“Cross Road Blues” (also known as “Crossroads“) is a blues song written and recorded by American blues artist Robert Johnson in 1936. Johnson performed it as a solo piece with his vocal and acoustic slide guitar in the Delta Blues-style. The song has become part of the Robert Johnson mythology as referring to the place where he supposedly sold his soul to the Devil in exchange for his musical talents, although the lyrics do not contain any specific references. ARC and Vocalion Records issued the first take of “Cross Road Blues” in May 1937 on the then standard 78 rpm record. It was the third of eleven singles released during Johnson’s lifetime. Vocalion’s budget labels Romeo Records also released the single for sale by dime stores. Although sales figures are not available, the record was “widely heard in the Delta” and Johnson’s tunes were found in jukeboxes in the region.
American blues singer and guitarist Elmore James, who popularized Robert Johnson’s “Dust My Broom”, recorded two variations on “Cross Road Blues”. Both titled “Standing at the Crossroads”, they feature James’ trademark “Dust My Broom” amplified slide-guitar figure and a backing ensemble. James’ lyrics focus on the lost-love aspect of the song: ‘Well I was standin’ at the crossroad, and my baby not around (2×)
Well I begin to wonder, ‘Is poor Elmore sinkin’ down’. James first recorded the song in August 1954 at Modern Records’ new studio in Culver City, California. Maxwell Davis supervised the session and a group of professional studio musicians provided the backup. The song was produced in a newer style that Modern used successfully for B.B. King and James’ slide guitar was placed further back in the mix. Flair Records, another of the Modern labels, released the single, backed with “Sunny Land”. The song became a regional hit, but did not reach the national charts.
In early 1966, while still with John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers, Eric Clapton adapted the song for a recording session with an ad hoc studio group, dubbed Eric Clapton and the Powerhouse. “Crossroads” became a part of Cream’s repertoire when Clapton began performing with Jack Bruce and Ginger Baker in July 1966. Their version features a prominent guitar riff with hard-driving, upbeat instrumental backing and soloing. Clapton envisioned “Crossroads” as a rock song: It became, then, a question of finding something that had a riff, a form that could be interpreted, simply, in a band format. In ‘Crossroads’ there was a very definite riff. He [Johnson] was playing it full-chorded with the slide as well. I just took it on a single string or two strings and embellished it. Out of all of the songs it was the easiest for me to see as a rock and roll vehicle.
This is the debut music video from Adam Gussow, one-man band from Oxford, Mississippi. Filmed at a crossroads somewhere near Clarksdale, MS. All instruments played live in real time by Gussow. No overdubs or other musicians. It owes it’s origins to the Cream version as do most modern covers of the song.
Finally Irish buskers Dea Matrona bring us a much needed female version of the song performed on the streets of Belfast.
