Audiences like their blues singers to be miserable.

[Buffalo Souljah]

Blues is easy to play, but hard to feel.


that's a quote by Jimi hendrix, the former one is by Janis Joplin. I've been in love with the blues now for since I was 14 and am curious if other people share an interest in the genre.

Does anyone have an interest in blues music and blues musicans in general? I know a bit of the history and would love to share and discover more with other people, whatever your taste or preference.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dkftesK2dck

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bXqxXrjoOf0

[Blackscare]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5AVd5RVukcs&feature=related


I picked this song because it was one of my favorites. I also picked it because, I can't bring myself to listen to it anymore. It's not just about the lyrics (although they pertain to the problem), it's about the situation involved that literally ruined this song for me while it was playing in the background.

[pastradamus]

Great stuff from the OP, Im a HUGE hendrix fan. But From the blues perspective Im also a fan of Dylan, Rory Gallagher and Robert Johnson.

[Veg_Athei_Socialist]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JB2POWSnStU

A truly amazing song.

[The Ben G]

The blues is fantastic. Muddy Waters is up there with Lemmy and Jello in my book.

[Communist]

.

For contemporary electric blues I recommend Canned Heat, their albums from 1988 on in particular, but most of what's on youtube is from their '60's and '70's period (their greatest commercial success was from lineups back then but I much prefer their later and current music). Here's a couple of Canned Heat's more recent tracks:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kq_8FDA5GxU
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-eoevD9GHc4&feature=related

.

[Who?]

Anything Clapton is pretty decent, try listening to some of his Cream work.

[Buffalo Souljah]

Great stuff from the OP, Im a HUGE hendrix fan. But From the blues perspective Im also a fan of Dylan, Rory Gallagher and Robert Johnson.

Thanks man. It's a hard genre to get into, but from a certain point on it's just smooth sailing.

Well, I wouldn't really consider Bob Dylan to be a blues musician. True, he wrote "All Along the Watchtower", but then who wouldn't after reading Isaiah? As far as Robert Johnson goes, what little remains of him musically (which is not much, he had only two recording sessions) is right up there with the cream of the crop.

A line from a program I put together:

Though his life was short-lived (he died at 27), Robert Johnson nevertheless managed to become one of the most prolific blues musicians of his time, having issued at least 6 race records during his life. According to Wikipedia, Race records "were 78 rpm gramophone records made by and for African Americans during the early 20th century, particularly during the 1920s and 1930s. They primarily contained race music, which comprised a variety of African American genres music such as blues, jazz, and gospel music, but many also contained comedy. Race records were marketed by Okeh Records, Emerson Records, Vocalion Records, Victor Talking Machine Company, and several other companies."

Says Lawrence Kahn, Sony music executive, 'there's a possibility Johnson's 1936-37 recordings were speeded up, since the OKeh/Vocalion family of labels, which originally issued the material, was 'notorious' for altering the speed of its releases.' Apparantly this is something many blues, country and gospel musicians experienced during their recording sessions. We may have been listening to Robert Johnson playing much faster than he ever did in reality! And this from a man already known to have sold his soul to the devil.
5AVd5RVukcs


I picked this song because it was one of my favorites. I also picked it because, I can't bring myself to listen to it anymore. It's not just about the lyrics (although they pertain to the problem), it's about the situation involved that literally ruined this song for me while it was playing in the background.

Yeah man, I understand what you mean. That music can sometimes have such a powerful and moving effect means that it's not something to fuck around with! And life can be so trying sometimes, the blues make it easier to bear. There's that quote by Camus, "Simple music is the hardest music to play and blues is simple music." That speaks the truth, I think, right on the money!


The blues is fantastic. Muddy Waters is up there with Lemmy and Jello in my book.

Yeah, that's Chicago blues right there. Check out Howlin' Wolf, he's dead now, but he was something different. His sound's alot rougher than Muddy's.

Here's a good one of his: http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x1gut3_howlin-wolf-evil_music



Anything Clapton is pretty decent, try listening to some of his Cream work.
I never did get into Cream, or Eric Clapton for that matter, but I did have a friend once who could play "Tears from Heaven", though I never really liked the song. Anyway, that stuff is certainly alot better than the shit you hear on the radio today, that goes without saying!

[Os Cangaceiros]

5AVd5RVukcs


I picked this song because it was one of my favorites. I also picked it because, I can't bring myself to listen to it anymore. It's not just about the lyrics (although they pertain to the problem), it's about the situation involved that literally ruined this song for me while it was playing in the background.

I saw those guys play a show in New Orleans. Really good artists.

[The Ben G]

Yeah, that's Chicago blues right there. Check out Howlin' Wolf, he's dead now, but he was something different. His sound's alot rougher than Muddy's.

Here's a good one of his: http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x1gut3_howlin-wolf-evil_music

Thanks for the Turn on. Howlin' Wolf is Fantastic.

[M-26-7]

I think my favorite electric blues artist has to be Magic Sam. He just barely edges out Howlin' Wolf for me. Real Chicago blues with a heavy dose of soul:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iL3vv1qVZrw

Too bad I lent that CD to someone and never got it back.

