Waits, Trucks, Tedeschi in Blind Willie tribute

Tom Waits, Lucinda Williams, Derek Trucks and Susan Tedeschi are among the artists who’ll appear on a tribute album to Blind Willie Johnson.

The iconic slide guitarist is the subject of God Don’t Never Change, featuring modern interpretations of 11 of the songs he originally recorded between 1927 and 1930.

Johnson died in 1945, leaving a legacy of gospel-themed music that inspired Led Zeppelin, Eric Clapton and Bob Dylan, among others. His original recording of Dark Was The NIght, Cold Was The Ground is preserved on the gold disc attached to the Voyager space probes in 1977.

Trucks says: “I never heard a slide player, even to this day, play with that much emotion. I’ve only heard a few things that have hit me quite that strongly.

“There’s something so honest about his recordings. Johnson’s songs, lyrics and the ability to pair the slide with the voice were amazing. It feels like it came out of a different world.”

*God Don’t Never Change: The Songs Of Blind Willie Johnson *will be released in early 2016 via Alligator Records.

God Don’t Never Change Tracklist

  1. Soul Of A Man – Tom Waits
  2. It’s Nobody’s Fault But Mine – Lucinda Williams
  3. Keep Your Lamp Trimmed And Burning – Derek Trucks and Susan Tedeschi
  4. Jesus Is Coming Soon – Cowboy Junkies
  5. Mother’s Children Have A Hard Time – The Blind Boys of Alabama
  6. Trouble Will Soon Be Over – Sinéad O’Connor
  7. Bye And Bye I’m Going To See The King – Luther Dickinson
  8. God Don’t Never Change – Lucinda Williams
  9. John The Revelator – Tom Waits
  10. Let Your Light Shine On Me – Maria McKee
  11. Dark Was The Night, Cold Was The Ground – Rickie Lee Jones
Freelance Online News Contributor

Not only is one-time online news editor Martin an established rock journalist and drummer, but he’s also penned several books on music history, including SAHB Story: The Tale of the Sensational Alex Harvey Band, a band he once managed, and the best-selling Apollo Memories about the history of the legendary and infamous Glasgow Apollo. Martin has written for Classic Rock and Prog and at one time had written more articles for Louder than anyone else (we think he's second now). He’s appeared on TV and when not delving intro all things music, can be found travelling along the UK’s vast canal network.