Surface noise on track 2??
on track 2 "Terraplane Blues" theres some very loud hiss and surface noise when Johnson does his "ooooooooos!" which werent present on the same recording on the box set, anyone else have this problem? aside from that a truly great release worth it to anyone interested in music. its wonderdul. the sound quality IS alot better though on this cd than on the box. its well worth it.

The spooked genius of Robert Johnson
If you're new to Robert Johnson, start here. The Complete Recordings box is all fine and good, but this disc has (drastically) better sound quality, better sequencing, and more historical value (if you're into that sort of thing). It's also cheaper, and less bulky. Plus, it cherrypicks most of Johnson's best recordings. Of course, Robert Johnson never recorded a bad song, but these sixteen (seventeen, if you count the previously unreleased alternate take of "Traveling Riverside Blues" that was discovered after the release of the box set) are the cream of the crop. My only complaint is the absence of "I Believe I'll Dust My Broom," which has long been one of my favorite blues songs, but that's just a nitpick. This record really is the bee's knees.

Snag a copy of King Of The Delta Blues Singers, and you'll make the acquaintance of such potentially life-changing songs as "Kindhearted Woman Blues" and "Ramblin' On My Mind." You'll encounter nightmarish poetry and primal guitar genius. You'll wander lonesome dreamscapes full of poison whisky and evil women. You'll feel the devil's breath on your neck and the sting of loneliness in your heart. You'll hear evil moans and frightened cries, and you'll smell the mud and blood of Mississippi. Your spine will freeze and your skin will crawl at the panicked desperation of "Hell Hound On My Trail." Your toes will tap and your dark side will flare up at the jubilantly psychotic "Preachin' Blues (Up Jumped The Devil)." You'll marvel at "32-20 Blues," whose casual misogyny is so unflinchingly convincing that it puts most gangsta rap to shame. Once you've absorbed the length and breadth of this classic record, move on to King Of The Delta Blues Singers Volume 2. Enjoy!

Robert Johnson's best recordings
Robert Johnson lived from 1911-1938, and died at the age of 27. But during his years active as a performing artist, 1934-1938, he recorded some of the best blues ever.

The recordings had been lost for many years, but in 1961, Columbia released them on the vinyl release 'King Of The Delta Blues Singers.' The record inspired guitarists like Keith Richards, Eric Clapton and Robert Cray. It remains, even to this day, one of the most influential records of all-time.

Overall, if you like the blues, classic rock or great guitar playing, than you need this album. Highly recommended for anybody who appreciates music.

One of the best records ever released. Highly recommended! ENJOY!!!

King Of The Delta Blues Singers
Robert Johnson-King Of The Delta Blues Singers ****1/2

This is the quintessential recording for all blues fans and musicians. This is the one that inspired all those British blokes to play guitar in the 1960's like Keith Richards, Eric Clapton, Mick Taylor, and countless others, not to mention all the American's it influenced.

Now I'll spare you the story of Robert Johnson and the crossroads and how he is rumoured to have become so amazing because I am pretty sure anyone reading this already knows. The point is that this is the best collection of Johnsons material, it sounds the clearest out of all the versions, and has the best song selection. This is a must have for any guitar player, or blues fan.

best sounding cd
I have the box set. Sure it's (almost) complete, but the sequencing sucks and the digital clean-up is kinda sterile sounding. I got this cd awhile back just because of the extra song not available on the box. What I didn't expect was the far warmer sound of this disc in comparison with the box set. Occasionally the surface noise can be a bit a an obstruction, but, for the most part, this is the best way to hear these recordings without having to resort to 78 rpm records. Alas, sound quality should not be the determining factor as to whether or not one should be able to enjoy music, but this cd makes the case that a better sounding recording can enhance great music.

As for the music: if anyone is buying this because he/she is unfamiliar with the recordings of Robert Johnson, go straight to Hellhound on my Trail and play it a few times. If that doesn't make the listener a life-long Robert Johnson fan, he/she should immediately consider a visit to the nearest e.r. so that said heartless, soulless tone-deaf lost cause can be resuscitated.

For those who get the big picture and are hypnotized by the sound of aural perfection, proceed immediately to Skip James' "Devil Got My Woman", Blind Willie Mctell's "Mama 'taint Long Fo' Day", et al.