Blues advice

Posted by: Steve G on 13 January 2002

I haven't had much exposure to Blues, only a few Muddy Waters and Keb Mo CD's and LP's. I've been enjoying listening to these lately and I've been wondering what else I should consider getting.

Cheers
Steve

Posted on: 13 January 2002 by Cheese

Absolutely stunning sound quality too !

Cheese

Posted on: 13 January 2002 by Jack

Steve,

Definitely recommend Eric Bibb. Try latest: "Painting Signs" it's excellant.

Also I noticed a previous recommendation of John Lee Hooker. You can get a special 2 CD set at the moment for about £14 which includes "The Healer". It's a compliation of songs with special guests including Carlos Santana, Bonnie Raitt and Robert Cray to name but a few.

Incidentally I would also recommend Robert Cray.

Jack

Posted on: 13 January 2002 by Hammerhead

Steve,

Get tuned in to Paul Jones, Radio 2, Thursday evenings at 8pm for an hours worth of blues exposure (& some plugging of PJ's Blues Band - who I've seen live and liked). There is absolutely loads of blues to listen too.

My recommendations would also be to find some BB King material, something like 'Now appearing at Ole Miss' or 'Blues 'n' Jazz' or even 'Live at Cook County Jail'.

For UK blues, try some Rory Gallagher or my most recent finding, Todd Sharpville & 'The Meaning of Life'. (I'm sure you'll like the cover of this.. )

Good thread as it's just reminded me to get JLH's 'Boom Boom Boom'.

Steve

Posted on: 13 January 2002 by Sean P

In addition to all the others mentioned I Can recommend the following small selection of blues artists.

Kelly Joe Phelps
Mighty Sam Mclean
Robert Cray
Hubert Sumlin
Terry Evans
Bernard Allison
Stevie Ray Vaughan
Lightnin Hopkins
John Hammond
Holmes Brothers
Albert King
Weepin Willie

Regards Sean

Posted on: 13 January 2002 by John C

and I dont listen to blues as much as i used to but these are personal favourites
(Acoustic/ Country blues etc)
Charlie Patton
Leadbelly
Robert Johnson
Bessie Smith
Robert Lee McCoy (Robert Nighthawk)
Son House ( Particularly a song called John the Revelator which is astounding and further proof Jesus has all the best tunes)

(Chicago blues etc)
Howling Wolf
Sonny Boy williamson (1 and 2)
Little Walter
Lightning Hopkins

Bobby Blue Bland ( the king of blues singers)

More contemporary stuff- anything on Fat Possum records especially the late lamented Junior Kimbrough

John.

Posted on: 14 January 2002 by Dean Leroy

Hi Steve, John's advice is right on. Start at the beginning in the Delta then head up the river. I would add Mississippi John Hurt, Skip James, and (from the Piedmont) the Reverend Gary Davis. When you get to Chicago you'll want to check out, among many others, Elmore James. Bon Voyage. Dean

Posted on: 14 January 2002 by Chris L

See if you can find a record of Eric Clapton playing "pure" blues.

Chris L

Posted on: 14 January 2002 by bam

Anything recorded by Louis Armstrong

Posted on: 14 January 2002 by P

Look out for the recent Chess CD remasterings of
Leadbelly, The Wolf, John Lee, Muddy etc (Purple covers with the chequer board edging) They sound absolutely phenomenal.

Posted on: 14 January 2002 by Steve G

quote:
Originally posted by bam:
Anything recorded by Louis Armstrong

I've got 2 or 3 Louis Armstrong CD's (one with Oscar Peterson is particularily fine) which I like but I'd classed that more as Jazz than blues.

Having said that the Jazz I like does appear to be more blues like (Coltrane, Miles Davis, Louis Armstrong etc.).

Regards
Steve

Posted on: 14 January 2002 by Markus

I strongly recommend Bobby Blands "Two Steps From the Blues" album.

