VARIOUS ARTISTS
Dealin' With the Devil - The Songs
of Robert Johnson (Cannonball Blues)
Reviewed by Eric Steiner

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This celebration of the Robert Johnson Songbook earned an honorable mention in my top five releases of 2000, and I'd like to tell you why. There's the slow, slide guitar of Josh White, Jr on Come On In My Kitchen, and the rack harp and crisp picking of Paul Geremia on 32-30 Blues, Pinetop Perkins out in front on piano in front of a great studio band on Sweet Home Chicago, and Colin Linden's exceptional slide guitar on the set's closer Preachin' Blues. Each of the artists on Dealin' With the Devil honor Robert Johnson's legacy with faithful interpretations of one dozen of Robert Johnson's songbook. In his 27 years, Johnson wrote and performed 29 songs, and many like Sweet Home Chicago or I'm A Steady Rollin' Man have grown into blues standards. Dealin' With the Devil features no-frills blues at their best from some talented bluesmen and blueswomen. There are a couple of songs missing, like Cross Road Blues or Stop Breakin' Down Blues, but I'm praying for a sequel. Highly recommended for blues veterans or those just discovering the music of an American musical legend.

Track List:

Walkin' Blues, Corey Harris * When You Got A Good Friend, Debbie Davies * I Believe I'll Dust My Broom, Eddie Kirkland * Ramblin' On My Mind, Kris Wiley * Last Fair Deal Gone Down, Dave Van Ronk * I'm A Steady Rollin' Man, Kenny Neal * From Four Until Late, Sue Foley * Come On In My Kitchen, Josh White Jr. * 32-20 Blues, Paul Geremia * Sweet Home Chicago, Pine Top Perkins * Stones In My Passway, Guy Davis * Preachin' Blues, Colin Linden

© 2001 - Eric Steiner