Great Blues to complement Eric Bibb?

Posted by: Foot tapper on 25 January 2009

I've enjoyed blues, especially guitar blues for many years, starting with Eric Clapton, Yardbirds, John Mayall, Stevie Rau Vaughan, then samples of BB King (Best of) and Muddy Waters.

While demoing louspeakers and CD power supplies at my infinitely wise dealer (i.e. Yoda), I belatedly discovered these 2 Eric Bibb albums:
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and
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Hope this works, as this is first attempt to download pictures from Photobucket...)

The "Evening with Eric Bibb" album has instantly become one of my all time favourites.

Is there any other similar music/other Eric Bibb album/other blues guitar artist that I having been missing all these years that really should be in the collection?
Posted on: 25 January 2009 by Foot tapper
Looks like Photobucket download hasn't worked, and I can't find the idiot's guide on the Naim Forum, so help!
Posted on: 25 January 2009 by Foot tapper
Second time lucky?


http://i604.photobucket.com/albums/tt122/IK2/Music%20Al...bDiamondDays2006.jpg
Posted on: 25 January 2009 by natnc
If you like Eric Bibb, you should def check out Keb MO. Also for some new acoustic blues, Chris Thomas King.
Nat
Posted on: 25 January 2009 by natnc
Oh and I forgot Taj Mahal.
nat
Posted on: 25 January 2009 by ewemon
You want to try

Guy Davis
Ted Hawkins
Corey Harris
Alvin Youngblood Hart- early discs
Cephas and Wiggins
Satan & Adam
Roy Book Binder
John Hammond Jnr
Lightnin Hopkins
Son House
Leadbelly
Big Bill Broonzy
R L Burnside- acoustic albums
Rev Gary Davis
Cootie Stark
Sonny Terry and Brownie McGhee
Lonnie Johnson
Blind Willie McTell
Mississippi John Hurt
Skip James
Mississppi Fred McDowell
Robert Pete Williams
Blind Lemon Jefferson

and that is just some of the acoustic stuff you should listen to
Posted on: 25 January 2009 by Chris Kelly
Rory Block is an excellent female acoustic blues player too.
Posted on: 26 January 2009 by manicatel
Another vote for Keb 'Mo, especially his earlier stuff. Also, Robert Lucas should be added to the list.
Matt.
Posted on: 26 January 2009 by JohanR
Eric Bibb did some albums for Opus 3 in the 1990's:

http://www.opus3records.com/

JohanR
Posted on: 26 January 2009 by natnc
If we are going all the way back, then Robert Johnson is required listening. Also, one of the greatest acoustic blues albums of all time is Muddy Waters "Folk Singer". Muddy on guitar and vocals, Buddy Guy on lead guitar and Willie Dixon on bass. Blues, check that, MUSIC does not get any better than that!!!!
NaT
Posted on: 26 January 2009 by BigH47
Joe Bonamassa is a (relatively) new and very good blues based guitarist. IMO.
Posted on: 26 January 2009 by mike/dallas
Chris West at NANA used a couple of Ted Hawkins acoustical cds to audition 250/52/cdx/xps years ago at Dallas dealer. Sound was awesome, very lifelike...
Posted on: 26 January 2009 by Foot tapper
Wow, thank you everyone. I didn't expect such a response.

That's topped up the CD & LP shopping list nicely.
Posted on: 27 January 2009 by dave marshall


Try this guy.........Chicago electric blues........from a Brit!

Brilliant!...........IMHO.
Posted on: 27 January 2009 by ewemon
quote:
Originally posted by dave marshall:


Try this guy.........Chicago electric blues........from a Brit!

Brilliant!...........IMHO.


You are correct. Excellent artist. If you haven't ogt his new album Dust then it is highly recommended.
Posted on: 27 January 2009 by dave marshall
Hi,

I've got "Dust" on order.........seems to be taking ages to arrive though!

Give these guys a try.




Dave.
Posted on: 27 January 2009 by dave marshall
quote:
Originally posted by natnc:
Also, one of the greatest acoustic blues albums of all time is Muddy Waters "Folk Singer". Muddy on guitar and vocals, Buddy Guy on lead guitar and Willie Dixon on bass. Blues, check that, MUSIC does not get any better than that!!!!
NaT


Definitely!

Anyone following this thread who doesn't already have this...........get it bought...........NOW!!!!




Dave.
Posted on: 27 January 2009 by fama
Posted on: 27 January 2009 by bazz
Not to forget Harry Manx.

Posted on: 27 January 2009 by bazz
Or Monti Amundson. Great album this, fantastic acoustic guitar, could be a bit hard to find though.

