Blues album suggestions

[t_ross33]

One for the ladies, and a favorite of mine (since you didn't specify "guitar based" - or did you? - anyway.... ) Etta James - Etta James Rocks the House

My journey to the blues started with SRV which led to Albert King, and BB King. A little movie called "Crossroads" held my interest for a minute or two - Karate Kid re-written as head-cuttin' bluesman, but was very dissillusioned when I found out Ralph Macchio didn't play all his own licks

Then someone gave me a great Chess Records compilation that I loved, which led to Muddy Waters, Howlin Wolf etc. The interesting thing about the journey is once I heard the "originals" I started to recognize their influence in other artists i.e. Clapton, Page, Billy Gibbons, more SRV, Jeff Healy and on and on it goes.

I must admit to being very fond of the Chess era artists and the "Chicago Blues" style - if you want to call it that.

[Jipes***]

To get out of the none artists I would propose:

John Mooney "Me and the Devil" all raw acoustic performances A man and a National Steel guitar
And
Tab Benoit "Fever for the bayou" The best performer on the actual blues scene with a spicy turn of New Orleans and Lafayette gumbo :

[ZMAN]

Well Blaze here goes.
Buddy Guy. His recent albums and a compilitation,Bring em in. and Buddies Baddest.
Alligatior records 25th Anniversary and 30th Anniversary CDs have a great cross section of blues artists.
As mentioned above. Gary Moores After hours
Beliieve it or not Robin trowers Blues cd Another Day's Blues
Ronnie Earl:, I feel like goin on, Blues guitar virtuoso., The Color of Love
Any of SRVs cds
Eric clapton has a bunch of blues cds
Albert King: He has many many great albums.
Kenny Wayne Shepherd: Leadbetter heights
Majic Slim:Anything Can Happen
Jimmie Reed at Carnegie hall.
That should give him a good start.
My choices lean toward the Electric blues, and Chicago blues, and basically the amplified blues.
Robben Ford as well but some of his albums are just too Jazzy. When he was with the Blue Line they were pretty good.

[Jimi75]

I think listneing to blues music is a little bit like eating cheese or drinking wine. The flavour has to grow on you so don't start with the exotics first, means don't give him Robert Johnson at first, this could kinda shock him away, because of its blunt elemantariness. Therfore, I'd go with something like Joe Bonamassa "Blues Deluxe"/Clapton/Sean Costello and something like for e.g. Albert King or Muddy Waters.

But that's only my 0.2 here.

[t_ross33]

I think listneing to blues music is a little bit like eating cheese or drinking wine. The flavour has to grow on you

very well said

[mrmudcat]

I agree jimi's reply FTW!!!!

Check internet abbev.thread if you dont understand

[sunvalleylaw]

I agree with Jimi too, and would suggest an Alligator records collection (the 30th ann. disc has a great cross section of styles from western "jump" style to more traditional), and really like that SRV/Albert King collab as a suggestion. I like the jazzier side of blues and if he is new to the blues, have him check out the Mayer Trio disc "Try!" It may not be hardcore blues, but is a good intro to some tasty playing in a trio format. Bonamassa's Blues Deluxe seems much more traditional blues style if you want to go that route.

[Disraeli]

Rpbert Johnson- Recordings.

John Mayall and the Bluesbreakers (with Eric Clapton or Peter Green, Both are equally as good and just as important in my opinion)

[Kazz]

I completely agree that starting with the Late Great Robert Johnson may not be the best thing....The quality of those early 30s recordings was not very good....Robert's singing was terrible in my opinion. It is the legend that makes his music so powerful...and if you open yourself up and really listen...maybe with a pair of good quality headphones...it sounds like there are multiple guitars being played....but it was only Robert.

I picked up my longtime fascination with the Delta Blues from the previously mentioned Crossroad's movie....and never turned back.

To get the guy really hooked....I would go with anything by Stevie Ray Vaughn.

For a modern spin on the older Delta Blues I would check out Keb' Mo' he broke down alot of Robert Johnson's licks for a documentary....very solid.

[sumitomo]

I like the jazzier side of blues

Sun check out Ronnie Earls Healing time!!!Sumi

[Duff]

Just a note: This disc will be awesome for you I would imagine and it is one of my all time favorites, including Al Kooper on keyboards and who knows what else. Al Kooper produced Lynyrd Skynyrd in the beginning and may have brought them to the forefront of the music world. Al Kooper was the original keyboardist for Blood Sweat and Tears and is on the first album, has a red type cover I believe. A superior singer and blues keyboardist. Probably plays a Hammond B3 with Leslie rotary speakers on this.

Available at Amazon.com:

"The Life Adventures of Mike Bloomfield and Al Kooper". Totally an awesome suggestion by the earlier poster! I remember when it first was released.


I would also recommend anything by Stevie Ray Vaughn, Albert King, Albert Collins, or Buddy Guy just for beginners.

A great look at some of the greatest living bluesmen and women can be seen on Eric Claptons DVD production called; "Crossroads, Eric Clapton Guitar Festival 2007", recorded in Chicago. I got mine at a big CD place called FYE, used for about 27 dollars, but it is very high quality and has a whole host of great blues stars, including Steve Winwood playing, "Dear Mr. Fantasy", and about 35 - 40 high quality songs in super great video. This will probably become a classic collectable DVD.

Hope this helps.

There are a lot of different types of blues and jazz actually evolved from blues, not visa-versa; and the birth of Rock and Roll is commonly referred to as when The Blues had a baby! Ha ha. I really like to watch, listen to blues rock.

Duffy

[bigG]

This great list of albums got me diggin into my collection. Tab Benoit has been mentioned, and he has a great disc out w Jimmy Thackery called: Tab Benoit & Jimmy Thackery - Whiskey Store.
On Telarc, the recording quality is superb, and Tab and Jimmy roar on guitars and vocals! Includes a cover of one of my favorite Neil Young songs: Unknown Legend - from Neil's Harvest Moon album. Tab and Jimmy do a great, heartfelt version.

I highly recommend to anyone to check this disc out!

Also, I have a Jimi Hendrix compilation disc simply called "Blues". It's a collection of Hendrix bluesier stuff and is priceless. Don't know if it's still available as it was released on MCA before the Big Hendrix Estate Fight. Find it if you can!