Robert Johnson best Blues Guitarist?

[Octopod]

Got to say I can not stand anything Clapton has ever done.

[dsheinem]

Clapton is a total wannabe. He hasn't done anything worthwhile since Cream. If I want to hear a white guy play the blues, I'll listen to Johnny Winter. At least he's actually from the South.
</music snob>

I've had this argument with people too - and while Clapton's most innovative/vital days were indeed pre-1975, he has still had a great output in the almost 40 years since. I like his late 70s - early 80s solo stuff and he's put out some strong albums in the 90s/00s too (e.g. From the Cradle, his album with B.B. King, etc.). His Unplugged album is essential, and a good argument can be made for the strength of his poppier stuff too (e.g. film soundtrack songs). A good compilation of post-70s stuff can be found on the Clapton Chronicles CD - you'd probably be surprised how many songs you know/like (

Is he "authentic" blues (poor, rural, black, etc.?) No. Does that tarnish the quality of the songs (e.g. if you didn't know who was singing it)? No.

[kingdomheights777]

Clapton is extremely over rated, along with Tony Iommi and Jimi.
All though I agree that Jimi was and is very influential , along with Robert Johnson.

[J T]

Has anyone else noticed how Clapton's "Would you know my name" sounds exactly like Bob Marley's "No Woman No Cry"?

I can't listen to one without hearing the lyrics to the other.

[Octopod]

Clapton is extremely over rated, along with Tony Iommi and Jimi.
All though I agree that Jimi was and is very influential , along with Robert Johnson.

I have to disagree with Tony Iommi.

[kingdomheights777]

Clapton is extremely over rated, along with Tony Iommi and Jimi.
All though I agree that Jimi was and is very influential , along with Robert Johnson.

I have to disagree with Tony Iommi.

Most people do lol

[bennythejet]

Clapton is a total wannabe. He hasn't done anything worthwhile since Cream. If I want to hear a white guy play the blues, I'll listen to Johnny Winter. At least he's actually from the South.
</music snob>

Clapton might not be from the South, but it was him and a few other visionary Englishmen who did great things to launch Blues into the mainstream for which the 'real, 'authentic' bluesmen were extremely grateful and sincerely humble about!

Johnny Winter is an awesome guitar player, i agree about that. But a wannabe, Clapton most certainly is not

[glynnahab]

Clapton is extremely over rated, along with Tony Iommi and Jimi.
All though I agree that Jimi was and is very influential , along with Robert Johnson.

I have to disagree with Tony Iommi.

Seconded. Iommi's power chord-heavy riffs are still being copied/ripped off to this day. Nearly every hard rock band has some sort of Sabbath influence - whether they'll admit to it or not.

Don't forget that the man did it with missing fingertips on his fret hand and homemade prosthetics.

[Octopod]

Clapton is extremely over rated, along with Tony Iommi and Jimi.
All though I agree that Jimi was and is very influential , along with Robert Johnson.

I have to disagree with Tony Iommi.

Seconded. Iommi's power chord-heavy riffs are still being copied/ripped off to this day. Nearly every hard rock band has some sort of Sabbath influence - whether they'll admit to it or not.

Don't forget that the man did it with missing fingertips on his fret hand and homemade prosthetics.

And invented heavy metal in the process.

[RCBH928]

so what is it?
is it because his skills are not matched or because he came up with new type of melody/tune?