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.

Playlist

Recommended for rock fans too! — A classic album of modern blues
	Title	Playlist	Review
1	Somebody’s Acting Like a ChildJohn Mayall		John Mayall releases a landmark blues rock album
2	All Your LoveMagic Sam		Magic Sam's masterpiece blues album
3	Crossroad BluesRobert Johnson		An article introducing Robert Johnson’s classic albums
4	The Sky Is CryingElmore James		Elmore James Blues Masterpieces
5	Have you ever loved a womanFreddie King		The influence of blues king Freddie King
6	Chicago BoundJimmy Rogers		Jimmy Rodgers Blues Edited Edition
7	Born Under a Bad SignAlbert King		Albert King's classic 1967 soul album
8	First Time I Met the BluesBuddy Guy		A masterpiece capturing Buddy Guy’s performances in his early years
9	SpoonfulHowlin’ Wolf		Introduction to the classic second album by Howlin’ Wolf from 1962
10	Mojo HandLightnin’ Hopkins		Lightnin' Hopkins' masterpiece blues album
11	JukeLittle Walter		An enthralling best-of album by Little Walter, the legendary blues harp player
12	Stormy Monday BluesT-Bone Walker		T-Bone Walker’s Important Role in the History of the Blues
13	Long Distance CallsMuddy Waters		Muddy Waters’ masterful album “Folk Singer”
14	Bad News Is ComingLuther Allison		Luther Allison, a master of Chicago blues
15	I Wonder WhyOtis Rush		Introducing the classic albums of Otis Rush
16	Sweet Little AngelB.B. King		A masterpiece of B.B. King's historic live album
17	Walkin’ the BoogieJohn Lee Hooker		Introduction to John Lee Hooker's Masterpiece Album
18	The Thrill Is GoneB.B. King		B.B. King's signature blues songs
19	Voodoo Child (Slight Return)Stevie Ray Vaughan & Double Trouble		Stevie Ray Vaughan masterpiece blues rock album
20	Rock Me BabyJohnny Winter		Johnny Winter's triumphant comeback blues-rock masterpiece
21	Hoodoo Man BluesJunior Wells’ Chicago Blues Band		Wells's harmonica and a masterpiece of Chicago blues
22	Kitchin sink boogieHound Dog Taylor		Hound Dog Taylor’s boogie instrumental.
23	Red House (Electric Version)Jimi Hendrix		Hendrix’s debut and only blues
24	Bullfrog BluesRory Gallagher		Rory Gallagher is a blues guitarist with a rock-leaning style
25	Mannish boyMuddy Waters		A classic blues tune where the harp and guitar shine
26	Be Careful With A FoolJohnny Winter		A white guitarist who fused blues and rock
27	Rats In My KitchenSleepy John Estes		Sleepy John's Blues
28	You Got To Walk That Lonesome ValleyMississippi John Hurt		Mississippi John Hurt
29	Baby, Please Don’t GoLightnin’ Hopkins		Hopkins performs a blues classic
30	Sweet Home ChicagoFreddie King		Freddie King, one of the Three Kings of the Blues
31	Dust My BroomElmore James		Elmore James is a pioneer of the bottleneck style on the electric guitar.
32	Boogie ChillenJohn Lee Hooker		Blues singer, the King of Boogie, John Lee Hooker
33	Bad bad whiskeyBuddy Guy & Junior Wells		Buddy Guy version of the blues classic
34	Boom BoomJohn Lee Hooker		The influence that John Lee, the King of Boogie, had on the music world
35	T’aint nobodys businessOtis Spann		The masterful blues piano solo is also wonderful.
36	She’s Only A WomanLonnie Johnson		The Sophisticated Blues of Lonnie Johnson
37	Walkin’ BluesPaul Butterfield		Paul Butterfield’s harmonica technique
38	Born in the ChicagoThe Paul Butterfield Blues Band		Paul Butterfield’s classic song
39	Stormy mundayAllman Brothers Band		Duane Allman Legendary Guitarist
40	Got My Mojo WorkingJames Cotton		James Cotton's excellent harmonica performance
41	Kind of blueMiles Davis		Miles' improvised blues performance
42	Hoochie Coochie ManMuddy Waters		The blues spread from the South to Chicago.
43	Feeling GoodNina Simone		Popular songs sung by Nina Simone
44	Death Letter BluesSon House		Son House was called the father of Delta blues.
45	I’m Your Hooch Coochie ManWillie Dixon		Willie Dixon was a songwriter who created many blues classics.
46	king of boogieSavoy Brown		Savoy Brown’s long-running career and changes in their musical style
47	How blue can you getThe Louisiana Gator Boys		Songs by a fictional band from a film, featuring a lineup of blues all-stars.
