Robert Johnson’s Greatest Hits — By Cream, Zeppelin, the Stones & Fleetwood Mac
Ted Drozdowski | 05.07.2009
Gibson.com
http://www.gibson.com/en-us/Lifestyle/Features/robert-johnsons-hits-507/Robert Johnson — who was born 98 years ago on May 8 — was tagged by Columbia Records as the “King of the Delta Blues Singers.” That’s debatable, with figures like Son House and Charley Patton also competing for that crown.
What’s certain is that Johnson is the godfather of rock and roll. It’s no surprise that virtually every prominent blues artist, as well as every bar band in the genre, has recorded or performed at least one Johnson song. But in rock, his influence has spanned styles and decades that the Mississippi master who was murdered at age 27 never lived to hear or imagine.
Eric Clapton, Rory Block and Peter Green have all made albums of Johnson songs, and Johnny Winter, Muddy Waters and a host of blues performers have put their mark on his catalog. But here’s a list of versions of Robert Johnson numbers that proves just how daring and wide-ranging the blues can be, and how strong and flexible the musical foundation he laid remains today:
“Malted Milk,” Some Girls, featuring Juliana Hatfield: Perhaps the least likely group to ever cover a Johnson tune, preppy alt-rock heroine Juliana Hatfield’s Some Girls band recorded this one for 2003’s Feel It. Asked how she related to the song, Hatfield deadpanned, “I beat my woman until I feel satisfied.”
“Crossroads,” Cream: Eric Clapton’s soaring adaptation of Johnson’s “Cross Road Blues” remains one of the cornerstones of the classic rock era, although by all rights perhaps Cream was actually the first jam band. The tune appeared on the group’s third release, 1968’s two-LP Wheels of Fire.
“Hellhound on My Trail,” Peter Green’s Fleetwood Mac: Decades later Green recorded an entire album of Johnson covers with his Splinter Group, and he cut “Walking Blues” and “Cross Road Blues” down the line with the Mac, but on this eponymous 1968 debut he announced his intention to put his own mark on the classics by recording with his piano and voice — no guitar.
“Love in Vain,” the Rolling Stones: Jagger’s laconic singing, Keith Richards’ slide, the whole song’s dark molasses delivery — this key track from 1969’s Let It Bleed provides a glimpse into the soulful inspiration of one of the world’s greatest rock and roll bands.
“Come On In My Kitchen,” Steve Miller Band: This acoustic performance from Miller’s classic 1973 The Joker — a fairly direct translation of Johnson’s original — is a potent reminder of his blues roots, the springboard for his pop hit-making.
“Preaching the Blues,” the Gun Club: Son House’s song got filtered through Johnson to land in the repertoire of the Gun Club, progenitors of today’s punk-blues movement. This radical, whip-cracking remake with Tasering slide guitar from 1981’s Fire of Love may be the most intense, high-energy take on Johnson after Cream’s “Crossroads.”
“Traveling Riverside Blues,” Led Zeppelin: More a rambling pastiche of this title plus “Come On in My Kitchen” and “Kind Hearted Woman,” Zeppelin tore into this performance on the BBC in 1969. It finally appeared on 1990’s Led Zeppelin box, and features a ripping open G riff from Jimmy Page. And it’s a perfect example of how a great band expands blues themes while keeping the music’s spirit intact.
“They’re Red Hot,” Red Hot Chili Peppers: A punk-funk arrangement stretches Johnson’s ragtime number, which closes the Peppers’ 1991 classic Blood Sugar Sex Magik. Nuthin’ bluesy about it. It’s silly as Flea’s bright blue hair.
“Stop Breaking Down,” White Stripes: This Detroit duo bared its roots more on their 1999 eponymous debut. And this version of Johnson’s lament has a whinnying, shimmying clomp that splits the difference between CBGB and the Delta.
“Terraplane Blues,” Foghat: These Brits recorded “Sweet Home Chicago,” too, but when it comes to unrestrained blues-rock slide guitar swagger, it’s hard to beat this tune from 1975’s hit album Fool for the City.
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