Broadening the scope of Eric Clapton’s recent album of Robert Johnson interpretations, “Me and Mr. Johnson,” the guitarist will on Dec. 7 unveil the CD/DVD package “Sessions for Robert J.” The Duck/Reprise release comprises tour rehearsals in London, a Los Angeles hotel room and the Dallas warehouse where the late Johnson made some of his last recordings.
Throughout, Clapton performs Johnson’s songs with his live band, acoustically with guitarist Doyle Bramhall II and in a solo setting. The “Sessions” DVD sports five Johnson songs that did not appear on “Me and Mr. Johnson”: “Terraplane Blues,” “Ramblin’ on My Mind,” “Stones in My Passway,” “From Four Until Late” and “Sweet Home Chicago,” which will be worked as a single to U.S. AAA and classic rock radio stations.
“Me and Mr. Johnson” debuted in April at No. 6 on The Billboard 200 and has sold more than 563,000 copies in the United States, according to Nielsen SoundScan.
Clapton can currently be heard guesting on Rod Stewart’s No. 1 album, “Stardust…The Great American Songbook, Vol. 3” (J). As previously reported, his all-star summer Crossroads Guitar Festival in Dallas will be released on DVD Nov. 9 via Duck/Reprise/Warner Strategic Marketing.
Here is the track list for “Sessions for Robert J”:
CD:
“Sweet Home Chicago”
“Milkcow’s Calf Blues”
“Terraplane Blues”
“If I Had Possession Over Judgment Day”
“Stop Breakin’ Down Blues”
“Little Queen of Spades”
“Traveling Riverside Blues”
“Me and the Devil Blues”
“From Four Until Late”
“Kindhearted Woman Blues”
“Ramblin’ on My Mind”
DVD:
“Kindhearted Woman Blues”
“They’re Red Hot”
“Hellhound on My Trail”
“Sweet Home Chicago”
“When You Got a Good Friend”
“Milkcow’s Calf Blues”
“If I Had Possession Over Judgment Day”
“Stop Breakin’ Down Blues”
“Terraplane Blues”
“Me and the Devil Blues”
“From Four Until Late”
“Love in Vain”
“Ramblin’ on My Mind”
“Stones in My Passway”
Source billboard.com.
