http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/musicblog/2010/may/27/robert-johnson-blues
This guy thinks that Robert Johnson's music was sped up, probably by the people who originally recorded it.
slowed down version of crossroads (http://www.touched.co.uk/sounds/johnson/crossroadsslow.mp3)
original
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yd60nI4sa9A
So, there was really no need for him to sell his soul to the devil to learn to play guitar so fast.
These sides will be very cool to hear if they're ever released at the "proper" speed.
discussions
http://blindman.15.forumer.com/a/robert-johnson-playback-speed_post30758.html
http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/archive/index.php/t-461601.html
a few samples of the slowed down versions
http://landownunder.blogspot.com/2005/01/robert-johnson-on-speed.html
come on in my kitchen (http://www.touched.co.uk/sounds/johnson/kitchen.mp3)
you know, if you think about it ALOT of stuff from that era was overcranked like crazy. lke how fast silent movies were. whenever they parody them, they always have the poeple moving super fast
Very interesting, thanks, Lester. Hmmm. I never thought the fleetness of JOHNSON's guitar was the important part of his recordings. I'd snap up any reissue at the supposedly correct speed!