48	Blues Before SunriseLeroy Carr		Leroy Carr's piano-and-vocal blues
49	Katie Mae BluesLightnin’ Hopkins		Lightnin' Hopkins, the most recorded artist in blues history
50	All My LifeCharles Brown		Charles Brown sweet ballad song
51	Pony BluesCharlie Patton		Charlie Patton, a pioneer of Delta blues
52	LucilleB.B. King		B.B. King, a blues legend who thrived with a distinctive guitar style
53	Spoonful BluesCharley Patton		The Delta region is a major birthplace of prewar blues.
54	Fishing BluesHenry Thomas		Henry Thomas, the earliest Black singer and blues musician
55	The Sun Is RisingHowlin’ Wolf		Howlin' Wolf is a blues singer.
56	How Long, How Long BluesLeroy Carr		Leroy Carr, a master of urban piano blues development
57	Rollin’ StoneMuddy Waters		Called the father of Chicago blues
58	All Your Lovin’ (I Miss Loving)Otis Rush		Otis Rush is an innovator of Chicago blues
59	Cross RoadRobert Johnson		Robert Johnson is a blues legend
60	Today I Sing the BluesAretha Franklin		Aretha releases a soul blues song
61	EasyBig Walter Horton		A master of the blues harp, beloved by many artists.
62	Easy Rider BluesBlind Lemon Jefferson		Bluesmen play in bars, and there are many blind people.
63	Come OnEarl King		Earl King is a blues R&B songwriter
64	Mississippi river bluesGeorge “Harmonica” Smith		Down Home Blues by George Smith
65	Burn in HellJunior Kimbrough		A masterpiece album by Kimbrough, a blues musician from Mississippi
66	Tomorrow NihgtLonnie Johnson		Lonnie Johnson was a blues guitarist who had a great influence on the development of jazz.
