Crossroads (song)
| "Cross Road Blues" | |
|---|---|
Original 78 record label
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| Single by Robert Johnson | |
| Released | May 1937 |
| Format | 10-inch 78 rpm record |
| Recorded | November 27, 1936 |
| Studio | Gunter Hotel, San Antonio, Texas |
| Genre | Blues |
| Length | 2:39 |
| Label | Vocalion |
| Songwriter(s) | Robert Johnson |
| Producer(s) | Don Law |
| "Crossroads" | |
|---|---|
1969 Italian single picture sleeve
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| Song by Cream | |
| from the album Wheels of Fire | |
| Released |
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| Recorded | March 10, 1968 (1st show) |
| Venue | Winterland Ballroom, San Francisco |
| Genre | |
| Length | 4:13 |
| Label | |
| Songwriter(s) | Robert Johnson |
| Producer(s) | Felix Pappalardi |
"Cross Road Blues" (also known as "Crossroads") is a blues song written and recorded by American blues artist Robert Johnson in 1936. Johnson performed it as a solo piece with his vocal and acoustic slide guitar in the Delta blues-style. The song has become part of the Robert Johnson mythology as referring to the place where he supposedly sold his soul to the Devil in exchange for his musical talents, although the lyrics do not contain any specific references.
Bluesman Elmore James revived the song with recordings in 1954 and 1960–1961. English guitarist Eric Clapton with Cream popularized the song as "Crossroads" in the late 1960s. Their blues rock interpretation inspired many cover versions and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame included it as one of the "500 Songs That Shaped Rock and Roll". Rolling Stone placed it at number three on the magazine's list of the "Greatest Guitar Songs of All Time" in recognition of Clapton's guitar work.
Little is known about Johnson's life and musical career, although his recordings are well documented. In October 1936, Johnson auditioned for music store owner and sometime talent scout H. C. Speir in Jackson, Mississippi; Speir passed on Johnson's contact information to Ernie Oertle, who was a representative for ARC Records. After a second audition, Oertle arranged for Johnson to travel to San Antonio, Texas, for a recording session. Johnson recorded 22 songs for ARC over three days from November 23 to 27, 1936. During the first session, he recorded his most commercially appealing songs. They mostly represented his original pieces and reflected current, piano-influenced musical trends. The songs include "Terraplane Blues" (his first single and most popular record) along with "Sweet Home Chicago" and "I Believe I'll Dust My Broom", which became blues standards after others recorded them.
A second and third recording date took place in San Antonio after a two-day break. Johnson reached back into his long-standing repertoire for songs to record. The material reflects the styles of country blues performers Charley Patton and Son House, who influenced Johnson in his youth. The songs are among Johnson's most heartfelt and forceful, and music historian Ted Gioia sees a shift in the lyrical themes:
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