Recommended for rock fans too! — A classic album of modern blues
The birth of the blues, often called the root of rock ’n’ roll and jazz, dates back to the late 19th century.
Its forms are diverse and can’t be summed up in a single phrase: from Delta blues and country blues—often referred to as prewar blues—to Chicago blues and modern blues, which developed after the war in Chicago and incorporated electric instruments.
In this article, we introduce classic blues albums whose style and spirit continue to be carried on by many musicians even in the 2020s.
The lineup focuses mainly on modern blues that’s easy for beginners to enjoy, so even those who usually listen to rock will find it accessible.
- A classic blues rock masterpiece. A highly recommended album you should listen to at least once.
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Recommended for rock fans too! - Modern Blues Masterpieces (101–110)
Suger mamaPeter Green’s Fleetwood Mac
When it comes to the greatest white British blues guitarists, Peter Green stands at the top.
Countless guitarists have been influenced by his effortless command of both uptempo and slow playing.
The early Fleetwood Mac under his leadership can also be called the pinnacle of white blues bands.
She’s GoneHound Dog Taylor
Hound Dog Taylor is known as a distinctive blues guitarist.
Born in 1915, Taylor performed mainly in small Chicago clubs and, in 1971, released his debut album under the band name Hound Dog Taylor and the HouseRockers.
Put out by Alligator Records, the album sold a solid 9,000 copies in its first year.
Centered on Taylor’s slide guitar, the raw, wild sound captured the hearts of many listeners and had a major influence on later musicians such as George Thorogood.
If you want to enjoy a freewheeling style that isn’t confined to the boundaries of blues, be sure to check him out.
Avalon BluesMississippi John Hurt
Mississippi John Hurt, born in 1893 in Teoc, Mississippi, was a blues singer and guitarist.
He learned guitar at age nine, spent the years up to the 1920s playing old-time music, and recorded 13 tracks for the Okeh label.
Afterwards, lacking further recording opportunities, he lived in the countryside as a sharecropper until his rediscovery in 1963, when, past the age of 70, he began a second career and became one of the most beloved of the legendary bluesmen rediscovered in the 1960s.
Avalon Blues, recorded in 1928 for the Okeh label, was one of the clues that led to his rediscovery.
Blues PowerAlbert King
Albert King is a legendary blues guitarist who influenced three generations of musicians with his distinctive guitar style.
Known for his unique approach of playing a standard right-handed guitar flipped upside down despite being left-handed, he carved out a singular sound.
Released in 1968, Live Wire / Blues Power is a live recording from the Fillmore Auditorium in San Francisco.
Strongly infused with electric blues and soul-blues elements, the album showcases King’s deeply expressive guitar solos.
Serving as a key introduction of his music to white rock audiences, the album peaked at No.
150 on the Billboard 200.
It’s a must-listen not only for blues fans but also for lovers of rock.
Nobody Knows You When You’re Down And OutBessie Smith
Bessie Smith, born in 1894 in Chattanooga, Tennessee, was an American blues singer.
She began her career as a vaudeville dancer in her teens, was recognized by Ma Rainey for her vocal talent, toured extensively, and in 1923 released her first record, “Down Hearted Blues,” which sold 780,000 copies in six months, followed by a string of hit records.
“Nobody Knows You When You’re Down and Out” was also recorded in New York in 1923, showcasing her exceptional phrasing.
Bessie Smith became so successful that she earned the title “Empress of the Blues” and is regarded as the greatest singer of the classic blues era.
Recommended for rock fans too! — Masterpieces of Modern Blues (111–120)
It’s all rightCanned Heat & John Lee Hooker
It’s a collaborative work by the legendary John Lee Hooker and the champions of American blues rock, Canned Heat, but not from the original release—these tracks came out as outtakes.
John Lee’s growl and the band’s groove are both outstanding, making this arguably the finest masterpiece of their collaboration!
The Blues Is AlrightGary Moore
A song from the period when a legendary guitarist from the hard rock world temporarily devoted himself to the blues.
As expected, his polished songwriting shows outstanding taste.
In his case, even when he plays the blues, it somehow sounds like “rock in the style of blues.” Maybe that’s because hard rocker blood runs through his veins?