (A+)[13] |
| Los Angeles Times | (favorable)[14] |
| Q | [15] |
| Rolling Stone | [16] |
| Time | (favorable)[17] |
| Washington Post | (favorable)[18] |
| The Penguin Guide to Blues Recordings | [19] |
While Robert Johnson's professional recording career can be measured in months, his musical legacy has survived more than 70 years. Muddy Waters and Howlin' Wolf, the two most prominent Chicago bluesmen of the 1950s, both had their roots in the Delta: Muddy was influenced by Johnson's records,[20] and Wolf worked with Johnson around the Delta area.[21] Johnson's emotive vocals, combined with his varied and masterful guitar playing, continue to influence modern blues and popular music performers.
The Chicago Tribune's Greg Kot wrote that The Complete Recordings, along with Clapton's The Layla Sessions (1990), survive as "monuments of 20th Century music that will rarely, if ever, be equaled".[22]
In 2012, the album was ranked number 22 on Rolling Stone magazine's list of the 500 greatest albums of all time.[23]
Track listing
editFor recording dates and original releases, see Robert Johnson recordings.
Original release (1990)
edit| No. | Title | Issued on | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Kindhearted Woman Blues" (take 1) | Vocalion 03416 | 2:49 |
| 2. | "Kindhearted Woman Blues" (take 2) | Vocalion 03416 | 2:31 |
| 3. | "I Believe I'll Dust My Broom" | Vocalion 03475 | 2:56 |
| 4. | "Sweet Home Chicago" | Vocalion 03601 | 2:59 |
| 5. | "Rambling on My Mind" (take 1) | Columbia CL 1654 | 2:51 |
| 6. | "Rambling on My Mind" (take 2) | Vocalion 03519 | 2:20 |
| 7. | "When You Got a Good Friend" (take 1) | Columbia CL 1654 | 2:37 |
| 8. | "When You Got a Good Friend" (take 2) | previously unreleased | 2:50 |
| 9. | "Come On in My Kitchen" (take 1) | Columbia CL 1654 | 2:47 |
| 10. | "Come On in My Kitchen" (take 2) | Vocalion 03563 | 2:35 |
| 11. | "Terraplane Blues" | Vocalion 03416 | 3:00 |
| 12. | "Phonograph Blues" (take 1) | Columbia 30034 | 2:37 |
| 13. | "Phonograph Blues" (take 2) | previously unreleased | 2:32 |
| 14. | "32-20 Blues" | Vocalion 03445 | 2:51 |
| 15. | "They're Red Hot" | Vocalion 03563 | 2:56 |
| 16. | "Dead Shrimp Blues" | Vocalion 03475 | 2:30 |
| 17. | "Cross Road Blues" (take 1) | Vocalion 03519 | 2:39 |
| 18. | "Cross Road Blues" (take 2) | Columbia CL 1654 | 2:29 |
| 19. | "Walking Blues" | Vocalion 03601 | 2:28 |
| 20. | "Last Fair Deal Gone Down" | Vocalion 03445 | 2:39 |
| No. | Title | Issued on | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Preaching Blues (Up Jumped the Devil)" | Vocalion 04630 | 2:50 |
| 2. | "If I Had Possession Over Judgment Day" | Columbia CL 1654 | 2:34 |
| 3. | "Stones in My Passway" | Vocalion 03723 | 2:27 |
| 4. | "I'm a Steady Rollin' Man" | Vocalion 03723 | 2:35 |
| 5. | "From Four Till Late" | Vocalion 03623 | 2:23 |
| 6. | "Hellhound on My Trail" | Vocalion 03623 | 2:35 |
| 7. | "Little Queen of Spades" (take 1) | Vocalion 04108 | 2:11 |
| 8. | "Little Queen of Spades" (take 2) | Columbia 30034 | 2:15 |
| 9. | "Malted Milk" | Vocalion 03665 | 2:17 |
| 10. | "Drunken Hearted Man" (take 1) | Columbia 30034 | 2:24 |
| 11. | "Drunken Hearted Man" (take 2) | previously unreleased | 2:19 |
| 12. | "Me and the Devil Blues" (take 1) | Vocalion 04108 | 2:37 |
| 13. | "Me and the Devil Blues" (take 2) | Columbia CL 1654 | 2:29 |
| 14. | "Stop Breakin' Down Blues" (take 1) | Columbia 30034 | 2:16 |
| 15. | "Stop Breakin' Down Blues" (take 2) | Vocalion 04002 | 2:21 |
| 16. | "Traveling Riverside Blues" | Columbia CL 1654 | 2:47 |
| 17. | "Honeymoon Blues" | Vocalion 04002 | 2:16 |
| 18. | "Love in Vain" (take 1) | Columbia 30034 | 2:28 |
| 19. | "Love in Vain" (take 4) | Vocalion 04630 | 2:19 |
| 20. | "Milkcow's Calf Blues" (take 3) | Columbia CL 1654 | 2:14 |
| 21. | "Milkcow's Calf Blues" (take 2) | Vocalion 03665 | 2:20 |
The Centennial Collection (2011)
edit| No. | Title | Issued on | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Kind Hearted Woman Blues" (take 1) | Vocalion 03416 | 2:49 |
| 2. | "I Believe I'll Dust My Broom" | Vocalion 03475 | 2:56 |
| 3. | "Sweet Home Chicago" | Vocalion 03601 | 2:59 |
| 4. | "Ramblin' on My Mind" (take 2) | Vocalion 03519 | 2:20 |
