Blues for beginners

If you'd like to sample a range of blues guitar styles on one disc you could do worse than try Mike bloomfield's If You Love These Blues, Play 'Em As You Please. It was originally a give-away with Guitar Player magazine in 1976, but was re-issued in it's own right about 18 months ago. It runs through various accoustic and electric styles with a comentry on each from the late Mr Bloomfield, who came to recognition as the guitarist in the Paul Butterfield Band, followed by Electric Flag, and on down the line. Well worth a listen.

Inspired by the tread have been selcting random blues CDs to play today. Currently Big Bill Morganfield "Blues in the Blood" on Blind Pig. He's Muddy Waters' son, so no great surprise he has a fair amount of talent! Sounds a bit like his daddy too.

Inspired by the thread of course!

quote:

Originally posted by worm:
I have found the Penguin Guide to Blues Recordings really useful

I am now looking to get some more stuff by artists like R.L. Burnside / Junior Kimbrough / Lightning Hopkins / Corey Harris / Albert Collins / Johnny Shines / Johnny Guitar Watson.

Charles Shaar Murray's 'Blues on CD' indispensible.

Now you're getting into the slightly more esoteric stuff. Make sure you get Johnny Guitar Watson's cuts from the 50's, not his later 70's Lurve period. R. L. Burnside's collaboration with the Jon Spencer Blues Explosion 'Ass Pocket Of Whiskey' is a total gas from start to finish.

Hi.
Much depends on how deep you want to go.
Of course someone says Ray Vaughan (just to put down a name) and many others are those who played the blues bringing their own influences and philosophy.
I give my humble suggest and call names like:

Luther Allison
Howlin' Wolf
Bo Diddley
Muddy Waters
Willie Dixon
Buddy Guy
Melvin Taylor
Leadbelly
J L Hooker
"Hound dog" Taylor
Solomon Burke
Leroy Carr
Bobby King
Terry Evans
Kenny Neal

The list is very long and there's a lot to get on the net from the first remastered 78 rpms to the latest.
Of course when you look for "blues" you'll find singers, pianists, guitarists etc etc
Then you'll find country blues and jazz blues. Boogie Woogie is one of the son of the old mother.
As a guitar blues oriented apprentice (i don't like Eric Clapton!) i do privilege guitar artists.
The way BB King caresses his Lucille send me to heaven but this is only an example.
While some caress others make the guitar really scream and cry.
Only a matter of tastes.

You will realize, if you go deeper, that blues and country music comes from the very same ground.
It's the world that split blacks from whites.

hey thanks to you all for another great response. I've just ordered my monthly allowance so the latest suggestions will have to wait a while. I must say it's great fun and there seems to be an endless amount of good stuff out there.... For now i'm just going to settle down with my latest arrival - John Mayalls - the blues alone.... or do i go and order some of the stuff suggested above......mmmmmm God i'm glad i can do both!!!

During the recent forum blackout I played "One Believer", by the late John Campbell. Very intense and an excellent example of modern blues, on Elektra.

Some stuff i remember from the old days

quote:

Originally posted by Chris Kelly:
During the recent forum blackout I played "One Believer", by the late John Campbell. Very intense and an excellent example of modern blues, on Elektra.

Yeah his second disc One Believer was really good modern rock & blues. Quite liked his third as well with its version of Levee Breaks by Zepp (no doubt they pinched the riff from some old bluesman). But I thought his first solo accoustic album was his best. If my memory serves me right I think Ronnie Earl "found" him but I could be wrong.

quote:

Originally posted by Gianluigi Mazzorana:
Some stuff i remember from the old days

If you love Hound Dog you should also look at J B Hutto and for a more modern sound Studebaker John - Tremolux disc as well as Lil Ed & The Blues Imperials but nothing matches the intensity of Hound Dog

quote:

Originally posted by ewemon:
but nothing matches the intensity of Hound Dog

I know Ewemon.
But my old records are somewhere around the world and somebody is smiling to those vinyls.
Little by little i'm making it again but the
sweets shop is soooooooooooo large!

Thanks!
Gianluigi

ewemon

quote:

Yeah his second disc One Believer was really good modern rock & blues. Quite liked his third as well with its version of Levee Breaks by Zepp (no doubt they pinched the riff from some old bluesman). But I thought his first solo accoustic album was his best. If my memory serves me right I think Ronnie Earl "found" him but I could be wrong.

DO you know the name of his first acoustic album?

quote:

Originally posted by KeanoKing:
hi,

Recently purchased BB King, live at the regal and i'm really enjoying it. Would love to expand my blues collection. Any suggestions? CD or Vinyl...

You might try:

John Lee Hooker - Mr. Lucky
Howlin' Wolf - The London Sessions

You could try some early Alvin Lee (Stonedhenge) or the good Captain on As Safe As Milk.

Of course, there's always Robert Johnson.

quote:

Originally posted by KeanoKing:
ewemon

quote:

Yeah his second disc One Believer was really good modern rock & blues. Quite liked his third as well with its version of Levee Breaks by Zepp (no doubt they pinched the riff from some old bluesman). But I thought his first solo accoustic album was his best. If my memory serves me right I think Ronnie Earl "found" him but I could be wrong.

DO you know the name of his first acoustic album?

Yep it was A Man and his Blues and my memory did serve me well as Ronnie Earl did discover him. You should be able to get it from Amazon US. I think there is also some electric stuff on it so listen first is always my motto. I think I will have to refresh my knowledge of the album by pulling it out tonight and having a listen.

By the way I am currently listening to Guitar Shorty who used to teach a certain relative of his called Jimi Hendrix how to play guitar. He was also, for the Lofgren fans amongst us, the original somersault on stage man whilst playing guitar. Apparently he still does it and he is over 70.

thanks for that. From listening to some 20 albums recommended via this thread and other sources i think at present my preference is fior the acoustic style - folk singer is just fab and sounds great. Have just ordered a buddy guy and junior wells acoustic album as i think both are great and junior wells is just too cool!!!! So if you have any ideas on chicago acoustic blues i'd really appreciate it and if there is any modern stuff that would be welcomned too...

ATB

PS i think if i keep buying music at this rate i'll be singing the bloody blues as i'll have no money and my women will probably leave me!!!