crossroads

[Balke-Collender]

The crossroads story was told by Tommy Johnson a GREAT singer and guitarist. Later the story got attached to Robert Johnson, perhaps because of his song.

[JohnW63]

I went to the crossroads to get transmogrified... All I found was a kid with his stuffed tiger. Said his name was Calvin. He had this big card board box with "Transmogrifier" held on it with scotch tape. Since I couldn't fit me and my guitar in the darn thing, I didn't get the treatment. Maybe I needed a travel guitar that day.

[DesertTwang]

I like this thread. I'm going to take my favorite guitar to a crossroads one of these days - during a full moon - for transmojofication. I'm also going to take my cat, because his name is Mojo, and I'm sure it can't hurt to have him along, too. Finally, I'll take a jar of Moonshine as well.

That should do something, no?

[IMG][/IMG]

Mojo, my cat.

[M19]

Originally Posted by JohnW63

I went to the crossroads to get transmogrified... All I found was a kid with his stuffed tiger. Said his name was Calvin.

He sold me a "swift kick in the butt" for $1. Said that he thought I needed it.

[scriv58]

of course in the song "crossroad blues" RJ went down to the crossroads to fetch himself a ride before sundown, cos the devil who came out after dark was no joke: whiskey, shotguns and rope rather than horns, tail and pitchfork...

[Muffinhead]

I guess I am missing something here. What would a crossroad have to do with anything?

[architype]

Originally Posted by Muffinhead

I guess I am missing something here. What would a crossroad have to do with anything?

"Crossroad Blues" is a Robert Johnson song , (Clapton covered it...."I went down to the crossroads, tried to flag a ride"...), about meeting the devil at the crossroads and selling his soul so he he could play the guitar better than any other Bluesman.

There is a legend that Johnson actually sold his soul to the Devil because his playing skills improved so quickly.

They also made a cheesy movie, Crossroads, w/ Ralph Machio, (Karate Kid), that references the legend. The guitar playing in the movie is excellent since Ry Cooder played the guitar on the sound track.

Here is a You tube vid of the scene where Machio has to "Cut Heads" w/ the Devil's guitar player, (played by Steve Vai)...it is fun to watch...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TD4o3VDnftI

[scriv58]

I went to the crossroad, fell down on my knees
I went to the crossroad, fell down on my knees
Asked the lord above "Have mercy, save poor Bob, if you please"
Mmmmm, standin' at the crossroad, i tried to flag a ride
Standin' at the crossroad, i tried to flag a ride
Didn't nobody semm to know me, everybody pass me by
Mmmm, the sun goin' down, boy, dark gon' catch me here
Oooo, eeee, boy, dark gon' catch me here
I haven't got no lovin' sweet woman that love and feel my care
You can run, you can run, tell my friend-boy Willie Brown
You can run, tell my friend-boy Willie Brown
Lord i'm standin' at the crossroad, babe, i believe i'm sinkin' down

tell me how this describes meeting the devil for a deal

[dhalbert]

Here's the scene from O Brother, Where Art Thou? where they pick up Tommy Johnson from the famed crossroads:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fgcWfVvT_UM

Great movie with great music, if you haven't seen it.

Ulysses Everett McGill: What'd the devil give you for your soul, Tommy?
Tommy Johnson: Well, he taught me to play this here guitar real good.
Delmar O'Donnell: Oh son, for that you sold your everlasting soul?
Tommy Johnson: Well, I wasn't usin' it.

[B Chas]

"transmojofication", Bob that's just hilarious, thanks

[Muffinhead]

Originally Posted by architype

"Crossroad Blues" is a Robert Johnson song , (Clapton covered it...."I went down to the crossroads, tried to flag a ride"...), about meeting the devil at the crossroads and selling his soul so he he could play the guitar better than any other Bluesman.

There is a legend that Johnson actually sold his soul to the Devil because his playing skills improved so quickly.

They also made a cheesy movie, Crossroads, w/ Ralph Machio, (Karate Kid), that references the legend. The guitar playing in the movie is excellent since Ry Cooder played the guitar on the sound track.

Here is a You tube vid of the scene where Machio has to "Cut Heads" w/ the Devil's guitar player, (played by Steve Vai)...it is fun to watch...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TD4o3VDnftI

Ok, thanks. I have never heard Robert Johnson.

[noledog]

Originally Posted by Bob Womack

.... transmojofication....Bob

Best new word! Wordsmith props to ya Bob!

[Glennwillow]

Originally Posted by architype

... Here is a You tube vid of the scene where Machio has to "Cut Heads" w/ the Devil's guitar player, (played by Steve Vai)...it is fun to watch...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TD4o3VDnftI

That was fun! I haven't seen that for a long time!

- Glenn

[The Growler]

Originally Posted by Joe Da Strummer

Yes. I did. A man appeared to rise up from the road through a low fog and asked me what vain request I had to ask that could be worth my eternal soul. I said, "I want to play guitar like Robert Johnson." "And so you will," he said, and laughed.

Well, how was I to know I had a neighbor in my subdivision named Bob Johnson who was just starting out on guitar. Dang it. Sure enough, I'm back to my Mel Bay chord book and have sore fingertips. That devil guy is one tricky character.

We'll played Joe. Nice!

[richard1]

Originally Posted by JohnW63

I went to the crossroads to get transmogrified... All I found was a kid with his stuffed tiger. Said his name was Calvin. He had this big card board box with "Transmogrifier" held on it with scotch tape. Since I couldn't fit me and my guitar in the darn thing, I didn't get the treatment. Maybe I needed a travel guitar that day.

Yes, a friend of mine told me about Calvin and his transmojofication box. If you had squeezed into that box, you'd quickly have noted its Tardis like quality. Apparantly it's like another universe in there, where everything is back to front and upside down. Gibson has the Martin logo on the headstock, and Martin has the Gibson banner. All the Martin guys are complaining about the development of a thud on their low E string, and the Gibson guys are going crazy with hyperovertonia, it's left them all very confused.
Meanwhile Calvin, and that rediculous stuffed cat, watch from outside the box with demonic enthusiasm for the whole thing, laughing and grinning like Ceshire cats.
I'm beginning to think I should avoid that crossroads.