This list started as a post on the DMDB Facebook page (Top 10 Blues and Blues/Rock Albums) on 2/23/2010. It has been expanded and refocused on just blues albums, although some albums still making the cut are arguably more in the blues/rock genre (Rolling Stones, ZZ Top, Stevie Ray Vaughan).
The list was created, as are most DMDB lists, by aggregating multiple best-of lists (see sources at bottom of page), both those focused specifically on the blues and those on all albums regardless of genre, alongside sales, chart data, and album ratings.
Also, check out other best-of-genre lists here.
1. Robert Johnson The Complete Recordings (compilation: 1936-37, released 1990)
2. B.B. King Live at the Regal (live, 1964)
3. John Mayall & the Blues Breakers Blues Breakers with Eric Clapton (1966)
4. The Rolling Stones The Rolling Stones (aka ‘England’s Newest Hitmakers’) (1964)
5. Stevie Ray Vaughan & Double Trouble Texas Flood (1983)
6. Howlin’ Wolf Moanin’ in the Moonlight/Howlin’ Wolf (aka ‘The Rockin’ Chair Album’) (compilations: 1951-62, released in 1959 and 1962) *
7. Bessie Smith The Essential (compilation: 1923-1933, released 1997)
8. Muddy Waters At Newport (1960)
9. ZZ Top Tres Hombres (1973)
10. Bobby “Blue” Bland Two Steps from the Blues (1956-60)
11. Eric Clapton: From the Cradle (1994)
12. Albert King Born Under a Bad Sign (1967)
13. Junior Wells Hoodoo Man Blues (1965)
14. Eric Clapton & B.B. King Riding with the King (2000)
15. Robert Cray Strong Persuader (1986)
16. Muddy Waters Best of/His Best 1947-55 (compilations: 1947-55, released 1958 and 1997)
17. Charlie Patton Founder of the Delta Blues (compilation: 1929-34, released 1969)
18. Paul Butterfield Blues Band Paul Butterfield Blues Band (1965)
19. Willie Dixon/various artists The Chess Box (compilation: 1951-69, released 1988)
20. Magic Sam West Side Soul (1967)
21. Albert Collins Ice Pickin’ (1978)
22. Stevie Ray Vaughan & Double Trouble In Step (1989)
23. Eric Clapton Me and Mr. Johnson (covers: 2004)
24. Muddy Waters Hard Again (1977)
25. Elmore James The Sky Is Crying – The History of (compilation: 1951-63, released 1993)
26. Howlin’ Wolf The Chess Box (compilation: 1951-73, released 1991)
27. Rory Gallagher Irish Tour ’74 (live: 1974)
28. Stevie Ray Vaughan & Double Trouble Couldn’t Stand the Weather (1984)
29. Skip James The Complete Early Recordings (compilation: 1930, released 1994)
30. B.B. King Live in Cook County Jail (live: 1970, released 1971)
31. Muddy Waters Folksinger (1964)
32. Paul Butterfield Blues Band East West (1966)
33. Big Joe Turner Boss of the Blues (1956)
34. Muddy Waters The Real Folk Blues (compilation: 1947-64, released 1966)
35. Blind Willie Johnson Praise God I’m Satisfied (compilation: 1927-30, released 1977)
36. B.B. King Singin’ the Blues (1956)
37. John Lee Hooker The Ultimate Collection (compilation: 1948-90, released 1991)
38. Albert King Live Wire/Blues Power (1968)
39. Ry Cooder Paradise and Lunch (1974)
40. Little Walter His Best – Chess 50th Anniversary Collection (compilation: 1952-60, released 1997)
41. Robert Cray Bad Influence (1983)
42. Blind Lemon Jefferson King of the Country Blues (compilation: 1926-29, released 1990)
43. Johnny Winter The Progressive Blues Experiment (1968)
44. Mississippi Fred McDowell I Do Not Play No Rock and Roll (1969)
45. Sonny Boy Williamson II Down and Out Blues (1959)
46. Gary Moore Still Got the Blues (1990)
47. T-Bone Walker T-Bone Blues (1959)
48. Henry Thomas Texas Worried Blues – Complete Recorded Works (compilation: 1927-29, released 1975)
49. Otis Spann Is the Blues (1960)
50. The Blues Brothers The Blues Brothers (soundtrack, 1980)
* These were initially released as two separate albums, but are now typically packaged together.
Resources and Related Links:
- Dave’s Music Database: other best-of-genre lists
- All About Blues Music: “Twenty Best Blues Albums”
- Best Ever Albums (1/18/2017). “Greatest Blues Albums”
- Chron (9/29/2007). “Texas-Style Blue: Here Are 75 Essential Albms” by Andrew Dansby
- Digital Dream Door (2/16/2007). “100 Greatest Blues Albums” edited by Rick Varner
- Downbeat (Sept. 2003). “The Top 50 Blues Albums of the Past 50 Years”
List created by surveying approximately 80 musicians, journalists, and record company personnel for their top 5 albums.
- Guitar World (1997). “Greatest Blues Albums Ever, As Chosen by Haynes, Perry and Other Guitar Greats” by Alan Paul
As a writer for Guitar World, Paul solicited best-of lists from Gregg Allman, Lonnie Brooks, Ronnie Earl, David Grissom, Dave Myers, Joe Perry, Warren Haynes, Otis Rush, John Scofield, Izzy Stradlin, Steve Vai, Jimmie Vaughan, and Joe Louis Walker.
- JustinGuitar.com: “Top 10 Blues Albums”
- LiveAbout.com (4/24/2018). “12 Best Blues Albums for Beginners” by Reverend Keith A. Gordon
- Mojo (2001). “The Ultimate CD Buyers Guide: Blues”
- MusicAficionado.com: “Kenny Wayne Shepherd Picks His Top 10 Blues Albums of All Time” by Joe Bosso
- MusicRadar.com (6/12/2011). “Billy Gibbons’ 10 Favourite Blues Albums of All Time” by Joe Bosso
- Q Magazine (May 2005). “75 Blues Greats: The Best Blues Albums”
Compiled by the staff writers at Q and Mojo magazines.
- Q Magazine (April 2005). “The Ultimate Music Collection: blues”
- RateYourMusic.com: “Name of Article”
RYM user erikfish compiled 10 lists from books, magazines, and websites and combined them into one list, including each album appearing on two or more of the lists.
- Rolling Stone (2/13/2014). “The Blues Albums on Rolling Stone’s ‘500 Greatest Albums of All Time’ List”
The Speak the Blues blog keyed in on the 21 blues albums on Rolling Stone’s 500 albums list.
- Socurrent.com: “Top Ten Blues Albums of All Time”
- Stuff.co.nz (6/18/2014). “Ten Important Blues Albums” by Simon Sweetman
- Vinyl Me Please (8/22/2016). “The 10 Best Blues Albums for Beginners to Own on Vinyl” by Dan Reilly
|
No comments:
Post a Comment