The genre known as blues rock is, literally, one style of rock music with the blues as its foundation.
It’s said to have been started by British musicians who admired America’s great bluesmen—the very heartland of the blues—and later, bands in the United States also emerged that played blues rock.
While the genre itself might not be something most people encounter unless they’re avid music fans, in reality, even those who aren’t hardcore listeners have likely heard famous bands and artists influenced by the blues, expressing it as their own brand of rock.
This time, we’re introducing some essential classic albums of blues rock!
We’ve included live albums as well—where the genre truly shines.
- [Western Music] Classic Blues Rock Songs: A Summary of Recommended Popular Tracks
- Recommended for rock fans too! — A classic album of modern blues
- A roundup of popular Western blues bands—also recommended for rock fans!
- Classic rock masterpieces: a roundup of must-listen albums
- Roundup of Famous Overseas Blues Guitarists
- A roundup of the greatest Western blues artists in history
- The 1970s were the golden age of Western rock! Recommended classics and hit songs
- [Western Music] Tracing the Roots of Funk: Essential Albums Beginners Should Hear at Least Once
- Explore the innovative sounds and iconic songs that shaped the history of 60s bands
- [2025] Classic UK rock albums: A roundup of must-hear recommendations
- A collection of classic progressive rock albums: popular records you should listen to at least once.
- Hall of Jazz: Classic Blue Note Records. Recommended jazz albums.
- Recommended UK rock bands. Popular overseas bands.
Classic blues rock albums. Must-listen recommended albums (1–10)
Brown SugarThe Rolling Stones
The landmark album Sticky Fingers, which laid the cornerstone of blues rock, marked a crucial turning point in The Rolling Stones’ career.
The opening track tackles controversial themes such as slavery and racial issues, yet captivates listeners with its powerful sound and provocative lyrics.
Released in April 1971, the album spent four weeks at No.
1 on the UK charts, further boosting the band’s popularity and influence.
Masterfully blending elements of hard rock, roots rock, and rock ’n’ roll, it inherits the blues tradition while establishing a distinctive musical identity.
It’s a must-listen for anyone who wants to engage earnestly with music and attune themselves to the spirit of the times.
Red HouseThe Jimi Hendrix Experience
A presence that shines brilliantly in rock history with its destructive guitar sound and innovative playing style.
While incorporating elements of traditional blues, the masterpiece Are You Experienced, which constructed a unique psychedelic worldview, can be called a monumental work of blues rock.
Released in August 1967, this album is packed with Jimi Hendrix’s outstanding guitar work and poetic lyrics.
Its songs, themed around love and loss, will leave a deep impression on listeners.
Understanding the essence of the blues while transcending its boundaries with expressive power, it opened up new possibilities for music.
It’s an album highly recommended for those who want to explore the history of rock and for anyone seeking innovative music.
HideawayJohn Mayall and the Bluesbreakers
Even if they didn’t achieve massive commercial success, there are acts without whom a genre would never have ignited—such entities do exist.
John Mayall & the Bluesbreakers, one of the quintessential blues-rock bands to come out of Britain, are exactly such a great and pivotal presence.
The mere fact that the lineup once included the likes of Eric Clapton, Jack Bruce, and—who would go on to form Fleetwood Mac—Peter Green, Mick Fleetwood, and John McVie should make their historical importance clear.
Formed in 1963 by John Mayall, who had been steeped in the blues since childhood, the band began operating with a fluid roster centered around Mayall himself.
Their signature album, Blues Breakers with Eric Clapton, as the title suggests, dates from the period when Eric Clapton was a member.
It’s not only a cornerstone of blues rock but also a classic of 1960s British rock, where you can revel in the unrestrained, full-throttle brilliance of Clapton’s playing from that era.
Roadhouse BluesThe Doors
Jim Morrison, the eternal singer, is best known as a figure of ruinous charisma: an intellectual well-versed in poetry and philosophy who, despite his incendiary performances and a life on the edge, died at the young age of 27.
The Doors, the band he led, are not only one of the defining American rock groups of the 1960s, but—through Morrison’s style as well—have continued to exert a profound influence on subsequent bands and artists.
Their late-period masterpiece Morrison Hotel, released in 1970, is an album that brings their blues roots fully to the fore.
Right from the opening track, Roadhouse Blues, it delivers tough, muscular guitar riffs and a bluesy harmonica tinged with melancholy—an irresistible take on blues rock.
If you prefer the Doors’ bluesier side over their unstable psychedelia, this is the album to choose.
Why not experience the Doors’ brand of blues rock while “Waiting for the Sun?”
CrossroadsCream
Disraeli Gears? No—the quintessential Cream album is Wheels of Fire, where the formidable trio of Jack Bruce, Eric Clapton, and Ginger Baker—cutting-edge players of the 1960s—traded sparks.
Released in 1968 as a double album combining studio and live recordings, it topped the charts not only in their native UK but also in the United States.
As a pioneering “supergroup,” Cream featured top-tier musicians unleashing ferocious performances that expanded the possibilities of the rock trio.
It follows that their true essence is best experienced in the live material.
The three deliver a no-holds-barred, combative performance that is nothing short of breathtaking, with a sound rooted in the blues yet weaving in jazz and psychedelia, foreshadowing hard rock—something only these three could have achieved.
It’s also fascinating to compare the meticulously crafted studio tracks—unbound by the trio format and employing various instruments—with the live recordings.
Bell Bottom BluesDerek and the Dominos
A towering monument of blues rock composed of songs themed around passionate love and heartbreak—that’s Derek and the Dominos’ album Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs.
Imbued with Eric Clapton’s aching emotions, the record was released in November 1970.
Born from his unrequited love for his friend George Harrison’s wife, Pattie Boyd, these songs are acclaimed as a masterpiece where deep emotional expression meets exceptional musicianship.
With Duane Allman’s slide guitar added to the mix, the album achieves an even more captivating sound, resonating not only with blues rock fans but with anyone wrestling with the pains of love.
Seven Nation ArmyThe White Stripes
Despite being an astonishingly simple duo, The White Stripes captivate with outstanding taste and unforgettable guitar riffs, making them a band that symbolizes the garage rock movement of the 2000s.
Their acclaimed masterpiece Elephant, which also earned them Grammy recognition, was released in April 2003 and is known as a classic steeped in blues rock elements.
The album depicts personal resistance to gossip and the hardships of urban life, carrying a universal message rooted in Jack’s own experiences.
Influenced by the blues yet establishing a rock style uniquely their own, their music conveys both warmth and power that resonate deeply.
Give it a listen on a quiet night with headphones on.