There's large congruence in your list and my choices... either we are both choosers of excellence or victims of cosmic comedies. I won't tell you which of yours I would replace, but I'd be sure my list included Mister Charles because - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xhzO9MiNafY - I've never seen better than this. It makes my soul feel totally at home. :)
I can't resist adding my top blues albums. For this list, I'm focusing mainly on the "West Side " Chicago Blues sound-- unlike Muddy Waters and Howlin Wolf, the West Siders had a more "tough" and electric sound. Heavier, and yet some really nice jazz-inspired drumming. (FWIW- Fred Below, the chicago drummer, is, in my book, the most important Chicago Blues musician of all time...)
1. Hoodoo Man Blues (Jr. Wells and Buddy Guy) Perhaps the tightest and most packed blues album of 3 (or so) minute songs. I know Ihat Derek has a T-shirt with this album cover on it. It has a You Don't Love me.
(There is a live album from 1976 and the studio album "Cold Day in Hell" featuring the same band.)
3. Etta James: Rocks the House: A very raw live set (in contrast the the smoother studio work of hers.) There are still some pop covers, but Etta also really opens up a vein on some of these tracks. Check out the Sweet Little Angel:
5. Magic Sam-- early years. A seriously underated player that tragically died young when he was first starting to get attention. He had a wonderful tone.
6. Luther Allison: Where have you been? Another great west side player. (He later went to Motown and working more funk into his playing. ) This album has highlights from two decades of live shows: SOme tracks follow:
7. Earl Hooker: Two Bugs and a Roach. Hooker was a guitarist's guitarist-- his slide technique was incredibly clear. The title track refers to his struggle with Tuberculosis which eventually took his life.
8. Andrew BB" "Big Voice Odom" guested on many albums during the late 60s and 70s, and is, IMO, the greatest blues singer EVER. He makes chords with his voice-- sort of like Bobby Bland on steroids. A couple of tracks of his to get started.
9. Jimmy Dawkins: Hot Wire 81 Jimmy Dawkins was another major player in the West Side circuit, and had a very rugged, electric style. He had a great drummer for this session:
A. Jr. Wells: I could have had Religion: This isn't really a long, but an unbelievably heavy 3 minute groove I never tire of. This truly "changed the way I listened to music"- and is what hooked me on the West Side sound. (Although, to be honest, the album is called "Southside Blues Jam")
B: Buddy Guy: One Room Country Shack: I REALLY wish the ABB gave this a treatment like Dreams-- it has a meditative, triplet driven groove that I get lost in.
C: I have to admit that I never really got into any of Eddy Clearwater's studio albums, but this live version of Black Night is Falling makes the hairs on the back of my neck stand up.
(This is a part of several live albums recorded in West side clubs in 70s- if you like you blues uncut with rough edges, this series is worth checking out. )
D: Odetta was known of a fold singer, but her cover of "House of the Rising Sun" is unreal. An acoustic backing, but she provides the electricity with her voice.
Hey Bob...Imma gonna chime in my top five blues LPs
1. Muddy Waters - Folk Singer
2. Lighting Hopkins - Goin' Away
3. Taj Mahal - Labor of Love
4. Albert King - Live Wire/Blues Power
5. John Lee Hooker - It Serve You Right To
It's tough to try and boil down to a top 5...so many great albums. Of course, there is the one and only Allman Brothers Band my all-time favorite. But the list is just giving some others a spotlight.
Layla for those classic blues tracks. I listen to Blues Breakers With EC all the time. Hard Again and Nothin But the Blues, Muddy Waters and Johnny Winter.
Just one off the top, John lee hooker at Whiskey au go go
nice! don’t leave me hanging, what are your other top 5? 🍄
BB. King live at the Regal
Albert king- Blues Power
SRV and Albert King-In Session
BB King and Bobby Blue Bland- Together for the First Time
killer list
Excellent choices. How did I know Fillmore East would be there?
I'm remarkably consistent when it comes to this stuff, ain't I?
There's large congruence in your list and my choices... either we are both choosers of excellence or victims of cosmic comedies. I won't tell you which of yours I would replace, but I'd be sure my list included Mister Charles because - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xhzO9MiNafY - I've never seen better than this. It makes my soul feel totally at home. :)
outstanding.
I can't resist adding my top blues albums. For this list, I'm focusing mainly on the "West Side " Chicago Blues sound-- unlike Muddy Waters and Howlin Wolf, the West Siders had a more "tough" and electric sound. Heavier, and yet some really nice jazz-inspired drumming. (FWIW- Fred Below, the chicago drummer, is, in my book, the most important Chicago Blues musician of all time...)
