Episode #55 The Roots of Robert Johnson

06/12/19 • 69 min

In honor of the release of the new biography of Delta Blues legend Robert Johnson "Up Jumped The Devil" by Bruce Conforth and Gayle Dean Wardlowe, I put together an episode exploring the musicians and records that influenced the young Robert Johnson. People that influenced him directly such as Charlie Patton, Son House and Willie Brown as well as numerous artists he would've only heard on records in the 1920's and 30's: 1. Freddie Spruell - Milk Cow Blues (1926) 2. Blind Blake - Georgia Bound (1927) 3. Lonnie Johnson - Life Saver Blues (1927) 4. Hambone Willie Newbern - Roll and Tumble Blues (1929) 5. Charlie Patton with Willie Brown - Some Summer Day pt. 1 (1930) 6. Willie Brown - Future Blues (1930) 7. Son House with Willie Brown - Walking Blues (Test pressing 1930) 8. Son House - Preaching The Blues pts. 1 & 2 (1930) 9. Skip James - Devil Got My Woman (1931) 10. Skip James - 22-20 Blues (1931) 11. Kokomo Arnold - Milk Cow Blues (1934) 12. Peetie Wheatstraw - Police Station Blues (1931) 13. Leroy Carr and Scrapper Blackwell (1935) 14. Scrapper Blackwell - Kokomo Blues (1928)

Previous Episode

Episode #54 Born To Ascend (Roky Erickson tribute)

BTA Sounds' tribute to the great pioneer of psychedelic rock from Austin TX who passed away May 4th 2019. Here are some my fave tracks from Roky, The Spades and the 13th Floor Elevators. ALL HAIL ROKY, KING OF THE BEASTS! 1. 13th Floor Elevators - Slip Inside This House (1967 Easter Everywhere) 2. The Spades - You're Gonna Miss Me (1965) 3. The Spades - We Sell Soul (1965) 4. 13th Floor Elevators - Tried To Hide (Contact Sessions 1966) 5. 13th Floor Elevators - Everybody Needs Somebody (1966 Contact Sessions) 6. 13th Floor Elevators - Roller Coaster (1966 Contact Sessions) 7. 13th Floor Elevators - (I've Got) Levitation (1967 Easter Everywhere Mono Mix) 8. 13th Floor Elevators - I Had To Tell You (1967 Easter Everywhere) 9. 13th Floor Elevators - May The Circle Remain Unbroken 10. Roky Erickson - Interview/Blowin' In The Wind (From Fan made documentary 1984) 11. Roky Erickson - Cold Night For Alligators (from fan made doc 1984) 12. Roky Erickson - Interview/Creature With The Atom Brain (acoustic version 1980) 13. I Love The Living You - (recorded in Rusk State Mental Institution early 1970's) 14. You Don't Love Me Yet - (All That May Do My Rhyme 1995) 15. Roky and the Aliens - I Think Of Demons (The Evil One 1980)

Next Episode

Episode #56 The Influence of Robert Johnson

Part 2 of our Robert Johnson tribute in honor of the new biography of Robert Johnson "Up Jumped The Devil" by Bruce Conforth and Gayle Dean Wardlowe. I explore the influence of Robert Johnson on fellow Mississippi musicians, all who left Mississippi for Chicago to create the post war electric blues scene and subsequently influence all of American music. 1. Calvin Frazier - Highway Man (1938 Detroit LOC recording) 2. Robert Junior Lockwood - Take A Little Walk With Me (Bluebird 1941) 3. Robert Junior Lockwood - Little Boy Blue (Bluebird 1941) 4. David "Honeyboy" Edwards - Worried Life (1942 LOC) 5. Muddy Waters - Country Blues (LOC 1941) 6. Muddy Waters - Kind Hearted Woman Blues (Chess 1948) 7. Elmore James - Dust My Broom (1951 Trumpet) 8. Elmore James - Roll and Tumble (1960 Fire) 9. Johnny Shines - Ramblin' (1951 JOB) 10. Johnny Shines - Fish Tail (1951 JOB) 11. Johnny Shines - Two Steps From Hell (1974) 12. Abe McNeill - Steady Rollin' Man (1967 George Mitchell Recordings) 13. Houston Stackhouse - Sweet Home Chicago 14. Lonnie Pitchford - If I Had Possession Over Judgement Day (1989 Deep Blues Documentary)