The Rough Guide to Blues Legends: Blind Willie Johnson

Blind Willie Johnson’s haunting slide guitar and raw spiritual fervor defined Delta Blues at its most uncompromising. World Music Network’s Rough Guide compilation gathers his most essential recordings—from the grinding “Dark Was the Night, Cold Was the Ground” to gospel-inflected stomps that influenced generations of blues and rock musicians. His bottleneck technique and hoarse, anguished vocals remain utterly distinctive, a window into the genre’s deepest roots.