1. Hoodoo Man Blues (Jr. Wells and Buddy Guy) Perhaps the tightest and most packed blues album of 3 (or so) minute songs. I know Ihat Derek has a T-shirt with this album cover on it. It has a You Don't Love me.
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?app=desktop&list=PLL-NbN8uTOijR_fFDGIk_7nhPnIAyTxbk
2. Otis Rush: Live in Europe: This is the blues album I'd recommend to ABB fans. Lots of long jamming and a very tight, intricate rhythm section.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D9l21pycE3c&t=914s
(There is a live album from 1976 and the studio album "Cold Day in Hell" featuring the same band.)
3. Etta James: Rocks the House: A very raw live set (in contrast the the smoother studio work of hers.) There are still some pop covers, but Etta also really opens up a vein on some of these tracks. Check out the Sweet Little Angel:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zvveiP1-W-o&list=PLeaHT5Uc2MyMCg4BH21U7igzJVsuZcYMk&index=6
4. BUddy Guy: Stone Crazy This album was cut live in the studio during a European tour in the late 70s and Buddy simply tears it up.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HQLRHv59qdI
5. Magic Sam-- early years. A seriously underated player that tragically died young when he was first starting to get attention. He had a wonderful tone.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LG6noRltNco&list=OLAK5uy_mFX--uZ_28YYVBccRSj6Mt3fVZO34D2hI
6. Luther Allison: Where have you been? Another great west side player. (He later went to Motown and working more funk into his playing. ) This album has highlights from two decades of live shows: SOme tracks follow:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mXGRKjDqdhY
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G0HAxWhpKIQ
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fgJxrML1_Kg
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kjJOTXgGgIg
7. Earl Hooker: Two Bugs and a Roach. Hooker was a guitarist's guitarist-- his slide technique was incredibly clear. The title track refers to his struggle with Tuberculosis which eventually took his life.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D-wih9E5W58&list=OLAK5uy_nsxcy3ZQHcuwrBV0iElJiQia7K1dyVAmg
8. Andrew BB" "Big Voice Odom" guested on many albums during the late 60s and 70s, and is, IMO, the greatest blues singer EVER. He makes chords with his voice-- sort of like Bobby Bland on steroids. A couple of tracks of his to get started.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sQ_3WxHYM28 (Guitarist on this track is Jimmy Johnson- who is also worth checking out. )
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c65q1x_ehBk
9. Jimmy Dawkins: Hot Wire 81 Jimmy Dawkins was another major player in the West Side circuit, and had a very rugged, electric style. He had a great drummer for this session:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5dQpgSQh8RU
10. Some odds and ends.
A. Jr. Wells: I could have had Religion: This isn't really a long, but an unbelievably heavy 3 minute groove I never tire of. This truly "changed the way I listened to music"- and is what hooked me on the West Side sound. (Although, to be honest, the album is called "Southside Blues Jam")
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AOTa9Qwyans
B: Buddy Guy: One Room Country Shack: I REALLY wish the ABB gave this a treatment like Dreams-- it has a meditative, triplet driven groove that I get lost in.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lAiW-nLzFDo.
C: I have to admit that I never really got into any of Eddy Clearwater's studio albums, but this live version of Black Night is Falling makes the hairs on the back of my neck stand up.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LP-AOrjWh_s
(This is a part of several live albums recorded in West side clubs in 70s- if you like you blues uncut with rough edges, this series is worth checking out. )
D: Odetta was known of a fold singer, but her cover of "House of the Rising Sun" is unreal. An acoustic backing, but she provides the electricity with her voice.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t7ekfLYNIFI
outstanding John. thank you!
Hey Bob...Imma gonna chime in my top five blues LPs
1. Muddy Waters - Folk Singer
2. Lighting Hopkins - Goin' Away
3. Taj Mahal - Labor of Love
4. Albert King - Live Wire/Blues Power
5. John Lee Hooker - It Serve You Right To
It's tough to try and boil down to a top 5...so many great albums. Of course, there is the one and only Allman Brothers Band my all-time favorite. But the list is just giving some others a spotlight.
5. John Lee Hooker - It Serve You Right To Suffer
sufferin' like my writing tonight
outstanding. thanks for sharing.
Thanks for the shout out. Always love these lists.
Side 1 of T Fillmore East is all you need.
Layla for those classic blues tracks. I listen to Blues Breakers With EC all the time. Hard Again and Nothin But the Blues, Muddy Waters and Johnny Winter.