Eyesight to the Blind

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"Eyesight to the Blind" is a blues standard originally written by Sonny Boy Williamson II (Aleck "Rice" Miller). It was first recorded by him in 1951, as his first single release on Trumpet Records.

[edit] Blues versions

As a blues song, the original Sonny Boy Williamson song has been covered many times. 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 #5 on the Billboard R&B charts in July 1951.

[edit] Rock versions

Versions of the song have also been recorded by rock groups, as follows:

• The Who - Tommy (1969). A version was the sixth song on The Who's rock opera Tommy. The song is parenthetically called "The Hawker". In the film version of Tommy, the song was performed by Eric Clapton.
• Aerosmith - Honkin' On Bobo (2004)
• Gary Moore - Close As You Get (2007)
• Eric Clapton - Crossroads 2: Live in the Seventies. This song is part of an epic 24-minute jam featuring Carlos Santana.