Tom Waits sings Blind Willie Johnson

Tom Waits has streamed his take on Blind Willie Johnson’s Soul Of A Man.

It appears on tribute album God Don’t Never Change: The Songs Of Blind Willie Johnson, to be released on February 26 by Alligator Records. It also includes recordings by Derek Trucks and Susan Tedeschi, the Blind Boys Of Alabama and Lucinda Williams, among others.

The almost-mythological blues artist recorded 30 songs between 1927 and 1930, which have influence big names from Led Zeppelin to Eric Clapton and Bob Dylan.

Alligator say: “Johnson sang his sanctified gospel lyrics with overwhelming intensity, his deep, raspy voice accompanying his haunting, blues-drenched guitar playing.”

Trucks comments: “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. He’s one of the few handful of musicians whose music really feels sacred to me – it feels like it came out of a different world.”

The Soul Of A Man – Tom Waits
It’s Nobody’s Fault But Mine – Lucinda Williams
Keep Your Lamp Trimmed And Burning – Derek Trucks, Susan Tedeschi
Jesus Is Coming Soon – Cowboy Junkies
Mother’s Children Have A Hard Time – Blind Boys of Alabama
Trouble Will Soon Be Over – Sinead O’Connor
Bye And Bye I’m Going To See The King – Luther Dickinson, Rising Star Fife & Drum Band)
God Don’t Never Change – Lucinda Williams
John The Revelator – Tom Waits
Let Your Light Shine On Me – Maria McKee
Dark Was The Night–Cold Was The Ground – Rickie Lee Jones

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.

God Don’t Never Change: The Songs Of Blind Willie Johnson tracklist