at the moment i am realy digging the blues but my knowledge is limited

im playing on heavy rotation the "best of" the blues

but was just wondering what were the pivotal and greatest albums of this genre?

thanks

My knowledge is somewhat limited as well. I tend to be into the really old back-porch style blues, which were mostly 78s, not full albums. So a few collections that include names like Skip James, Mississippi Fred McDowell, Charley Patton, Blind Blake and Geeshie Wiley couldn't be a bad place to start. The Yazoo label is a great one for old stuff like that. Their Mississippi Masters collection is an all time fave.

Pivotal albums, though, that's a good question. Most of my stuff is "best of" comps by the likes of John Lee Hooker, Lightnin' Hopkins, Buddy Guy, Howlin' Wolf, Etta James.

Anything by...


T-Bone Walker.

And of course the Queen of the blues herself...


Madame Bessie Smith.

The thing is, most great blues was recorded as singles, whether 78s or 45s. So the "best" blues albums are often compilations, as the music was not recorded as albums as we know them. So I would start with comps on the following :

Muddy Waters
Howlin' Wolf
Sonny Boy Williamson
Little Walter
BB King
Elmore James
John Lee Hooker
Freddie King
Little Milton

Among the blues albums that were conceived s albums, I would start with "Hoodoo man Blues" by Junior Wells, "Born Under a Bad Sign" by Albert King, and "Strong Persuader" by Robert Cray

I like Albert King, Freddie King, John Lee Hooker, Bessie Smith, Big Maybelle, Little Milton, ZZ Hill, Denise LaSalle, Johnnie Taylor, Buddy Guy, Bobby Rush....Anything by these folks could start you off.

ta!

The "must haves" in my collection..

1) B.B. King - Live At The Regal ..Everyone from Jimi to Ron Wood to Clapton has praised this LP.

2) Albert King - I'll Play The Blues For You..Soulful and funky. And the Bar-Kays back him up. I think this was recorded in 1972.

3) Buddy Guy - Stone Crazy..You can hear where Jimi got influence from.

4) Jimi Hendrix - Blues

5) Ike Turner and his Kings Of Rhythm - Rockin Instrumentals.....yes..Ike Turner.

6) Luther Allison - The Motown Years - 1972- 1976..underrated.

7) Muddy Waters - Electric Mud..Muddy with a fuzztone..he got blasted for doing this LP but it's a classic.

8) Bobby Bland - Anything by him is worth getting.

9) Sly Stone - Riot...Even though it's a not a 'legit' blues LP, it has 'blues' all over it.

10) Johnny "Guitar" Watson - Anything by him is cool too.

The "Blues" isn't monolithic, it does have regional and period influences that should be considered. I'm not sure you can understand the blues if you don't at least listen to how it evolved. Doesn't mean you have to like it? No, but I think you miss out on getting a comprehensive view of how it was shaped.(IMHO)

Pre-War Blues
Piedmont Blues
Mississippi -(Delta Blues)
Chicago Blues
Detroit Blues
Kansas City Blues
Texas Blues

Son House - 'The Original Delta Blues'
Lightnin' Hopkins: 'The Very Best of Lightnin' Hopkins'
Lead Belly: 'Shout On'
Memphis Minnie: 'Hoodoo Lady'
Robert Johnson: 'The Complete Recordings'
Big Joe Williams: 'Blues on Highway 49'
Rev Gary Davis:'Demons and Angels'
'Harlem Street Singer'

Muddy Waters
'The Best of Muddy Waters (released 1957)
Father and Sons
Folk Singer
Hard Again
I'm Ready

Big Mama Thornton, KoKo Taylor, Albert Collins, Freddie King, T-Bone Walker, Willie Dixon, Freddi King, Guitar Shorty, Magic Sam, Buddy Guy, Elmore James harmonica players: Big Walter Horton, Little Walter, Junior Wells and Jimmy Reed.

For Pre-War blues checkout Steve Cushing show Blues Before Sunrise.
http://radiotime.com/prog...nrise.aspx

Good thread.

Oh Ghat dayum

TD3 said:

thanks man on two fronts

schooling my lilly white ass

and using the word monolithic!

Good suggestions above.
Someone i'd definitely check out would be one of the prolific Blues songwriters, who was also a producer.


Willie Dixon...



...The Chess Box


Some of his most recognizable songs that are part of this set:
Seventh Son
Pain in My Heart
Hoochie Coochie Man
Evil
I'm Ready
I Just Want to Make Love to You
Spoonful
You Can't Judge a Book by its Cover
I Ain't Superstitious
Little Red Rooster (co-written w/Howlin' Wolf [Chester Burnett])
Back Door Man
You Shook Me (co-written w/J.B. Lenoir)
Wang Dang Doodle
I Can't Quit You Babe





Music for adventurous listeners



tA

Tribal Records

Showdown!
Robert Cray, Albert Collins, Johnny Copeland

I recommend this one if you're into blistering Blues guitar.

theAudience said:

So many have covered his tunes and he's written for many too.

TD3 said:

I started listening Sonny Terry a while back. He's a great harp player, who started out with Blind Boy Fuller, known for his Piedmont Blues style.

I'm also listening to Sonny Terry & Brownie McGhee stuff.

Identity said:

Love Albert Collins...



...Luckily, I got to see him perform before he passed away.



Music for adventurous listeners



tA

Tribal Records

Thanks for this thread!

In my mind, probably the definitive Buddy Guy recording...



...This is BUDDY GUY!


Next last track on the album...



...You Were Wrong

And you know you so wrong now woman
And I think you're wrong as two left shoes
Oooow, you know you're more than enough little girl
To give any fool like me the blues



A YouTube video I put together last year of the album's closer...



...I'm Not The Best




Music for adventurous listeners



tA

Tribal Records
[Edited 2/21/10 18:05pm]

NOW this thread is taking shape

thanks!

TD3 said:

Good points & picks.


I was really surprised by that album (produced by Johnny Winter)...



...Although recorded in '77, it had his older Chess vibe.




Music for adventurous listeners


tA

Tribal Records

cool thread

Howlin' Wolf



...Meet Me In The Bottom (and the Son House incident)



Studio recording (Down in the Bottom)...



...Howlin' Wolf (Chess- 1962)




Music for adventurous listeners


tA

Tribal Records

vainandy said:

I was waiting for you to post some Bobby Rush (and his "dancin' girls").



Music for adventurous listeners


tA

Tribal Records

theAudience said:

I'm LMAO over here! I saw Bobby Rush a year or so ago. He said he was something like 70 years old and he's STILL got those big-hipped dancing sistas with him! It's QUITE the show!

theAudience said:

Am I correct in thinking this is where Led Zeppelin "borrowed" some of their early songs from?

Big Joe, check out his "custom" 9 string guitar. Mr. Williams was a trip, he wouldn't tell you what he tuned his guitar too. Wouldn't show, share, nor teach anything about his technique.





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[Edited 2/26/10 22:00pm]

theAudience said:

WOW!

thanks man