Blues Greats! please recommend Artists and Albums!

[Nelli]

I'm in the mood for some real blues, you know the original 'dark' blues, guitar orientated, the kinda stuff you hear in the background in films set in Missisipi. Prison blues kinda stuff, where it's quite folky! I need albums and artist. My BF said Muddy Waters etc, but that I want to avoid the more 'modern' material.

[kahunabean]

Loads of choice for ya, Nelli. My personal faves are: Robert Johnson ("Complete Works" compilations cost 8 squid or so), Mississippi John Hurt (very gentle style), Blind Boy Fuller ("happier", raggy style of blues). Rev Gary Davis is a fantastic player too.

[Nelli]

Kahuna that's the stuff, my BF suggested the Blind boy Fuller! what kind of era are these guys from?

[kahunabean]

1920s - 1930s for Johnson and BBF. 30s,40's 50's for Davis and Hurt. Good record shops like Tower have blues sections and the compilations - whether single artist or not - are dirt cheap. I think u should start with Johnson - he's really the daddy. If u are a trainspotter (musically) you can hear Cream and the Rolling Stones in his songs - he had done it all by the age of 32 ! John Hurt did what has come to be known as "Piedmont Blues" which is gentler - less "prisony" but still good to my ears. There's heaps of info on the web and loads of mp3s on kazaa.

[mikewith]

Nelli - those artists all date back to before WWII, though the likes of Mississippi John Hurt were then "discovered" by music fans in the late 50s/ early 60s. To the above I'd add more giants of the early blues (literally, they were big men!) such as Leadbelly, Lightning Hopkins and Son House. But if you want to start with just one,go for Robert Johnson, dservedly 'King of the Delta Blues'.

[mikewith]

kahunabean - got there just before me!

[Cetti]

The 60's was the time when the 'real' blues was re-discovered, and it's from that era that I love (most of the artists recorded this stuff in the 50's, and personally makes for an easier listen - 'steamy night in the deep south, rocking chair on the porch' type of music.

I've got 'The Blues Volume 1and 2' but there's loads of compilations (and very cheap) about.

My choice of must-haves would be: John Lee Hooker, Little Walter, Sonny Boy Williamson, Little Milton, Jimmy Witherspoon, Memphis Slim, Muddy Waters, Albert King, Elmore James and Buddy Guy.

[Nelli]

You see now this is why I love Answerbank. Thanks ppl these are excellent suggestions, will let you know how I get on. Kahuna, I am somewhat of a trainspotter and Muso when it comes to music, and have a raging CD addiction. So will definately enjoy getting these babys! ;-)

[darth vader]

The "As Good As It Gets" collection are a top buy IMHO - you get shedloads of stuff on 2 CD's and a complete range of artists so you can decide which artist you prefer.


target=_blank>http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00004SD3
0/qid=1058974151/sr=1-17/ref=sr_1_2_17/202-2725785-3624627

is the link for country blues (�8.99 for 52 tracks!!!) - but if you search in amazon for "as good as it gets" you can see the full range - the swing disk is a recommendation from Darth as it's "High Kicking" (to quote Groucho)

[Nelli]

Thanks Darth I can just imagine you in your Tie Fighter on your way back to the Death Star after destroying some minor planet, chilling out to some 'real blues'! ;-)

[andy hughes]

I can reccomend the eponymous debut by The Aynsley Dunbar Retaliation - some amazing British blues - I picked up a vinyl copy for �1 about thirty years ago, and it got warped when it was left on an a mp at a party, and i despared of ever hearing it again, but come the CD revolution - it's out on CD! Do get it, you'll be glad you did.

[jared]

Got some great suggestions for you here...Blind Willie Johnson's "Dark was the night, Cold was the ground", Any Eddie Son House, of course Robt Johnson, Lightning Hopkins or Mississippi Fred McDowell. Enjoy! Jared

[darth vader]

wanna hear a quick christmas blues song?

"I woke up one morning (de da da da dum)
ma baby wuz dead (de da da da dum)
the reindeer came down the chimney(de da da da dum)
and stood on her head"

[donegal]

Rory Gallagher - he is a blues God !!!!
Try his 1973 album TATTOO with great songs like 'They Don't Make Them Like You Anymore' and ' A Million Miles Away' . www.rorygallagher.com

[Johnny Doe]

If you're after that authentic 'chain gang' sound then it has to be Leadbelly. Blues/Folk standards picked up in American southern states prisons. Amazing stuff.