I've listened and witnessed many great blues guitarists. When it comes to playing the songs of Robert Johnson, no one sings and plays with more soul and clarity. Her picking is so spot on, amazing, no slop, no nonsense. I saw her about 20 years ago at the music hall in Portsmouth NH. The audience was stunned with each song. Her son had just passed away and she came out, spoke a little about that and said she was going to continue to play right now as it was helping her heal. I had no idea what she was all about at the time as I had never heard her on the radio etc. I went home afterwards and bought a bottleneck slide. Thanks Rory! Hope all is well with you! tom in Maine.
I agree complete. I was very lucky when she played in Pennsylvania three years ago i went to view, we talked after the show. She has a certain Grace. After all, she does work for the Holy Lord, and talks about it when she's appearing live. Id give almost anything to see her live there. Hey, her groupie husband is good and very supportive.
've been reading about this lady for over twenty years in various guitar publications, but never heard her until now. I wasn't disappointed. This lady is the real deal. This is the epitome of musicianship. One lady sitting down with just an acoustic guitar and her voice. These young fly-by-nights could certainly learn something about perseverance and longevity from this lady. And also about staying true to one's self, instead of forsaking your vision just to sell records.
Wow, it is so incredible to watch a person get possessed by the music they are playin' Rory just let's that song take over and that's the best way to get it out... I love her stuff!!!
I was young and saw her in concert, a small venue. Sat in a folding chair maybe six feet away. This woman played HARD and her fingers became bloody. The fretboard was slicked with blood. I was impressed. She is a mad woman LOL it's not for show, she's the real deal. AND DO NOT TELL ME WHITE WOMEN CANNOT HAVE THE BLUES...yeah I said it.
Rory Block's art is transcendent.She embodys the complete spirit of the blues.What she does goes WAY beyond that of "performance".Hers is an incantation like that of the authentic blues artists that have gone before her.
Rory was born in 1949, which puts her at 58 when this recording was made. She is now a very youthful 63, but that portrait in the attic... I first heard her on the album that she and Steffan Grossman made for Electra in 1966 when she was 17 and already a great blues guitarist. The record was called "Stefan Grossman / Aurora Block - How To Play Blues Guitar"
I've never heard of this lady! I'm 74 and been listening and playing blues since I was 18. Seen all the greats from Sonny Terry and Brownie McGhee, Houndog Taylor, Albert King, Buddy Guy, BB King, Clapton, Stevie Ray, to Dylan's first world tour in 1966 with the Hawks (The Band) the Stones, Floyd, Cocker, Neil Young, Led Zeppelin when I was 21. Dire Straits, John Hammond, Charlie Musselwhite and more. Why isn't this lady touring Australia! We love the blues here. Instead we get Taylor Swift mass produced pop pap.
It goes without saying, NOBODY can do Crossroads like Johnson, himself. That said, this is certainly one of the best interpretations ever. She paid a lot of attention to his guitar style, which was extremely intuitive and not metered by any standard that could ever be measured.
say what you will, Rory Block is THE definitive, authoritative, "best" Robert. Johnson-style blues slide guitar player in the world and has been for 30+ years. THE master. Hands down. period.
God that was so awesome! This was the first song I learned to play on guitar (I was obsessed with R.J. for a couple of years) but I never could get that assaulting, driving quality he had to his playing.
I saw her play a version of this at a show in 1999 on an overcast day, outdoors. She inhabits the songs she plays, puts everything she has into a song. It's amazing to see and hear. She's also incredibly nice in person, too.
I love it. I had an LP that Rory and Stepjhan Grossman put out about 40 years ago called How To Play Blues Guitar. I think Rory was bout 15 years old and already a major blues guitar player.
Couldn't agree more! That sadens me to see excellent musicians and others who seem to venerate someone, Hendrix or Johnson or other and forget what music is about, it's all a profession of faith and it ends up still-life music. Feel free, do your own stuff, twist the original and surprise your audience...
I saw her live here in San Antonio few years ago ,and damm she took way back. She played the blues music just like it was played back then .thanks for keeping the real music alive.
