Columbia’s first King of the Delta Blues Singers compilation was a vehicle for the discovery of Robert Johnson by a new audience in 1961. By the time the second volume was released in 1970, Johnson admirers were legion, eager to hear every note he ever sang and recorded, and Columbia more than fulfilled their wishes by issuing all 13 Johnson songs that had not appeared on the first set, plus some alternate takes. Volume II includes Johnson recordings that became cornerstones of the electric blues and rock such as I Believe I’ll Dust My Broom and Sweet Home Chicago. All the tracks come from Johnson’s sessions in San Antonio in 1936 and Dallas in 1937.
Tracks:
1. Kind Hearted Woman Blues
2. I Believe I’ll Dust My Broom
3. Sweet Home Chicago
4. Ramblin’ On My Mind
5. Phonograph Blues
6. They’re Red Hot
7. Dead Shrimp Blues
8. Preachin’ Blues (Up Jumped The Devil)
9. I’m A Steady Rollin’ Man
10. From Four Until Late
11. Little Queen Of Spades
12. Malted Milk
13. Drunken Hearted Man
14. Stop Breakin’ Down Blues
15. Honeymoon Blues
16. Love In Vain
Columbia LP C30034, King of the Delta Blues Singers, Volume II, released in 1970. Digitally remastered reissue CD (Columbia Legacy 92579), released in 2004, includes a bonus track:
17. Ramblin’ On My Mind (Take 2)
— Jim O’Neal