The Search for Robert Johnson

[jestbout]

Save you some money and head to mississippi! start up at the north border and head south along the river to the gulf coast. stop in all the juke joints along the way, there are players to this day as good or better than robert johnson. po-dunk towns with alot off hidden talent. If you can play, bring your six string. You will NEVER forget the trip. Mississippi has not changed much in the last 100 years.

[tomthefunky]

John Hammond Jr. did this documentary. I could never stand him. He's an heir to the Vanderbilt fortune and pretends he's a Mississippi fieldhand.

[shep79]

@tomthefunky I like your analysis (and I know nothing of the guy). But, if what you said is true, I am turned-off too.

[tomthefunky]

@shep79:It's worth watching if you ever get the chance. And Hammond isn't an untalented guy (He's a damn good Delta blues slide player), it's just that when he sings, he tries so hard to sound black that, in my opinion, he makes a fool out of himself.

My dad used to hang out in Greenwich Village in the sixties. He once told me "It was ridiculous going in to those folk clubs and listening to upper middle class college kids with guitars, singing and pretending they were Virginia coal miners"

[zorbatheok]

Son house said johnson could not play AT ALL then went away for about 4 months came back and could play better than any of them. Additionally he knew every song and was never seen practicing. Science demands answers!!!

[Lagunaaaaaaaaa]

@zorbatheok i hope you're joking

[TheMercuryMusic]

@Lagunaaaaaaaaa Nope all true.

[TheWoud]

Johnson is great but I prefer the covers of Eric and Keith : )

[filthandglamour]

try this

youtube.com/watch?v=UywoVVgu4y­E

[valkour22]

Robert stoled from charely patton.Robert Johnson didnt invent chords!!!! Robert stole from alotta musicians of his time

[BluesBrogio]

@valkour22 Johnson was an apprentice of Charley Patton, along with Howlin' Wolf. These two once toured the southern states together, Wolf as singer and Johnson as guitarrist. And Patton by the way wasn't that original either. He learned a lot from an even more mysterious man know only by Henry Sloan. I guess one could say "Stealing with originality" is in the soul of the Blues.

[valkour22]

@BluesBrogio Blind Lemon Jefferson was orginal and b4 the one's u listed .He has to be 1 of the 1st that flattened the 3rd in which is known as the blues, but as u say really used from their African hertiage and style they brought from their country.But for the blues and about all modern music from country,rock to gospel Blind Lemon Jefferson is 1 of the 1st that made the other style possible,in my opinion.

[tataso]

The great Richards !!

[Pentagonshark666]

When Jimmy Rowles first heard Art Tatum wh thought,he's listening

four people.

[DeathsHollow]

that what happens when u maske a deal with the devil



[EyeTalkShit69]

robert johnson was the real deal.

that nigger had a sound nobody could touch.

keith needs to die already.

old fuck.

ewww.

[juegas]

I'm buying this, no exception.

[emmers57]

It's a pretty great testament to Johnson's extraordinary talents that guys like Keith and Clapton admit that they are still learning things from him, and his handful of recordings

[theWARMJET]

i heard once that Keith wanted to be Muddy Waters

[jverlander35]

@theWARMJET one of keefs huge influences is muddy. he probably has said he wants to be him but he's never changed his sound to sound like him

[canecorsomob]

KEITH RICHARDS KIND OF LOOKS LIKE MEL GIBSON ON THAT CLIP.

[juegas]

@canecorsomob wtf? He looks like a mummy not Mel Gibson.

[Vicow7]

when Keith first heard Robert's guitar playing he asked: "who's the other guy?" he thought robert was two persons xD

[SweetLittleRnRoller]

@Vicow7 Fingerstyle is a very powerfull kind of magic.

[liddan27]

@Vicow7 No! If you have red keiths biography it was Brian who asked Keith that.

[mbasek]

yeah I will go to a crossroad ...

[slideharp1]

Keith is prob'ly the most original blues/rock'n'roll guitarist ever. More famous guitarists have been influenced by him than anyone else. And he's always been very candid about who influenced him - yet no-one Sounds like him - and He doesn't sound like anyone else. That's Originality.

