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The Complete Blind Willie Johnson (album)
''The Complete Blind Willie Johnson'' is a compilation album of all the known recordings by American gospel blues singer-guitarist Blind Willie Johnson. As part of the Roots N' Blues series, it was released jointly by Columbia Records and Legacy Recordings, on April 27, 1993. All of the tracks on the two-Compact Disc Digital Audio, compact disc set were originally issued by Columbia on the then-standard two-sided 78 rpm record format. Over the years, many of the songs were included on other compilations, such as ''Blind Willie Johnson – His Story'' (1957) and ''Praise God, I'm Satisfied'' (1977);Yazoo Records L-1058 however, this album marks the first time all of Johnson's recordings were compiled on one set. In 2013, Columbia reissued the album as ''The Essential Blind Willie Johnson''. Background The tracks on the album originate from five recording dates between December 3, 1927, and April 20, 1930. Johnson, who provided lead vocals and guitar accompiment, was sometimes ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Blind Willie Johnson
Willie Johnson (January 25, 1897 – September 18, 1945), commonly known as Blind Willie Johnson, was an American gospel blues singer and guitarist. His landmark recordings completed between 1927 and 1930, thirty songs in all, display a combination of powerful chest voice singing, slide guitar skills and originality that has influenced generations of musicians. His records sold well though as a street performer and preacher, he had little wealth in his lifetime. His life was poorly documented, but over time, music historians such as Samuel Charters have uncovered more about him and his five recording sessions. A revival of interest in Johnson's music began in the 1960s following his inclusion on Harry Everett Smith, Harry Smith's ''Anthology of American Folk Music'' and by the efforts of the blues guitarist Reverend Gary Davis. Along with Davis, he has since been considered the dominant player of holy blues music which convey religious themes in a blues style, often with a blues ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Dark Was The Night, Cold Was The Ground
"Dark Was the Night, Cold Was the Ground"Because documentation is scarce in early recordings, the title of the song appears differently in many sources. It is often called "Dark Was the Night" or punctuated as "Dark Was the Night (Cold Was the Ground)" or "Dark Was the Night—Cold Was the Ground". is a gospel blues song written and performed by American musician Blind Willie Johnson and recorded in 1927. The song is primarily an instrumental featuring Johnson's self-taught bottleneck slide guitar and picking style accompanied by his vocalizations of humming and moaning. It has the distinction of being one of 27 samples of music included on the Voyager Golden Record, launched into space in 1977 to represent the diversity of life on Earth. The song has been highly praised and covered by numerous musicians and is featured on the soundtracks of several films. Background Born in 1897, Johnson taught himself how to play guitar and dedicated his life to blues and gospel music, playing ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Take Your Burden To The Lord And Leave It There
"Leave It There" is a Christian hymn composed in 1916 by African-American Methodist minister Charles A. Tindley. It has become popular enough to have been included in 12 hymnals; and even to be attributed to " traditional" or "anonymous". The title is sometimes given as "Take Your Burden to the Lord and Leave It There" or as "Take Your Burden to the Lord" or as "Take Your Burden", words taken from the song's refrain; the plurals "burdens" and "them" are sometimes used, and "God" instead of "the Lord": Origins of the lyrics The song relates to Psalm 55:22: and to Christ's words in the Gospel of Matthew at 11:28-30: It also relates to the Gospel of Matthew at 6:26: Recording history On December 2, 1927, the song was recorded in gospel blues style by Washington Phillips (vocals and zither). According to the book Country Music Records : A Discography, 1921-1942: A Discography, 1921-1942, on December 13, 1927, it was recorded by Frank and James McCravy. O ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Praise God I'm Satisfied
