Eyesight to the Blind

The song was recorded by Sonny Boy Williamson in 1951 as his first single release on Trumpet Records. Three versions of the song were released as 78 rpm singles. The first version featured Sonny Boy Williamson II on vocals and harmonica, Willie Love on piano, Joe Willie Wilkins on guitar, Elmore James on guitar, and Joe Dyson on drums; the second and third versions had Sonny Boy Williamson II, Willie Love, Henry Reed on double bass, and Joe Dyson. ==Renditions by other artists==

The most successful early version was that by the Larks, originally a vocal group which had developed out of gospel group, the Selah Jubilee Singers. The group's recording of "Eyesight to the Blind", with vocals and guitar by Allen Bunn, who later worked solo as Tarheel Slim, reached number five on the Billboard R&B charts in July 1951. Mose Allison recorded the song for his 1959 album Autumn Song. Unlike Williamson's original, he performs it as a "swinging, up-tempo jump number". "Eyesight to the Blind (The Hawker)" or "The Hawker (Eyesight to the Blind)" is often found on later releases. Other artists who recorded the song include: • B.B. KingThe Jungle (1967), also one Live in Japan (1971, released 1999) • Buddy RichBig Band Machine (1975) • Eric ClaptonCrossroads 2: Live in the Seventies (recorded 1975, released 1996) • Mike Bloomfield''I'm with You Always'' (1977, released 2008) • Jack-KnifeI Wish You Would (1979) • Aerosmith''Honkin' On Bobo'' (2004) • Gary MooreClose as You Get (2007) • The SmithereensThe Smithereens Play Tommy (2009) • David BrombergThe Blues, the Whole Blues, and Nothing But the Blues (2016) ==References==