| 5. | "When You Got a Good Friend" (take 1) | Columbia CL 1654 | 2:37 |
| 6. | "Come On in My Kitchen" (take 2) | Vocalion 03563 | 2:35 |
| 7. | "Terraplane Blues" | Vocalion 03416 | 3:00 |
| 8. | "Phonograph Blues" (take 1) | Columbia 30034 | 2:37 |
| 9. | "32-20 Blues" | Vocalion 03445 | 2:51 |
| 10. | "They're Red Hot" | Vocalion 03563 | 2:56 |
| 11. | "Dead Shrimp Blues" | Vocalion 03475 | 2:30 |
| 12. | "Cross Road Blues" (take 1) | Vocalion 03519 | 2:39 |
| 13. | "Walkin' Blues" | Vocalion 03601 | 2:28 |
| 14. | "Last Fair Deal Gone Down" | Vocalion 03445 | 2:39 |
| 15. | "Preachin' Blues (Up Jumped the Devil)" | Vocalion 04630 | 2:50 |
| 16. | "If I Had Possession Over Judgment Day" | Columbia CL 1654 | 2:34 |
| 17. | "Kind Hearted Woman Blues" (take 2) | Vocalion 03416 | 2:31 |
| 18. | "Ramblin' on My Mind" (take 1) | Columbia CL 1654 | 2:51 |
| 19. | "When You Got a Good Friend" (take 2) | C3/C2T/CK 46222 | 2:50 |
| 20. | "Come On in My Kitchen" (take 1) | Columbia CL 1654 | 2:47 |
| 21. | "Phonograph Blues" (take 2) | C3/C2T/CK 46222 | 2:32 |
| 22. | "Cross Road Blues" (take 2) | Columbia CL 1654 | 2:29 |
| No. | Title | Issued on | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Stones in My Passway" | Vocalion 03723 | 2:27 |
| 2. | "I'm a Steady Rollin' Man" | Vocalion 03723 | 2:35 |
| 3. | "From Four Until Late" | Vocalion 03623 | 2:23 |
| 4. | "Hellhound on My Trail" | Vocalion 03623 | 2:35 |
| 5. | "Little Queen of Spades" (take 1) | Vocalion 04108 | 2:11 |
| 6. | "Malted Milk" | Vocalion 03665 | 2:17 |
| 7. | "Drunken Hearted Man" (take 1) | Columbia 30034 | 2:24 |
| 8. | "Me and the Devil Blues" (take 1) | Vocalion 04108 | 2:37 |
| 9. | "Stop Breakin' Down Blues" (take 2) | Vocalion 04002 | 2:21 |
| 10. | "Traveling Riverside Blues" (take 1) | CK 65746 | 2:39 |
| 11. | "Honeymoon Blues" | Vocalion 04002 | 2:16 |
| 12. | "Love in Vain Blues" (take 2) | Vocalion 04630 | 2:19 |
| 13. | "Milkcow's Calf Blues" (take 2) | Vocalion 03665 | 2:20 |
| 14. | "Little Queen of Spades" (take 2) | Columbia 30034 | 2:15 |
| 15. | "Drunken Hearted Man" (take 2) | C3/C2T/CK 46222 | 2:19 |
| 16. | "Me and the Devil Blues" (take 2) | Columbia CL 1654 | 2:29 |
| 17. | "Stop Breakin' Down Blues" (take 1) | Columbia 30034 | 2:16 |
| 18. | "Traveling Riverside Blues" (take 2) | Columbia CL 1654 | 2:47 |
| 19. | "Love in Vain Blues" (take 1) | Columbia 30034 | 2:28 |
| 20. | "Milkcow's Calf Blues" (take 3) | Columbia CL 1654 | 2:14 |
Personnel
edit- Robert Johnson – acoustic guitar, vocals
- Don Law – original recording producer
- Vincent Liebler – original recording engineer
- Laurence Cohen – Columbia "Roots ‘n’ Blues Series" producer
- Frank Driggs – reissue producer
- Stephen LaVere – reissue producer
1995 rerelease
editThe Penguin Guide to Blues Recordings reports that a 1995 rerelease of the album had improved sound, resulting from better source material and remastering. In addition to a maximum four-star rating, the guide awarded this reissue a “crown”, indicating a CD of exceptional merit.[19]
2011 reissue
editA new remastered edition of the album was released in 2011 in commemoration of Johnson's 100th birthday. The Centennial Collection was released in both standard and deluxe editions.[24] The track order was changed so that all of the alternate takes were placed at the end of the discs, rather than side by side with the master tracks—as the 1990 release had placed them.[25] Included on this edition, is a previously unissued take of "Traveling Riverside Blues" (DAL.400-1) which was previously thought to be one of 19 Robert Johnson Recordings that were lost or destroyed. It was found in the archives of Alan Lomax, which had been purchased by the American Folklife Center of the Library of Congress.[26]
Certifications
edit| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom (BPI)[27] | Silver | 60,000‡ |
| United States (RIAA)[28] | Platinum | 1,000,000^ |
|
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. | ||
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ Bordowitz, Hank. Turning Points in Rock and Roll, Citadel Press (2004), page 22 – ISBN 0-8065-2631-9
- ^ "Awards". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 20 May 2021.
