CD Music recording

The centennial collection

Johnson, Robert 1911-1938 (Composer, Performer). Gioia, Ted. (Added Author). LaVere, Stephen C. (Added Author).

Summary: May 8, 2011, marks the 100th birthday of Mississippi Delta bluesman Robert Johnson, who, according to legend, sold his soul down at the crossroads of Highway 61 and Highway 49 in a midnight bargain that has haunted the music world for three-quarters of a century. The deal brought forth Johnson's incandescent guitar technique and a run of 10-inch 78 rpm singles for the Vocalion, Oriole, Conqueror and Perfect labels recorded in San Antonio in 1936 and Dallas in 1937. Those songs have become a cornerstone of Columbia Records identity and will be celebrated on The Centennial Collection. This 2CD set shares the same genealogy as 1990's Robert Johnson -The Complete Recordings, but that package has now been updated for a new generation. The set includes a new essay by Ted Gioia alongside a new biography of Robert Johnson written by Stephen C. LaVere (completely different from his essay in the 1990 version). Also included are new illustrations, photo images, and a family tree of music originating from Robert Johnson.

Record details

Physical Description: 2 sound discs : digital ; 4 3/4 in.
sound disc
sound recording
Publisher: New York, NY : Columbia/Legacy, p2011.

Content descriptions

General Note:	Originally released by Vocalion; previously released as a compilation in 1990. Compact discs. Liner notes, with a new biography by Stephen C. LaVere and an essay by Ted Gioia (27 p. : ill.), inserted in container.
Formatted Contents Note:	CD2, Dallas recordings. Stones in my passway -- I'm a steady rollin' man -- From four until late -- Hell hound on my trail -- Little Queen of Spades -- Malted milk -- Drunken hearted man -- Me and the devil blues -- Stop breakin' down blues -- Traveling riverside blues -- Honeymoon blues -- Love in vain blues -- Milkcow's calf blues -- Alternates. Little Queen of Spades ; Drunken hearted man ; Me and the devil blues ; Stop breakin' down blues ; Guitar figure--test groove before Traveling riverside blues ; Traveling riverside blues ; Johnson speaks--test groove before Love in vain blues ; Love in vain blues ; Milkcow's calf blues.
Participant or Performer Note:	Robert Johnson, vocals and guitar.
Date/Time and Place of an Event Note:	Recorded in San Antonio, Tex., Nov. 23-27, 1936; and in Dallas, Tex., June 19-20, 1937.