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 (91–100)
Good MorningMemphis Minnie
Memphis Minnie, born in 1897 in Algiers, Louisiana, was a female blues singer and guitarist who secured star status in the male-dominated blues world.
She mastered guitar and banjo in her childhood in Walls, Mississippi, and by around age 13 she was singing on the streets of Memphis.
She joined medicine shows and circuses and began traveling throughout the South.
In 1939, Me and My Chauffeur became a hit; her powerful voice and bold guitar playing captivated listeners, and she recorded over 250 tracks.
Good Morning was recorded in Chicago in 1936.
Avalon BluesMississippi John Hurt
Mississippi John Hurt, born in 1893 in Teoc, Mississippi, was a blues singer and guitarist.
He learned guitar at age nine, spent the years up to the 1920s playing old-time music, and recorded 13 tracks for the Okeh label.
Afterwards, lacking further recording opportunities, he lived in the countryside as a sharecropper until his rediscovery in 1963, when, past the age of 70, he began a second career and became one of the most beloved of the legendary bluesmen rediscovered in the 1960s.
Avalon Blues, recorded in 1928 for the Okeh label, was one of the clues that led to his rediscovery.
Big Road BluesTommy Johnson
Tommy Johnson, born in 1896 in Terry, Mississippi, was an American guitarist and singer.
He is regarded as one of the founders of pre-war Jackson blues and, alongside Charley Patton, is considered a key figure in Mississippi Delta blues.
He recorded eight songs in Memphis in 1928 during Victor’s field recordings and six songs for Paramount in 1930.
His distinctive vocals featured falsetto, and his 1928 track Big Road Blues is his signature song, covered by many blues musicians.
Blues PowerAlbert King
Albert King is a legendary blues guitarist who influenced three generations of musicians with his distinctive guitar style.
Known for his unique approach of playing a standard right-handed guitar flipped upside down despite being left-handed, he carved out a singular sound.
Released in 1968, Live Wire / Blues Power is a live recording from the Fillmore Auditorium in San Francisco.
Strongly infused with electric blues and soul-blues elements, the album showcases King’s deeply expressive guitar solos.
Serving as a key introduction of his music to white rock audiences, the album peaked at No.
150 on the Billboard 200.
It’s a must-listen not only for blues fans but also for lovers of rock.
Nobody Knows You When You’re Down And OutBessie Smith
Bessie Smith, born in 1894 in Chattanooga, Tennessee, was an American blues singer.
She began her career as a vaudeville dancer in her teens, was recognized by Ma Rainey for her vocal talent, toured extensively, and in 1923 released her first record, “Down Hearted Blues,” which sold 780,000 copies in six months, followed by a string of hit records.
“Nobody Knows You When You’re Down and Out” was also recorded in New York in 1923, showcasing her exceptional phrasing.
Bessie Smith became so successful that she earned the title “Empress of the Blues” and is regarded as the greatest singer of the classic blues era.
On The Road AgainCanned Heat
A leading American blues band.
All the members are highly accomplished, and their hallmark is a wide-ranging musicality that covers the entire spectrum of “American music,” from traditional blues to boogie, Cajun, and hard rock.
They have recorded numerous collaborative albums with major blues artists in the past, and even now—despite the passing of key members from their heyday—they continue to perform with a changing lineup.
It’s all rightCanned Heat & John Lee Hooker
It’s a collaborative work by the legendary John Lee Hooker and the champions of American blues rock, Canned Heat, but not from the original release—these tracks came out as outtakes.
John Lee’s growl and the band’s groove are both outstanding, making this arguably the finest masterpiece of their collaboration!