The greatest romantic song of all time being performed by the greatest artist of all time there will never be a new Rory block .let’s respect and value the greatest vocalist ❤
Very impressive. She has the Johnson , herky jerky , right hand rhythm better than anyone I've ever seen try to copy it . Everyone plays his tunes . I play all of his tunes . Like everyone else , I go my own way with it . Rory is the first time I have seen what it would be like to watch Johnson play it . She tunes to an open G . Low to high - DGDGBD , capo the 2nd fret to play in A , and off she goes . Well done . 😎 ..... Merc
fantastic!! she's so great in all respects that I would advice Mr J.Mayer to take a close look at her. A real musician, gifted with talent and so expressive..... Thanks for sharing this!
" .... Someone told me there's a Girl out there, With love in her eyes and flowers in her hair .... They say She plays guitar and cries ..... and sings."
Way more authentic than Clapton, although I love Clapton. She has spent her career understanding the early day blues men, especially Son House and Johnson.
Mr. Hobbs, Wow again this not a horse race like for best picture...there is no ‘most authentic’ just slight variations in style...they both deserve high praise capturing the raw emotion of Robert Johnson’s music. It’s nice to see since the folk revival of the 60’s and earlier the original artists are praised for their work...Elvis was very outspoken about who he lifted covers from.In Sun Records list of recorded artists in many were black & highly influenced the styles of Jerry Lee,Johnny Cash & Carl Perkins.Sister Rosetta Tharpe,BB King,Joe Turner & Big Mama Thornton just to name a few.I shouldn’t leave out Lightnin Hopkins.
I always think that it's kind of sexy when women play the blues. And I think Rory is the sexiest among them. Got the soul, got the technique, got the attitude.
Life is full of the lovely things like the morning sun, the gleaming dew drops, the sparkling rain, the vast blue sky, the whistles of chirping birds, the beauty of the sea. Hope you're doing great and in good health
I heard her concert at the Pld Town school of Folk Music in Chicago about 10 years ago. I was sitting in the front row about 6 foot from Rory Block. I was so sure she was going to beat her guitar to pieces. She put on a concert
Life is full of the lovely things like the morning sun, the gleaming dew drops, the sparkling rain, the vast blue sky, the whistles of chirping birds, the beauty of the sea. Hope you're doing great and in good health
Saw her in a concert almost 20 years ago called "Women Who Cook" with some other great female blues artists: Koko Taylor, Janiva Magness, Deanna Bogart and Jennifer Wright. Did they ever cook, Wow! Koko Taylor just got out of the hospital, came on the stage with a walker and then let loose.
I saw her do this at a blues fest in 1984 at the Hanger in Hadley Mass. I grew up down Southworth treble and country. I know Robert Johnson. But fuck she blew me away...
I'm pretty sure that Rory could teach you loads about the blues if you would just listen. She took lessons from Rev Gary Davis and played for Son House before she was old enough to drive. Black or white, man or woman have nothing to do with how much you know about the blues.
Shes great, you're right. The background to the song (as told by Scott Ainslie), is important With a curfew on blacks being out after dark, musicians and audiences had to go home through the woods - get caught by the local sherrif, landowner or the Klan (often the same guys) and you were in serious danger - The song crackles with the feelings of danger and uncertainty which no doubt Johnson himself experienced. We can never truly appreciate what it was like to be a Bluesman back then!
She tuned the guitar for the benefit of those watching, learning, who might want to know how to actually tune for crossroads, the way robert johnson might have .
I appreciate the comment. It seems like the "real" Delta Blues artists only recorded many years ago. And I'll get a couple of their CD's so I can hear and learn about the genre. If there are artists recording something similar to the Delta Blues today I'd like to know about them. (Similar, like The Brian Setzer Orchestra is similar to swing, but offends the swing purists.) Thanks for the help, and Peace.
ive learned eric claptons cream version of this great song and recently john mayers version which is very skipthumb action movin along fast. By combining the 2 versions adds another dimension to these super rock versions . I had started to learn the open G slide on this song a while back and was struggling an got distracted but now im back to tackle it again. Rory Block is the version to strive for. love this woman and dam her guitar is beautiful. check out marty music tutorial of claptons version. then check out john mayer teaching a tutorial of his own version both absolutely excellent videos. thankyou for this great video its beautiful. I wouldn't want rory block to sing this any other way this isn't a Bieber chickenpussie song its a real mans song bout life just sayin
Life is full of the lovely things like the morning sun, the gleaming dew drops, the sparkling rain, the vast blue sky, the whistles of chirping birds, the beauty of the sea. Hope you're doing great and in good health
Well I love her name, Rory, and I love the name Remy. Sound like this Chile is “possede” for y’all “texians” that means possessed, and sound like those haints and spirits like her, they say that about me too. Just a compliment mais cher, from a Louisiana Cajun indien d’amerique.
