20 essential blues albums

Only 29 songs. Recorded in hotel rooms in San Antonio and Dallas. Died at 27. Every blues guitarist since 1961 learned from this. "Cross Road Blues", "Love in Vain", "Hellhound on My Trail". The Rosetta Stone of blues.

The night white America discovered the blues. Muddy's band — Otis Spann, James Cotton, Pat Hare — electrified 5,000 jazz fans. The Rolling Stones were in the audience taking notes. This performance launched the blues revival.

Father of Delta Blues. First blues superstar. Played guitar behind his head, beat it like a drum. "Pony Blues" and "High Water Everywhere" are ground zero. Taught Son House and Robert Johnson.

Gospel-blues slide master. "Dark Was the Night, Cold Was the Ground" was sent to space on Voyager. His slide guitar sounds like human crying. Blind from age 7, died of malaria at 48.

Preacher turned bluesman. Rediscovered in 1964. "Death Letter Blues" is the most intense 3 minutes in music. He taught Robert Johnson and Muddy Waters. His voice sounds like the end of the world.

The Chicago blues bible. Little Walter on harmonica, Willie Dixon on bass writing the songs. "Hoochie Coochie Man", "I'm Ready", "Mannish Boy". This is what The Rolling Stones spent 1962 learning note-for-note.

6'6", 300 pounds. Voice like gravel in a cement mixer. Hubert Sumlin on guitar invented riffs Hendrix stole. "Smokestack Lightnin'", "Spoonful", "How Many More Years". He howled, growled, crawled on stage.

The greatest live blues album ever made. Recorded at the Regal Theater, Chicago. B.B. and Lucille in front of a Black audience that knows every word. "Every Day I Have the Blues" extended solo is a masterclass. Eric Clapton learned this entire album.

Flying V + Booker T. & the M.G.'s = perfection. Title track became the blues national anthem. Albert bent strings 3 steps up — physically impossible for most humans. Cream, Hendrix, SRV all covered these songs.

Only harmonica player in Rock Hall. First to use distortion — he cupped the mic and cranked the amp. "Juke" was #1 R&B instrumental. Died at 37 after a street fight. The Jimi Hendrix of harmonica.

The "Beano" album. Clapton at 21 with a Les Paul and Marshall amp. Every British guitarist bought that setup next day. "All Your Love", "Hideaway", "Steppin' Out". Invented blues-rock tone.

Clapton, Jack Bruce, Ginger Baker. "Sunshine of Your Love" riff = Willie Dixon's "You Need Love" sped up. First supergroup. Blues went psychedelic and hit #1.

"Good Times Bad Times" opens with a blues riff. "Dazed and Confused" = Willie Dixon. "You Shook Me" = Muddy Waters cover. Page and Plant were blues scholars who made it heavy. Recorded in 36 hours.

Clapton + Duane Allman on slide. Clapton was in love with George Harrison's wife. Recorded "Layla" and "Key to the Highway" (Blues classic). Duane died 11 months later. The most emotional blues-rock ever made.

Brought blues back to MTV. Recorded in 2 days for $5,000. "Pride and Joy", "Texas Flood", "Lenny". SRV played with .013 strings — telephone cables. David Bowie heard him and put him on "Let's Dance".

"Voodoo Child (Slight Return)" cover that made Hendrix fans weep. "Cold Shot" and title track. Sober, clean, and on fire. This is SRV at his peak before the helicopter crash.

Clapton's pure blues album. No hits, no pop. Just Muddy Waters, Robert Johnson, and Willie Dixon covers. "Motherless Child", "Five Long Years". Recorded live in studio. #1 album worldwide.

Buddy at 55 finally got his due. Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck, Mark Knopfler guest. Grammy winner. "Mustang Sally" and title track. Still touring at 88. Last link to Muddy.

Hendrix meets hip-hop meets blues. "Bright Lights" announced a new king. Played Obama's inauguration. Headlined Coachella. Proved blues belongs in 2012, not 1962.

Debut album at age 20. From Clarksdale, MS — same town as Robert Johnson. Grammy winner 2022. "Fresh Out" and "Outside of This Town". Buddy Guy says he's the future. Plays like he's 60.