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by Cub Koda (AMG)

If you've never heard Blind Willie Johnson, you are in for one of the great, bone-chilling treats in music. Johnson played slide guitar and sang in a rasping, false bass that could freeze the blood. But no bluesman was he; this was gospel music of the highest order, full of emotion and heartfelt commitment. Of all the guitar-playing evangelists, Blind Willie Johnson may have been the very best. Though not related by bloodlines to Robert Johnson, comparisons in the emotional commitment of both men cannot be helped. This two-CD anthology collects everything known to exist, and that's a lot of stark, harrowing, emotional commitment no matter how you slice it. Not for the faint of heart, but hey, the good stuff never is.


Amazon.com - Editorial Reviews
In the history of recorded blues and spirituals, there is no greater singer and songwriter than Blind Willie Johnson. With a vocal delivery ranging from raw rage to tenderness wedded to his talking guitar, Blind Willie's recordings are as powerful today as when he made them, from 1927 to 1930. Listen to monuments "Motherless Children Have a Hard Time," "I Just Can't Keep from Crying," "It's Nobody's Fault but Mine," and the otherworldly "Dark Was the Night, Cold Was the Ground," and try to find equally visceral conviction any other place or time. His "If I Had My Way I'd Tear The Building Down" which got him arrested when Blind Willie unknowingly sang it in front of a U.S. government building in Dallas, became a '60s icon. Years later, he caught pneumonia, but when treatment was sought, he was told the hospital did not treat blind people, so he returned home and died. --Alan Greenberg

Amazon.com users review
# Although he's considered to be a blues musician, I myself hesitate to call him that. I tend to think of him as the most intense gospel musician ever. He has the total package... great voice, superb guitar playing (oh that slide work!), and for the most part, a great repertoire.
If there's anything that you may either love or hate, it's his voice. He at times posessed a snarling growl (best in "blues" history for my money) that would make you think this is music about Satan, not about God. I hate to scare people off by saying that about his voice though. He is one of my very favorite singers. I have never liked Howlin' Wolf's voice but Wolf was obviously extremely influenced by Willie Johnson. I'll put it this way... if you like Howlin' Wolf's voice (or if you don't but you're familiar with it) and if you like Don Van Vliet's (Captain Beefheart's) voice, you'll like Blind Willie Johnson's voice because his is the most intense and emotive of all of them... with Captain Beefheart's voice being a close second.
If there's one thing I can say for sure, it's that Eric Clapton did the music world a huge disservice by constantly touting Robert Johnson as the greatest blues musician ever. Not that Robert wasn't great, but way too many people mistakenly think that pre-war blues began and ended with Robert, and thus, brilliant musicians of that general era such as Blind Willie Johnson are all too often forgotten, overlooked, or just unknown. That's quite a shame, because Willie's best stuff is easily the equal (or better) of Robert's best stuff. Completely different styles, but Willie was an emotional powerhouse, the likes of which the world will never be graced with again.

# The gospel music of Blind Willie Johnson is heartfelt, intense, at times deeply sad, moving and joyful. Some of the songs are almost impossible not to sing along with - but you don't want to because his amazing voice and slidework demand your attention.
You'll find Mr. Johnson's work in the music of other artists - Ry Cooder uses a similar lick in the Paris, Texas soundtrack as you hear on Dark Was the Night - Cold Was the Ground. The Blasters did a version of If I Had My Way I'd Tear the Building Down but I prefer Mr. Johnson's version. I'm sure there are other examples but I can't think of them at the moment. An amazing tribute to a man who recorded only 30 songs and died in obscurity. The music is particularly poignant in light of the few details we have of Mr. Johnson's life.
For any collector of gospel and blues music this is a must-have album.
# These are the complete recordings of an obscure but increditble artist. The restored tracks are mostly devoid of audible pops or scratches. Little is known about Johnson, but his style was unique and unforgettable. His version of "You'll Need Somebody On Your Bond" is haunting.
# Superb and passionate blues. Very loud, very clear for such old recordings. These songs will transport you into blues heaven. Competes for ear time with the best output from those other pre-WWII blues giants Robert Johnson, Son House and Blind Lemon Jefferson.
# Maybe you're interested in Blind Willie Johnson because a number of his songs ("Nobody's Fault but Mine", "Motherless Children", "You're Gonna Need Somebody On Your Bond") have been recorded by varius rock stars annd blues artists.
Maybe you read how Ry Cooder believes that "Dark Was the Night, Cold Was the Ground" is the most soulful piece of music ever comitted to wax and are curious to hear it for yourself.
Maybe you're aware that Johnson is considered among the finest slide guitar players of all time.
Whatever it is that got you here, the point is this: You're about to discover just about the purest music ever. Wonderful, awesome stuff. Please get it and take the time to appreciate this rare beauty.
Try listening to this on a rainy night with the lights out, maybe a few candles burning, and be transported to a place beyond space and time. To paraphrase Sam Philips when he first heard Howlin' Wolf, "THIS IS WHERE THE SOUL OF MAN NEVER DIES."

CD Universe
A bottleneck guitarist of consummate skill, Blind Willie Johnson was a traveling evangelist who preached the gospel by playing and singing such message-heavy tunes as "I Know His Blood Can Make Me Whole," and "If It Had Not Been for Jesus." But there is not a whit of squeaky-clean, Sunday-morning sweetness to Johnson's music. Overwhelmingly intense, Johnson's performances are all open wounds and raw nerves. THE COMPLETE collects everything the artist ever recorded, and makes a case for Johnson as one of the most passionate, affecting bluesmen of all time.
It is Johnson's singing that truly startles. A gruff yet finely nuanced bass, Johnson sings with a voice that could grind glass, wrenching out spiritually committed messages in a manner both primal and sublime. Johnson also displays great variety, be it the stark, understated intensity of "Dark Was the Night - Cold Was the Ground" (where he wordlessly vocalizes in a hush over ghostly riffs) or the full-tilt prophetic perfection of "John the Revelator" (a duet with Willie Harris). THE COMPLETE BLIND WILLIE JOHNSON is an utterly essential set of the most hair-raising gospel blues ever put to tape. Be prepared.