# Blues Fans! Please recommend some music to me **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [September 21, 2002, 1:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blues-fans-please-recommend-some-music-to-me/128904 "2002-09-21T01:12:24Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Rhum\_Runner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/2bfe46/32.png) [@Rhum\_Runner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhum_Runner)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2002, 1:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blues-fans-please-recommend-some-music-to-me/128904/1 "2002-09-21T01:12:24Z")
So I was just listening to Stevie Ray Vaughan’s _The Sky is Crying_ album, and there is this short little song called “Life by the Drop” on there. Basically it is just SRV and accoustic guitar doing this little bluesy song. I guess this is accoustic blues, yeah? Where can I get more music in this vein? Thanks dopers. ---
**Author:** ![Ukulele\_Ike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/df788c/32.png) [@Ukulele\_Ike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ukulele_Ike)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2002, 1:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blues-fans-please-recommend-some-music-to-me/128904/2 "2002-09-21T01:29:15Z")
Oh, jesus, here’s another Chicagoan who’s never heard acoustic blues. The blues DID exist before WWII, my friend. Off the top of my head, try any **John Cephas and Phil Wiggins** album. They do North Carolina Piedmont blues on nonelectric guitar and harp and vocal only. Also, they’re contemporary, so there won’t be any scary fuzzy stuff on the recordings. If you want to dig back into the dim past, give **Charley Patton** a go. That’s stone Delta blues. And **Blind Willie McTell** for the early Memphis style. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2002, 2:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blues-fans-please-recommend-some-music-to-me/128904/3 "2002-09-21T02:41:23Z")
**Robert Johnson** is essential. ---
**Author:** ![Fiddle\_Peghead](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fiddle_peghead/32/3506_2.png) [@Fiddle\_Peghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiddle_Peghead)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2002, 3:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blues-fans-please-recommend-some-music-to-me/128904/4 "2002-09-21T03:05:35Z")
**Rhum** , ignore **Ukulele Ike’s** condescending attitude (where do they find these moderators anyway?), but pay attention to his suggestions. They ain’t half bad. ---
**Author:** ![Ukulele\_Ike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/df788c/32.png) [@Ukulele\_Ike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ukulele_Ike)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2002, 2:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blues-fans-please-recommend-some-music-to-me/128904/5 "2002-09-21T14:02:36Z")
Ah, it’s engendered by envy. You know how hard it is to find good Chicago blues in NYC? ---
**Author:** ![Ukulele\_Ike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/df788c/32.png) [@Ukulele\_Ike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ukulele_Ike)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2002, 2:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blues-fans-please-recommend-some-music-to-me/128904/6 "2002-09-21T14:12:54Z")
Oh, an interesting side note on **RC** ’s recommendation. The Columbia Roots & Blues label did a huge two-disc “Complete Robert Johnson” around ten years ago, which sold enormously, due to heavy review attention from swooning critics eager to display their roots-music savvy. It turned out to be the aural equivalent of a coffee-table book…millions of folks not clued into the blues bought it, listened once, thought “What the hell is this?” and buried it in the back of the CD collection. It IS essential, it’s a great recording, and you can pick up a like-new copy for five bucks or less at most garage/yard/stoop sales! ---
**Author:** ![Rhum\_Runner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/2bfe46/32.png) [@Rhum\_Runner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhum_Runner)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2002, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blues-fans-please-recommend-some-music-to-me/128904/7 "2002-09-21T14:39:09Z")
Thanks for the tips! Didn’t they release a huge Charley Patton box set last year? ($300 IIRC) **Ukulele** I am going to look for a John Cephas and Phil Wiggins album this afternoon, I will report back! I have some of the John Hurt albums, which I enjoy, esp. the live one that has very good sound. Is the Complete Robert Johnson album decent sound quality, or is it a “historical recording?” Not that I mind too terribly much either way. Thanks again. ---
