Blues Essentials

[Schyma]

Jazz fans, need not be frightened by such a thread! I'm sure you've noticed that the forum is now called Jazz, Funk, & Blues. With all the people that wanted this forum to add Blues to the title, they sure weren't in a hurry to start Blues conversation, so I thought I'd start one since no-one has made a thread yet.

Anyways, what does everyone think are some albums that should represent over 100 hundred years of this this great genre's music? If a person came up to you and said "I'm completely foreign to this genre and I'd like some advise on what albums to start with." what are some of the albums you would recommend them? I strongly encourage you to reach though the annals of time and try to touch up on all the sub-genres of Blues. (Country-Blues, Slide, String, Delta, Modern...etc)


Also: If a person is not pleased with one of the albums on the list he can argue the album off the list depending on how well he makes his point and if a person dislikes how a person argued off one their favorite albums they can always argue it back on the list. I'll try to update this as much as possible if this catches on.

I'll just start out with just naming a few....

Blues Essentials
-----------------------------
West Side Soul ~ Magic Sam (<-----try to keep it in this format)
Texas Flood ~ Stevie Ray Vaughn
Steppin' On the Blues ~ Lonnie Johnson
Atlanta 12 String ~ Blind Willie McTell

[run don't walk]

Yes! The Blues finally got in with the Jazz and Funk forum :thumb:.

Blues Essentials
-------------------------
Complete Recordings ~ Robert Johnson
Live at the Regal ~ BB King
Crawfish Fiesta ~ Professor Longhair

[magicbus]

Some to add to the list:

Albert King - Born Under A Bad Sign
Albert King - Live Wire/Blues Power
Willie Dixon - I Am The Blues

I'll think of more to add.

[Scuba_Steve]

The Complete Imperial Recordings: 1950-1954~ T-Bone Walker
Second Winter~Johnny Winter
King of The Delta Blues Singers~Robert Johnson
Damn Right I Got The Blues~ Buddy Guy
King Of The Country Blues~ Blind Lemon Jefferson


yeah, I'll probably post more later

[jpj]

I don't think you would need King of The Delta Blues Singers if you already had his Complete Recordings.

The Paul Butterfield Blues Band~East-West
John Mayall~Turning Point

Is Blues Rock allowed?

[JonG]

Definately West Side Soul and Steppin' On The Blues.

I like T-Bone's Blues aswell, and Live on Maxwell Street 1964.

[A Spoonful Supreme]

Call me crazy, but I think Electric Mud, the concept album, should be one of the ambassador albums to blues because not only are the tracks Muddy Waters classics but they show blues' influence on rock and roll.

[JonG]

It's pretty damn good, but I prefer Live At Newport myself. Both great albums.

Also, add Howlin' Wolf - Moanin' In The Moonlight

[here comes the bird flu]

Pretty much any Freddie King album. They are all the same.

[Bluesiestman]

*** Pocket of Whiskey - R.L. Burnside
Mr. Wizard - R.L. Burnside
All Night Long - Junior Kimbourgh
The Folklore of John Lee Hooker - John Lee Hooker
King Bee - Muddy Waters
School Bus - Bob Log III
Blues - Jimi Hendrix
The Very Best of Son House - Son House
I Do Not Play No Rock'n Roll - Fred Mcdowell

[A Spoonful Supreme]

Bukka White - Parchman Farm Blues

[here comes the bird flu]

Bukka White - Parchman Farm Blues
Have you ever heard the song called Parchman Farm by Cactus?

[John Paul Harrison]

Chicago/The Blues/Today! ~ Various Artists [1966]

http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:usud6jo171e0

[Joseph India]

Robert Johnson - Complete Recordings (very important)
Charley Patton - Founder of the Delta Blues
Skip James - Complete Early Recordings
Blind Willie Johnson - Complete Recordings
Leadbelly - any album
Sister Rosetta Tharpe - any album
these are some of the standard collections of old blues from late 20's and 30's
I also recommend Roots of the Blues - Various artists - its suprisingly good.

[A Spoonful Supreme]

Have you ever heard the song called Parchman Farm by Cactus?
No is it a cover? Or is it about the prison?

[magicbus]

Have you ever heard the song called Parchman Farm by Cactus?
I've heard the Bluesbreakers' version, but never the Cactus one.

[jazzfromhell]

Charley Patton - Screamin' and Hollerin' the Blues: The Worlds of Charley Patton

Charley's usually acknowledged as the original king of the Delta bluesmen. That box set is pretty expensive (cheapest I've seen it is $120), but damn, it's worth it. It has six CDs of actual music, and a seventh with interviews, which is pretty low, but it's a. the nicest box I've ever seen for CDs, b. contains a thesis on Patton by John Fahey c. contains probably a full book worth's notes, writings, song transcriptions, etc. Highly reccomended, if you can swing the cash.

[gaslight]

Trane's Blues is sweet.

[Rams]

And This Is Maxwell Street [Soundtrack]
Live In Cook County Jail ~ B.B. King
A Man & The Blues ~ Buddy Guy
Founder Of The Delta Blues ~ Charley Patton
Moanin' In The Moonlight ~ Howlin' Wolf
Concert At Newport ~ John Lee Hooker
The Turning Point ~ John Mayall
Steppin' On The Blues ~ Lonnie Johnson
West Side Soul ~ Magic Sam
I Do Not Play No Rock 'N' Roll ~ Mississippi Fred
Muddy Waters At Newport ~ Muddy Waters
Right Place, Wrong Time ~ Otis Rush
The Paul Butterfield Blues Band ~ The Paul Butterfield Blues Band
Complete Recordings ~ Robert Johnson
T-Bone Blues ~ T-Bone Walker
Natch'l Blues ~ Taj Mahal
Tommy Johnson Complete Recorded Works ~ Tommy Johnson
I Am The Blues ~ Willie Dixon

[here comes the bird flu]

No is it a cover? Or is it about the prison?
I've heard the Bluesbreakers' version, but never the Cactus one.

I'm sure it's probobly just an adapted version. Anyway, the story is they were trying to play the fastest anyone has ever played. Today's standards, not that fast.

[JonG]

I can't find anymore Otis Rush Jake, it pisses me off. Atleast on Soulseek..

I need more.

[S_U_A]

SRV and Albert King - The Sky is Crying
Earl King - Street Parade
Little Walter - His Best
Junior Wells - Hoodoo Man Blues
Roy Buchanan - When a Guitar Plays the Blues
Roy Buchanan - Live Stock
Jeff Beck - Truth

[some jive turkey]

Robert Johnson
&
Louis Armstrong

[peacethrumusic]

stevie ray vaughan & double trouble-texas flood
stevie ray vaughan & double trouble-couldn't stand the weather
stevie ray vaughan & double trouble-the sky is crying

SRV was just plain incredible, especially live...others I'd say have already been mentioned, except bessie smith and billie holiday. robert johnson, leadbelly and muddy waters are my favourites.

and rory gallagher's self-titled solo debut.

[superjoe]

blind blake - ragtimes foremost fingerpicker
tampa red - complete recorded works

[Satan Claus]

Anything by Blind Lemon Jefferson
Boss Blues Harmonica -- by Little Walter
Live Wire Blues Power -- Albert King (the first blues album I ever heard)

There are so many more and I learn something from all of them including the guys who didn't play all that well. I don't think virtuosity is a requirement for me to enjoy something and that for me is the point -- I don't even have to turn it into a learning experience; I just have to relax and enjoy.