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From the vaults of Soulitude Records
A Tribute to Robert Johnson.
These cherry picked 15 tracks were the first release en masse of Robert
Johnson’s music in the modern era. The brain child of Executive Producers Clark Dimond and Gene Heimlich, these re imagined recordings were the
basis of their vision to bring to life the true story of Robert Johnson’s
enlightened life and present it to the world on the Broadway stage.
Steve LaVere the trustee for the Robert Johnson Estate gave them the
rights to produce the music and maximize its value. Performed and
arranged here by the Incarnation Blues Band featuring the brilliant
styling’s of Tucker Smallwood and Arlen Roth in the vocal and guitar
roles of Robert Johnson; and the other members dedicated to his
music; nine years before the release of the now famous Columbia box
set; which demonized his life as a promotional ploy to explain his
profoundness. The passion and the vision of the artist performing here
are well understood in the liner notes penned by Derek Trucks and
Mike Mattison of the Tedeschi Trucks Band.
An intriguing idea: Imagine Robert Johnson never passed away, but had lived on through all of the musical twists and turns of the 20th century. The Incarnation Blues Band took this to heart, and when they walked into the studio in 1981, the living apparition of Johnson went with them. The IBB’s wise and reverent takes on Johnson’s repertoire are filled with the warmth and passion of Johnson’s playing, and also more than a hint of its danger.
Grounding their set in authentic acoustic takes like “Crossroads Blues” and “If I Had Possession Over Judgment Day,” the band then frees itself to bring modernity and innovation to bear. They fearlessly throw the whole 20th century in to the pot: rock, funk, even a touch of country swing (who knew there were new ways to listen to “Sweet Home Chicago?”) In the end, the project bears out the fruits of its premise: Robert Johnson never really went away. He’s been with us all along, in the beating heart of American music. This inspired album is proof positive.
Mike Mattison/Derek Trucks
Tedeschi Trucks Band