A classic blues rock masterpiece. A highly recommended album you should listen to at least once.

Cry BabyJanis Joplin

Janis Joplin – Cry Baby (Official Audio)

Janis Joplin, who blazed through a brief 27 years, possessed an extraordinary voice and is one of the greatest rock singers, eternally etched into music history through her overwhelming live performances and a trove of gemlike works.

In contrast to her powerful presence as a singer, she was shy by nature, and it’s hard not to feel a deep sadness when you think that the persistent sense of alienation and loneliness she carried may have been what guaranteed the sorrowful blues that resided in her voice.

That said, in the surviving footage you can also see Joplin singing with genuine joy, and it’s equally true that she loved music and felt pure happiness in singing.

Her signature album, Pearl, released in 1971, is a masterpiece among masterpieces.

Because Joplin passed away the previous year, in 1970, it became a posthumous work.

But rather than reading only tragedy into it, I hope you’ll simply immerse yourself in the blues of her beautiful soul that infuses every track.

Statesboro BluesThe Allman Brothers Band

The Allman Brothers Band – Statesboro Blues ( At Fillmore East, 1971 )

Hailing from the state of Georgia in the United States, the Allman Brothers Band built their popularity on a sound rooted in the Southern style known as Southern rock, while uniquely interpreting American roots music.

Centered around the Allman brothers—guitarist Duane Allman and his younger brother, the band’s frontman Gregg Allman—they formed in 1969.

The album that catapulted them to widespread fame is the classic live record At Fillmore East.

Culled from four performances at New York’s Fillmore East, it not only achieved commercial success but is also highly regarded as one of the defining works of the 1970s.

Duane’s slide guitar, recorded shortly before his untimely death at the age of 24 soon after the album’s release, leaves a powerful impression, and the band’s muscular ensemble playing brims with the unique appeal of a live recording—something you can’t fully experience in the studio.

Over Under Sideways DownThe Yardbirds

The Yardbirds- Over, Under, Sideways, Down

The Yardbirds are one of the quintessential rock bands to emerge from 1960s Britain, famous for having guitar gods like Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck, and Jimmy Page in their lineup.

Since their formation in 1962, the band went through frequent member changes, and opinions often vary depending on which era of the Yardbirds you listen to.

In keeping with the theme of classic blues-rock albums, this time I’d like to introduce Roger the Engineer, released in 1966.

It’s their second original studio album and comes from the period when Jeff Beck was a member.

Anchored by a deep admiration for the blues, it’s a cool record where the blues harp wails, Beck’s hard-edged guitar roars, and a wide range of influences—from traditional folk to Indian music—are woven in, resulting in an experimental, quintessentially ’60s psychedelic feel.

The Japanese title, “The Ace of Psychedelia,” also has a distinctive charm that suits it well!

Better By You Better Than MeSpooky Tooth

Spooky Tooth – Better By You Better Than Me (The Barn 1969)‬‏

There are several British blues rock bands that were bigger in the United States than in their home country, and Spooky Tooth is one of them.

The group is also known for featuring bassist Greg Ridley, who later co-founded Humble Pie, and keyboardist Gary Wright, the band’s only American and its main songwriter.

Although they never achieved worldwide mainstream success, they’ve maintained a strong, enduring following.

Their signature work is arguably their second album, Spooky Two, released in 1969.

The album cracked the Top 50 in the U.

S.

and was a major hit in the Netherlands.

Centered on blues rock yet overall quite heavy in sound, it boasts soulful vocals, Gary Wright’s weighty organ, and thick guitar riffs that are genuinely cool.

It’s also notable that Judas Priest later covered the classic track Better by You, Better Than Me.

If you especially enjoy the heavier side of blues rock, this is a record you’re sure to love.

Train to NowhereSavoy Brown

Savoy Brown – Train to Nowhere

Here in Japan, Fleetwood Mac and Chicken Shack are sometimes referred to as two of the “Big Three Blues Bands,” and completing that trio is Savoy Brown, the group featured in this article.

Formed in 1965 around guitarist Kim Simmonds—then 18 years old and the band’s only original member—Savoy Brown has, despite many twists and turns over its long career, consistently built its sound on a foundation of blues, remaining very much active and vital even into the 2020s, like a living legend.

They have been more popular in the United States than in their native Britain, and notably later based themselves in America.

Their third album, Blue Matter, released in 1969, was their breakthrough, becoming the first to chart in the U.

S.

It’s a distinctly ’60s kind of record, with an unusual structure: five studio tracks on side A and three live tracks on side B.

Both sides offer a superb taste of the best in British blues-rock.

Dixie ChickenLittle Feat

Dixie Chicken

It’s often said that roots-heavy American rock doesn’t go over well in Japan, and it’s unfortunately common for bands that are famous in their home country to have relatively low name recognition here.

Little Feat, formed in 1969, are no exception: they don’t have any massive hit songs, and it’s hard to say they’re widely known among the general public.

That said, they’re highly regarded as musicians’ musicians—Keisuke Kuwata of Southern All Stars, for example, has cited them as a major influence—and they are one of the key bands in the history of American rock.

Their signature album, Dixie Chicken, is a celebrated masterpiece of the 1970s, built around the so-called New Orleans sound and blending blues, R&B, and rock into a funky stew.

Even listeners who tend to shy away from earthy, rootsy sounds may find this record relatively accessible; its sophisticated style, which superbly fuses West Coast and Southern influences, makes for an easy, inviting listen.

You Shook MeLed Zeppelin

Led Zeppelin – You Shook Me (Official Audio)

Even if you’re not particularly interested in Western rock or hard rock, you’ve probably heard songs like “Immigrant Song” or “Stairway to Heaven” at least once.

Led Zeppelin, the hard rock band born in the UK, not only achieved record-breaking commercial success that left its mark on music history, but has continued to exert immeasurable influence across genres—most notably on later heavy metal, and even in hip-hop as a frequent source for samples.

Their roots lie in American blues music, and especially in early Zeppelin you can find many references and borrowings from existing blues numbers.

Their debut, the smash hit Led Zeppelin I, is a landmark album that skillfully fuses blues as raw material with hard rock and acoustic textures.

Its historical significance can’t be summed up in a short passage, but the brilliance of the band ensemble woven by four extraordinarily talented musicians boasts a quality hard to believe for a debut, and it’s something that will never fade with time.