lookin' for the blues

P

Psychopomp

Joined
Feb 21, 2005
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Greetings all.

Lately I've been listening to as much old Mississippi Delta blues that I can get my hands on. The recording quality may be lacking, but there's so much feeling in this music that it really speaks to me.

I've been listening to a lot of Robert Johnson, but I know there's a lot more out there.

Who else should I be looking for?

Thanks a lot.
 
Ishman Bracey
Willie Brown
R.L. Burnside
Sam Chatmon
Sam Collins
James Cotton
John Lee Hooker
Son House
Mississippi John Hurt
Skip James
Robert Johnson
Tommy Johnson
Blind Willie Johnson

Robert Lockwood, Jr.
Robert Lowery
Tommy McClennan
Mississippi Fred McDowell
Blind Willie McTell
Charley Patton
Jimmie Rodgers
Johnny Shines
Sunnyland Slim
Henry Sloan
Hound Dog Taylor
Muddy Waters
Bukka White
Big Joe Williams
Blind lemon jefferson
Huddie Ledbetter-Lead belly
 
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Thats a really good list from Karda. Only thing that I can think to add to it is that Alan Lomax recorded several albums of blues, and at least one that is solely Miss. Delta Blues, on wax cylinders. You can get them on CD now but the sound is pretty bad, more historical value than anything else.
 
I live in Mississippi, and I am partial to our music, but you should check out "Ligthning" Hopkins. Texas style, but heavily influenced by MS! Great open air story teller. Like many he created the songs, as he played.
Also "YES" to Charlie Patton, Son House, and Bukka White. Can't go wrong!
 
Great list above and Lightning Hopkins is an excellent addition.
One of my favorites is Little Walter.
Another to add is Sonnyboy Williamson

IIRC the guy who owned Chess records recorded a lot of the old blues men back in the day.
If one could find an old Chess catalog :)

Gotta tell you all my Lightning Hopkins story.
There was a blues review in Carnegie Hall in '77 or '78.
A real mix of artists from powerhouse Chicago Blues to individuals like Mr Hopkins.
The crowd was up and pumped when Lightning came on stage and started singing his songs. After one or two songs he senses that the crowd is restless.
Stands up and lets loose with this Hendrix/Winter riff that curled our toes.
The crowd goes wild.
He sez:
"I don' play that chit."
Sits back down and gets back to strumming.

Coolest live music moment I've seen.

A couple more names to look up are Ma Rainey and Koko Taylor.

So much good music out there.
Two must have albums (showing my age!) are
Johnny Winter's Guitar Slinger & Muddy Waters' Hard Again.
They did a recording session together and each got an album out of it.
Not really Mizziippi blues, but good stuff none the less.

Stepping away from the original masters another level...
John Mayall.
His Blues Breakers included young Eric Clapton, the original guitarist from the Stones that died (?), Mick Fleetwood and one or two other big names that I can't remember off hand.
 
Great list so far, you might also want to give a listen to the three Kings,
Albert, B.B. and Ben E. King, hugely influential.

Good thread:thumbup:, and an opportunity to post a vid you may have heard before.. :D

[youtube]tWLw7nozO_U[/youtube]

Doug
 
Tampa Red
Black Bottom McPhail
Elmore Leonard
Memphis Minnie
Big Mamma Thornton
Willie Dixon

There is an album called "The Roots of Robert Johnson" that presents the originals of some of his music and people who influenced him.
 
I myself prefer blues, Raw, Primitive, and unsculpted. Back when some people still had no electricity. When people were playing it, because they were living it! Not because it was cool. The wind instruments Sonny boy and Jr. Walker played were not horns but "FRENCH HARPS". And the guitars were whatever they had or could get. All about feeling! There are a few left down here, but are hardly noticed.
 
Karda that list should keep me busy for a while.

Steve Ray Vaughan is one of my favorite guitar players.

Thanks a lot everyone, keep 'em coming.
 
Stevie was a true blues player. He was one of the few that could play it in a modern way, but keep it Raw and passionate.
If you haven't, you need to tune in to Buddy Guy's music.( specially his older stuff)
He is another RAW nerve that has kept it BLUES! One of the few greats left!
 
Hehe- "Raw" is what we cigar-box musicians are all about. Most of us don't even use frets...

I agree, that's a good list. To my mind, the original Muddy Waters blues band, from when he first started to play in Chicago, is unsurpassed.
There's quite a lot of this material on YouTube, by the way; vintage recordings, old video clips...Good stuff.
 
I have been playing music for 30+ years, and some of my first music I began playing with my daddy and brother was Muddy. He truly is one of the best. No offence, but he didn't let the Chicago horns ruin him.
 
Karda said:
Ishman Bracey
Willie Brown
R.L. Burnside
Sam Chatmon
Sam Collins
James Cotton
John Lee Hooker
Son House
Mississippi John Hurt
Skip James
Robert Johnson
Tommy Johnson
Blind Willie Johnson

Robert Lockwood, Jr.
Robert Lowery
Tommy McClennan
Mississippi Fred McDowell
Blind Willie McTell
Charley Patton
Jimmie Rodgers
Johnny Shines
Sunnyland Slim
Henry Sloan
Hound Dog Taylor
Muddy Waters
Bukka White
Big Joe Williams
Blind lemon jefferson
Huddie Ledbetter-Lead belly
Click to expand...
brownie magee sonney terry big joe williams lightin hopkins .
 
Kenny Wayne Shephard. Closest thing you're gonna find to Stevie Ray Vaughan. The wife and I just saw him last night in St. Louis, at the Harrah's casino Voodoo Lounge. I'm here to tell ya, that boy tore it UP! :thumbup:
 
I'd try any of the Cowboy Bebop soundtracks.
 
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