Tag Archives: blues gospel folk tradition roots

Deeper Blind Willie Johnson

Deeper Blind Willie Johnson
Deeper Blind Willie Johnson

Blind Willie Johnson’s music seems to resurface through discovery with each generation and understandably so. Because tied to the meager catalog of thirty songs that he recorded over some four sessions between December, 1927 and April, 1930, is a dark and foreboding voice in the night. Its glow is that of a solitary candle in a room of shadows in a house whose bones have fallen to derelict and decay. Willie is telling us to take notice.

The story of Blind Willie Johnson was best transcribed in Sam Charters’ introduction and liner notes for Columbia’s Roots & Blues Series’ “The Complete Works of Blind Willie Johnson”. We’ll go a bit deeper, dedicating our two hours to Blind Willie Johnson featuring tracks from the new tribute album “God Don’t Never Change: The Songs of Blind Willie Johnson”, some classic recordings of Blind Willie, as well as covers of every stripe and style.

No.
1Artist Title Album Buy
2Reverend Lewis Jackson & Charlotte Rucell Dark Was The Night Classic Sounds of New Orleans Amazon
3Blind Willie Johnson Dark Was The Night, Cold Was The Ground Blues Masters, Vol. 15: Slide Guitar Classics Amazon
4Derek Trucks And Susan Tedeschi Keep Your Lamp Trimmed And Burning God Don't Never Change: The Songs Of Blind Willie Johnson Amazon
5Hot Tuna Keep Your Lamps Trimmed And Burning [Live] Live In Japan Amazon
6Bruce Cockburn Soul of a Man Nothing But a Burning Light Amazon
7Ry Cooder Dark Was The Night Paris, Texas Amazon
8Maria Muldaur Oh, the Rain Any Woman's Blues Amazon
9Sinead O'Connor Trouble Will Soon Be Over God Don't Never Change: The Songs Of Blind Willie Johnson Amazon
10Ella Mae Wilson, Lillie B. Williams, and Richard Williams Motherless Children Drop On Down in Florida [Disc 2] Amazon
11John Hammond, Jr. Motherless Willie Johnson Country Blues Amazon
12Odetta Motherless Children 7 Classic Albums Plus Bonus Radio Tracks Amazon
13The Dixie Hummingbirds Nobody's Fault Diamond Jubilation: 75th Anniversary Amazon
14Arizona Dranes Bye & Bye We're Going To See The King He Is My Story: The Sanctified Soul Of Arizona Dranes Amazon
15Blind Willie Johnson Trouble Will Soon Be Over The Complete Blind Willie Johnson Amazon
16Blind Willie Johnson Let Your Light Shine On Me [Album Version] The Ladykillers Music From The Motion Picture Amazon
17Rev. Pearly Brown God Don't Never Change You're Gonna Need That Pure Religion Amazon
18The Staple Singers Samson And Delilah Freedom Highway Amazon
19Lee Roy Parnell/The Fairfield Four John the Revelator Peace in the Valley [Arista] Amazon
20The Venice Four with Rose Stone and The Abbot Kinney Lighthouse Choir Let Your Light Shine On Me [Album Version] The Ladykillers Music From The Motion Picture Amazon
21Blind Willie Johnson Church, I'm Fully Saved To-Day The Complete Blind Willie Johnson Amazon
22The Levon Helm Band God Don't Never Change The Midnight Ramble Sessions Vol 3 Amazon
23David Bromberg Band Nobody's Fault But Mine Only Slightly Mad Amazon
24The Blasters Samson and Delilah Testament: The Complete Slash Recordings (1981-1985) (2 of 2) Amazon
25Blind Willie Johnson If I Had My Way I'd Tear The Building Down ABC Of The Blues Vol 20 Amazon
26Johnny Shines It Ain't Nobody's Fault But Mine Traditional Delta Blues Amazon
27Irma Thomas Soul of a Man After the Rain Amazon
28Tom Waits The Soul Of A Man God Don't Never Change: The Songs Of Blind Willie Johnson Amazon
29Taj Mahal You're Gonna Need Somebody on Your Bond The Real Thing Amazon
30Rev. Gary Davis Keep Your Lamp Trimmed And Burning Gospel, Blues, and Street Songs Amazon