Various - God Don't Never Change: The Songs Of Blind Willie Johnson

Published Thursday 30th June 2016
Various - God Don't Never Change: The Songs Of Blind Willie Johnson
Various - God Don't Never Change: The Songs Of Blind Willie Johnson

STYLE: Blues
RATING 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8
OUR PRODUCT CODE: 160460-24012
LABEL: Alligator
FORMAT: CD Album
ITEMS: 1

Reviewed by Lins Honeyman

Hailed by many as the progenitor of gospel blues music, Texan singer/guitarist Blind Willie Johnson recorded a mere 30 songs - mostly in the late 1920s - before his untimely death in abject poverty but his influence and legacy still casts a long shadow decades on. It's anyone's guess quite what the now legendary street singer would make of this Alligator Records tribute album - produced by Jeremy Gaskill who oversaw the 2003 'Gotta Serve Somebody: The Gospel Songs Of Bob Dylan' project - but there's no doubting he would feel vindicated that his songs are still going strong nearly nine decades later. 11 Blind Willie songs are featured here and Gaskill and his array of guest artists have been careful to keep the rawness of the originals intact whilst attempting to put a new spin on some of the most direct and arresting gospel-themed music of all time. Sounding for all the world like he has inherited Johnson's gravelly vocal cords, Tom Waits kicks proceedings off with a rasping version of "The Soul Of Man" before handing over the reins to the likes of Lucinda Williams and Susan Tedeschi and then returning with a stunning take on the much-covered "John The Revelator" a little later. Other highlights include a slick reading of "Mother's Children Have A Hard Time" by the Blind Boys Of Alabama and Sinead O'Connor's version of the optimistic "Trouble Will Soon Be Over" - delivered with her trademark fragile strength - whilst a fascinating take on "Bye And Bye I'm Going To See The King" by Luther Dickinson and the wonderful Rising Star Fife & Drum Band is a joy to hear. The great man himself even makes an appearance with the Cowboy Junkies on "Jesus Is Coming Soon" via the wonders of technology and only a sloppy version of the title track by Lucinda Williams and an excruciating stab at reinventing the seminal "Dark Was The Night, Cold Was The Ground" by Rickie Lee Jones lets the side down on this otherwise enjoyable and affectionate homage to a true giant of gospel blues music.

The opinions expressed in this article are not necessarily those held by Cross Rhythms. Any expressed views were accurate at the time of publishing but may or may not reflect the views of the individuals concerned at a later date.

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