Unlimited Streaming
Listen to this album in high quality now on our apps
Start my trial period and start listening to this albumEnjoy this album on Qobuz apps with your subscription
SubscribeEnjoy this album on Qobuz apps with your subscription
Digital Download
Purchase and download this album in a wide variety of formats depending on your needs.
Even in the blues, a style capable of wrenching unexplainable emotions from its audience, Blind Willie Johnson has few equals. With a voice capable of alternating effortlessly between sublime, trembling tenor and the sound of pure gravel, and unparalleled skill with the bottleneck (and knife), Johnson recorded 30 sides for Columbia (1927-1930) that stand as a high-water mark for both country blues and raw gospel. Given the fact that his entire output has been issued by both Yazoo and Columbia, it's difficult to imagine opting for this single disc. Anyone looking for more material will be forced to purchase sets with redundant selections. Still, if you are only seeking one collection, you cannot go wrong with Dark Was the Night. Included are both "God Moves on the Water" and "Dark Was the Night, Cold Was the Ground," which are both utterly necessary, along with the classics "Praise God I'm Satisfied," "Jesus Make Up My Dying Bed," "John the Revelator," and 11 others. "God Moves" is a slide masterpiece in which Johnson's guitar interjections and responses become as captivating as his voice and a tale of the Titanic sinking at the will of God. "Dark Was the Night" is an otherworldly performance of gorgeously spun slide lines and Johnson's wordless moaning, aimed straight at the heart. Everything else on hand is nothing less than emotionally rich, consummately executed and spiritually charged blues at its very best.
© Nathan Bush /TiVo
You are currently listening to samples.
Listen to over 100 million songs with an unlimited streaming plan.
Listen to this playlist and more than 100 million songs with our unlimited streaming plans.
From $10.83/month
Unknown, Producer - W. Johnson, Composer - W. Johnson, Lyricist - Blind Willie Johnson, Vocal - Blind Willie Johnson, Guitar - Blind Willie Johnson, Performer
Originally released 1927. All rights reserved by Columbia Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment
Unknown, Producer - W. Johnson, Composer - W. Johnson, Lyricist - Blind Willie Johnson, Vocal - Blind Willie Johnson, Guitar - Blind Willie Johnson, Performer
Originally released 1927. All rights reserved by Sony Music Entertainment
Unknown, Producer - Willie B. Harris, Vocal - W. Johnson, Composer - W. Johnson, Lyricist - Blind Willie Johnson, Vocal - Blind Willie Johnson, Guitar - Blind Willie Johnson, Performer
Originally Released 1929 Sony Music Entertainment Inc.
Label Copy Conversion/Legacy Unknown, Performer - Michael Brooks, Producer - W. Johnson, Composer - W. Johnson, Lyricist - Angeline Johnson, Vocal - Blind Willie Johnson, Vocal - Blind Willie Johnson, Guitar - Nedra Olds-Neal, Producer
(P) Originally Released 1930 Sony Music Entertainment Inc.
Unknown, Producer - W. Johnson, Composer - W. Johnson, Lyricist - Blind Willie Johnson, Vocal - Blind Willie Johnson, Guitar - Blind Willie Johnson, Performer
Originally released 1927. All rights reserved by Columbia Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment
Unknown, Producer - W. Johnson, Composer - W. Johnson, Lyricist - Blind Willie Johnson, Vocal - Blind Willie Johnson, Guitar - Blind Willie Johnson, Performer
Originally released 1929. All rights reserved by Columbia Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment
Unknown, Producer - W. Johnson, Arranger - Blind Willie Johnson, Vocal - Blind Willie Johnson, Guitar - Blind Willie Johnson, Performer
Originally released 1929. All rights reserved by Columbia Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment
DIRTY DOZEN BRASS BAND, Arranger - DIRTY DOZEN BRASS BAND, Adaptor - Unknown, Producer - Willie B. Harris, Vocal - Traditional, Composer - Traditional, Lyricist - Blind Willie Johnson, Vocal - Blind Willie Johnson, Guitar - Blind Willie Johnson, Performer
Originally Released 1930 Sony Music Entertainment Inc.
