April 2004 Newsletter

• American Folk Blues Festival DVD •
• Tab Benoit •
• Chet Cannon & the Committee •
• Rockie Charles •
• Eric Clapton •
• Deborah Coleman •
• Robert Cray •
• BuddyGuy •
• Jus Von •
• Bryan Lee •
• Hip Linkchain •
• Sam McClain •
• Nick Moss and the FlipTops •
• Stew Moss •
• Charlie Musselwhite •
• Robert Randolph •
• Rock the Joint •
• Lil' Buck Sinegal •
• Jimmy Thackery •
• Walter Trout & the Radicals •
• Carl Weathersby •
• Joe Lewis Walker •
• Tony Joe White •

Me and Mr. Johnson
Eric Clapton
Reprise Records
14 tracks/49:40

Eric Clapton’s muse is Robert Johnson. In a career that spans five decades, the music of Robert Johnson has always been there for Eric. While a teenager, Eric discovered Robert Johnson’s King of the Delta Blues Singers. Early in his career, back in 1966, he recorded Robert Johnson’s “Rambin’ on My Mind” with John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers. In a recent Rolling Stone interview, Eric explained, “I’ve listened to these songs my whole life. It’s the most enjoyable music I’ve ever listened to.”

The liner blurbs that appear on the CD jacket add even more explanation about Eric’s musical motivation. “It is a remarkable thing…to have been driven and influenced all of my life by the work of one man. And even though I accept that it has always been the keystone of my musical foundation, I still would not regard it as an obsession, instead, I prefer to think of it as a landmark that I navigate by, whenever I feel myself going adrift. I am talking of course, about the works of Robert Johnson. Up until I hear his music, everything I had heard seemed as if it was dressed ups for a shop window somewhere, so that when I heard him for the first time, it was like he was singing only for himself, and now and then, maybe God…At first it scared me in its intensity, and I could only take it in small doses. Then I would build up strength and take a little more, but I could never really get away from it, and in the end, it spoiled me for everything else. Now, after all these years, his music is like my oldest friend, always in the back of my head, and on the horizon. It is the finest music I have ever heard. I have always trusted its purity, and I always will.”

Eric has assembled a great band for this recording. These are veteran musicians who have played with Eric on a regular basis. A solid rhythm section is provided by Steve Gadd on drums and Nathan East on the bass. Billy Preston handles the Hammond organ and piano. Andy Fairweather Low and Doyle Bramhall II add additional guitars. Jerry Portnoy is the harmonica player. Drummer Jim Keltner  and bass player Pino Palladino also appear on this disc. This band has worked with Eric in the studio and on the road. Working together, they capture the essence of Robert Johnson music by going back to the basics, keeping it simple and direct. There is a lot of complexity in something this simple, interweaving these instruments into a single, focused direction.

The CD opens with “When You Got a Good Friend” and you can tell right away that this is something special. Eric’s voice is sounding better than ever. You can hear his enjoyment ringing throughout this disc. Eric is having a great time. At the same time, he doesn’t not over power the other musicians. Working together as one solid, balance unit, this artists pay tribute to Robert Johnson by keeping his music pure. The more you listen to this CD, the more you hear. This CD is an excellent interpretation on the songs of a true blues legend. There are a total of fourteen songs on the CD. There is a variety of tempos and the musicianship is outstanding. “They’re Red Hot,” “Last Fair Deal Gone Down,” and “32-20 Blues,” are definite toe-tappers. “Little Queen of Spades” is just so smooth. It goes down like a fine whiskey. The only bad this about this disc is that is only fourteen songs. I was expecting all of them. Who knows, maybe there will be a live performance disc in the future which includes all of the Robert Johnson songs.
Until then, this is one we can enjoy. Thank you, Eric.

Reviewed by Rich Gordon - host, Sunday Morning Blues on WYHY - 95.5 FM