**Author:** ![hawthorne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c89c15/32.png) [@hawthorne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hawthorne)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2002, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blues-fans-please-recommend-some-music-to-me/128904/8 "2002-09-21T14:40:51Z")
The other thing about the _Complete Robert Johnson_ - by complete they mean if he did two takes, they’re both there - is that even at the time it was dirt cheap. Buy this record, but, if you’re new to the genre, don’t try to listen to it all in one go. I’d suggest some Lightenin’ Hopkins. And if you already like SRV, he did an Unplugged session that’s pretty good. It includes a sensational version of Pride and Joy. ---
**Author:** ![hawthorne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c89c15/32.png) [@hawthorne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hawthorne)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2002, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blues-fans-please-recommend-some-music-to-me/128904/9 "2002-09-21T14:42:23Z")
Sound quality? It was recorded on shellac, so all things considered it sounds great. ---
**Author:** ![Labdad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/439d5e/32.png) [@Labdad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Labdad)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2002, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blues-fans-please-recommend-some-music-to-me/128904/10 "2002-09-21T14:44:45Z")
The first Hot Tuna album, titled appropriately enough, “Hot Tuna,” is all accoustic blues performed by Jorma Kaukonen - one of the best blues guitarists around. It’s well worth checking out! ---
**Author:** ![Hodge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Hodge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hodge)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2002, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blues-fans-please-recommend-some-music-to-me/128904/11 "2002-09-21T15:25:46Z")
Some personal favourites are **John Lee Hooker** and **Taj Mahal** , although I’m more enamoured of **TM’s** world music endeavours than his straight-ahead blues. ---
**Author:** ![Rug\_Burn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/a87d85/32.png) [@Rug\_Burn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rug_Burn)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2002, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blues-fans-please-recommend-some-music-to-me/128904/12 "2002-09-21T15:46:12Z")
Ian Moore Doyl Brahmall & Jr. Buddy Guy Jimmie Vaughan Kenny Wayne Shepherd Guy Forsyth Mointe Montgomery Double Trouble Chris Duarte Eric Johnson Storyville Oh yeah, and that B.B. King guy isn’t either. ---
**Author:** ![Rhum\_Runner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/2bfe46/32.png) [@Rhum\_Runner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhum_Runner)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2002, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blues-fans-please-recommend-some-music-to-me/128904/13 "2002-09-21T16:10:11Z")
**Labdad** I have added Hot Tuna to the list. **Hawthorne** I know it is an old recording, but some transfers are better than others, I guess that is what I was asking, sounds like it is a good one. I will def. look for that SRV _Unplugged_ album. Thanks for that. **Hodge** I also like **TM** do you have a particular favorite blues album of his? ---
**Author:** ![Green\_Bean](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/green_bean/32/1760_2.png) [@Green\_Bean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Green_Bean)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2002, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blues-fans-please-recommend-some-music-to-me/128904/14 "2002-09-21T16:34:39Z")
A fun album is _Showdown_ by Cray, Collins, and Copeland. 3 great guitarists doing some blues standards. It’s electric, tho. ---
**Author:** ![Hodge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Hodge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hodge)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2002, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blues-fans-please-recommend-some-music-to-me/128904/15 "2002-09-21T18:03:12Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Rhum Runner \* > \*\ ***Hodge** I also like **TM** do you have a particular favorite blues album of his? \*\* From his early years, I like _Giant Step_, which is a mix of acoustic and electric blues. The sound quality isn’t always the best but the music more than makes up for it. More recently, _Kulanjan_ is a fascinating mixture of blues and west african music. The plinking sound of the kora (kind of an african lute) wonderfully complements **TM’s** bluesy vocals. ---
**Author:** ![elelle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f0a364/32.png) [@elelle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elelle)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2002, 1:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blues-fans-please-recommend-some-music-to-me/128904/16 "2002-09-22T01:02:31Z")
Oh, yikes, I got aplenty! To narrow it down a bit: The [Arhoolie label](http://www.arhoolie.com) is a wealth of acoustic blues recordings. I’d recommend _Mississippi Blues Jam, in Memphis( Vol 