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- Robert Johnson. King of the Delta Blues Singers, The Complete Recordings, King of the Delta Blues. 5,041 votes. Considered one of the most important pioneers of blues music, his poignant lyrics and expressive playing style have influenced countless musicians.
- John Lee Hooker. I'll Play the Blues for You, Live at the Fox Venice Theatre, Collection. 4,555 votes. See: The Best John Lee Hooker Albums. A unique sound that consists of a dark, pulsating rhythm and raw electric guitar made this individual an integral figure in the development of electric blues.
- Howlin' Wolf. The London Howlin' Wolf Sessions, The Genuine Article, Howlin' Wolf. 4,369 votes. With a deep, gravelly voice perfectly suited for the blues, this influential artist became a driving force behind the genre's development and popularization.
- B.B. King. Let the Good Times Roll, Live at the Regal, Ladies and Gentleman... Mr. B.B. 7,737 votes. See: The Best Albums Of B.B. Synonymous with the blues, this powerhouse performer captivated audiences for decades with his unmatched charisma and fluid, intricate guitar work.
- Albert Collins: Ice Pickin’ (Alligator, 1978) Born Albert Gene Drewery in Texas and nicknamed “The Ice Man,” Collins was a cousin of blues maven Lightnin’ Hopkins but was inspired to sing and take up the guitar after hearing a John Lee Hooker record.
- Albert Collins, Robert Cray, and Johnny Copeland: Showdown! (Alligator, 1985) A feel-good collaboration between two Texas veteran guitar slingers and newcomer, Cray, Showdown!
- Albert King: Born Under A Bad Sign (Stax, 1967) The Memphis-based Stax label was synonymous with earthy southern R&B but in 1967 it racked-up several blues hit singles thanks to Mississippi-born singer/guitarist Albert King.
- Albert King: King Of The Blues Guitar (Atlantic, 1969) Affectionately nicknamed the “Velvet Bulldozer” due to his silky smooth voice and imposing physique (he stood 6’4” tall and reputedly weighed 250lbs), Albert King rose to fame in the second half of the 1960s with his Born Under A Bad Sign album.
- Bb King – The Thrill Is Gone
- Robert Johnson – Me and The Devil Blues
- John Lee Hooker – Boogie Chillen
- Little Walter and His Jukes – My Babe
- Howlin’ Wolf – Evil
- Robert Johnson – Crossroads
- Blind Lemon Jefferson – Matchbox Blues
- Muddy Waters – Got My Mojo Working
- Etta James – I’d Rather Go Blind
- Big Joe Williams – Baby Please Don’T Go
Producer Bill Szymczyk – yes, the same one who’d make millions a few years later with The Eagles – caused a small revolution when he added a string section to this track, otherwise one of many smooth ballads that BB Kingrecorded in the 60s. The producer had no qualms about polishing King’s sound, recording him with top-flight studio players (instea...
One of the last recordings he made, released on the Vocalion label in 1938, this classic fable about Satan calling in a debt, helped to fuel the long-held myth that Johnson had made a Faustian pact with the devil at a crossroads, exchanging his soul for musical success. The fact that Johnson died in mysterious circumstances not long afterwards made...
Hooker’s biggest commercial success was during the years 1949 to 1951 when he was in his thirties; he put six singles in the US R&B charts, the first of which was “Boogie Chillen,” which went all the way to No. 1. An original tune recorded in 1948, the song represented the minimalist aesthetic that was Hooker’s hallmark; the only instrument on the ...
Louisiana harmonica player and singer Marion Jacobs is better known by his blues sobriquet “Little Walter,” and rose to fame in the 1950s when he racked up 15 hits for Chess Records’ Checker imprint including “My Babe,” which spent five weeks at the summit of the US R&B singles charts in 1955. The tune came from the pen of Willie Dixon, the poet la...
