Me and Mr. Johnson by Eric Clapton (CD, Mar-2004, Warner Bros.)

Somewhere this all begin down at the crossroads ... that's where Robert Johnson made his deal with the devil and it all really got started. Robert Johnson has since become an immovable part of the blues world, and you would be hard pressed to find a blues artist who has not recorded a Robert Johnson tune at sometime or another, be it Taj Mahal, Keb Mo (basically half his first album, Muddy Waters, The Rolling Stones and indeed Eric Clapton. In fact Clapton's signature song "Crossroads" was actually written and first played by Johnson.

Robert Johnson's influence on popular music and the Blues has even transcended music and made its way in to literature and even the movies. Ralph (the Karate Kid) Machio made a movie about a young blues artist trying to tap into Johnson's legacy, called The Crossroads. Even recently, the blues player character in the Coen brother's film "Oh Brother Where Art Thou" was modeled after Robert Johnson.

From his first step onto the music scene with John Mayall's Bluesbreakers Eric Clapton has maintained the influence of Robert Johnson's songs over him, and over the years has covered those songs. With "Me & Mr Johnson", his first all blues album in 10 years (From the Cradle), Clapton now revisits his roots with a full albulm tribute to the song's of Robert Johnson. All in all Johnson recorded 29 songs in his short career and Clapton covers 14 of them here.

To be fair this work has been recorded so many times that it is no longer fair to call it a cover album. When the New York Philharmonic records Beethoven with a new conductor at the stick is it a cover?

All in all Clapton does a fine job with this album; for the most part it is upbeat and catchy. Does he reinvent the music … not at all ... in fact the only complaint to be made is that he seems to play it a bit safe at times, never really pushing the material. Like his last blues album, "From the Cradle" fans of "LAYLA" and "Cocaine" may be disappointed. That said all of these songs are fun, approachable and easy to listen to. This is not the Chicago Blues of B.B. King with his endless virtuoso solos, this is good down home Delta blues. This album was recorded for eth most part with a full band accompanying Clapton, Piano, Organ, Drums and harmonica. On several tracks Billy Preston (yes the Billy (first person to ever record with the Beatles … I recorded with the Rolling Stones Billy Preston) really stands out. It’s hard to sit listening to “Milkcow’s Calf Blues”, as I am now while writing, and not smile! Even the downbeat number’s like “Last Fair Deal Gone Down” come across with a degree of jubilance.


WHO WILL LIKE THIS ALBUM
Fans of Eric Clapton
Casual Blues Fans
Blues Fans


WHO WILL NOT LIKE THIS ALBUM
Creed Fans

What can you say it is Clapton performing Robert Johnson's songs...It is clear that Clapton is paying tribute in his own way to the great Robert Johnson songs of the past..For blues fans Clapton takes you back to the beginning. It s like being in a souped up music time machine..You have the classic rhythm and lyrics of Robert Johnson with Clapton's modern day guitar ..It is a must own for Blues Fans...

Clapton is a little over-rated as a bluesman, but this one is great. He makes Robert Johnson material even better.

We paid for this purchase, and never received the CD. My husband really wanted this CD, as he likes Eric Clapton and Robert Johnson. We are really disappointed in this purchase.

Sherry Beck

Unbelievable audio engineering. So much talent at one place-incredible. Only thing better is the DVD of the recording sessions.

If you like Clapton blues then you will love this cd.

Fantastic tribute to Robert Johnson father of modern rock and blues.