Tuesday, March 19, 2024

Top 50 Blues Albums of All Time

Blues:

The Top 50 Albums

This list started as a post on the DMDB Facebook page (Top 10 Blues and Blues/Rock Albums) on 2/23/2010. The list has since been expanded by aggregating more than 50 lists focused on blues and blues/rock albums. This list focuses on those albums which scored higher on the blues lists. Albums which made three or more lists were then sorted by overall status in Dave’s Music Database.

Check out other best-of-genre/category lists here.

1. Robert Johnson The Complete Recordings (compilation: 1936-37, released 1990)
2. Howlin’ Wolf Moanin’ in the Moonlight/Howlin’ Wolf (aka ‘The Rockin’ Chair Album’) (compilations: 1951-62, released in 1959 and 1962) *
3. Bessie Smith The Essential (compilation: 1923-1933, released 1997)
4. B.B. King Live at the Regal (live, 1964)
5. John Mayall & the Blues Breakers Blues Breakers with Eric Clapton (1966)
6. Stevie Ray Vaughan & Double Trouble Texas Flood (1983)
7. Charlie Patton Founder of the Delta Blues (compilation: 1929-34, released 1969)
8. Muddy Waters At Newport (live, 1960)
9. Robert Cray Strong Persuader (1986)
10. Albert King Born Under a Bad Sign (1967)

11. Eric Clapton: From the Cradle (1994)
12. Bobby “Blue” Bland Two Steps from the Blues (1956-60)
13. Willie Dixon/various artists The Chess Box (compilation: 1951-69, released 1988)
14. Elmore James The Sky Is Crying – The History of (compilation: 1951-63, released 1993)
15. Junior Wells Hoodoo Man Blues (1965)
16. Paul Butterfield Blues Band Paul Butterfield Blues Band (1965)
17. Muddy Waters The Chess Box (compilation: 1947-72 released 1989)
18. Skip James The Complete Early Recordings (compilation: 1930-31, released 1994)
19. Howlin’ Wolf His Best: The Chess 50th Anniversary Collection (compilation: 1951-64, released 1997)
20. Little Walter His Best: The Chess 50th Anniversary Collection (compilation: 1952-60, released 1997)

21. Howlin’ Wolf The Chess Box (compilation: 1951-73, released 1991)
22. Magic Sam West Side Soul (1967)
23. Albert Collins Ice Pickin’ (1978)
24. B.B. King Live in Cook County Jail (live: 1970, released 1971)
25. B.B. King His Definitive Greatest Hits (compilation: 1951-93, released 1999)
26. Etta James At Last (1961)
27. Muddy Waters Folk Singer (1964)
28. Muddy Waters Hard Again (1977)
29. Muddy Waters The Anthology (compilation: 1947-72, released 2001)
30. John Lee Hooker The Legendary Modern Recordings (compilation: 1948-54, released 1993)

31. Memphis Minnie Bumble Bee: The Essential Recordings (compilation: 1929-41, released 1997)
32. B.B. King Singin’ the Blues (1956)
33. Albert King Live Wire/Blues Power (1968)
34. T-Bone Walker T-Bone Blues (1959)
35. Blind Lemon Jefferson King of the Country Blues (compilation: 1926-29, released 1990)
36. Gary Moore Still Got the Blues (1990)
37. Robert Cray Bad Influence (1983)
38. Sonny Boy Williamson II Down and Out Blues (1959)
39. Blind Lemon Jefferson Best of (compilation, released 2000)
40. Gus Cannon’s Jug Stompers Best of (compilation: 1928-30, released 2001)

41. Mississippi Fred McDowell I Do Not Play No Rock and Roll (1969)
42. Huddie “Leadbelly” Ledbetter King of the 12-String Guitar (recorded 1935, released 1991)
43. Albert Collins with Robert Cray & Johnny Copeland Showdown! (1985)
44. Freddy King Let’s Hide Away and Dance (1961)
45. Otis Spann Is the Blues (1960)
46. Willie Dixon I Am the Blues (1970)
47. Magic Sam Black Magic (1968)
48. Hound Dog Taylor & the Houserockers Hound Dog Taylor & the Houserockers (1971)
49. Sonny Boy Williamson II His Best (compilation: 1955-65, released 1986)
50. Freddy King Freddy King Sings (1961)

* These were initially released as two separate albums, but are now typically packaged together.


Resources and Related Links:


Lists Focused on Blues Albums:


First posted 9/10/2018; last updated 3/19/2024.

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