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Best blues albums ever?

#65
No blues collection is complete without B.B. King's Live in Cook County Jail.

edit: btw, I took the liberty of changing the title of the thread to the best blues albums, since there can't be a best.

Also, check out the Robert Johnson complete box set.
 
#67
I haven't delved far into the blues, but my favorite is The Fabulous Thunderbirds' Portfolio. It's a UK release "best of" from their first four albums, before they hit big, and the tracks are well chosen. Others would be The Black Keys' Thickfreakness and, for a classic, B.B. King's Live at Cook County Jail.

If we're including Zeppelin, Cream, et al., I'll toss in AC/DC's High Voltage. What the heck. Bon Scott was a bluesman to the core IMO.
 
#68
themarshall said:
Kind of a trick question because:
1. It would be really hard to pick 1 album and say "this is what it's all about.
2. I dig the old stuff, so most of it wasn't recorded as albums.

That said, the "cheater" answer, for me, is "Screamin' and Hollerin'..." the Charley Patton box set. Both the coolest packaging ever and could fulfill #1 above. As a pure album, mebbe Howlin Wolf "Howlin Wolf".
Click to expand...

+1 on answer two.

The Chicago stuuf that pretty much molded electric blues was done for singles.

It's even true about one of my faves, Albert King "Born Under A Bad Sign". But that still has a cohesive feel, in part because of Steve Cropper's involvement with all the tracks.

But I know some serious Blues pursists this the album is too Rock influenced. That never had any impact on my enjoyment of it. Nothing wrong w loving Zep II
 
#72
Theres so many from so many era's now, I always think of Mr. Skip James when someone asks the best. There is no best but theres someone for every mood you might have thats what makes the Blues the best music to listen too but not the easists to perform.
Billie Holiday--singer/writer
T-Bone Walker--guitarists/writer/great performer
Willie Dixon--(bassists/writer/producer/engineer)
Muddy Waters--Solo/ and (electric) Chicago Band
Joe Williams--singer
Count Bassie--piano/song writer/ arranger/ leader
Robert Johnson/Model T-Ford/Fred McDowell/Sippy Wallice

theres too many to list I could talk about the old timers for days, they were tremendous performers that gave you all they had no matter the situation. Doc.

for the younger folks out there---Fathers & Sons is a good one it represents some good time modern blues efforts.
 
#73
First, since we owe all of this to your father, I want to know what your father thinks the greatest blues album is.
second, although a lot of people do not realize it, Bob Dylan is a great blues singer, although he does not make 'blues' albums - some of his individual tracks are great blues. Take note of what some of the posts here are saying, lots of real knowledge here.
 
#77
No one mention SRV???...

and as far as Zep go ,so what if they were influenced by previous blues players. The thing was they didn't sound like anyone else before them. They Zeppelinized the blues!!

and even the blues players from the past would've been influenced by someone before them
 
#79
kenstee said:
Mojo-Man: You and I live in parallel universes....

BB King: Live at the Regal Theater
Live Cream Volume 2
Derek & the Dominoes: Layla and Other Love Songs
Johnny Winter: Progressive Blues Experiment
Blues Jam in Chicago: Fleetwood Mac, Peter Green and Friends
Allman Bros: Live at the Filmore East
Super Session: Side 2 w/ Mike Bloomfield
Paul Butterfield Band and Paul Butterfield Band East-West
Click to expand...
:cool:
Cool, A Brother from another Mother.:D
 
#80
PTB said:
"Rock this House" by Hollywood Fats gets my vote.

For great bass playing, I also love Little Milton, esp "feel so bad". Anyone know who played on that track?
Click to expand...
:cool:

Rock This House- is one of my all time favorite blues albums.

Got to open for Kim Wilson once, and Larry Taylor was playing bass with him.
Got to talk about Rock This House.
He said the secret of that band was they used small tube amps 12-15 watts, CRANKED !!!
Larry said he used a 50 watt bassman head through a old JBL
1x15 PA Cab.
 

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