[HermitintheRain]

@slideharp1 not sure i'd agree with that. Chuck Berry would be one name that comes to mind that most likely even influenced Keith, as well as people like Robbie Krieger, Hendrix, Clapton and Jimmy Page. Chuck Berry should be seen as the bridge between blues and rock and roll, especially from a guitarist stand point. But these guys took from many blues greats-Johnson, Waters, Howlin Wolf, Bo Diddley, etc

[slideharp1]

@HermitintheRain Ok, but most of Chuck's licks, tunes, riffs'n'all have a formula that was already being used by people like RJ long before - and it's well known that without Johnny Johnson to feed off he wouldn't have had that inspiration (piano boogie). He wrote a great bunch of songs but they were mostly variations on a simple formula, when you hear a record you like you want more of the same. Not putting him down, just making the distinction. Keith has a much larger body of work than Chuck.

[HermitintheRain]

@slideharp1 that would also be true of Keith's generation of guitar greats. they each took what was handed down to them from the blues and the previous generation to an entirely different level. in much respect we give to the origins as found in the blues players, and we should, it must also be recognized the ongoing contribution to the development of guitar playing as found in the likes of Richards, Page, Hendrix, Clapton, Beck, etc: who then influenced the next generation, and so on.

[slideharp1]

@HermitintheRain Yes, but Keith is different from everyone else you mentioned in that he has a Sound and Style that goes off on it's own tangent. Also, you're missing my point that he's produced infinitely more music than Chuck, Clapton, Page and Beck put together. Some guys goddit - some guys don't - Keith, long ago, set a standard for himself that no-one else can come close to. BTW - I'm not a 'Keith is God' type - he's only One of my favorite players, ever heard Albert Lee?.

[ChillyDrags]

@slideharp1 he purchases all his stuff from the devil, come on now, this is common knowledge.

[pietrrocks]

cos u made a few bucks richards dont meanu can play any good cos u caint white bread you just a businez man

[slideharp1]

@pietrrocks You don't know WTF you're babbling on about ya dumb bitchfaggot.

[pietrrocks]

@slideharp1 well well well whose got their britches in a knot then! eh? try on a size 32 might suit you better champ

[slideharp1]

@pietrrocks Suck shit outta yo'mama's asshole

[pietrrocks]

@slideharp1  Now now be a good girl

[slideharp1]

@pietrrocks Now now, don't get your panties in a twist. Your boyfriend might get angry.

[pietrrocks]

@slideharp1 Thats right we're getting married in Germany, send me your address and Ill send you an invite, should be V U N D E R B A R  YA heee hee hee ha YAR!! so gay YA YA

[slideharp1]

@pietrrocks Steady on, now - you're getting all hysterical - that kind of squealing could put your future husband right off.

[pietrrocks]

@slideharp1 He loves it actually

[boxingin]

I'm so sick and tired of all this credit being given to Robert Johnson specially by these British musicians who consider themselves an authority on The Blues. LMAO!

The man that's responsible for the Blues Boom is none other than: Charlie Patton. The man who influenced Robert Johnson and even tutored him.

[johngoo343]

@boxingin wrong- actually blind blake would rip them both a new asshole, sure he is more ragtime, but damn did he play faster, and more emotion(as he had a band in his hand essentially)

[boxingin]

@johngoo343 Ragtime? Aren't we talking BLUES here.. And since when "Faster" means better?

[johngoo343]

@boxingin don't use that argument on me, i'm no moron. Surely I wasn't referencing Blind Blake to shredders lol. I meant that he could do what Johnson could do (minus the slide) but he was even more syncopated and a faster finger PICKER, especially his thumb on the bass lines.

[boxingin]

@johngoo343 i'm no moron, you say?

Could've fooled me! Hehehehhee!

[johngoo343]

@boxingin that was lame man, come on, your posting on youtube- the most trash talking website ever, and all you can do is say hehehehehehe!. thats lame man, also i'm not fooling anyone!, i know alot more than you do about blues and in general guitar and early jazz genre

[boxingin]

@johngoo343 thank you, friend.

[slideharp1]

@johngoo343 Right on.

[johngoo343]

@boxingin also you need get off of your high horse, who gives a shit if patton or johnson is better, hello! they are both dead, do you think they give a shit, just listen to the music and stop being such a little school boy bitch!

