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)
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.
Recommended for rock fans too! — Masterpieces of Modern Blues (51–60)
Pony BluesCharlie Patton
Charley Patton was a guitarist and singer born in 1891 in Edwards, Mississippi, USA.
He is said to have shaped Delta blues, was known as the “Voice of the Delta,” and despite being small and slender, his unamplified voice could reportedly carry as far as 500 yards, making him a pioneering figure in bringing the music to a wide audience.
Around 1897, while working jobs such as picking cotton, he frequented parties and juke joints, performed with the Mississippi Sheiks, and, while learning guitar from guitarist Henry Sloan, honed his skills and played with various musicians.
In 1929, he made his first recordings at the Gennett Records studio in Richmond, Indiana, cutting 14 tracks; Paramount released Pony Blues coupled with Banty Rooster Blues.
LucilleB.B. King
B.B.
King, born in 1925 in Itta Bena, in the northwestern part of Mississippi, USA, was a blues singer and guitarist.
Active from the 1950s until his later years, he is known as the most successful bluesman and the person who developed one of the world’s most famous guitar styles.
Characterized by expressive string-bending (choking) technique, he forged a lean, distinctive style that fused sharp vibrato with passionate vocals.
He received the Presidential Medal of Freedom as well as numerous honorary doctorates.
His nickname “B.B.” comes from “Blues Boy,” and the Japanese pop group B.B.
Queens took their name as a play on B.B.
King’s.
He named his guitar “Lucille,” and Gibson released a B.B.
King signature model under that name; there is also an album and a song titled “Lucille,” released in 1968.
Spoonful BluesCharley Patton
The birthplace of acoustic pre-war blues was the Mississippi River Delta.
These blues are sometimes called “Delta blues.” Charley Patton is one of the most famous bluesmen of the Delta blues.
Fishing BluesHenry Thomas
Henry Thomas, born in 1874 in Big Sandy, Texas, was an American singer, guitarist, and quills player.
Among recorded artists, he is one of the earliest Black singers and exemplifies the prototype of the blues.
Between 1927 and 1929, he recorded 24 sides for Vocalion.
He performed at railroad stations and used trains to travel back and forth between Dallas and Houston.
While playing guitar, he also blew the quills—sometimes called “panpipes,” made from carrizo cane—producing flute-like sounds reminiscent of Mississippi fife music, and he sang using hooping, an African-derived vocal style similar to yodeling.
Fishing Blues was recorded in 1928.
Honey, Won’t You Allow Me One More Chance? was covered by Bob Dylan.
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.
How Long, How Long BluesLeroy Carr
Leroy Carr, born in 1905 in Nashville, Tennessee, was a blues singer and pianist who became the first great master of urban blues, developing the style of city piano blues.
Between 1928 and 1935, he recorded over 160 songs.
His universally appealing, accessible blues influenced artists such as Cecil Gant, Charles Brown, and Ray Charles.
How Long, How Long Blues was a major hit.
Songs like Blues Before Sunrise, When the Sun Goes Down, I Believe I’ll Make a Change, and Sloppy Drunk Blues have been covered by numerous singers.