Unknown, Producer - W. Johnson, Composer - W. Johnson, Lyricist - Blind Willie Johnson, Vocal - Blind Willie Johnson, Guitar - Blind Willie Johnson, Performer
Originally released 1927. All rights reserved by Columbia Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment
Unknown, Producer - W. Johnson, Composer - W. Johnson, Lyricist - Blind Willie Johnson, Vocal - Blind Willie Johnson, Guitar - Blind Willie Johnson, Performer
Originally Released 1930 Sony Music Entertainment Inc.
Unknown, Producer - W. Johnson, Composer - W. Johnson, Lyricist - Blind Willie Johnson, Vocal - Blind Willie Johnson, Guitar - Blind Willie Johnson, Performer
Originally Released 1930 Sony Music Entertainment Inc.
Unknown, Producer - W. Johnson, Composer - W. Johnson, Lyricist - Blind Willie Johnson, Vocal - Blind Willie Johnson, Guitar - Blind Willie Johnson, Performer
Originally Released 1930 Sony Music Entertainment Inc.
Willie Johnson, Composer - Willie Johnson, Lyricist - Unknown, Producer - Blind Willie Johnson, Vocal - Blind Willie Johnson, Guitar - Blind Willie Johnson, Performer
Originally released 1927. All rights reserved by Columbia Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment
Unknown, Producer - W. Johnson, Composer - W. Johnson, Lyricist - Blind Willie Johnson, Vocal - Blind Willie Johnson, Guitar - Blind Willie Johnson, Performer
Originally released 1927. Columbia Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment
Unknown, Producer - W. Johnson, Composer - W. Johnson, Lyricist - Blind Willie Johnson, Vocal - Blind Willie Johnson, Guitar - Blind Willie Johnson, Performer
Originally Released 1931 Sony Music Entertainment Inc.
Unknown, Producer - Blind Willie Johnson, Vocal - Blind Willie Johnson, Composer - Blind Willie Johnson, Guitar - Blind Willie Johnson, Lyricist - Blind Willie Johnson, Performer
Originally Released 1929 Sony Music Entertainment Inc.
Album review
Even in the blues, a style capable of wrenching unexplainable emotions from its audience, Blind Willie Johnson has few equals. With a voice capable of alternating effortlessly between sublime, trembling tenor and the sound of pure gravel, and unparalleled skill with the bottleneck (and knife), Johnson recorded 30 sides for Columbia (1927-1930) that stand as a high-water mark for both country blues and raw gospel. Given the fact that his entire output has been issued by both Yazoo and Columbia, it's difficult to imagine opting for this single disc. Anyone looking for more material will be forced to purchase sets with redundant selections. Still, if you are only seeking one collection, you cannot go wrong with Dark Was the Night. Included are both "God Moves on the Water" and "Dark Was the Night, Cold Was the Ground," which are both utterly necessary, along with the classics "Praise God I'm Satisfied," "Jesus Make Up My Dying Bed," "John the Revelator," and 11 others. "God Moves" is a slide masterpiece in which Johnson's guitar interjections and responses become as captivating as his voice and a tale of the Titanic sinking at the will of God. "Dark Was the Night" is an otherworldly performance of gorgeously spun slide lines and Johnson's wordless moaning, aimed straight at the heart. Everything else on hand is nothing less than emotionally rich, consummately executed and spiritually charged blues at its very best.
© Nathan Bush /TiVo
About the album
- 1 disc(s) - 16 track(s)
- Total length: 00:49:56
- Main artists: Blind Willie Johnson
- Composer: Various Composers
- Label: Columbia - Legacy
- Genre: Blues
Originally Released 1928, 1929, 1930, 1931, (P) 1998 Sony Music Entertainment Inc.
Improve album information
Why buy on Qobuz?
-
Stream or download your music
Buy an album or an individual track. Or listen to our entire catalog with our high-quality unlimited streaming subscriptions.
-
Zero DRM
The downloaded files belong to you, without any usage limit. You can download them as many times as you like.
-
Choose the format best suited for you
Download your purchases in a wide variety of formats (FLAC, ALAC, WAV, AIFF...) depending on your needs.
-
Listen to your purchases on our apps
Download the Qobuz apps for smartphones, tablets, and computers, and listen to your purchases wherever you go.