There is plenty of "garbage" out there today from Bouncy, Justin Beaver, Fall Up Boy, A-dull and other losers.Rory Block, however, is all about being one of the VERY BEST in the music business!
You Said It Bro .. See Croaktime Blues Albert Croak .. Shake My Tree Albert Croak .. Baby Please Don't Go Keith Wigley .. Their God I don't Understand Keith Wigley ..House Of The Rising Sun Keith Wigley On CZcams ...Its Only The River Keith Wigley ...and others to see
This is great. Guitar Player Magazine offered 50 Sensational Female Guitarists in their latest issue and left out Rory Block. I love her and the mag but WTF. y'all???
OK all you flamethrowers. Or dipsh!its... I'm new to the blues and I love listening to people playing slide guitar... I appreciate hearing what Robert Johnson and Son House really sounded like, BUT I don't want to spend hours upon hours listening to tinny 1937 recordings transferred to CD. So, Please Tell Me: What current bluesy slide guitar artist should I be listening to if not Rory Block?
Fuck!That was crazy, It s got to be the closest ive seen anyone come to Robert Johnsons playing.She nailed every part amazingly.Brilliant guitar playing
two different songs one is Crossroads EC and the other is Crossroad Blues RJ differnt lyrics Eric borrowed Johnson's lyrics but not all from Crossroad Blues so- two different songs I know what you mean about the people hearing about it
i really wish i had money. i wouldn't usually pay for music but she is really amazing. I hope she has a website or a mailing address or something. i really have to let her know.
I've listened and witnessed many great blues guitarists. When it comes to playing the songs of Robert Johnson, no one sings and plays with more soul and clarity. Her picking is so spot on, amazing, no slop, no nonsense. I saw her about 20 years ago at the music hall in Portsmouth NH. The audience was stunned with each song. Her son had just passed away and she came out, spoke a little about that and said she was going to continue to play right now as it was helping her heal. I had no idea what she was all about at the time as I had never heard her on the radio etc. I went home afterwards and bought a bottleneck slide. Thanks Rory! Hope all is well with you! tom in Maine.
Rory Block is one of greatest blues guitarist of all time.
I agree complete. I was very lucky when she played in Pennsylvania three years ago i went to view, we talked after the show. She has a certain Grace. After all, she does work for the Holy Lord, and talks about it when she's appearing live. Id give almost anything to see her live there. Hey, her groupie husband is good and very supportive.
So proud to call her my grade school music teacher!!! Just recently got reconnected with her through Facebook I have ALL OF HER vinyls
Dude!
No one else around today plays the blues like Rory
I do
've been reading about this lady for over twenty years in various guitar publications, but never heard her until now. I wasn't disappointed. This lady is the real deal. This is the epitome of musicianship. One lady sitting down with just an acoustic guitar and her voice. These young fly-by-nights could certainly learn something about perseverance and longevity from this lady. And also about staying true to one's self, instead of forsaking your vision just to sell records.
Wow, it is so incredible to watch a person get possessed by the music they are playin' Rory just let's that song take over and that's the best way to get it out... I love her stuff!!!
I was young and saw her in concert, a small venue. Sat in a folding chair maybe six feet away. This woman played HARD and her fingers became bloody. The fretboard was slicked with blood. I was impressed. She is a mad woman LOL it's not for show, she's the real deal. AND DO NOT TELL ME WHITE WOMEN CANNOT HAVE THE BLUES...yeah I said it.
Amen! @Shawni Ysais
Rory Block's art is transcendent.She embodys the complete spirit of the blues.What she does goes WAY beyond that of "performance".Hers is an incantation like that of the authentic blues artists that have gone before her.
she is a blues player at heart
Rory was born in 1949, which puts her at 58 when this recording was made. She is now a very youthful 63, but that portrait in the attic...
