Variety announces that the Robert Johnson recordings from 1936-1937, without a doubt the most legendary set of blues recordings ever, will be re-released in a super-deluxe “Centennial Edition.”

These are hallowed recordings that have changed the lives of Eric Clapton, Keith Richards, Bob Dylan and many, many others, so the $349 package Columbia records has whipped up to celebrate the 100th anniversary of Johnson's birth is something truly special:

In honor of the 100th anniversary of blues legend Robert Johnson's birth on May 8, Columbia Legacy will issue a lavish CD/vinyl/DVD package of the musician's work.

Priced at $349, the set, “Robert Johnson: The Complete Masters – Centennial Edition,” drops on April 26 and will be sold direct to consumers via www.thecompleterobertjohnson.com .

The “Centennial Edition” will be housed in a 10-by-10 hardbound book that will include 10-inch vinyl replicas of Johnson's 12 original 1936-37 singles (now issued at 45 rpm, rather than the original 78 rpm); these include such oft-covered classics of the genre as “Cross Road Blues,” “I Believe I'll Dust My Broom,” “Sweet Home Chicago” and “Love In Vain Blues.”

The box will include a collection of 1928-32 Victor blues rarities by such contemporaneous performers as Furry Lewis, Tommy Johnson, Sleepy John Estes, Memphis Minnie and Blind Willie McTell.

And, though these recordings have been famously repackaged in the '60s and the '90s, the souped-up 2011 set will be of interest to blues obsessives worldwide.

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