Some would argue, and Ted Tocks Covers is among them; modern music was born on this day in 1911.
Today we celebrate the birth of Robert Johnson with a feast of the blues.
Preach Robert!
You won’t find a whole lot of big names here. This is mostly about the musicians who preach the blues in small clubs and bars. The ones who pay their dues because they love music.
When you listen to these ten interpretations, you will feel the passion pouring from their guitar.
Having said that, I will begin with Keb’ Mo’. I love this guy. Everything he does is top notch. Read on for a treat at the end.
Part of the reason I write Ted Tocks Covers is because it takes me on a journey of discovery. Enjoy this 1981 version of ‘Preachin’ Blues (Up Jumped the Devil) by The Gun Club. It’s a totally different style but it jumps up and grabs you. This is from their album ‘Fire of Love’. They do us all a favour and combine the Robert Johnson song with ‘Preaching Blues’ by Son House. How did I miss this over the last 42 years? Incredible!
Here is the occasionally confused Son House song for your listening pleasure. Watch for an upcoming version of Ted Tocks Covers that will feature this musical masterpiece from the pulpit.
This cover by John Hammond Jr. is really important. This is from the 1983 Montreux Jazz Festival. His father was instrumental in bringing the original blues artists to the ‘mainstream’ for lack of a better term. Let’s just say the bridge needed to be built.
When the calendar flipped to a new century, in 2000 the blues was along for the ride. Here is a stunning cover from Harlem Slim. This is from his album ‘Delta Thug’.
Enjoy this live cover from Jeremy Lyons in 2010. As long as talented musicians have venues to play, the blues will be alive. You can feel the love. It flows from the player to the audience and it goes back 100 years to the man who created this classic.
One year later we get They Call Me Rico. This is the debut album from Frederic Pellerin aka: Rico. It is the culmination of a decade of touring Canada and France. Don’t stop here. Check out his entire self-titled album and then a whole lot more. Full of quality covers and great original work. I guarantee this will get your feet tapping.
The quality covers keep on coming. This is from Italy. This presentation really spoke to me. When Joe was 15 his father gave him a Robert Johnson CD as a gift. From that moment he knew his calling.
Remember Living Colour, who burst onto the music scene in the late ‘80s? Here they are nearly three decades later with their album ‘Shade ‘. This is much heavier, but it works. It emphasizes the degrees to which the Robert Johnson mystique has extended over the years.
I love this. Watch as Jody Carroll takes the stage to open for Buddy Guy in 2017. It’s blues all the way down the line. With artists like Jody Carroll preaching the blues, this genre will never die.
Just one more cover to round out my promise to deliver ten. This is Adam Karch in 2020. This is from his album ‘Everything Can Change’. This is delivered in a very clean style. Rambling comes to mind. It is a true blend of Robert Johnson’s original style combined with a little Woody Guthrie. Top notch.
Before you head off, try to spend some time watching the video linked below. The story needs to be told and shared. There are some powerful moments.
Robert Johnson literally travelled from town to town like a minstrel. He was simply looking for a place to play. He was spreading his own gospel. The story is legendary. He walked, he bummed rides in the back of pickup trucks and he rode the rails. He got around and so did his message.
Robert Johnson’s musical catalogue consists of just 29 distinct songs, recorded over two sessions in sweltering rooms in San Antonio and Dallas. One was in 1936 and the other was recorded just a year later. These sessions and their 13 surviving alternate takes were produced by Don Law. We have him to thank for what truly exists as the roots of modern music.
Because so little was documented about Robert Johnson’s life during his 27 years, much of it had to be put together by musical historians years later. Fortunately, several of his friends were prepared to share the story.
Enjoy this fascinating chronicle. Pay special attention to the stories shared by Johnny Shines and David ‘Honeyboy’ Edwards. A tip of the hat to the interpretations of Robert Johnson’s performances are provided by the great Keb’ Mo’.
A few things really stand out.
Robert Johnson was murdered in August of 1938. Later that year, Don Law was trying to track him down in order to discuss a third recording session. About the same time John Hammond was planning a concert at Carnegie Hall in New York City. The show was called ‘From Spirituals to Swing’. He wanted Robert Johnson to come to New York and be a special guest.
Very few knew he was dead.
He is believed to have been poisoned by the husband of a woman who he had wooed through what had become coined ‘the Devi’s music’.
His death was never investigated.
Robert Johnson’s music remained unknown for almost 30 years.
During the first annual Rock and Roll Hall of Fame ceremony in 1986, Robert Johnson was inducted as an ‘Early Influencer’.
They called him the “first ever rock star.”
If the blues bug captures your imagination, by all means read and listen on to this handful of features. This assortment of posts also speaks to the evolution of Ted Tocks Covers.
Before I sign off, consider these final words from Robert Johnson. This is from a man who had denounced God. Stories have been shared by friends who claimed when Johnson got to drinking, he became bitter and angry. He blamed an alleged ‘loving deity’ for the death of his wife and newborn child.
Jesus of Nazareth, King of Jerusalem. I know that my redeemer liveth, and he will call me from my grave.”
Rober Johnson Headstone
Well, in a sense this became true. Since his death in 1938 Robert Johnson’s music has definitely lived on.
He truly has been called from his grave.
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