A Brief History Of The Blues
From Delta Blues to British Blues Rock and beyond. List is in chronological order. |
| 1 |  | Charlie Patton
Founder of the Delta Blues 1929-34
Born in 1891 Charlie Patton is one of the most influential blues musicians ever and regarded by many as the father of the Delta Blues. |
| 2 |  | Robert Johnson
The Complete Recordings
Along with Patton, Robert Johnson is an extremely influentail american bluesman and also specialised in the Delta Blues style. |
| 3 |  | Muddy Waters
The Best of Muddy Waters (Chess)
McKinley Morganfield more commonly known as Muddy Waters started his music career in the early 40's and is considered the father of the
Chicago Blues scene. |
| 4 | | Howlin Wolf
Moanin' in the Moonlight
Howlin' Wolf (real name: Chester Arthur Burnett) was one of the leading electric blues players of the late 50's and early 60's. At six-foot-six and
weighing almost three hundred pounds it wasn't only his musical presence that was huge. |
| 5 |  | John Lee Hooker
The Blues
John Lee Hooker is another extremely influential american blues musician who has influenced countless artists including Led Zeppelin who
incorporated Hooker's Boogie Chillen' song in the live version of Whole Lotta Love featured on the live album How The West Was Won. |
| 6 |  | B.B. King
Live at the Regal
Born Riley B. King in September 1925, B.B. King has released many highly acclaimed and influential albums, not least this fantastic live album,
which is now considered one of the greatest live blues albums of all time. |
| 7 |  | John Mayall
Blues Breakers with Eric Clapton
The album that brought Eric Clapton to the world's attention, this still ranks amongst both Clapton's and Mayall's finest recordings. |
| 8 |  | The Yardbirds
For Your Love
Few bands can claim to have had three guitar legends among their ranks, but the Yardbirds certainly can. Clapton, Jeff Beck and Jimmy Page
have all played with them at some time or another during the 60's. |
| 9 |  | Albert King
Born Under A Bad Sign
One of the three "Kings" of blues (B.B. King and Freddie King being the other two) Albert King has written and recorded many blues classics in
his career, Oh, Pretty Woman surely ranks among the best of them. |
| 10 |  | Jimi Hendrix
Are You Experienced
Hendrix is commonly regarded as one of the greatest musicians to ever pick up the six string and listening to his recorded output from the late
60's it's hard to disagree. |
| 11 |  | Cream
Disraeli Gears
Commonly acknowledged as Clapton's finest work, Disraeli Gears featured many blues rock classics and arguably Clapton's greatest guitar
performance. |
| 12 | | Fleetwood Mac
Peter Green's Fleetwood Mac
The original Fleetwood Mac are often overlooked in favour of the post Peter Green incarnation of the band, which is somewhat surpising given the
immense talents of the guitarist who gave a young Gary Moore his first Les Paul. |
| 13 |  | Jeff Beck
Truth
Few guitarists can claim to be a more skilled player than Beck. He would go on to explore many different genres including funk and progressive
rock but this, his debut still remains one of his finest achievments. |
| 14 |  | Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin
Never had blues rock sounded so heavy. Often seen as the foundation for Heavy Metal, Led Zep's debut is still rooted to the blues despite it's
huge influence on the Hard Rock and Metal of the 70's. |
| 15 |  | Black Cat Bones
Barbed Wire Sandwich
This heavy British blues band featured future Free guitarist, Paul Kossoff. Kossoff was replaced by Rod Price (who would later join Foghat) before
the band recorded this, their first and only full studio album. |
| 16 |  | Free
Tons of Sobs
One of the most overlooked bands of the late 60's British Blues Rock boom, Free's debut showed the incredible talents of both guitarist, Paul
Kossoff and vocalist, Paul Rodgers who would later form Bad Company. |
| 17 |  | Willie Dixon
I Am The Blues
The album title is one hell of a statement but after listening to such classics as I Can't Quit You Baby and You Shook Me it would take a brave
man to argue against it. |
| 18 |  | Derek and the Dominos
Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs
Arguably Clapton's finest recording outside of Cream. This short-lived band also featured The Allman Brothers Band guitairst, Duanne Allman. |
| 19 |  | Mountain
Climbing!
Mountain played heavy Blues Rock in the vein of Cream and this, their debut album is an essential 70's bluesy rock album. |
| 20 | | The Allman Brothers Band
Live at the Fillmore East
The late 60's and early 70's incarnation of this band featured one of the best blues guitar duos ever in the shape of Duanne Allman and Dickey
Betts. The band were at their best in a live setting and this superb live album catches them in great form. |
| 21 |  | Skid Row (IRE)
34 Hours
Gary Moore's first professional band, Skid Row (not to be confused with the American band of the same name) also featured long time friend of
Moore's, Phil Lynott at one point although he soon left to form Thin Lizzy. |
| 22 | | Rory Gallagher
Irish Tour '74
One of the great Irish bluesmen, Rory Gallagher was not only a fantastic guitar player but also a great showman. Tragically he died in 1995 from
complications following a liver transplant. |
| 23 |  | Robin Trower
Bridge of Sighs
After leaving the progressive rock band Procol Harum, Robin Trower embarked on a solo career that showed just what a fantastic blues guitarist he is. Bridge of Sighs remains a classic, showcasing his brilliant Hendrix-esque guitar playing as well as showing that he was also a great songwiter. |
| 24 |  | Foghat
Fool For the City
Foghat were strongly influenced by bands such as Mountain and play a similar style of blues rock. Lead guitarist Rod Price is often referred to as
the "Magician of Slide" due to his excellent slide guitar playing. |
| 25 |  | Stevie Ray Vaughan
Texas Flood
When Stevie Ray Vaughan burst onto the scene in the early 80's he took the blues community by storm with his intense guitar playing. Both this
and Couldn't Stand the Weather are fantastic examples of his guitar virtuosity. |
| 26 |  | Gary Moore
Still Got the Blues
Having started his career as a blues rock player, Gary Moore found himself playing a much heavier style of rock thoughout the 80's but in 1990
he turned his back on rock in favour of the blues and recorded this fantastic album. |
| 27 |  | BBM
Around the Next Dream
This surprisingly low-profile release saw Gary Moore teaming up with ex-Cream members Jack Bruce and Ginger Baker to record an excellent
blues rock album that has been criminally overlooked. |
| 28 | | Gov't Mule
The Deepest End: Live in Concert
Often seen as a modern day version of The Allman Borthers Band, Gov't Mule are also at their best when performing live and given time to
stretch out, this live album features some of the band's finest songs and showcases the talents of band leader, singer and guitarist,
Warren Haynes. |
| 29 |  | Joe Bonamassa
Sloe Gin
Joe Bonamassa is one of the leading talents in the sudden burst of new blues guitarists of the 00's. He is also a member of the blues rock
supergroup, Black Country Communion. |
| 30 |  | Philip Sayce
Peace Machine
Along with Joe Bonamassa, Philip Sayce is one the most promising blues players to emerge from the 00's. |
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