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 (41–50)
Feeling GoodNina Simone
Nina Simone, known for her distinctive and unique singing voice.
Her expressive power, which could not be confined to the label of a jazz singer, captivated many people.
Among her songs, the blues-tinged and popular ‘Feeling Good’ was released in 1965.
Death Letter BluesSon House
Son House, born in 1902 and hailing from Riverton on the outskirts of Clarksdale, Mississippi, was a Delta blues singer known as the “Father of Delta Blues.” Self-taught on guitar, he was captivated by Willie Wilson’s bottleneck technique around age 25 and perfected his slide guitar style.
In 1930, he traveled to Grafton, Wisconsin with Willie Brown and others to make his first recordings for Paramount, and he was one of the figures who influenced the young Robert Johnson.
I’m Your Hooch Coochie ManWillie Dixon
Willie Dixon, born in 1915 in Vicksburg, Mississippi, was a staff producer, bandleader, and bassist for Chess Records in the 1950s, and is one of the greatest songwriters in American music history.
He created numerous blues classics such as Spoonful, Back Door Man, and I’m Your Hoochie Coochie Man, supplied songs to major blues artists, and, through covers by bands like the Rolling Stones and Led Zeppelin, became a pioneering figure linking blues and rock.
He was also the person who had the greatest influence on post–World War II Chicago blues.
Hoochie Coochie Man was written and composed by Willie in 1954 and became a major hit sung by Muddy Waters.
king of boogieSavoy Brown
Led by Kim Simmonds, Savoy Brown is a long-running blues band active since the 1960s, but their individuality is somewhat weak, leaving them in a perpetual B-tier status.
Their style shifted toward hard rock in certain eras, and that direction actually has a bit more flash and appeal.
How blue can you getThe Louisiana Gator Boys
A fictional blues band that appears in the film Blues Brothers 2000.
It’s a track you can’t help but listen to just for the sheer star power of its blues all-star lineup, including B.B.
King, Koko Taylor, Dr.
John, Steve Winwood, and Eric Clapton.
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.
Katie Mae BluesLightnin’ Hopkins
Lightnin’ Hopkins was a blues singer, guitarist, and pianist born in 1912 in Centerville, Texas, USA.
In 1927, he performed at the Rainbow Theatre with his cousin Texas Alexander, and he began calling himself “Lightnin’” (lightning) in reference to pianist Thunder Smith (“Thunder”) who was playing at the time.
One of the most prolific recording artists in blues history, he left an enormous body of work between 1946 and 1981.
His debut single, Katie Mae Blues, became a hit, and he went on to release record after record, ultimately said to have issued over 100 albums in his lifetime.