Peter Plays the Blues: The Classic Compositions of Robert Johnson

by William RuhlmannPeter Green is appropriately reverent on this album of songs written by blues legend Robert Johnson. With Johnson's own recordings readily available, the album isn't really necessary, at least when Green employs the same spare instrumentation as the master. But on tracks like "Cross Road Blues" that use drums, electric bass, and electric guitar in addition to Green's acoustic slide playing and husky singing, there are resources that were not available to Johnson. Songs such as "Love in Vain Blues" and "Walkin' Blues" are so ubiquitous in blues and rock that they really don't need more interpretations, but Green performs them with feeling and authority.