I first heard her on the album that she and Steffan Grossman made for Electra in 1966 when she was 17 and already a great blues guitarist. The record was called "Stefan Grossman / Aurora Block - How To Play Blues Guitar"
She's 73 now or is my math wrong?
Wow she is pretty good, I was not expecting her to jam like that.
I've never heard of this lady! I'm 74 and been listening and playing blues since I was 18. Seen all the greats from Sonny Terry and Brownie McGhee, Houndog Taylor, Albert King, Buddy Guy, BB King, Clapton, Stevie Ray, to Dylan's first world tour in 1966 with the Hawks (The Band) the Stones, Floyd, Cocker, Neil Young, Led Zeppelin when I was 21. Dire Straits, John Hammond, Charlie Musselwhite and more.
Why isn't this lady touring Australia! We love the blues here. Instead we get Taylor Swift mass produced pop pap.
It goes without saying, NOBODY can do Crossroads like Johnson, himself. That said, this is certainly one of the best interpretations ever. She paid a lot of attention to his guitar style, which was extremely intuitive and not metered by any standard that could ever be measured.
Great! Hairs standing up on my neck and tears come to my eyes, just like Robert makes me do!
say what you will, Rory Block is THE definitive, authoritative, "best" Robert. Johnson-style blues slide guitar player in the world and has been for 30+ years. THE master. Hands down. period.
Tom Vardin your opinion. 👍🏻 And you’re entitled to it.
Tom Vardin czcams.com/video/WnOQl_RpndU/video.html
I have to agree … one of my top faves in female slide guitar blues players…
So awesome thankyou😊
God that was so awesome! This was the first song I learned to play on guitar (I was obsessed with R.J. for a couple of years) but I never could get that assaulting, driving quality he had to his playing.
Simply fantastic!One of the best covers of this song!
I saw her play a version of this at a show in 1999 on an overcast day, outdoors. She inhabits the songs she plays, puts everything she has into a song. It's amazing to see and hear.
She's also incredibly nice in person, too.
Rory has been playing the blues since she was 13. That's 50 years of playing the blues. If she hasn't "found her own voice" by now...
This lady knows where its at and has done for 40 years.
I love it. I had an LP that Rory and Stepjhan Grossman put out about 40 years ago called How To Play Blues Guitar. I think Rory was bout 15 years old and already a major blues guitar player.
Couldn't agree more! That sadens me to see excellent musicians and others who seem to venerate someone, Hendrix or Johnson or other and forget what music is about, it's all a profession of faith and it ends up still-life music. Feel free, do your own stuff, twist the original and surprise your audience...
I guess I hit the like button a few years back...this is still wonderful maybe more wonderful
I like this, very good!
Holy Smokes Rory !!!! Just Wow !!!!! Your Absolutely Amazing !!!! You Go Baby ☺☺😘💯💘💘
She is the real deal 👍👌
I saw her live here in San Antonio few years ago ,and damm she took way back. She played the blues music just like it was played back then .thanks for keeping the real music alive.
Oh my.
This gal is for real.
What an example of greatness flying under the radar.
I can't play anything but,i would judge this presentation very well done
I'll always love her music! ❤️❤️❤️
The greatest romantic song of all time being performed by the greatest artist of all time there will never be a new Rory block .let’s respect and value the greatest vocalist ❤
Very impressive. She has the Johnson , herky jerky , right hand rhythm better than anyone I've ever seen try to copy it . Everyone plays his tunes . I play all of his tunes . Like everyone else , I go my own way with it . Rory is the first time I have seen what it would be like to watch Johnson play it . She tunes to an open G . Low to high - DGDGBD , capo the 2nd fret to play in A , and off she goes . Well done . 😎 ..... Merc
so epic ! 'fidèle' to the original with a good sound, a good 'interprète'... love it. come perform in france miss block !!
I like watching the guitar tuning, it's like watching a chef hone their knife with a steel .
I've never seen a performance of professional musicians who DIDN"T tune up before playing -- why wouldn't you do that?
It seems like most pros have handlers who give them an axe ready to go. Seeing Rory retune here was icing on the cake.