[slideharp1]

@boxingin ....and Charlie Patton was strongly "influenced" by Son House. Who was not that happy about it - he didn't "tutor" him - early bluesmen were very possessive about their chops and were suspicious of 'finger watchers' - hence Johnson and others turning their backs on an entire crowd because of a rival staring at his guitar-playing.

[boxingin]

@slideharp1 I never heard nor read that House influenced Charlie Patton.. But I've heard and read that it was the other way around because Charlie was already stablished by the time Son House arrived on the scene.

[slideharp1]

@boxingin Then you read wrong, kid.

[slideharp1]

@boxingin P.S. I'm really glad that you recently discoverd Charlie Patton and saw God. He's actually my fave bluesman and I have, among others, a five album set of the Complete recordings which includes obscure stuff he did with other artists. He was Son Houses junior by a few years and was known (albeit with jealousy) as an upstart.

[boxingin]

@slideharp1 First, I'm no kid. Don't call me that...

Yes, Charlie Patton is amazing! One of the things that I love about him is his rythm playing because I also like to tap my accoustic while I play it. I also love his voice although most complain about it being to rough and what not.

To my understanding Son House, Tommy Johnson and Willie Brown were all Charlie's proteges. Charlie was not older than Son House it was the other way around and Thanks to Charlie, Son was able to record.

[slideharp1]

@boxingin Yes, you are a kid. Anyone who writes hehehehehehe as a post to someone who's trying to say something, is a kid - or maybe you'd prefer 'moron'? Thanx for confiming what I said re. age difference. Patton was younger than House, that's what I said. Thanx for pointing out that, in fact, it was House who was older than Patton......?!

[boxingin]

@slideharp1 Ok moron. Shows how much you know about the matter by claiming that Son House who was born in 1902 is older than Charlie Patton who was born Between April 1887 & 1891 (records are not clear). Pardon me but.... HEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHE! You are a funny dude! ;)

[slideharp1]

@boxingin ...And you're a Very funny kid. You've just contradicted your previous post!. Directly contradicted it. This must be your first visit to the planet Earth. Every comment you post contradicts the previous one. If it wasn't for me you'd be Arguing with Yourself All Over this page - you should open another YT account so's to facillitate it - hours of fun! . Don't worry, kid, you're Very entertaining!!

[slideharp1]

@boxingin "Patton was NOT older than House, it was the other way 'round".......that's what you said. Are you drunk or something??

[boxingin]

@slideharp1 Whatever you want to write go ahead moron. You know so much that you can't even get an obvious fact right. Everyone knows Patton was older than Son House but you.... What a dunce! Hehehheheehhe!

[slideharp1]

@boxingin You don't even read what you write, yourself - you're a myriad of self contradictions. Have you had a goodly number of alcoholic beverages since you last graced my inbox?

[mbombo100]

@iobizoon1...My dear Clapton and Richards are some of the best guitarists in the World. Robert Johnson and Rev. Gary have done some much to blues music.....please if you find time get you hands on blues history videos and see it your self.

[wileypayote]

this is the original blues, not yet made into rock 'n' roll type blues like we've been hearing for fifty years. Robert seemed like he was taking negro spirituals that he probably remembered hearing from when he was little and transposing them into something completely unique, something completely in line vocally with the chords that he was coming up with that nobody else was using at the time. It's the most interesting story in music to me. I think it is to claption and others.

[micmoable]

IF HE REALLY SOLD HIS SOUL--HE IDN'T GET MUCH FOR HIS SOUL----LIFE WAS TOO SHORT

[Slay3r2103]

@micmoable He gave us a lot.

[levicearley]

what is the song that is being played in the background of this video? it starts slow and gets faster but I don't know the name. Thanks I'm sure someone will know

[briwill99]

@levicearley The Song is Preaching Blues (Up Jumped the Devil)

[RhythmAndSoul59]

If you like the blues get this movie! John Hammond, Jr. has done a fantastic job of interviewing the last people who saw or knew Robert Johnson. A movie like this probably couldn't be made today. All the key people would be gone!

[dandestructobot]

No one is the best at any kind of music. There is some old man that played in front of a gas station that was better than rj we just never heard him. The point is RJ set the standard for blues, thats all.

[lobizoon1]

Can't belive Eric Clapton is such an ignorant. RJ the best blues singer?! For God's sake!!!!!!

