Crossroads: Background

The piece, originally titled “Cross Road Blues” and written by Delta Blues singer Robert Johnson, was released in 1937. It remained out of print after its initial release until the appearance of a Johnson compilation, The Complete Recordings, in 1990. Because of its historical significance, the piece, about the narrator’s failed attempts to hitch a ride from an intersection as night approached, was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1998.

Cream’s cover of the song as “Crossroads” in 1968 has become the standard, but dozens of recording artists have either recorded the piece or made it part of their live set list, including The Doors, Bob Dylan, Derek and the Dominoes, Dion, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Jimi Hendrix, Journey, Ten Years After, Van Halen, Robin Trower, Steve Miller Band, Molly Hatchet, Stephen Stills, Jeff Berlin, Jimmy Page and Robert Plant, John Mayer, and Phish. —Wikipedia

Neil in the liner notes to Feedback says Geddy and Alex included the song in the set list of Rush’s earliest years and that his early band, Mumblin’ Sumpthin’, played the song as well.

Back to Rush Vault