The 1961 album Eric Clapton finds “almost too powerful” to listen to
Eric Clapton has said Robert Johnson’s music can feel “almost too powerful” to listen to, describing the lasting hold of the blues musician’s work on him. The story highlights how, despite Clapton’s role in psychedelic rock with Cream, the blues remained central to his musical identity.
Released in 1961, *King of the Delta Blues Singers* gathered much of Johnson’s 1937 and 1938 recordings, along with previously unreleased material and alternate takes. The compilation introduced many listeners to Johnson’s music during a British blues revival and became a lasting influence on Clapton, who later covered Johnson’s songs and devoted his 2004 album *Me and Mr Johnson* to them.
In short
- Clapton says Robert Johnson’s music remains almost too powerful to hear.
- The 1961 compilation helped introduce Johnson to a generation of British listeners.
- Clapton later dedicated an album to Johnson’s songs.
Explained simply
Robert Johnson was an American blues singer and guitarist who recorded a small number of songs in the 1930s. His recordings later became influential among musicians in Britain and the United States.
A 1961 collection brought together many of Johnson’s recordings, including alternate takes and material that had not been released before. It helped introduce his music to a wider audience during a period when British musicians were taking a growing interest in blues.
Eric Clapton became one of the musicians deeply influenced by Johnson, even as he gained fame with the rock band Cream. Clapton later recorded Johnson’s songs and made an album devoted to them, reflecting the blues’ continuing place in his musical work.