" Ladies and gentlemen, we're proud to give you our special performance of an ancient Chinese folk song. It goes by the title of, "Tuu Ningh Gup"."
this was like going from one open tuning to antother. no snark. all by ear then slaps on a capo. yikes!!!
fantastic!! she's so great in all respects that I would advice Mr J.Mayer to take a close look at her. A real musician, gifted with talent and so expressive..... Thanks for sharing this!
because I love your musc !
" .... Someone told me there's a Girl out there, With love in her eyes and flowers in her hair .... They say She plays guitar and cries ..... and sings."
fantastic live performance , you would believe that this woman is in her sixties (62) .
great great great !!!
Hi there. Just have to say, women in their 60's are just hitting their "don't-give-a-fuck" strides. Just had to say it. LOL
One of the most authentic Robert Johnson covers besides Eric Claptons I’ve ever seen.Great!🌈
Way more authentic than Clapton, although I love Clapton. She has spent her career understanding the early day blues men, especially Son House and Johnson.
Mr. Hobbs, Wow again this not a horse race like for best picture...there is no ‘most authentic’ just slight variations in style...they both deserve high praise capturing the raw emotion of Robert Johnson’s music. It’s nice to see since the folk revival of the 60’s and earlier the original artists are praised for their work...Elvis was very outspoken about who he lifted covers from.In Sun Records list of recorded artists in many were black & highly influenced the styles of Jerry Lee,Johnny Cash & Carl Perkins.Sister Rosetta Tharpe,BB King,Joe Turner & Big Mama Thornton just to name a few.I shouldn’t leave out Lightnin Hopkins.
This lady is terrific,
I always think that it's kind of sexy when women play the blues.
And I think Rory is the sexiest among them.
Got the soul, got the technique, got the attitude.
I'm a blues purist, and hate a lot of modern "bastardised" blues, but this is just fantastic. Rory really feels it.
Holy cow!
She alway was and will be one of my very first guitar player favorites. Very good video, thanks a lot for sharing this :=))
Life is full of the lovely things like the morning sun, the gleaming dew drops, the sparkling rain, the vast blue sky, the
whistles of chirping birds, the beauty of the
sea. Hope you're doing great and in good health
I heard her concert at the Pld Town school of Folk Music in Chicago about 10 years ago. I was sitting in the front row about 6 foot from Rory Block. I was so sure she was going to beat her guitar to pieces. She put on a concert
Fantastic performance.
I LOVE HER !!!!
Life is full of the lovely things like the morning sun, the gleaming dew drops, the sparkling rain, the vast blue sky, the
whistles of chirping birds, the beauty of the
sea. Hope you're doing great and in good health
Love you, I AM, LIFTING OFF!!!. AT THEECROSSROADS!. XXOOOXX LOVE ME TOO
John Hammond would surely approve. You're the greatest, baby
Wow what a player!
great playing and good feel,Thanks man
Saw her in a concert almost 20 years ago called "Women Who Cook" with some other great female blues artists: Koko Taylor, Janiva Magness, Deanna Bogart and Jennifer Wright. Did they ever cook, Wow! Koko Taylor just got out of the hospital, came on the stage with a walker and then let loose.
Awesome!
I saw her do this at a blues fest in 1984 at the Hanger in Hadley Mass. I grew up down Southworth treble and country. I know Robert Johnson. But fuck she blew me away...
Rory Johnson would like for sure
Rory! Super! Thanks!
I'm pretty sure that Rory could teach you loads about the blues if you would just listen. She took lessons from Rev Gary Davis and played for Son House before she was old enough to drive.
Black or white, man or woman have nothing to do with how much you know about the blues.
PHJimY
That’s like being awarded a Nobel Prize in Blues.
Shes great, you're right.
The background to the song (as told by Scott Ainslie), is important
With a curfew on blacks being out after dark, musicians and audiences had to go home through the woods - get caught by the local sherrif, landowner or the Klan (often the same guys) and you were in serious danger - The song crackles with the feelings of danger and uncertainty which no doubt Johnson himself experienced.
We can never truly appreciate what it was like to be a Bluesman back then!
hell yeaaahh! :) ... If I am goin' to hell... I am goin' there playin' the blueeeesss :)
Excellent!
