Robert Johnson: The Robert Johnson Story

This album could have been the first time Robert Johnson appeared on CD: it was issued in 1989. I think more comprehensive compilations of his work have been issued since, with better sound quality. This one seems to have written out of the history books.

I got it because everyone from Dylan to Hendrix to Plant cited Johnson as a seminal influence, and I wanted to see what the fuss was about. To be honest, I've never really enjoyed listening to this. It's more like a history lesson, especially since the recording quality is so poor. It's impossible to hear the original songs other than through the lens of those that followed them. So Stop Breakin' Down Rules is filtered through the Stones' Stop Breaking Down etc. And anything that reminds me of Eric Clapton is a real turn-off.