▶ Robert Johnson

Sweet Home Chicago

Robert Johnson (1936) → The Blues Brothers (1980)

1936 — the era when the archetype for blues moving to the city was presented

Presenting a light 12-bar blues progression, this song became the prototype for countless covers in Chicago blues and rock. The lyrics "going back to Chicago" reflect the historical background of the Great Migration from the South to Northern cities.

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A performance from the film 'The Blues Brothers.' The 1930s Delta blues was redefined as 1980s urban entertainment, making its status as a standard known worldwide.

From the Delta to Chicago. The prototype for urban blues and a globally beloved blues standard.

From original to redefined

What to listen for

From the Delta to Chicago. The prototype for urban blues and a globally beloved blues standard.

  • Standard Established

    Presenting the most standard progression of 12-bar blues

  • Urban Orientation

    Contains the theme of Black history moving from the South to Chicago

  • Countless Successors

    The source for innumerable covers from Chicago blues to rock

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