The Devil's Music

Another charity shop find. A freebie from the December 2002 issue of Uncut magazine, it is what it says on the cover. I don't think our old friend the Devil would expect much credit for the Aaron Neville track, mind.

 Amos Milburn - Down The Road Apiece
 Jackie Brenston - Rocket 88
 Robert Johnson - Preachin' Blues (Up Jumped The Devil)
 Muddy Waters - Rollin' Stone
 Jimmy Rogers - Goin' Away Baby
 Leadbelly - The Midnight Special
 Clarence 'Gatemouth' Brown - Okie Dokie Stomp
 Clifton Chenier - Ay-Te Te Fee
 Professor Longhair & His Shuffling Hungarians - Mardi Gras In New Orleans
 Little Richard - Good Golly Miss Molly
 Billie Holiday - He's Funny That Way
 John Lee Hooker - I'm In The Mood
 Bob Marley & The Wailers - Jah Is Mighty
 Hank Williams - You Win Again
 Ike & Tina Turner - I Can't Believe What You Say
 B.B. King - Everyday I Have The Blues
 T-Bone Walker - (They Call It) Stormy Monday
 Howlin' Wolf - Moanin' At Midnight
 Blind Willie McTell - Talkin' To Your Mama
 Clarence 'Bon Ton' Garlow - Bon Ton Roulet
 Aaron Neville - Tell It Like It Is
 Albert King - That's What The Blues Is All About
 Irma Thomas - Ruler Of My Heart
 Otis Redding - Pain In My Heart (alt. take)
 Booker T. & The MG's - Baby, Scratch My Back
Al Green - Take Me To The River

all you need ... is five strings, two notes, two fingers and one asshole.  - Keith Richards

Robert Johnson - The Complete Recordings (Flac)

May the 8th is possibly the centenary of the birth of Robert Johnson. He was an itinerant musician who died at the age of 27 and recorded less than 30 sides. His influence on Blues and consequently rock and roll is difficult to express without recourse to lazy superlatives. This, largely, was thanks to the release of King of the Delta Blues Singers in 1961.

There is a theory that these recordings were 'speeded up' .
The evidence on which this is based and examples of slowed down versions  can be found here.
The Search for Robert Johnson (1991) is a good watch. It's on YouTube.