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.
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Recommended for Rock Fans Too! — Modern Blues Masterpieces (41–50)
Boom BoomJohn Lee Hooker
John Lee Hooker, known as the “King of Boogie,” built a distinctive boogie style with his unique sense of rhythm over a career spanning more than 50 years.
A giant of the blues, he had a profound influence on later rock and folk music.
This song, one of his most famous, is included on the album of the same title, Boom Boom.
T’aint nobodys businessOtis Spann
When it comes to blues piano, this is the person who comes to mind.
He’s famous for his work with Muddy Waters and for backing other bluesmen, but he’s also a master who delivers wonderful blues as a solo artist.
His slow blues, in particular, are exquisite, and his unadorned vocals have a special charm.
Pony BluesCharlie Patton
Charley Patton was a guitarist and singer born in 1891 in Edwards, Mississippi, USA.
He is said to have shaped Delta blues, was known as the “Voice of the Delta,” and despite being small and slender, his unamplified voice could reportedly carry as far as 500 yards, making him a pioneering figure in bringing the music to a wide audience.
Around 1897, while working jobs such as picking cotton, he frequented parties and juke joints, performed with the Mississippi Sheiks, and, while learning guitar from guitarist Henry Sloan, honed his skills and played with various musicians.
In 1929, he made his first recordings at the Gennett Records studio in Richmond, Indiana, cutting 14 tracks; Paramount released Pony Blues coupled with Banty Rooster Blues.
Death Letter BluesSon House
Son House, born in 1902 and hailing from Riverton on the outskirts of Clarksdale, Mississippi, was a Delta blues singer known as the “Father of Delta Blues.” Self-taught on guitar, he was captivated by Willie Wilson’s bottleneck technique around age 25 and perfected his slide guitar style.
In 1930, he traveled to Grafton, Wisconsin with Willie Brown and others to make his first recordings for Paramount, and he was one of the figures who influenced the young Robert Johnson.
king of boogieSavoy Brown
Led by Kim Simmonds, Savoy Brown is a long-running blues band active since the 1960s, but their individuality is somewhat weak, leaving them in a perpetual B-tier status.
Their style shifted toward hard rock in certain eras, and that direction actually has a bit more flash and appeal.
How blue can you getThe Louisiana Gator Boys
A fictional blues band that appears in the film Blues Brothers 2000.
It’s a track you can’t help but listen to just for the sheer star power of its blues all-star lineup, including B.
B.
King, Koko Taylor, Dr.
John, Steve Winwood, and Eric Clapton.
I’ll Play The Blues For YouAlbert King
Albert King, born in 1923 in Indianola, Mississippi, was a guitarist, blues singer, and drummer.
While working in the cotton fields, he taught himself to play the guitar and began performing the blues.
Alongside B.
B.
King, he is considered one of the most influential figures on rock artists; his simple, powerful guitar style—heavy on string bending—was emulated by musicians such as Jimi Hendrix and Eric Clapton.
Standing 195 cm tall and weighing 110 kg, he was left-handed and famously played a Gibson Flying V upside down, keeping it strung for right-handed players.
His 1961 hit “Don’t Throw Your Love on Me So Strong” reached No.
14 on the R&B chart, and “Born Under a Bad Sign” became widely known after being covered by Cream.
“I’ll Play the Blues for You,” released in 1972, became one of his signature songs.
He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2013.