Don’t waste your breath arguing whether Led Zeppelin or Black Sabbath invented heavy metal, far as we’re concerned, Howlin’ Wolf was playing it in 1954. Sure, “Evil” is basically a slow blues, but the sheer ferocity with which the band attacks it – not to mention the delicious menace in Wolf’s vocal – account for its influence. Meanwhile, Willie Di...
On a purely musical level, there’s no mistaking the power of this one. Johnson’s intense slide guitar playing was echoed by Duane Allman, Winter, Rory Gallagher and virtually every great slide player of the blues-rock era. The track also attests to the eerie mysteries of the blues. Whether you think Johnson was really selling his soul, or just tryi...
Though his life was short – he died of heart trouble aged 36 in 1929 – Lemon Henry Jefferson (to give him his full name) had a far-reaching impact on how the blues evolved; his wailing, high-pitched vocal style and intricate guitar-picking accompaniment, which is epitomized by “Matchbox Blues,” influenced everyone from Robert Johnson to Robert Plan...
Why does this classic reign over the top of most of these lists? For one thing, few songs ever embodied the swagger and mystery of the blues better than this one. The singer is lovelorn despite the foolproof hoodoo charm in his pocket. And as a million garage bands can tell you, the song just feels great to play. It’s got the same 1-4-5 progression...
Dubbed “Miss Peaches,” Jamesetta Hawkins is more familiar to blues and soul fans as Etta James. James racked up an astonishing 30 hits in the US R&B singles chart between 1955 and 1978. Surprisingly, this tune, regarded as one of the singer’s signature songs, didn’t trouble the charts as it didn’t get a single release; instead, it was relegated to ...
This Mississippi bluesman was famed for playing an unorthodox nine-string guitar and in 1935 he recorded (under the name Joe Williams’ Washboard Blues Singers) “Baby Please Don’t Go,” which became one of the most popular blues songs of all time. Williams accompanied his vocals with a guitar while Dad Tracy played a one-string fiddle and Casey “Koko...
- Brett Milano
- 5 min
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- Live in Cook County Jail – B.B. King. BB King was undeniably one of the most influential and unique blues performers of his time, though his influence has continued on to this day.
- Moanin’ In The Moonlight – Howlin’ Wolf. This compilation album, released in 1959 under legendary Chess Records, was the debut album from the equally legendary Howlin’ Wolf.
- King Of The Delta Blues Singers – Robert Johnson. It is utterly integral that anyone first approaching the blues should go back and listen to the Delta blues, which got its name from its place of origin – the Mississippi Delta.
- The Real Folk Blues – John Lee Hooker. John Lee Hooker’s electric Delta blues style and deep, wallowing voice are exceptionally unique in the saturated genre.
- 3 min
- Smokestack Lightning — Howlin’ Wolf. Smokestack Lightning. “Smokestack Lightning” is a famous and unique song in the blues genre, thanks to its combination of earlier and contemporary blues elements.
- Born Under a Bad Sign — Albert King. Born Under A Bad Sign - Original Studio. “Born Under A Bad Sign” was recorded in 1967 and achieved massive success in both the blues and rock scenes.
- My Babe — Little Walter and His Jukes. “My Babe” was written by blues musician Willie Dixon specifically for Little Walter. The track ended up being a huge success for both of them, reaching no. 1 on the R&B charts.
- Catfish Blues — Robert Petway. Catfish Blues. Robert Petway is a fascinating figure in the history of blues music. Having recorded just 16 tracks, he is nevertheless considered one of the most influential figures of the early blues scene.
Feb 15, 2019 · 17. Jimi Hendrix - Blues. Although it's a posthumous album, 1994's "Blues" marks one of the most important collections of Jimi Hendrix's works. Hendrix was that evolutionary link, essential to...
TOP 100 Greatest Blues Songs Of All Time: Best Blues Music. blues brothers, blues clues, blues guitar, blues man, blues rock, bluestacks, blues mix, blues piano, blues clues song,...
