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! — Masterpieces of Modern Blues (’61–’70)
Cross RoadRobert Johnson
Robert Johnson, born in 1911 in Hazlehurst, Mississippi, was a legendary African American blues singer.
Accompanying himself on a single acoustic guitar, he performed solo blues and became known for the Crossroads legend, inspired by the tale of the crossroads, as he roamed across the American continent.
He left behind only 29 recorded tracks in his lifetime and died at the young age of 27.
In 1961, King of the Delta Blues Singers was released on LP by Columbia Records, bringing renewed attention to his work.
Love in Vain and Stop Breaking Down were covered by the Rolling Stones on the albums Let It Bleed and Exile on Main St., respectively.
Today I Sing the BluesAretha Franklin
Aretha Franklin is famous as a female soul singer, but beyond her soulful style she also has blues-tinged songs.
The composer is Curtis Lewis.
At the time of its release, it entered the U.S.
R&B chart at No.
10.
The song is included on the 1961 album “Aretha.”
EasyBig Walter Horton
A must-hear harpist for blues fans, a master of the blues harp known for his thick, powerful harp blows and richly expressive vocals.
It’s said that countless bluesmen wanted to perform with him, and the blues giant Willie Dixon even called him “the most wonderful harpist.”
Come OnEarl King
Earl King, a guitarist and singer-songwriter from New Orleans.
He made his debut recording in 1953 and continued to be musically active with great energy until around 2003.
He produced not only blues but also many R&B songs, and he also provided compositions to many other musicians.
Mississippi river bluesGeorge “Harmonica” Smith
A signature solo track by George Smith, the former Muddy Waters Band harpist.
This is the very essence of down-home blues.
Beyond his deep, resonant harp playing, Smith’s richly flavored vocals are also a highlight.
In his later career, Smith moved to Los Angeles and helped revitalize the West Coast blues scene.
Alabama trainLouisiana Red
Louisiana Red is a bluesman who also plays blues harp and guitar.
His soulful shouts and singer-songwriter-style blues are full of down-home charm.
From the 1980s onward, he moved his base of activity to Europe and, in a rare twist, eventually passed away in Germany.
Do I Move YouNina Simone
The album introduced here might be considered a bit of a curveball in terms of classic blues records.
I’d like to present Nina Simone’s 1967 release Nina Simone Sings The Blues, by the legendary singer who was a renowned jazz vocalist and excelled across a wide range of genres.
It was her first album after moving to the RCA label, and it features not only standard blues numbers but also the traditional folk ballad House of the Rising Sun, known from The Animals’ hit version.
You can almost imagine the sound of the record just from Simone’s piercing gaze on the album cover, but her voice is truly remarkable, standing out with a rich blend of not only blues but also jazz and gospel feeling.
The performances by legendary session musicians like guitarist Eric Gale and drummer Bernard Purdie are more than compelling, and the drum-driven groove in particular should strongly appeal to the club generation.
If you listen to original tracks like Backlash Blues with an understanding of Simone’s background as a civil rights activist and social activist, you’ll grasp where the formidable power of her voice comes from.
