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Product Description The spirit of Robert Johnson and the Delta Blues tradition come to life on Rory Block's Rykodisc debut, The Lady and Mr. Johnson. The album, comprised entirely of Robert Johnson's music, may be the most compelling and important release in the blues-woman's 40-year career. An expert slide guitarist and a masterful singer, Block's unmatched understanding of the complexity and of Johnson's music has gained her the resounding support and encouragement of the Johnson family. The album features 13 of Johnson's classics stripped down to the very essence of vocals and acoustic guitar. Amazon.com Recording for forty years now, Rory Block has devoted the entirety of her newest album to the songs of Robert Johnson. This is no mere dalliance or bandwagon jumping for her, as this music has informed her own musical path from the outset, starting with her love of his records when she was just a child. Her subsequent studies of Rev. Gary Davis, Skip James, Mississippi John Hurt and others put her in good stead for understanding the dynamics of one guitar and voice. Like some of those blues masters, Block uses the subtle complexities of fingerpicking combined with occasional slide work to create a whole that has the range of a small combo. What's amazing in hearing these thirteen songs is how fully they became part of the blues lexicon -- not just the individual songs, but their entire bearing. --David Greenberger