Blues masterpieces—from prewar blues to blues rock

A wellspring of inspiration for rock ’n’ roll and a genre adored by the giants of music history, the blues is a style that reveals deeper and deeper richness the more you listen.

That said, even rock fans who are somewhat interested may feel there’s a high barrier to getting into it.

In this article, for those who are about to step into the world of the blues, we’ll present—at a glance—the essential classics and fan favorites you can’t skip when talking about the blues, spanning everything from prewar blues to Chicago blues and blues rock.

Playlist

Blues masterpieces—from prewar blues to blues rock
	Title	Playlist	Review
1	Red HouseJimi Hendrix		Jimi Hendrix’s classic blues song
2	Mojo HandLightning’ Hopkins		Lightnin' Hopkins' Love Song
3	The Thrill Is GoneB.B. King		B.B. King's sophisticated blues
4	Boom boomJohn Lee Hooker		John Lee Hooker's Boogie
5	Got My Mojo WorkingMuddy Waters		Muddy Waters' classic Chicago blues song
6	Born Under A Bad SignAlbert King		A classic by Albert King, one of the three Kings of the blues
7	I Can’t Quit You BabyOtis Rush		Introduction to Otis Rush’s classic blues songs
8	Sunshine Of Your LoveCream		A blues-rock classic by Cream
9	CrossroadRobert Johnson		Robert Johnson's legendary guitar technique
10	SpoonfulIHowlin’ Wolf		Introducing Howlin’ Wolf’s classic song “Spoonful”
11	Match Box BluesBlind Lemon Jefferson		Introducing the masterpieces of Blind Lemon Jefferson
12	My BabeLittle Walter		Little Walter, master of the blues harmonica
13	Nobody Knows You When You’re Down And OutBessie Smith		The profound life expression in Bessie Smith’s signature songs
14	Call It Stormy MondayT-Bone Walker		T-Bone Walker brought the electric guitar into the blues
15	St.Louis BluesBessie Smith		Introduction to Bessie Smith's famous songs and life
16	Ball And ChainBig Mama Thornton		A classic blues song that sings of love’s burden
17	Dark Was the Night, Cold Was the GroundBlind Willie Johnson		A gospel-blues masterpiece. Expresses universal emotions beyond words.
18	I Just Want To Make Love To YouEtta James		Etta James's classic blues
19	Wang Dang DoodleKoko Taylor		A classic of Chicago blues, Tyler’s powerful vocals
20	Catfish BluesRobert Petway		A masterpiece by a Delta blues master
21	Parchman Farm BluesBooker White		Bukka White's Delta Blues
22	Minnie the MoocherCab Calloway		Cab Calloway's signature jazz song
23	Bright LightsGary Clark Jr.		The thrill of wandering the streets of New York
24	On The Road AgainCanned Heat		A signature song by Canned Heat. Released in 1968.
25	MISTY BLUEDOROTHY MOORE		Cover of Dorothy Moore's hit song
26	Dust My BroomElmore James		Introduction to Elmore James’s Masterpieces
27	First Time I Met The BluesBuddy Guy		Introduction to Buddy Guy’s signature songs
28	Traveling Riverside BluesLed Zeppelin		Led Zeppelin covers a song by Robert Johnson
29	If trouble was moneyAlbert Collins		Albert Collins's Texas Blues
30	Hide AwayFreddie King		Freddie King’s classic guitar performance
31	The Midnight SpecialLead Belly		Popular as a TV show's theme song
32	john hardyLead Belly		Lead Belly is a twelve-string guitarist who sings folk songs.
33	All Your LoveMagic Sam		Magic Sam's quintessential Chicago blues work
34	Everybody Needs Somebody To LoveSolomon Burke		A signature song in which Solomon Burke sang about the virtues of the one he loves.
35	Double TroubleStevie Ray Vaughan		Stevie Ray Vaughan’s Classic Blues
