God Don't Never Change: The Songs of Blind Willie Johnson
God Don't Never Change: The Songs of Blind Willie Johnson is a compilation album featuring various artists. It was released on February 26, 2016, runs 41 minutes and 50 seconds, and was issued by Alligator Records. The album was produced by Jeffrey Gaskill of Burning Rose Productions. The Blind Boys of Alabama’ recording of “Mother’s Children Have a Hard Time” helped the project earn two Grammy nominations: Best Roots Gospel Album and Best American Roots Performance.
The package includes extensive historical liner notes written by Michael Corcoran. The project was funded through a Kickstarter campaign that highlighted ten cigar box guitars made from wood from Blind Willie Johnson’s 1920s/1930s Marlin, Texas home, where he lived with his wife Willie B Harris. These unique folk instruments are part of the Blind Pilgrim Collection and are individually numbered.
Critics noted the album’s strong reflection of Johnson’s lasting influence and the way gospel music addresses deep human experiences. Thom Jurek of AllMusic said the album shows the artist’s enduring impact as it explores suffering, joy, mercy, loneliness, death, and resurrection. The Associated Press praised the production, stating that Jeffrey Gaskill’s guidance resulted in 11 stirring renditions that capture the soul of the songs, not just the sound.
This page was last edited on 2 February 2026, at 16:07 (CET).