1&2)_. This collection has Sleepy John Estes, Bukka White, Fred McDowell. Furry Lewis, among others. Also on Arhoolie: _Fred McDowell, Mississippi Delta Blues_ , ‘bout my fave blues musician, next to Lightnin’ Hopkins. I love Arhoolie’s _The Hopkins Brothers_, a recording of Lightning with his brothers Joel and Henry. That was my fave blues record for a couple of years. A Lighning Hopkins collection that is purty swell is the Rhino Records anthology: _Lightnin’ Hopkins:Mojo Hand_. For the roots of a lot of Ry Cooder’s riffs ( the soundtrack of the movie Paris ,Texas), and a whole lot of truck commercials, Blind Willie Johnson is the Man. He 's lonely and right blood-curdling. _The Complete Blind Willie Johnson_ can be found on Columbia/Legacy. Another great label is [Yazoo Records](http://www.yazoorecords.com). Lotsa acoustic blues there. One particular fave is _The Roots of Rap/Classic recordings from the 20’s and 30’s_. What it says, showing that dealin’ with the Man everyday has always got folks pretty damn sick and tired. A more contemporary acoustic blues musician is Corey Harris- I’d put him as the Taj Mahal of the 90’s-00’s. _Between Midnight and Day_ is a good start. He has an amazing, powerful voice, and a great knowledge of blues tradition. If ya like Taj Mahal, well, ya can go [fishin’ with him](http://www.musicmaker.org/tajtourney.html) this February. MusicMaker has a lot of releases by lesser known blues artists, and is devoted to getting them money due; they also pay for medical needs and emergency expenses. Taj Mahal has supported their efforts for many years. Finally, check out [Living Blues](http://www.livingblues.com) magazine. It has been around for decades (and occupied 11 years of my life). A great source of blues info! ---
**Author:** ![Sam\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Sam\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Stone)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2002, 2:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blues-fans-please-recommend-some-music-to-me/128904/17 "2002-09-22T02:05:19Z")
I would also recommend Robert Johnson. There’s something about RJ that is just spooky. I mean, aside from the legends about selling his soul to the devil at the crossroads. But the man and his music sound simply…haunted. And his guitar style has never been accurately copied, IMO. If you want some more accessible acoustic blues, I would recommend Eric Clapton’s “From the Cradle”. He covers many of the classics of early acoustic blues, and he IS Eric Clapton. ---
**Author:** ![fizgig](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/f04885/32.png) [@fizgig](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fizgig)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2002, 4:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blues-fans-please-recommend-some-music-to-me/128904/18 "2002-09-22T04:52:41Z")
**Keb’ Mo’** does some great acoustic songs, and if you get the chance to see him live, don’t pass it up. ---
**Author:** ![F.U.Shakespeare](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/aca169/32.png) [@F.U.Shakespeare](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/F.U.Shakespeare)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2002, 1:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blues-fans-please-recommend-some-music-to-me/128904/19 "2002-09-22T13:42:30Z")
All good suggestions, to which I would add: - Tommy Johnson, a Mississippi Delta performer roughly contemporaneous with Charley Patton; - Son House, ditto; - Skip James, one of the most talented and unique-sounding of all bluesmen. From southern Mississippi, not technically Delta). - Blind Lemon Jefferson, a Texas bluesman of enormous originality and influence; I will carry coals to Newcastle, and recommend the Robert Johnson recordings; And yes, Charley Patton is essential, in my opinion, the greatest of all. But surviving copies of his records are in really bad shape – you need to develop some ‘scratch tolerance’. When listening to really old, scratchy recordings, it may help to not listen to them back to back with modern recordings – better to let your ears adjust to the higher noise and lower dynamic range. Spend a little time listening to nothing but old blues, and you will be hooked (at least I was.) Enjoy! ---
**Author:** ![Rhum\_Runner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/2bfe46/32.png) [@Rhum\_Runner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhum_Runner)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2002, 1:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blues-fans-please-recommend-some-music-to-me/128904/20 "2002-09-22T13:58:44Z")
Update - Went to the store yesterday and picked up _Cephas & Wiggins_ “Homemade” which I have been enjoying. The blues section was a little small, so my choices were limited. Thanks to all who have offered sugggestions. I am def. goign to pick up the Robert Johnson albums when I can find them. Perhaps a trip to Amazon is in order! [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blues-fans-please-recommend-some-music-to-me/128904.md?page=2)