[116connor]

eric clapton worships johnson man, they both have crossroad blues songs that mean they met satan at the crossroads, and he tuned their guitars.

[Slay3r2103]

@lobizoon1 shut up, just shut up

[lobizoon1]

@Slay3r2103 Never my friend, truth must never be silenced.

[Slay3r2103]

@lobizoon1 know one in here is true just like you

[lobizoon1]

@Slay3r2103 Hahah, who?

[Slay3r2103]

@lobizoon1 :|

[briwill99]

@lobizoon1 Tell me again...who's ignorant? Lmao

[lobizoon1]

@briwill99 Clapton is ignorant, can't you read?

[briwill99]

@lobizoon1 Yes I actually can read very well thank you. So let me understand your point, anyone with an opinion that differs from yours is just ignorant?

[lobizoon1]

@briwill99 Ask any serious blues collector who thinks is the best blues singer, they WON'T say RJ. If you like blues, really get into the music, no use in listening this british man, go to the roots, african americans in the USA 1920-30's, that's the blues.

[briwill99]

@lobizoon1 Wow, I thought RJ was an african american from the 20's-30's.

[lobizoon1]

@briwill99 Hahaha , you see, you are wrong!!!!

He only recorded in the last years of the 30's, while already by 1924 we have brilliant country blues recordings. He was of the LAST generation of prewar blues singers. Can't you see you are a real ignorant?

[briwill99]

@lobizoon1 Uhhh...I am pretty sure last years of the thirties is in the thirties. What decade would you consider 1936? Do you alway lash out calling names when you are wrong? No, I dont see that I am ignorant at all. After all, I do know what decade 1936 is in don't I? Lol You talk in circles man!

[ifeelallright]

you're good if keith richards says he's amateur compared to you

[KHooves]

Its a really good movie.

Honey Boy Edwards is a key source, and he says something I find interesting: at one point when Honey Boy is being interviewed, he mentions RJ "Plugs in" his guitar.

Did RJ have one of those early pickups or Frying Pan guitars first made in 1931? I found in the Wikipedia that a spanish style guitar with a pickup was used for recording in Dallas 1935 by Roy Newman.

the RJ recordings sound very percussive, we don't know what guitar he actaully recorded with.

[JahWorks420]

johnny shines boi that's a funky mf right there my man!!!

NOONE played better acoustic blues than that guy right there..

[JSLLH]

check out honey boy edwards! he is still traveling all over the earth playing concerts! honeyboy met robert thru willie mae powell,she was honeyboys cousin, robert sings about her in his song love in vain, robert was going out with her. watch the whole video, anyhow thanks for this great video!

[mysteria31]

Because no one but a man who's soul was already lost could dare speak of God that way. The night he was poisoned, they put him in a hotel room and all night long he howled like a dog. When in the morning they found him they seen that he had taken a scrap of paper and with a pencil had scralled a note to God on it pleading forgiveness for his anger and his blasphemy. The Southern blacks, being steeped in superstition naturally felt the hellhounds had finally come and the devil had taken him home

[mysteria31]

Robert had married a young sweetheart in his teenage years and she unfortunately died in childbirth, scarring Robert for life. The people in the clubs he played in, all respectful of fundamental gospel and afraid of God's wrath would run away when every time Robert would get drunk for he would start cursing God and blaspheming the Holy Ghost. They would run away thinking Robert would be hit with a bolt of lightning or something. The word got around that Robert had sold his soul to the devil

[mysteria31]

Robert Johnson went to another town and met an old man who taught him a new technique. He went "into the widerness" so to speak and practiced till his fingers were down to the bone almost and then he went back to that other town where no one had ever heard of the old man. It wasn't difficult to do for everyone walked or rode mules and no one barely got outside their own town. He walked into the room where he had been laughed out and sat down and played in the new style he practiced.

[louiscfc93]

i didnt get a word of what KR said lol

[gibsongold1970]

R.J takes off for six months and wasn't

a good player at all.then returns and

blew everybody away!!!!

mind boggeling stuff and scary as well!

[xero755]

totally!

[watcher0016]

whos the white guy playing crossroads at the end

[paudical]

john hammond. he presents the film.

[doctorpep1]

There should also be a documentary about the life of Johnny Shines!

[MyManDan]

hell yea johnny shines is awesome!!! and so unknown by so many people