cross road blues cross road blues commonly known crossroads blues song written recorded american blues artist johnson performed solo piece vocal acoustic slide guitar delta blues style song mythology referring place supposedly sold soul devil exchange musical talents lyrics contain specific references revived song recordings english guitarist cream popularized song crossroads late 1960s blues rock interpretation inspired cover versions included songs rolling_stone placed number magazine list greatest guitar songs time recognition guitar work recording little known johnson life musical career recordings documented october johnson auditioned music store owner talent scout jackson mississippi passed johnson contact information representative second audition arranged johnson travel san_antonio texas recording session johnson recorded songs arc days november session recorded commercially appealing songs represented original pieces reflected current piano influenced musical trends songs include blues single popular record sweet home chicago believe dust blues standards recorded second recording date took place san_antonio day break johnson reached long standing repertoire songs record material reflects styles country blues performers influenced johnson youth songs johnson heartfelt forceful music historian sees shift lyrical themes close san_antonio session darker apocalyptic johnson work emerges evokes themes redemption darkness light musician inner life attendant cross road blues recorded johnson session san_antonio friday november sessions continued improvised studio room hotel arc producers supervised recording portable disc cutting machine unknown input johnson selection material record present similar takes song recorded lyrics interpretation crossroads intersection rural roads landmarks flat plain mississippi rivers local businesses use gas stations banks retail shops crossroads cars likely slow stop presenting best opportunity simplest reading johnson describes grief unable catch ride intersection sun sets different levels meaning attached supernatural significance song versions song open protagonist kneeling crossroads ask god mercy second sections tells failed attempts ride fourth sections expresses stranded darkness approaches asks friend advised song single includes fifth verse included second having sweet woman distress song myth johnson selling soul devil musical ability lyrics contain references bargain interpreted description singer fear losing soul devil presumably exchange talent music historian believes johnson verses support idea delta promoted having deal devil southern folklore identifies crossroads graveyard site pact identifies likely sources myth points johnson fascinated probably obsessed supernatural imagery song trail tells trying stay ahead demon pursuing devil blues sings early knocked door said hello believe time songs contribute myth johnson promoted idea debated agree devil angle good marketing blues historian sees song having elements protest social commentary second verse includes sun boy dark gon catch reference laws racial segregation united_states signs rural south advised don let sun set johnson expressing real fear charges took place suggest song deeper personal loneliness writers argue fifth verse single version captures essence song left abandoned stands looking way woman composition cross road blues reflects johnson delta blues roots repertoire recording mastery mentor son house style particularly slide guitar work music historian identifies parts straight blues subsequent adaptation black river blues melodic johnson relaxed urban approach forceful rural terms johnson guitar playing blues style contrasts johnson finger picking piano style uses style accompaniment bass strings playing melody harmonies higher strings style playing employs sharp accents bass strings imitation sharp draw harmonica players allows johnson explore different fills johnson uses technique blues shares common elements cross road blues song structure differs defined bar blues verses consistent range fourteen bars length additionally progression implied stated chords johnson uses spanish open tuning guitar tuned key johnson use slide features prominently song vocal slide parts function second answer vocal accompaniment tension dark turmoil lyrics charters characterizes song rhythm ambiguous feel music writer johnson rhythm meter performance device comes focus fluid changing accents lower beats irregular extend smaller beat divisions swing divisions beat johnson irregular rhythms variation support metric beat suggest personal vision takes song performed moderate somewhat different begin slower speed beats minute second johnson prepares fifth section slower second engineer apparently cut time limits inch rpm records addition slower tempo johnson sings verses lower pitch takes key allows greater variation vocal guitar parts differences serve help distinguish second blues character releases issued cross road blues standard rpm record single flip mind sold poorly song remained print initial release complete recordings box set second released producer substituted original johnson long playing record album compilation king delta blues singers included complete recordings shorter original single version versions american blues singer guitarist popularized dust recorded variations cross road blues titled standing crossroads feature james trademark dust slide guitar figure backing ensemble james lyrics focus lost love aspect song james recorded song august new studio california supervised session group professional studio musicians provided backup song produced newer style modern successfully james slide guitar placed mix brothers modern labels released single backed sunny land song regional hit reach national charts labels associated modern included standing crossroads james compilation albums crown blues heart rhythm soul custom records original folk blues kent records producer signed james group labels addition new material robinson james older songs including standing crossroads james recorded new_york_city late early sessions studio musicians provided backup horn section included saxophone subsidiary labels released song james death flashback records released single reissue sky crying included james compilation album titled sky crying versions appear numerous later james compilations recorded toured cousin recorded rendition titled crossroads derived guitar style music critic describes aggressive chaotic slide work unlike uses lyrics johnson second issued july recording session produced single chicago based crossroads backed baby sweet interpretation background early adapted song recording session hoc studio group dubbed powerhouse producer brought vocals guitar bass guitar harmonica piano drums project recalled reviewed potential songs wanted record saw preferred adapt older country blues attention turned songs proposed crossroads chose traveling riverside blues recording developed arrangement lyrics songs adaption guitar line biographer describes powerhouse performance slower blues based cream sings jones plays riff harmonica similar later provides instrumental solo plays rhythm guitar song released recording titled crossroads compilation album june powerhouse session continued playing author lists crossroads typical set spring cream version crossroads cream repertoire began performing july version features prominent guitar riff hard driving upbeat instrumental backing previously recorded mind late cream arrangements followed johnson original songs closely envisioned crossroads rock song question finding riff form interpreted simply band format crossroads definite riff johnson playing slide took single string strings embellished songs easiest rock roll vehicle johnson guitar line sets straight eighth note rock rhythm bruce bass continuously emphasize riff song strong regular metric drive combined baker drumming johnson irregular measures standardized typical bar sections blues progression clearly stated adapt johnson slide guitar technique open tuning instead follows electric guitar approach employs johnson guitar innovation shuffle pattern bass line singing johnson bars cross road blues johnson vocal lines calls vocal crossroads best assured cream addition johnson opening closing lyrics twice adds section traveling riverside blues instrumental break cream takes approach characteristic later live performances bruce bass lines blend rhythm harmony baker adds fills complex techniques typical jazz momentum allowed dissipate constantly reinforced recording releases cream recorded song november broadcast bbc radio program minutes length sings sections guitar solo replacing middle traveling riverside blues verse appeared albums finally released march cream recorded concert ballroom san_francisco according music writers recording edited longer performance typical trio notes crossroads box set credits engineer critic stephen_thomas_erlewine attributes editing producer cut best bits winding improvisation tight minutes allow song drive continuity biographer mentioning editing adds given passion solo performances crossroads cream able return song crossroads opening number live half cream wheels fire double album released august group breakup issued song single january reached number billboard hot pop chart original album single credit songwriter cream extensively reworked song cream played crossroads final concert royal albert hall november expanded version cream film released contains performance reunion cream revisited song royal albert hall included royal albert hall london album video cream breakup continued perform crossroads variety settings live recordings appear live crossroads live albums crossroads centre drug rehabilitation centre founded benefit centre recognition influence cross road blues inducted writing foundation noted regardless mythology rock roll renditions johnson record powerful song stand test time received grammy hall fame award acknowledge quality place recording history listed cream crossroads songs rolling_stone_magazine placed number greatest guitar songs time allmusic identifies cream crossroads recording bring attention popular music audiences allow original recordings sell million copies combining elements hard rock blues adds inspired new generation blues influenced artists rock musicians recorded numerous renditions based cream arrangement
Cross Road Blues