- ^ Bragg, Rick. Journeys: Driving the Blues Trail, In Search of a Lost Muse. The New York Times. Retrieved on 2009-08-07.
- ^ "About This Program | National Recording Preservation Board | Programs | Library of Congress". Library of Congress. Retrieved 20 May 2021.
- ^ "PBS - American Roots Music : The Songs and the Artists - Robert Johnson". Pbs.org. Retrieved 20 May 2021.
- ^ "Vintage Books: Confederates in the Attic". www.randomhouse.com. Archived from the original on 7 March 2001. Retrieved 17 January 2022.
- ^ Dicaire, David. Blues Singers: Biographies of 50 Legendary Artists of the Early 20th, McFarland & Company (1999), page 20 – ISBN 0-7864-0606-2
- ^ "All About Jazz: Robert Johnson". Archived from the original on 2008-02-13. Retrieved 2008-01-08.
- ^ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. Review: The Complete Recordings. Allmusic. Retrieved on 2009-08-08.
- ^ Considine, J.D. "Review: The Complete Recordings". The Baltimore Sun: 8.L. November 11, 1990.
- ^ Kot, Greg. "Review: The Complete Recordings". Chicago Tribune: 12. December 9, 1990.
- ^ Columnist. "Review: The Complete Recordings". Down Beat: 55. February 1997.
- ^ Browne, David. Review: The Complete Recordings. Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved on 2009-08-08.
- ^ Cromelin, Richard. "Review: The Complete Recordings". Los Angeles Times: 16. August 25, 1990.
- ^ Columnist. "Review: The Complete Recordings". Q: 126. August 1994.
- ^ Palmer, Robert. Review: The Complete Recordings. Rolling Stone. Retrieved on 2009-08-08.
- ^ Columnist. Review: The Complete Recordings. Time. Retrieved on 2009-08-08.
- ^ "Review: The Complete Recordings". The Washington Post: n.09. December 28, 1990. Archived from the original[dead link] on 2009-08-08.
- ^ a b Russell, Tony; Smith, Chris (2006). The Penguin Guide to Blues Recordings. Penguin. pp. 328–329. ISBN 978-0-140-51384-4.
- ^ Obrecht, Jas, ed. (2000). Rollin' and Tumblin': The Postwar Blues Guitarists. San Francisco: Miller Freeman Books. p. 96. ISBN 0-87930-613-0.
- ^ Segrest, James; Hoffman, Mark (2005). Moanin' at Midnight: The Life and Times of Howlin' Wolf. New York: Thunder’s Mouth Press. pp. 40–41. ISBN 978-1-56025-683-0.
- ^ Kot, Greg. "A Blue Rendezvous: Johnson and Clapton Speak the Same Language". Chicago Tribune: 8. October 7, 1990.
- ^ "500 Greatest Albums of All Time Rolling Stone's definitive list of the 500 greatest albums of all time". Rolling Stone. 2012. Retrieved September 23, 2019.
- ^ Deusner, Stephen M. (May 2, 2011). "Robert Johnson: The Centennial Collection [Columbia Legacy]". Pastemagazine.com. Retrieved December 12, 2013.
- ^ Barbrick, Breg (May 4, 2011). "Music Review: Robert Johnson – The Centennial Collection". Blogcritics.org. Retrieved December 12, 2013.
- ^ M. Dion Thompson. "At the American Folklife Center, a blues resurrection: A long-lost recording by bluesman Robert Johnson is most remarkable for flaws that make the legendary musician a little more human". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved 17 March 2019.
- ^ "British album certifications – Robert Johnson – The Complete Recordings". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved November 8, 2024.
- ^ "American album certifications – Robert Johnson – The Complete Recordings". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved November 8, 2024.