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"Hellhound on My Trail" (originally "Hell Hound on My Trail") is a blues song recorded by Mississippi Delta bluesman Robert Johnson in 1937. It was the first song recorded during Johnson's last recording session in Dallas, Texas on Sunday, June 20, 1937 and the first single released from that session.〔 〕 Inspired by earlier blues songs,〔 it is considered one of Johnson's "best known and most admired performances—many would say it is his greatest".〔 ==Background== According to legend, Johnson sold his soul to the devil in a Faustian deal at the crossroads in return for his musical talent.〔 〕 This song fuels the mystery and lore surrounding him as it suggests a man in the grip of evil, and his deal with the devil has become part of popular culture.〔(【引用サイトリンク】title=Robert Johnson )〕 Prior to Johnson's song, the phrase "hellhound on my trail" had been used in blues songs.〔 〕 Sylvester Weaver's "Devil Blues", recorded in 1927 contains: "Hellhounds start to chase me man, I was a running fool, My ankles caught on fire, couldn't keep my puppies cool"〔Okeh Records OK 8534〕 and "Funny Paper" Smith in his 1931 "Howling Wolf Blues No. 3" sang: "I take time when I'm prowlin', an' wipe my tracks out with my tail ... Get home and get blue an' start howlin', an' the hellhound on my trail".〔Vocalion Records Vo 1614〕 The Biddleville Quintette's 1926 religious recording "Show Pity Lord" opens with a religious testimony declaring that "The hell hound has turned back off my trail".〔Paramount Records Pm 12424〕 According to blues scholars, Johnson followed bluesmen Johnny Temple (1935 "The Evil Devil Blues"〔Vocalion Records Vo 02987〕) and Joe McCoy (1934 "Evil Devil Woman Blues"〔Decca Records De7822〕) in adapting Skip James's 1931 song "Devil Got My Woman".〔〔Paramount Records Pm 13088〕〔 〕〔 〕〔 The emotional intensity, guitar tuning and strained singing style of "Hell Hound on My Trail" are also found in James' performance.〔 In the 1980s, however, another James record "Yola My Blues Away" (1931)〔Paramount Records PM 133072〕 became widely available on reissue recordings. It was found to share with "Devil Got My Woman" the same similarities of tuning and vocal style that Johnson displayed, but the "Hellhound" melody is closer to "Yola" than to "Devil". From the latter Johnson took the device of repeating the end of lines with an attached musical phrase. Additionally, he used the lyrics of one of the verses from "Come On In My Kitchen". Edward Komara concludes "It is probable that Johnny Temple used the "Devil" attachment phrases and lyrics while teaching "Yola" to Johnson". 〔 〕 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Hellhound on My Trail」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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