Artwork by Tom Wilson from Columbia LP King of the Delta Blues Singers - Vol 2

 
THE SAN ANTONIO SESSIONS Producer Don Law, an Englishman working for the American Record Corporation, later Columbia Records, was the only person to record Robert Johnson. It seems understandable that Johnson's music also caught the ear of contemporary Brits such as Eric Clapton, The Rolling Stones and Led Zeppelin. In the early 1960's, Law lured Johnny Cash and Carl Perkins to Columbia from Sun Records.

The Gunter Hotel, San Antonio, Texas
- circa 1930 

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 1936 
songs recorded:
KIND HEARTED WOMAN BLUES
(I BELIEVE I'LL) DUST MY BROOM
SWEET HOME CHICAGO
RAMBLIN’ ON MY MIND
WHEN YOU GOT A GOOD FRIEND
COME ON IN MY KITCHEN
TERRAPLANE BLUES
PHONOGRAPH BLUES

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 1936 
songs recorded:
32-20 BLUES

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 1936
songs recorded:
THEY'RE RED HOT
DEAD SHRIMP BLUES
CROSS ROAD BLUES
WALKIN’ BLUES
LAST FAIR DEAL GONE DOWN
PREACHIN’ BLUES (Up Jumped The Devil)
IF I HAD POSSESSION OVER JUDGMENT DAY

A rare photo of Vinnie Liebler (r),
Chief Engineer for Brunswick and Ralph Perez (l), Head Recorder, as they inspect a new thin type master being used in the United States for the first time.  San Antonio November 11, 1936

THE DALLAS SESSIONS

photo © Sweet Home Pictures

508 Park Avenue as it might

have looked in 1937

The only known recordings of Robert Johnson were cut in Dallas and San Antonio, Texas.  The American Record Corporation probably paid Robert Johnson $10 -$15 each for the 29 songs and alternates, so he probably made about $300 off these sessions with no royalties. The reason for recording alternate takes, which were note-for-note similar to the first take, was the common practice of making a safety recording in case something happened to the master. It started when wax masters were used, because when they were shipped north for manufacture, one master would oftentimes melt on the way.


Nineteen of Robert Johnson's original Vocalion recordings are used in the soundtrack of Can't You Hear The Wind Howl?

SATURDAY, JUNE 19, 1937

songs recorded:

STONES IN MY PASSWAY

I'M A STEADY ROLLIN' MAN

FROM FOUR UNTIL LATE


SUNDAY, JUNE 20, 1937

songs recorded:

HELL HOUND ON MY TRAIL

LITTLE QUEEN OF SPADES

MALTED MILK

DRUNKEN HEARTED MAN

ME & THE DEVIL BLUES

STOP BREAKIN' DOWN BLUES

TRAVELING RIVERSIDE BLUES

HONEYMOON BLUES

LOVE IN VAIN BLUES

MILKCOW'S CALF BLUES

Johnson’s record producer Don Law

photo © Sweet Home Pictures

508 Park Avenue today

These recording sessions took place in the hot Texas summer.  It was so hot that some of the musicians and technicians recorded in their underwear.  The sessions took place on the third floor of  the 508 Park Avenue building which was leased by Warner Bros. to BRC/ARC when they obtained the rights to the Brunswick Radio record labels (Brunswick, Vocalion and Melotone).  It was  purchased in 2011 and plans are to restore it to its former glory with a museum and recording studio.