"Praise God I'm Satisfied" is a traditional gospel blues song recorded in 1929 by Blind Willie Johnson Willie Johnson (January 25, 1897 – September 18, 1945), commonly known as Blind Willie Johnson, was an American gospel blues singer and guitarist. His landmark recordings completed between 1927 and 1930, thirty songs in all, display a combinat ... (vocals and guitar) and Willie B. Harris (vocals), who is thought to have been his first wife. Other recordings *2002K. M. Williams, on the album ''Blind Willie's Hymns'' * 2004Gary Lucas and Peter Stampfel, on the album ''Dark Was the Night: A Tribute to the Music of Blind Willie Johnson'' References Blind Willie Johnson songs 1929 songs Blues songs Gospel songs {{gospel-music-stub ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
When The War Was On
"When the War Was On" is a call and response blues song recorded in 1929 by Blind Willie Johnson and Willie B. Harris, who is thought to have been his first wife. Johnson plays bottleneck guitar, and sings throughout in his "growl" (false bass) voice; Harris sings soprano. Lyrics The war referred to is World War I World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ... (191418). The lyrics reference U.S. President Wilson (191321) and the German Kaiser; the U.S. entered the war in 1917. Unusually for Johnson, the song deals with a temporal rather than a spiritual subject. It shares tune and lyrics with "Everybody Help the Boys Come Home" (1927) by William and Versey Smith, husband and wife. The other side of that record by the Smiths is "When That Great Ship Went Down", which rel ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
You'll Need Somebody On Your Bond
"You'll Need Somebody on Your Bond" (later titled "You're Gonna Need Somebody on Your Bond") is a gospel song that is attributed to both tradition and to gospel blues musician Blind Willie Johnson. Johnson first recorded the song in December 1930, although Delta blues musician Charley Patton recorded a similar "You're Gonna Need Somebody When You Die" in October 1929. Over the years, several other musicians have recorded renditions of the song. Blind Willie Johnson The lyrics of "You'll Need Somebody on Your Bond" deal with "the idea that we will all need a legally binding guarantee to gain access to heaven" and that Jesus as our advocate "will provide us with a guarantee or bond, if we follow His ways". Johnson sang the song on the streets of towns in Texas as both entertainment and a calling to adhere to the teachings of Jesus. As with many of his songs, "You'll Need Somebody on Your Bond" is performed with Johnson on lead vocals and slide guitar and an unknown female singer ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Sweeter As The Years Roll By
"Sweeter as the Years Go By" is a Christian hymn written by Lelia N. Morris in 1912. It has been included in 87 hymnals. Its subject-matter is expressed in the refrain: It has been recorded in various, mostly gospel, styles. In 1929, it was recorded by Blind Willie Johnson on vocals and acoustic guitar in a gospel blues style under the title "Sweeter as the Years Roll By" (even though he sings "Go" throughout). Columbia Records released the song at the end of October 1931, on n the then-standard 78 rpm record format, with "Take Your Stand "Take Your Stand" is a gospel blues song recorded in 1929 by Blind Willie Johnson on vocals and acoustic guitar and an unidentified female singer. Music historian Samuel Charters describes it as "another of the white gospel songs that he o ..." as the flip-side. References {{Authority control Gospel songs 1912 songs Blind Willie Johnson songs Columbia Records singles ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Bye And Bye I'm Goin' To See The King
"Bye and Bye We're (or, I'm) Going to See the King" is a Christian song from the African-American musical tradition. It is known by a variety of titles, including "I Wouldn't Mind Dying (If Dying Was All)" and "A Mother's Last Word to Her Daughter". It was recorded seven times before 1930, using the preceding titles. It has been most often recorded in gospel or gospel blues style, but also in other styles such as country. Description The song consists of several four-line verses (quatrains) and a repeated refrain. The words both of verses and of refrain often differ from one artist to another. A standard feature is that the refrain consists of four lines, the first three of which are identical. Common variants of those three lines include "Bye and bye we're (or, I'm) going to see the King" and "Holy, holy, holy is His name". The fourth line almost always begins "(I) wouldn't (or, don't) mind dying". It concludes in various ways in different versions, for example "If dying wa ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
