The Search for Robert Johnson

Available on DVD from www.digitalclassics.com and all major retailers.

Legend is rife in the story of Robert Johnson. One of the most famous blues players of all time but little is known about him. John Hammond Jr goes on 'The Search for Robert Johnson'.


For decades little was known about bluesman Robert Johnson. Legend was rife with supernatural accounts of his life and his pact with the devil, and conflicting versions of his death. Drawing upon the research of blues scholars Mack McCormack and Gayle Dean Wardlow, this film uncovers the truth about this man whose life was shrouded in mystery.
Documentary footage, interviews, and music tell the story of Johnson who, according to folklore, sold his soul to the devil at the crossroads. Fellow bluesmen Johnny Shines, David Honeyboy Edwards and Eric Clapton give interviews, as does Johnson's girlfriend Willie Mae Powell the inspiration behind Love in Vain. Narrator John Hammond Jr. heads up the search for this truth behind the elusive spirit crisscrossing the Delta, speaking to the man claiming to be Johnsons long-lost son, visiting the sites of Johnsons only two recording sessions, and finally investigating the circumstances of Johnsons grisly murder in 1938.

The film features extensive re-mastered original Robert Johnson recordings, as well as specially-filmed performance footage from Johnny Shines, David Honeyboy Edwards and John Hammond Jr.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Robert
• Johnson
• John
• Hammond
• Keith
• Richards
• Eric
• Clapton
• Johnny
• Shines
• Honeyboy
• Edwards
• Blues
• Soul
• Guitar
• jr
• delta
• mississipi
• devil
• pact
• murder

[Vicow7]

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

[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.

[liddan27]

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

[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.

[TheMercuryMusic]

@Lagunaaaaaaaaa Nope all true.

[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"

[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]

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.

[Lagunaaaaaaaaa]

@zorbatheok i hope you're joking

[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!!!

[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

[TheWoud]

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