Building up blues/j*** knowledge

Sorry! Didn't mean to put the jazz part into the thread title!
Saving that for another time...

This is a copy of the post in which I listed some Blues discs in 2006.

God where the hell do you start with this one.
Here are some of the artists I recommend. Start anywhere you like and if you email on m.leemacpherson@tesco.net I will recommend their best albums for you.

R.L. Burnside- most of his albums
Butterfield Blues Band- East West
BB King- any of the Ace Remaster series as well as "The Original" Also Live in Japan, Live at Cook County Jail, Do The Boogie
Elmore James- The Sky is Crying
Albert King- Born Under a Bad Sign and Live Wire/Blues Power
Freddie King- Gettin Ready
Muddy Waters- Hard Again and any of the Epic series produced by Johnny Winter. Also his Plantation recordings as well as Folk Singer. I like his Live at Ma Kellys disc.
Magic Sam- West Side Soul(generally reckoned to be one of the best blues albums of all time)
Louisana Red- Millenium Blues
Otis Rush- Cobra Recordings
Hound Dog Taylor- First Alligator album.
Sonny Boy Williamson- One Way Out
Howlin Wolf- Real Folk Blues
John Lee Hooker- anything on Vee Jay
T. Bone Walker- T. Bone Blues
Albert Collins- Ice Pickin
Little Walter- The Essential
Junior Wells- Hoodoo Man
Buddy Guy- Buddys Blues
John Hammond- I Can Tell and So Many Roads
Doug Macleod- most of recordings but especially You Can't Take Blues
Albert Cummings- From The heart
Lightnin Hopkins
Sonny Terry & Brownie McGhee
Robert Johnson
Jimmy Reed- anything on Vee Jay

The list is endless but try these and then have a look at these artists

Byther Smith
Johnny Shines
Eddie Taylor
Melvin Taylor
Otis Taylor- (I love his style of blues)
Tamapa Red
Otis Blackwell
Big Mama Thornton
Koko Taylor
Etta James
Lil Ed & The Blues Imperials
Willie Dixon- (great song writer but not a great singer).
Willie King
Robert Cray
Alvin Youngblood Hart
Brother Yusef
Junior Kimborough
Joe Louis Walker
Joe Beard
Sherman Robertson
Robert Nighthawk

Apologies to anyone I have forgotten and I want to thank my family, god, my producer, the people that made my record sleeve, everyone who loves me oops!!! Forgot I wasn't writing thank you credits on a cd inlay booklet.

Should think the above list will keep you busy

quote:

Robert Johnson

To find out how it started Robert Johnson is a must, but - again from the 1930s - try Blind Willie McTell, and for a taste of the roots of blues try Blind Wille Johnson's John the Revelator and Soul a Man. I would also add some Son House and Big Bill Broonzy.

But as ewemon says - the list is endless.

Chris

Thanks very much for the advice, it is pretty daunting looking at the list, but I'll start working my way through it.

Will also make an effort to listen to the really early stuff. Looking forward to it...

and then there is texas blues from T Bone Walker to Clarence Gatemouth Brown in one easy and hugely enjoyable step!
Quite often labels are a good starting point, Alligator, Blacktop etc as well as the older ones Yahoo and Arhoulie etc.

so much to explore..take your time and enjoy the journey

james

Bill Wyman released an excellent book about the history of the Blues.
It is called Bill Wymans Blues Odysssey, and contains lots of great album (CDs) recommendations.
I really can recommend that.
urs

quote:

Bill Wyman released an excellent book about the history of the Blues.

Very true. There was also a double CD to complement it, which is a good mix of ancient and modern stuff.

So much great music falls within the definition "Blues", that it is a lifetime's journey. Telarc, in addition to labels already mentioned, have a good catalogue of Blues recordings too, with generally good sound quality.

If you're going for electric blues you need to check out Stevie Ray Vaughan. Others worth checking are Little Axe, Eric Bibb, the tribute to Hound Dog Taylor on Alligator records, Son Seals, Lightnin Hopkins, Blind Willie McTell and Blind Blake.

Hi there,

I've been on a similar journey myself, carefully guided by Ewemon amongst others. See thread here:

http://forums.naim-audio.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/3801938...972933707#5972933707

There is some great music out there - Enjoy

ATB

KK

Hi freddie59-

It looks like you have a good start there. Jr. Wells' Hoodoo Man Blues has got to be one of the greatest recordings - period!!!

Once again, working from ewemon's fine list, the Elmore James album is an absolute must.
If you want to hear some cool post war blues harmonica, try the Little Walter c.d. Also excellent.

Not mentioned on the list, but should most definitely be included, especially if you like the electric blues stuff, is Jimmy Rogers. Guitarist in the Muddy Waters band. "Chicago Bound" is an excellent album - highly recommended.

Max

Three more that don't appear to have been named already - James Blood Ulmer, James Cotton and Terry Evans

quote:

"Chicago Bound" is an excellent album - highly recommended.

As is "Bluebird", his final effort.

quote:

Originally posted by Max Bass:
Hi freddie59-

It looks like you have a good start there. Jr. Wells' Hoodoo Man Blues has got to be one of the greatest recordings - period!!!

Once again, working from ewemon's fine list, the Elmore James album is an absolute must.
If you want to hear some cool post war blues harmonica, try the Little Walter c.d. Also excellent.

Not mentioned on the list, but should most definitely be included, especially if you like the electric blues stuff, is Jimmy Rogers. Guitarist in the Muddy Waters band. "Chicago Bound" is an excellent album - highly recommended.

Max

Hi Max, should get shot for forgetting the Jimmy Rogers. You could also try Buster Benton, The Delta Jukes or Sam Carr. There is so many fine Blues disc out there.

Re James Cotton personally I think his best is High Compression. The first Terry Evans for me is the best and James Blood Ulmer can't say I have ever really taken to him. Maybe it is time for a re-appraisal.

There will others I forgot off my list but I am sure the lads will fill in the blanks.

How can I have forgotten Magic Slim one of my personal favourites.

quote:

Originally posted by chrisp01:

quote:

Robert Johnson

To find out how it started Robert Johnson is a must, but - again from the 1930s - try Blind Willie McTell, and for a taste of the roots of blues try Blind Wille Johnson's John the Revelator and Soul a Man. I would also add some Son House and Big Bill Broonzy.

But as ewemon says - the list is endless.

Chris

John The Revelator was originally a Son House track.

quote:

Originally posted by ewemon:

John The Revelator was originally a Son House track.

I was about to suggest Son House also-- "John The Revelator" is indeed the standout track on the album I have-- but everything on the album is good.

As for other folk blues recommendations-- Leadbelly, Lightnin Hopkins, John Lee Hooker, and the aforementioned Howlin Wolf