67	Alabama trainLouisiana Red		Louisiana Red was a bluesman. After being active in Europe, he died in Germany.
68	Do I Move YouNina Simone		Introduction to Nina Simone's blues album
69	Littele Boy BlueOtis Spann		Otis Spann is a legendary blues pianist.
70	The Bottom of The TopPhillip Walker		Philip Walker's Texas blues song
71	Ain’t going to worry, about tomorrowRoosevelt ”Booba” Barnes		A gritty, seasoned bluesman from the Deep South
72	It Hurts Me TooTampa Red		Tampa Red's guitar technique and music
73	DOWN HOME BLUESZZ Hill		The classic song released in 1982 by ZZ Hill
74	Till Your Lovin’ Makes Me BlueAynsley Dunbar Retaliation		Ainsley Dunbar’s heavy slow blues track
75	Have You Ever Loved A WomanEric Clapton		Blues became popular and developed in the United Kingdom.
76	I’ll Play The Blues For YouAlbert King		Albert King, blues guitarist
77	Key to the HighwayBig Bill Broozy		The Life and Musical Activities of Big Bill Broonzy
78	Blue GuitarEARL HOOKER		Earl Hooker was a master of slide guitar and a leading figure of Chicago blues.
79	You Don’t Have To GoJimmy Reed		Jimmy Reed, an influential blues style
80	Members onlyBobby Bland		Bobby Bland, a skilled blues singer influenced by gospel
81	Spider in my stewBuster Benton		Buster Benton's classic slow blues
82	Sweet Love and Evil WomenJohnny Winter		Johnny Winter, a white blues master on par with Clapton
83	Everything be alrightBig Mama Thornton		Big Mama Thornton's signature songs
84	Blues PowerEric Clapton		Eric Clapton’s first solo
85	The Sky Is CryingSonny Boy Williamson II		Sonny Boy Williamson, the master of the blues harp
86	unlucky boyChicken Shack		Chicken Shack, a rock-leaning blues masterpiece
87	Fixing To Die BluesBuck White		Bukka White’s Delta blues life
88	At lastEtta James		Etta James: The Life and Achievements of a Blues Singer
89	Crazy BluesMamie Smith		Queen of the Blues Mamie Smith
90	Good MorningMemphis Minnie		Memphis Minnie is a big star in the blues world.
91	Avalon BluesMississippi John Hurt		The legendary bluesman of the Mississippi John Hurt rediscovery
92	Big Road BluesTommy Johnson		Tommy Johnson is an important figure in Mississippi Delta blues.
93	Blues PowerAlbert King		Albert King's legendary blues album
94	Nobody Knows You When You’re Down And OutBessie Smith		Bessie Smith was called the Empress of the Blues.
95	Death Valley BluesBlack Cat Bones		A key British blues band, heavy blues
96	On The Road AgainCanned Heat		U.S. representative blues band with diverse musicality
97	It’s all rightCanned Heat & John Lee Hooker		John Lee, KAND's greatest masterpiece
98	Chicken Shack BluesChampion Jack Dupree		A piano blues performer left behind a hit song
99	Christo RedemptorCharley Musselwhite		Charlie Musselwhite's debut is a masterpiece
100	Somebody Loan Me A DimeFenton Robinson		Fenton Robinson was a blues guitarist who was active mainly in Chicago.
101	The Blues Is AlrightGary Moore		A Hard Rocker's Blues Challenge
102	Turtle BluesJanis Joplin		Janis Joplin’s classic blues song
103	It Serves Me Right to SufferJimmy Dawkins		Jimmy Dawkins's masterpiece blues album
104	Big Boss ManJimmy Reed		The history of Jimmy Reed's hit songs
105	Just Like YouKeb’ Mo’		Keb’ Mo’ wins in contemporary blues
106	Wang Dang DoodleKoko Taylor		Introduction to Koko Taylor's debut work
107	Woman, You Don’t Have To Be So ColdLittle Milton		Introduction to Little Milton's Classic Albums from the Stax Era
108	TrampLowell Fulson		Lowell Fulson's 'Tramp' is a masterpiece of blues and funk.
109	Season of the WitchMike Bloomfield, Al Kooper and Stephen Still		A landmark improvised blues-rock album by three great musicians
110	Highway61Mississippi Fred McDowell		Fred McDowell’s earthy blues
111	Straighten Up & Fly RightNat King Cole		Nat King Cole debut single
112	I`Cant Quit You BabyOtis Rush		Otis Rush's blues music
113	The Hard WayOtis Spann		Otis Spann’s Piano Blues
114	Devil’s Son-In-LawPeetie Wheatstraw		Wheatstraw prewar blues master
115	Suger mamaPeter Green’s Fleetwood Mac		Peter Green had a big influence
116	All Of My Life (Official Music Video 1990)Phil Collins		Phil Collins' 1989 classic
117	SomedayRobert Nighthawk		Robert Nighthawk used an electric guitar after the war.
118	I’m so GladSkip James		Skip James is a blues singer from Mississippi.
119	Mailman Blues (1966)Sleepy John Estes		Introduction to Sleepy John Estes
120	walkin’ bluesSon House		Legendary Delta blues guitarist
121	Bring It On HomeSonny Boy Williamson II		A classic Chicago blues collection by Sonny Boy
122	Ain’t Gone ‘n’ Give Up On LoveStevie Ray Vaughan		Stevie Ray Vaughan scores a big hit on guitar
123	texas floodStevie Ray Vaughan		Stevie Ray Vaughan Biography
124	Leaving TrunkTAJ MAHAL		Taj Mahal’s innovative blues album
125	M&O BluesWillie Brown		Robert Johnson's mentor
126	Brown SugerZZ Top		ZZ Top is an electric band with roots in the blues.
127	wild women don’t have the bluesIda Cox		Ida Cox, a female blues singer of the 1920s
128	That’s All RightJimmy Rogers		Jimmy Rogers is a master of Chicago blues.
129	its hurts me tooJohn Mayall		Founder and guitarist of the Blues Breakers
130	Catfish bluesLightnin’ Hopkins		The unique vocal style of a great bluesman
131	Poor Boy Long Way from HomeBukka White		Bukka White's slide guitar
132	She’s GoneHound Dog Taylor		Hound Dog Taylor’s Blues Guitar
133	I’ m a WomanKoko Taylor		Female singer of Chicago blues
134	HallelujahLeonard Cohen		A masterpiece by a Canadian singer-songwriter
135	I can’t quit you, babyWillie Dixon		A masterpiece composed by Willy was covered.
136	My BabeLittle Walter		Little Walter is a master of Chicago blues.