I hate the blues

[David]

Is it just me not being able to master the search-function or hasn't there been a blues-thread?
Eager to hear your recommendations of classic recordings and unknown masters...

I myself like Lightnin Hopkins, Bukka White, Leadbelly and all the rest that you already know about.

[jon abbey]

Skip James (the sixties stuff, which is not the conventional wisdom) and Blind Willie Johnson.

[kcorcoran]

1. Angola Prison Worksongs [Arhoolie recs] especially Odea Matthews and Murray Macon tracks
2. (not classic nor conventional, but sickly beautiful) Songs:Ohia 'Ghost Tropic' [Secretly Canadian]
3. Blind Lemon Jefferson [Milestone recs]

[7/4]

Blind Willie Johnson, indeed!

I was into any of the Yazoo releases with anything from the Mississippi Delta for a while.

[joeperucki]

Muddy Waters "Folk Singer". Besides the deep soul, I love the recording - the studio used was very alive.

[7/4]

Muddy Waters "Folk Singer". Besides the deep soul, I love the recording - the studio used was very alive.

I love his voice. Don't forget Howlin' Wolf too.

[Dohol]

My four favorites...

Robert Pete Williams..


Son House..


Fred McDowell..


Cedell Davis..

[pnoom]

The Blues is a genre I've been interested in for quite some time but have never managed to actually get around to listening to. I'll be keeping an eye on this thread and mining it for recommendations. There are a few on my list already.

[SOZ]

Even though the Fat Possum label is moving more towards indie rock in the last few years, I dig their blues catalogue by performers such as Junior Kimbrough, T-Model Ford, RL Burnside, etc.

[7/4]

Even though the Fat Possum label is moving more towards indie rock in the last few years, I dig their blues catalogue by performers such as Junior Kimbrough, T-Model Ford, RL Burnside, etc.

The first two North Mississippi Allstars albums were an ear opener for me to that kind of blues.

[Gerardo A]

[greenriver]

charley patton

other essentials:
son house
bukka white
skip james
mississippi john hurt
mississippi fred mcdowell
blind willie johnson
tommy johnson
muddy waters
howlin' wolf
john lee hooker
sonny boy williamson
rev. gary davis
robert johnson (obv.)

other good stuff:
alan lomax recordings
blind willie mctell
robert wilkins
sleepy john estes
washington phillips
robert pete williams
sonny terry & brownie mcghee
gus cannon & his jug stompers
joseph spence
j.b. smith
big joe williams

[sound plague]

I dearly love Magic Sam.

[David]

JB Lenoir

[carlos]

some favorites on youtube:

furry lewis
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yoJnW-2iuiQ

bukka white
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bsMpHHSLSlc

skip james
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ytVww5r4Nk0

[twIXta]

I've been claiming to hate the blues for many years. Mainly because there's certain group of people thinking that 'true emotion' can only be conveyed in the blues scale, preferably by a black person. If one choses different scales it's farfetched, cerebral and worthless. If one has a different skincolour one does not really knowthe blues. Ironically this is often decided by a milk white person.

Another related thing is that any genre that sounds gritty and 'real' is 'the blues of …' to sell it to whiteys.

That bollocks never made me ditch the genre altogether though and excuse my rant. I've always enjoyed ZZ Top and (p-)funk and some other decidedly bluesy things that I can't think of right now.

[skrobek]

Seconded.

Also:


Hound Dog Taylor - Natural Boogie

[greenriver]

Son House - Death Letter

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8jN5vqEyV7g

[surfer]

Love the blues, most of the acoustic greats have been mentioned here, I just thought I'd post my favorite electric blues playlist from my iPod which will give you some idea of my favorites.

1. Good Morning Little Schoolgirl - Junior Wells (from Hoodoo Man Blues - greatest blues album ever?)
2. Tighten Up On It - Johnny Young's South Side Blues Band (from Chicago / The Blues / Today Volume 3 - great compilation!)
3. One Way Out - Elmore James (from King of the Slide Guitar - Capricorn Records)
4. Diamonds At Your Feet - Muddy Waters (from The Chess Box 1954-1959)
5. Boom Boom Out Go The Lights - Little Walter (from Chess 50th Anniversary Box)
6. It's Alright - Hound Dog Taylor and the Houserockers (1971)
7. It Takes Time - Otis Rush (from Classic Cobra Recordings 1956-1958)
8. Oh, Pretty Woman - Albert King (from Born Under A Bad Sign - best blues album ever?)
9. Can't Keep It Up - Little Charlie & The Nightcats (from Deluxe Edition - great modern blues, polished)
10. Finger Lickin' Good - Charlie Musselwhite (from Arhoolie 40th Anniversary Box)
11. Lookin' Good - Magic Sam (from West Side Soul - greatest blues album ever?)
12. My Babe - Bo Diddly (from Two Decades of Killer Fretwork)
13. I Ain't Got You - Jimmy Reed (from Found Love)
14. I'm Taking A Devil Of A Chance - Lightning Hopkins (from Double Blues)
15. Walkin' The Boogie - John Lee Hooker (from Two Decades of Killer Fretwork)
16. Mean Ol' Frisco - Arthur "Big Boy" Crudup (from Rock Me Mama)

[Gerardo A]

Darren, what was the name of that killer harmonica player we listened to in your house a couple of weeks ago?