Once upon a time many many years ago when I worked in a record store a couple came in and were browsing the blues, trying to decide between a couple of lightweight blues copycats. I suggested they try the Bobby Bland album, they bought it and came back with profuse thanks for putting them on to the real thing.

I also really recommend Muddy and Howlin' Wolf. they never seemed to put out any weak albums. For Muddy I find myself returning to his "Brass and the Blues" album. For Howlin' Wolf, try "Moanin' at Midnight".

Posted on: 14 January 2002 by Jez Quigley

I strongly suggest Eric Bibb. IMHO the best modern blues player fab stuff and top notch sound quality CD's too. You have just missed his UK tour, but he's back in October, don't miss it.(www.ericbibb.com)

For early stuff try Mississippi John Hurt & Rev Gary Davies.

Posted on: 15 January 2002 by Cheese

If you're into great harmonica players, look ouot for Sonny Boy Williamson, or for Sonny Terry. Very different styles but both gorgeous.

Cheese

Posted on: 15 January 2002 by Phil Barry

Albert Collins
Lonnie Johnson

But you have to turn off the lights, and burn tobacco and spill beer in great quantities in your listening room before you even think of playing a good blues record. It also helps to put everything you own in the listening room so you can hardly move.

Recorded blues is the reason Celibidache (or soemone) said that listening to a recording is like going to bed with a picture of Marilyn Monroe.

Phil

Posted on: 15 January 2002 by Steve G

I went to the record shop today but forgot to note down any of these recommendations. I'll head back later in the week armed with a list though.

Cheers and thanks.
Steve

Posted on: 17 January 2002 by Phil Barry

http://www.blueflamecafe.com/ looks like an interesting site for blues lovers.

Boy, if only I could stay awake laetr than 10:30 PM....

Phil

Posted on: 18 January 2002 by steveb

Get hold of a copy of Charles Saar Murray's Blues on Cd-good biographies and discographies-a good starting point.
Bill Wyman's Blues Odyssey is also a good reference work- there is a 2Cd compilation to go with it with tracks that influenced Bill and The Stones-might be worth investigating as starter.

Early Fleetwood Mac
Otis Grand
Buddy Guy
Albert King
Blind Willie McTell
Gary Moore(New 2Cd compilation due of his blues work)

Posted on: 18 January 2002 by Steve G

quote:
Originally posted by paul atkinson:
I recently bought Folk Singer by Muddy Waters, which is superb slow tempo acoustic blues. Anyone able to recommend any similar stuff?
cheers, Paul

If you like that you might want to give Keb' Mo' a listen. I'd recommend getting "Just Like You'.

Regards
Steve

Posted on: 18 January 2002 by Steve G

quote:
Originally posted by steveb:

Bill Wyman's Blues Odyssey is also a good reference work- there is a 2Cd compilation to go with it with tracks that influenced Bill and The Stones-might be worth investigating as starter.

I've picked up a 3 CD Blues, Blues, Blues compilation which includes the likes of Buddy Guy, Billy Boy Arnold, Sonny Boy Williamson, Bo Diddley, John Lee Hooker plus loads of others (50 tracks in all). Recording quality isn't the best but it should help identify artists for further investigation.

I also picked up a cheap Van Morrison CD (Brown Eyed Girl) which I'm listening to now. So far I like it, especially "Who Drove the Red Sports Car".

Regards
Steve

Posted on: 18 January 2002 by Paul Ranson

Peter Green is operating again. I've enjoyed both his 'Robert Johnson' albums and the more general. The recent one is 'Time Traders'.

Also Robert Cray seems to have come back to form, try either of the last two albums.

The sound quality of these all seems pretty good, I think they aren't quite so compromised for the radio or ghetto-blaster as the usual stuff, and they are basically quite 'simple' recordings.

YMMV of course....

Paul

Posted on: 20 January 2002 by Jez Quigley

Right now I'm listening to the internet radio station at http://www.wfuv.org/ they have a show every Sunday morning 8am UK time that plays exclusively original blues recordings made before WW2. What a delight.