Chess Records- mmm, mmm good!

I absolutely agree, excellent set. Great place to start to figure out who your favorites are. If you like that there are the individual chess boxes for Howlin' Wolf, Willie Dixon (which is better served by a 5 disc ROOTS label set of others and him doing his songs), Muddy Waters, etc. A branch off of this topic might be what other good blues compilations are out there to get started on the other (non-Chicago) styles? I would imagine I have some good examples of the other styles, but I never know for sure.

I own the "Chess Blues Classics" covering 1947-1966 in 2 CD's, and the "Uptown Soul" and "Club Rhythm & Soul" comps. There's a "Chess Blues-Rock Songbook: The Classic Originals" and "Chess Blues Guitar". Do you own either? I need to check the overlap of those against what I have.

RE: other blues styles, All Music Guide seems to break them down pretty well and provides recommendations for each, although they completely miss the extremely unique North Mississippi style (unique flavors derived from Western Africa survived slavery despite the instruments being banned- marching/upright drum and the fife).

Rhino puts out some nice comps- the "Blues Masters" series, and the "Best of" and "Very best of" for exploring individual artists. The Marty Scorcese series, "The Blues" that aired on PBS has a series exploring multiple styles, "Martin Scorcese Presents The Blues".

A glimpse of what North Mississippi blues is about is here. Check out the rhythms of the track samples at the end of the blurb!

Sorry I didn't get back sooner, I have the 4 CD chess blues, that is really just an overview of the label, plus of course a good pile of CD's and vinyl on the blues, which is primarily of the chicago end I think. I will puruse the links when I get a minute. I usually wind up getting into music based on other music. Led Zep led me to yardbirds to white boy blues, to john mayall to clapton to fleetwood mac to chicago, etc. so a lot of blues has been missed by this rock and roll link. I'll drop another note when I get through the links. Have a good week.

The AMG link is very good information. I imagine it is hard to get everyone to agree on what categories any certain music is in. I couldn't get the north mississippi link to work on my work computer, but i did see the fife music on the blues movie on PBS, so although it was very well done, I don't think that is what I am after. I have several of the Alligator compilations, and maybe 1/3 of the artists are really for me. None of the songs are bad, and the great thing about the compilations are that even if you don't love a song another good one is coming up. I will have to take some of the big names off of the AMG site that I haven't heard and see what I can get from the library to try them out before buying.
thanks
Tim

Tim, I started with Chess artists and expanded to like Albert King (my fav), Freddy King, Albert Collins, and Jimmy Reed quite a bit. I don't know if they're mentioned on the AMG lists.

I haven't yet tried the Blind Pig Records compilations, but they appear to be interesting too.

*EDIT*

Amazon is dangerous. I just ordered the Alligator 20th, 25th, and 30th Anniversary, and Blind Pig 20th and 25th Anniversary comps.

I have a little early albert collins, and I love freddy king (especially his instrumentals) albert king is hit and miss. seems like most blues artists where pretty iffy in the 70's-80's. I haven't heard the blind pig stuff. I have been getting into RL Burnside a bit after hearing him on Jon Spencer Blues Explosion. I have mainly been looking for instrumental blues stuff lately, which has lead me to danny gatton and roy buchanan. I should look up the blind pig and see who is on those.