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! — Modern Blues Masterpieces (21–30)
Baby, Please Don’t GoLightnin’ Hopkins
Lightnin’ Hopkins is still a very popular bluesman.
From a certain period onward he also performed band blues using electric guitar, but before the war he played acoustic blues.
This song is one of the great classics of the blues.
Sweet Home ChicagoFreddie King
Alongside B.B.
King and Albert King, Freddie King was known in the blues world as one of the “Three Kings.” His music came very close to rock.
“Sweet Home Chicago” is one of his signature numbers.
Recommended for Rock Fans Too! — Masterpieces of Modern Blues (31–40)
She’s Only A WomanLonnie Johnson
Before the war, many bluesmen performed solo with a guitar in bars—similar to itinerant street musicians in Japan—but Lonnie Johnson had musical training and could play piano, guitar, and violin, and he performed a refined style of blues.
Walkin’ BluesPaul Butterfield
One of the foremost harmonica players in white blues is Paul Butterfield.
The Butterfield Blues Band he formed included outstanding players such as Mike Bloomfield.
“Walkin’ Blues” is a classic of band-style blues.
Blues Before SunriseLeroy Carr
Prewar acoustic blues, which overwhelmingly features solo singer-instrumentalists, is dominated by guitar-and-vocal performances, but there were also musicians who accompanied themselves on piano.
Leroy Carr was one of them, known for delivering laid-back blues.
Dust My BroomElmore James
Elmore James, born in 1918 in Richland, Mississippi, was an American blues guitarist.
He was known for his wild, electrifying sound centered on the bottleneck slide technique on electric guitar, which had a major influence on later rock guitarists.
He began performing in his teens under names such as Cleanhead and Joe Willie James, and played with artists including Robert Johnson.
His 1951 release Dust My Broom became a hit and has been covered by many blues-rock musicians.
Boogie ChillenJohn Lee Hooker
John Lee Hooker, born in 1917 in Clarksdale, Mississippi, was a blues singer and guitarist.
He established a boogie style with a distinctive sense of rhythm and is known as the King of Boogie.
He learned guitar from his stepfather in the Delta, gained gospel experience in Memphis, and began recording in Detroit.
His 1948 debut single, “Boogie Chillen,” was a million-seller, and his notable songs include “I’m in the Mood” and “Boom Boom.” In 1989, at age 72, he released The Healer, which won a Grammy Award, and in 1991 he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.