Rory was about 58 years old when this was made. She has aged well.
Excellent.
She tuned the guitar for the benefit of those watching, learning, who might want to know how to actually tune for crossroads, the way robert johnson might have .
ILOVE THIS WOMAN
Rory is one mean machine! What else can be said
Wonderful, or as the kids say these days: fire.
You've really catch the robert jhonson rythim!
Immensa Rory❤❤
Potentisima.buena potra.
Very cool!:)
man, she is good!
Nice, nice, nice!
I appreciate the comment. It seems like the "real" Delta Blues artists only recorded many years ago. And I'll get a couple of their CD's so I can hear and learn about the genre. If there are artists recording something similar to the Delta Blues today I'd like to know about them. (Similar, like The Brian Setzer Orchestra is similar to swing, but offends the swing purists.) Thanks for the help, and Peace.
Yes u right
Rory was born November 6, 1949, which means she was 58 when this was recorded. She is a very youthful 63 now, but that portrait in the attic...
ive learned eric claptons cream version of this great song and recently john mayers version which is very skipthumb action movin along fast. By combining the 2 versions adds another dimension to these super rock versions . I had started to learn the open G slide on this song a while back and was struggling an got distracted but now im back to tackle it again. Rory Block is the version to strive for. love this woman and dam her guitar is beautiful. check out marty music tutorial of claptons version. then check out john mayer teaching a tutorial of his own version both absolutely excellent videos. thankyou for this great video its beautiful. I wouldn't want rory block to sing this any other way this isn't a Bieber chickenpussie song its a real mans song bout life just sayin
Scary good!
Life is full of the lovely things like the morning sun, the gleaming dew drops, the sparkling rain, the vast blue sky, the
whistles of chirping birds, the beauty of the
sea. Hope you're doing great and in good health
You ain't groovin if you ain't movin!
Well I love her name, Rory, and I love the name Remy. Sound like this Chile is “possede” for y’all “texians” that means possessed, and sound like those haints and spirits like her, they say that about me too. Just a compliment mais cher, from a Louisiana Cajun indien d’amerique.
Wow.
There is plenty of "garbage" out there today from Bouncy, Justin Beaver, Fall Up Boy, A-dull and other losers.Rory Block, however, is all about being one of the VERY BEST in the music business!
You Said It Bro .. See Croaktime Blues Albert Croak .. Shake My Tree Albert Croak .. Baby Please Don't Go Keith Wigley .. Their God I don't Understand Keith Wigley ..House Of The Rising Sun Keith Wigley On CZcams ...Its Only The River Keith Wigley ...and others to see
Wow Ace
wow!!
Rory Block can get more music out of an acoustic guitar than comes out of most electric five piece bands.
But then - so could Robert Johnson.
Here before for GP's 50 Female issue that left off Rory. Latest is a 'slide' issue and has an interview with her. Make Good? maybe ;) Goddess.
😳doble Dosis !!!
5 people have sold their souls already.
This is great.
Guitar Player Magazine offered 50 Sensational Female Guitarists in their latest issue and left out Rory Block.
I love her and the mag but WTF. y'all???
Without a doubt
😮supremo
Fuck yeah !!!!!!
Kisses & a real big HUGGY BEAR.
She s got a spirit , almost scary
OK all you flamethrowers. Or dipsh!its... I'm new to the blues and I love listening to people playing slide guitar... I appreciate hearing what Robert Johnson and Son House really sounded like, BUT I don't want to spend hours upon hours listening to tinny 1937 recordings transferred to CD.
So, Please Tell Me: What current bluesy slide guitar artist should I be listening to if not Rory Block?
WOW
Fuck!That was crazy, It s got to be the closest ive seen anyone come to Robert Johnsons playing.She nailed every part amazingly.Brilliant guitar playing
great
wow rory sinking down lol !!!
Wish i remeber all Lyrics like you ..On English :)
two different songs one is Crossroads EC and the other is Crossroad Blues RJ differnt lyrics Eric borrowed Johnson's lyrics but not all from Crossroad Blues so- two different songs I know what you mean about the people hearing about it
i really wish i had money. i wouldn't usually pay for music but she is really amazing. I hope she has a website or a mailing address or something. i really have to let her know.