Posted on: 28 January 2009 by ewemon
quote:
Originally posted by bazz:
Not to forget Harry Manx.



One my all time favs who I have championed on the forum for a number of years now.
Posted on: 28 January 2009 by ewemon
quote:
Originally posted by natnc:
If we are going all the way back, then Robert Johnson is required listening. Also, one of the greatest acoustic blues albums of all time is Muddy Waters "Folk Singer". Muddy on guitar and vocals, Buddy Guy on lead guitar and Willie Dixon on bass. Blues, check that, MUSIC does not get any better than that!!!!
NaT


Personally I love the Folk Singer album but some Blues purists say it is one of his worst.

Still can't figure that one out.
Posted on: 28 January 2009 by Max Bass
quote:
Originally posted by ewemon:

Personally I love the Folk Singer album but some Blues purists say it is one of his worst.

Still can't figure that one out.


Ewemon, with all due respect . . . . It is his worst!!!

This is, not the classic Muddy/Chicago-electric sound that made him so great, and what endeared him to legions of fans. This album lacks any of the drive, swing and swagger that was Muddy Waters. Plus . . . there's no harp!!!

There's another thread going around re. the definitive musical versions. "Folk Singer" is far from anything being definitive. It was made at a time when Muddy's career was in decline, and the Chess brothers were looking for something to get him back to the top.

If you want to hear why Muddy Waters is so great, listen to Live at Newport, or "Hard Again". The latter being recorded with Johnny Winter (a very well recorded album btw) and which became Muddy's come back album. A great album IMHO.

Also, to the OP, no one mentioned Elmore James? "The Sky is Crying" is a landmark, classic blues album that has a lot of the Delta blues roots that I think you're after.

Max
p.s. BTW. My uncle, the late Ralph Bass, produced "Folk Singer" . . . sounds great, but I still have a hard time listening to it.
Posted on: 28 January 2009 by Huwge
Max, in the context of Muddy's electric work, yes, Folk Singer is perhaps not so startling - but it is still a favourite album of mine, irrespective of how it might be viewed as a benchmark against other, "stronger" works. I think this is what is great about music, we all have a personal attachment and barometer that can oft times fly directly in the face of reviewers and popular taste.

Good call re Elmore James.

Personally, I would kick around the large body of work available from Sonny Terry and Brownie McGhee. Between them and Bill Broonzy, that is a significant proportion of my Blues albums.

Huw
Posted on: 31 January 2009 by Foot tapper
Quick update on progress so far: found my old vinyl of Muddy Waters album King Bee


Forgot just how good this album is. Hard Again is on order, while I'm Ready is on the next shopping list. Sampled his Folk Singer album on iTunes, but couldn't quite get into this one.

Couldn't resist Eric Bibb's Painting Signs


Track 4 - I heard the Angels Singin' just cuts through to the heart

I'm also trying Johnny Adams One Foot in the Blues - an experiment to see if it hits the spot.

Keb' Mo's eponymous debut album from 1994 and the Harry Manx Wise & Otherwise are both on the shopping list

Thanks everyone for your recommendations. This is such a convivial way to discover & share
great music. After all, isn't this why we invest so much of our disposable income on Naim hifi?

All the best, Ian
Posted on: 31 January 2009 by ewemon
quote:
Originally posted by Max Bass:
quote:
Originally posted by ewemon:

Personally I love the Folk Singer album but some Blues purists say it is one of his worst.

Still can't figure that one out.


Ewemon, with all due respect . . . . It is his worst!!!

This is, not the classic Muddy/Chicago-electric sound that made him so great, and what endeared him to legions of fans. This album lacks any of the drive, swing and swagger that was Muddy Waters. Plus . . . there's no harp!!!

There's another thread going around re. the definitive musical versions. "Folk Singer" is far from anything being definitive. It was made at a time when Muddy's career was in decline, and the Chess brothers were looking for something to get him back to the top.

If you want to hear why Muddy Waters is so great, listen to Live at Newport, or "Hard Again". The latter being recorded with Johnny Winter (a very well recorded album btw) and which became Muddy's come back album. A great album IMHO.

Also, to the OP, no one mentioned Elmore James? "The Sky is Crying" is a landmark, classic blues album that has a lot of the Delta blues roots that I think you're after.

Max
p.s. BTW. My uncle, the late Ralph Bass, produced "Folk Singer" . . . sounds great, but I still have a hard time listening to it.


Keep trying Max one day you might be able to get into it. Smile

I agree with you re the albums you mentioned but will respectively disagree with you on the Folk Singer bit.

Didn't mention Elmore as I thought he was more interested in acoustic blues rather than electric.

Now if he wants a list of them.......