Johnny Shines and Robert Johnson

There's been a lot of discussion on the Blues Forums about a photo showing a supposodly young Robert Johnson and Johnny Shines. For example, a discussion at Weenie Campbell, one at Woody Mann's Guitar Seminars, and one at Michael Messer's Forum. Now I like Robert Johnson's music, and I understand his importance in the "Blues Pantheon", but I can't get all excited about a picture that may or may not be Robert Johnson and Johnny Shines. (Personally I don't think it is) Not to mention all of the discussion about whether or not the recordings were sped up,why RJ faced the wall while recording, or any of the other legends that have grown up around him since his death in  1938 at the age of 27. For me it's all about the music, and that's what's important. Sure Robert was only a marginal figure in the blues when he was alive, and only had one minor regional hit with "Terraplane Blues", but his influence on rock musicians since the 1960s is undeniable.

Groups that have covered his songs include,  Elmore James, (Dust My Broom), The Rolling Stones, (Love in Vain), Led Zeppelin, (Traveling Riverside Blues), Cream, (Crossroads Blues), George Thorogood, (Kind Hearted Woman Blues), David Bromberg, (Come on in my Kitchen), and of course everyone and his brother covering Sweet Home Chicago.

Now everyone likes a mystery, so I understand why there is so much interest in RJ, but what I never understood is,  "Why not more respect for Johnny Shines?" Here's a guy who traveled with RJ, could play Johnson's songs as good as - if not better, had a more powerful voice, and played into the 1990s. When musicians like RJ die young, under mysterious circumstances, an  iconic persona develops around them, while a musician who lives into his 70s, and hasn't sold his soul to the devil, just becomes an old man who has outlived his time, and I feel that's wrong. So let's give some respect to Johnny Shines, sit back and enjoy the man and his music.

The aforementioned "Sweet Home Chicago", You can't tell me this isn't as good as RJ.

 

 

"You Got to Pay the Cost" - Just listen to that vocal intro!!! Great Stuff!

"Ramblin' " on electric

 

"Ramblin' " on acoustic. Actually a variation on "Walking Blues"

 



 

 

"They Call me the Little Wolf" - Johnny Shines and Robert Jr. Lockwood.  Both contemporaries of RJ

 

 

Johnny Shines, Honeyboy Edwards and Walter Horton

 

 

"Hey Ba Ba Re Bop" (oiginally written and performed by Lionel Hampton)