36	Green OnionsBooker T&The MG’s		A prestigious Memphis soul band, signed to Stax Records
37	Hey HeyEric Clapton		Eric Clapton, a blues-rock guitarist
38	MaybelleneChuck Berry		Western Swing Evolution Song
39	I GotchaJoe Tex		The J. Geils Band’s 1972 hit song
40	Memphis BluesW.C. Handy		The song for which Handy was called the father of the Blues
41	Have you ever loved a womanFreddie King		Freddie King is one of the three Kings of the blues and left many classic songs.
42	Get BackBig Bill Broonzy		A quintessential work that symbolizes the blues revival
43	Baby Please Don’t GoBig Joe Williams		A blues classic that sings of a bittersweet longing for a lover
44	Smoking GunRobert Cray		A classic by Robert Cray that portrays infidelity and inner conflict.
45	Smokestack LightningHowlin’ Wolf		Howlin' Wolf's classic steam-train blues
46	Crazy BluesMamie Smith		Crazy Blues: First Appearance by a Black Artist, Massive Hit
47	Rock Me, BabyB.B. King		B.B. King, a blues guitarist.
48	West Coast BluesBlind Blake		Blues ragtime guitarist
49	Bo DiddleyBo Diddley		Bo Diddley revised the lyrics and released it in 1955
50	I’m a ManBo Diddley		A signature Bo Diddley song of high historical value
51	Pony BluesCharlie Patton		Charley Patton shaped Delta blues.
52	James Cotton – Rocket 88James Cotton		A bridge from blues to rock 'n' roll
53	Ain’t That Lovin’ YouJimmy Reed		Commentary on Jimmy Reed's blues songs
54	Do The RumpJunior Kimbrough		The appeal of Junior Kimbrough’s signature songs
55	How Long, How Long BluesLeroy Carr		A 1928 blues classic that expresses heartbreak through a train
56	What›d I sayLightnin’ Hopkins		Lightnin' Hopkins's Texas Blues
57	Me and My Chauffeur BluesMemphis Minnie		A masterpiece blues classic by Memphis Minnie
58	Hoochie Coochie ManMuddy Waters		Muddy Waters' signature blues songs
59	Double TroubleOtis Rush		Otis Rush is a blues guitarist
60	Devil Got My WomanSkip James		Signature blues songs by Skip James
61	I’m a King BeeSlim Harpo		Slim Harpo’s swamp blues classic
62	Dead Letter BluesSon House		A blues song mourning the death of a loved one
63	Stomy MondayT-Bone Walker		A blues guitarist from Texas
64	Statesboro BluesThe Allman Brothers Band		A blues song was passed down to the guitarist.
65	Mustang SallyWilson Pickett		Song of a girl living in Mustang
66	Ride Captain RideBlues Image		Blues Image's signature hit song
67	Me and the Devil BluesRobert Johnson		Numerous cover songs recorded in Dallas in 1937
68	Please Come Home For ChristmasCharles Brown		Charles Brown, classic Christmas song
69	Bell Bottom BluesDerek and the Dominos		Layla, 1971 single
70	Still Got The BluesGary Moore		Gary Moore plagiarism lawsuit case
71	The Things That I Used to DoGuitar Slim		Guitar Slim’s devil song becomes a nationwide hit in the U.S.
72	Boogie Chillen’John Lee Hooker		John began his career in Detroit in 1948.
73	Choo choo ch’boogieLouis Jordan		Louis Jordan is a jazz blues musician.
74	Just Want To Make Love To YouMuddy Waters		Muddy Waters established the foundations of Chicago blues
75	Pride and JoyStevie Ray Vaughan		Signature songs of Stevie Ray Vaughan
76	Hoochie Coochie ManWillie Dixon		Willie Dixon composed many famous blues songs.
77	I’d Rather Go BlindEtta James		Southern blues composed by Etta James
78	JUKELittle Walter		Little Walter's representative harmonica songs
79	Tell it like it isAARON NEVILLE		An anthem of citizenship that sings a plea for true love