Smith & Co

One of the Legendary Blues men who sowed the seeds of the British pop explosion of the 60’s by influencing a new generation of musicians in the U.K. It was only after the 2nd. world war, or becauseof it, that Europeans were introduced to the sound of ‘race’ records (as they were then known in the States,) and realised there was more to music than lush orchestras and Crooners. Suddenly it seemed that not everything had to be honey sweet and acceptable to your parents. There was Rhythm and Blues - music with balls! The rest is history and some legendary names have been left with us, none more so than Robert Johnson.

Eric Clapton has never made a secret of the influence that Robert Johnson had on him in his formative years and has now paid him the ultimate accolade of releasing an album comprised entirely of his songs entitled “Me and Mr. Johnson”.
Time to remind the people of how good Robert Johnson really was, so with a tongue in cheek nod to Eric’s release, here is an album featuring nearly all of the limited material the late great bluesman recorded in his short life. On this CD there are 29 tracks of which the first 11 tracks are all titles covered by Eric Clapton on his latest album, and the last 5 tracks are Bonus alternative takes of several of the tracks on already featured on the CD.

Only eleven 78’s were ever released by Robert Johnson in his life time which was cut short by a jealous husband who had him poisoned. Not only was he a brilliant musician, but his good looks made him a lady killer supreme for which he paid the ultimate price. Born in 1911 he died on August 16th. 1938.
For more info on Robert Johnson visit www.deltahaze.com

Experience the best in blues with this 2 disc, 34 track collection. From the current hot artists in this field such as Susan Tedeschi and Joan Osborne, through to the greats from the past such as Taj Mahal and Bo Diddley, “A Walk on the Blues Side” is the ultimate blues experience spanning the many generations of blues. The line up reads as a who’s who of the music business with English artists Robert Palmer, Spencer Davis, Alexis Korner and a very young Robert Palmer standing tall with Stateside names like the Band, Leon Russell and Edgar Winter not to mention The legendary bluesmen such as Eric Gales, Willie Kent, Robert Cray, and Koko Taylor.
At first glance you might not associate all the artists featured on this double set with the blues, but as you will hear they were all they can all play the blues and were undoubtedly influenced by this music in their formative musical years.

In 1977 Bob Dylan told an interviewer, " I still listen to the same old black and blue blues. Guys like Tommy McLennan, Lightnin' Hopkins, Big Maceo, Robert Johnstone, Fred McDowell and Gary Stewart". Dylan also played harmonica on a Big Joe Williams recording session in N.Y. He also recorded songs from Blind Lemon Jefferson, Bukka White and Blind Willie Johnson on his first album.!

Possibly the greatest white exponent of the blues ever has to be Eric Clapton. Through the Yardbirds, Bluesbreakers and Cream, Clapton established himself as the foremost bluesman in the U.K. whilst never losing sight of the fact that it was thanks to the great blues artists of America that he was inspired to develop his playing style.

Janis Joplin started her career trying to emulate the big open notes and shaped simple phrasing of Bessie Smith, but later switched to a more rhythmic style after having heard Otis Redding at the Monterey Pop Festival.

The Rolling Stones took their name from a Muddy Waters song and recorded their first American album " 12x5" at the legendary Chess Studios in Chicago. Just on a note of interest; they recorded 15 songs in 2 days including Bobby Womack's  "It's all over now", their first U.S. hit!

With Jimmy Page on guitar Led Zeppelin couldn't help but be inspired by the blues. The Yardbirds, out of which Zeppelin more or less evolved, was heavily influenced by the blues and having included Eric Clapton and Jeff Beck in the line-up at various stages proved to be the learning ground for what can probably be considered the 3 best British blues guitarists to date.