My favorite bands of all time is Led Zeppelin and the Jimi Hendrix Experience. Lately I’ve been listening to a lot of their more bluesy songs (such as: Since I’ve Been Loving You and Bring It On Home by Zeppelin, and Red House by Hendrix.) So I started thinking that I should look into this genre a bit more. But where do I start? Who/what are some of the best blues musicians, songs and albums etc.?
Gah, sorry for the grammatical errors, last minute changes.
Harry’s is a good starting point for everything you always wanted to know. Warning - popups out the Yazoo.
If you’re interested in tracing the evolution of blues from a southern American folk medium, you should pick up anthologies of the following:
Bessie Smith
Big Bill Broonzy
Blind Lemon Jefferson
Son House
Robert Johnson
Billie Holliday
T-Bone Walker
Elmore James
Little Walter
Howlin’ Wolf
Muddy Waters
BB King
Albert Collins
The History of Rock 'n Roll documentary series does a pretty good job of tracing the origins es You might also enjoy the film Crossroads–pitting Steve Vai against the Karate Kid on Ry Cooder’s guitar–is an alternative account of how blues began. As regrettable as it was, Blues Brothers 2000 has a fairly decent showcase of blues artists from various genres.
Others to listen to include Paul Butterfield, Kid Jonny Lang, Taj Mahal and the Vaughans.
Rhino Records put out a great comprehensive blues series, Blues Masters, Vol 1-18 or so.
These break things down by genre with a selection of artists on each disc. They range from Blues Roots, Mississippi Delta Blues, Post Modern Blues, Texas Blues, Jump Blues, Harmonica Blues, Slide Guitar Blues, etc.
Our library had several of these. In fact, check your library to see what blues they have on cd, so you can check out a lot of styles.
If you’re into the Hendrix/Zep blues, you should probably listen to Muddy Waters. That’s who they all ripped off back then.
Besides the masters already mentioned (what? no John Lee Hooker?), if you like the rock stuff, check out early Fleetwood Mac, Savoy Brown, John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers, & Johnny Winter. Gary Moore and Robben Ford are also a good listen.
Hell, there’s tons out there. Just keep exploring, find out what YOU like and have fun!
One you shouldn’t miss in addition to those listed is Ray Charles,whose lifetime work embraces the whole spectrum from blues to R&R to country.
A good starting point is the Genius of Ray Charles.
How 'bout Mississippi John Hurt? Acoustic, country-tinged blues.
Robert Johnson.
Of course, when I said Harry’s I meant to say Harry’s. Sorry…
There was a thread a couple of years ago in which I had my say on the subject; nothing’s really changed since then. You can find it here
Qwertyasdfg, I’m leaving you. And I’m taking the dog.
Here’s a guitar.
Also include Stevie Ray Vaughan and Buddy Guy to your playlist.
C’mon you guys! Let’s give him some names of albums so he knows what to buy at the record store.
B.B. King’s Greatest Hits or whatever it’s called. Indispensible introduction to the best-known bluesman.
Showdown by Cray, Collins, and Copeland. Three great guitarists in 3 great styles playing some great blues standards.
Also, where do you live? IMHO, the best way to experience blues is to see it live.
Let’s get specific.
You will love Muddy Waters Hard Again, produced by Johnny winters (he plays on it too!)
The first George Thorogood and the Destroyers album.
You’ll probably like Hound Dog Taylor, especially Beware the Dog.
Those are a few good starters. Purists will say forget about Thorogood, but you’ll like the albumn
Riding With The King by BB King and Eric Clapton is blues heaven…
El Loco and Fibonacci gave you a good start, and the others have added good folks too.
I would add:
Junior Wells
Albert King
Freddy King
Bobby Blue Bland
James Cotton
Johnny Hammond
KoKo Taylor
Mississippi Fred McDowell
The Big Twist (Although he is more of an R&B guy)
There are many blues anthologies available and I would pick up a couple and listen to them to find some people/styles you like and then buy their albums.
El Loco and Fibonacci gave you a good start, and the others have added good folks too.
I would add:
Junior Wells
Albert King
Freddy King
Bobby Blue Bland
James Cotton
Johnny Hammond
KoKo Taylor
Mississippi Fred McDowell
The Big Twist (Although he is more of an R&B guy)
There are many blues anthologies available and I would pick up a couple and listen to them to find some people/styles you like and then buy their albums.
All of the artists listed are very good and will give you a good start, but I have to agree that the blues is an experience. Visit a lounge in your area with some friends, have a fer beers and enjoy. No better way to spend an evening.
Lightnin’ Hopkins
zeppelin’s ‘bring it on home’ was a direct rip-off of sonny boy williamson’s song of the same name. The entire first verses are exactly the same.
Apparently so was ‘gallow’s pole’, which suprised me a great deal when I heard a old recording of it once on the radio. Interestingly enough, the song is credited to them.
Led zeppelin did that a lot actually. ‘Whole lotta love’ is supposed to be taken from willie dixon ‘You need love’.
Anyway, I recommend checking compilations albums or greatest hits.
Some people I don’t think are listed are:
Sonny boy williamson
howlin wolfe
charlie patton
bo diddley