God Don't Never Change
"God Don't Never Change" is a gospel blues song recorded by Blind Willie Johnson in 1929. The song is sometimes titled "God Don't Ever Change". Lyrics The verses include allusions to: * Psalm 114:4 "The mountains skipped like rams, and the little hills like lambs". * Amen Corner, that part of a church where the most vocally devout worshipers congregate, as in the poem " Trouble in the Amen Corner". * The influenza pandemic of 191820. The topicality of that event suggests that Johnson wrote at least that verse. Unless and until an earlier version can be found, he can be credited with both the tune and the words. Other recordings * 1990 Glenn Kaiser and Darrell Mansfield, on the album ''Trimmed and Burnin''. * 1991 Russ Taff, on the album '' Under Their Influence'' * 1994 Tom Shaka, on the album ''Hot'N Spicey'' * 1995 Catfish Keith, on the album ''Fresh Catfish'' * 1996"God Don't Ever Change" by Cissy Houston on the album '' Face To Face'' * 1997 Jimmy Vivino, on the albu ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Let Your Light Shine On Me
"Let Your Light Shine on Me" is a traditional gospel blues song, having been recorded by The Wiseman Quartet in 1923, by Ernest Phipps in 1928, and by Blind Willie Johnson in 1929. The song itself is also known as "Shine On Me", "Let It Shine on Me", "Light from the Lighthouse" and "Light from Your Lighthouse". Description Ernest Phipps' version, like almost all early renditions, starts in a slow tempo and is then reprised at a much faster tempo. Johnson's version was released on Columbia 14490-D together with "God Don't Never Change". He starts singing in his tenor voice, then drops into his 'growl' or false bass voice for the middle section. The chorus runs: The words appear to allude to the Gospel of Matthew at 5:16: "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven". "Lighthouse" was a popular metaphor for heavenly light. Performances The following recordings, which vary widely in character, are by ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Keep Your Lamp Trimmed And Burning
"Keep Your Lamp(s) Trimmed and Burning" is a traditional gospel blues song. It alludes to the Parable of the Wise and Foolish Virgins, found in the Gospel of Matthew at 25:1-13, and also to a verse in the Gospel of Luke, at 12:35. The song has been attributed to Blind Willie Johnson, who recorded it in 1928; to Reverend Gary Davis, who recorded it in 1956; and to Mississippi Fred McDowell, who recorded it in 1959. The song has been included in several hymnals. Lyrics The song is in call-and-response format. As is common with traditional songs, lyrics vary between performersin this instance, often very widely. A usual first verse is: "The world" and "the time" relate to the apocalyptic prophecies of the New Testament. "The work" can do so also, but suggests that the song may derive from an African-American work song. Recordings Recordings by people with Wikipedia articles include: * 1928Blind Willie Johnson * 1956 Reverend Gary Davis * 1959Mississippi Fred McDowell * ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Lord I Just Can't Keep From Crying
"Lord I Just Can't Keep From Crying" is a traditional gospel blues song recorded in 1928 by Blind Willie Johnson (vocals and guitar) and Willie B. Harris (vocals), who is thought to have been his first wife. Some versions of the song recorded by other artists have slightly different titles: for example, a comma after "Lord"; or, "Cryin'" instead of "Crying"; or, an appended "Sometime" or "Sometimes". Recordings * 192627Rev. H. R. Tomlin * 1966The Blues Project, on the album ''Projections,'' titled "I Can't Keep from Crying" * 1967Brother Joe May, on the album ''Thank You Lord for One More Day'' * 1994 or beforeLaura Henton * 1997 or beforeGolden Gate Quartet * 1998Phoebe Snow Phoebe Snow (born Phoebe Ann Laub; July 17, 1950 – April 26, 2011) was an American roots music singer-songwriter and guitarist, known for her hit 1974 and 1975 songs "Poetry Man" and "Harpo's Blues", and her credited guest vocals on Paul Simo ..., on the album ''I Can't Complain'' * 2004 or befo ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |