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.
Ain’t going to worry, about tomorrowRoosevelt ”Booba” Barnes
A bluesman from the Deep South.
This richly earthy, intoxicating Delta blues has a flavor that only someone born and raised in the South can convey.
He’s a craftsman who took 30 years from debuting in clubs to releasing an album.
The fact that such a cool, genuinely skilled bluesman remains unknown shows just how vast America is.
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.
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.
All My LifeCharles Brown
It’s a famous song by Charles Brown, an American blues pianist and singer.
Known for its sweet ballad style, it had a major influence on many later musicians, including Ray Charles.
An album with the same title was released in 1990.
The Sun Is RisingHowlin’ Wolf
Howlin’ Wolf was a blues singer born in 1910 in West Point, Mississippi, known for his impactful, gravelly voice.
He learned guitar from Charley Patton, began performing around the 1940s based in Memphis, formed a band in the late 1940s, then became a DJ/player at the West Memphis radio station KWEM.
He made his first recordings at Sam Phillips’s Memphis Recording Service and debuted in 1951.
The Sun Is Rising was recorded in West Memphis in 1952.
He had a major influence on rock, inspiring artists such as Cream, the Rolling Stones, Led Zeppelin, Eric Clapton, and Ringo Starr.
Easy Rider BluesBlind Lemon Jefferson
Many blues musicians are professionals who perform blues in bars, and they sometimes use stage names or epithets.
Another characteristic of the blues is that many performers were blind; those with the epithet “Blind” were often visually impaired.
Blind Lemon Jefferson performed blues with a gentle, amiable character.