Also, check out this list of the top 100 blues albums (http://digitaldreamdoor.nutsie.com/pages/best_bluesalbddd.html), where Magic Sam's West Side Soul takes the #2 spot.

[Communist]

I think my favorite electric blues artist has to be Magic Sam. He just barely edges out Howlin' Wolf for me. Real Chicago blues with a heavy dose of soul:
Too bad I lent that CD to someone and never got it back.
Also, check out this list of the top 100 blues albums (http://digitaldreamdoor.nutsie.com/pages/best_bluesalbddd.html), where Magic Sam's West Side Soul takes the #2 spot.
I bought that cd a couple years ago based on all the rave reviews. I listened to it a few times and liked it but didn't get what was especially great about it; it really seemed to be fairly standard electric blues of it's time. But I must have missed something. I'll have to pull it out this weekend at some point and listen again, because not that many people would swear by "West Side Soul" if there wasn't something to it.

.

[Fawkes]

Here's a grocery list of some of my favorite blues artists:
Son House, Charley Patton, Bukka White, Robert Johnson, Little Walter, Taj Mahal, Mississippi Sheiks, Bessie Smith, Ma Rainey, Leadbelly, T-Bone Walker

This is not an attempt to show off any knowledge, just some good musicians worth checking out. I'll post more in depth when I have more time, cause I love the blues, but those are all people definitely worthy of listening to.

Another music genre largely unknown in mainstream circles sans the white stripes (who are fucking sick) is punk blues, or whatever you want to call it. bands like the gun club, the gories, the flat duo jets and the cramps (both more rockabilly, but whatever), blues explosion, immortal lee county killers are all really awesome bands that combine the two genres together in addition to bringing a bunch of other crazy shit in, but defninitely worth checking out. Like I said, I'll post again later when I have more time

[Veg_Athei_Socialist]

Mississippi John Hurt - You got to Walk That Lonesome Valley

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v-GN-BP_Qlk

His guitar playing is magnificent.



Here's a grocery list of some of my favorite blues artists:
Son House, Charley Patton, Bukka White, Robert Johnson, Little Walter, Taj Mahal, Mississippi Sheiks, Bessie Smith, Ma Rainey, Leadbelly, T-Bone Walker

This is not an attempt to show off any knowledge, just some good musicians worth checking out. I'll post more in depth when I have more time, cause I love the blues, but those are all people definitely worthy of listening to.

Another music genre largely unknown in mainstream circles sans the white stripes (who are fucking sick) is punk blues, or whatever you want to call it. bands like the gun club, the gories, the flat duo jets and the cramps (both more rockabilly, but whatever), blues explosion, immortal lee county killers are all really awesome bands that combine the two genres together in addition to bringing a bunch of other crazy shit in, but defninitely worth checking out. Like I said, I'll post again later when I have more time
Great List! Some others worth checking out are Albert King, B.B. King, Big Joe Williams, Blind Lemon Jefferson, Blind Willie Johnson, Blind Willie McTell, Buddy Guy, Elmore James, Eric Clapton, Howlin' Wolf, James Cotton, Jimmy Reed, John Lee Hooker, Johnny Winter, Junior Wells, Lightnin' Hopkins, Mike Bloomfield, Mississippi Fred McDowell, Mississippi John Hurt, Muddy Waters, Skip James and Son Jack Jr.

[Y Chwyldro Comiwnyddol Cymraeg]

Ah a blues thread, great stuff.

Not all depressing (ok most is but this one for example isnt)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v2Xrxqt3ovE


Some other favourites are..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GID8SPUMDxQ

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AFcgVJjzwao

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6jCNXASjzMY

[Communist]

.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x3rLYwmDKaw
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W60qjCdMRvA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=54GNI2K3-ec
The last of the original Delta bluesmen, still playing at 95, David 'Honeyboy' Edwards (http://www.davidhoneyboyedwards.com/):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lrBinQB0E6k

.

[Os Cangaceiros]

Another music genre largely unknown in mainstream circles sans the white stripes (who are fucking sick) is punk blues, or whatever you want to call it. bands like the gun club, the gories, the flat duo jets and the cramps (both more rockabilly, but whatever), blues explosion, immortal lee county killers are all really awesome bands that combine the two genres together in addition to bringing a bunch of other crazy shit in, but defninitely worth checking out. Like I said, I'll post again later when I have more time

Clutch is another band that has some songs with a similar sound in regards to what you're talking about.

[Fawkes]

Clutch is another band that has some songs with a similar sound in regards to what you're talking about.

Nice, I've never heard em, but I'll check em out.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VjRn7_cC8N4
This song is amazing not only because it is musically a great song, but because of the fact that in 1928 a woman already suspected of having "lesbian tendencies" would release a song saying "she doesn't like men" and if you got a problem you gotta "prove it on me". Kickass song from a kickass singer.

[brigadista]

dont forget

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zYrVwGxlcFA&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5hYBgpZdbKM&feature=related




and

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RNDJF4azgog&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ySfSqpSeHk


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-C4lYGJm-KQ&feature=related