Elmore James - Wow!

[alexanderzz]

That's it really.

I'd never really listened to any of the bluesmen of that period but came across a CD for £2.99 the other day and have to say I'm pretty impressed. Also checked out some Howlin' Wolf and hey - what a voice!

[Not_the_DJ]

Yeah there's some great stuff from those orignal bluesmen, and bargin CDs these days.

That's the the stuff that Clapton, Beck, Page, Green, The Stones etc etc were listening too back then...always interesting to go back to the source material.

[Pyroman]

Wow indeed! The man who originally wrote "The Sky is Cryin'".

Some other good ones are: Hounddog Taylor, Son House, and Albert King.

[Neil.C]

Love that stuff.

EJ's version of dust my broom is the definitive IMO.

The list of quality bluesmen is large and I guess a good way to get into it is with those reasonably priced CD's.

My all time favourite is Muddy Waters.

[Dulcetjones]

+1 Muddy Waters, check out "At Newport", a live album recorded in 1960, a little newer and more electric, but great. In the older blues there are so many, James Cotton, B B King......Over the years I've picked up great deals on LP's at yard sales etc., and more recently CD's at Dollar Stores.

[erictheweary]

I think its helpful to remember that these were artists recording singles for often quite small markets. So when you buy an Elmore James or Howling Wolf compilation they can sound a bit samey, but this was never how they were intended to be listened to.

Some of the lesser known players were great too like Magic Sam and I have always liked Otis Rush - much darker sounding than a lot of the Chicago guys and a big influence on the 60's blues boom. Ike Turner played on some of his early recordings as well and, legend has it,played some of the parts using the bar on his strat. To recreate these live Otis had to learn to do huge bends (and how thick were guitar strings in the late 50's?) so developed awesome bending and vibrato.

[jim222]

I think its helpful to remember that these were artists recording singles for often quite small markets. So when you buy an Elmore James or Howling Wolf compilation they can sound a bit samey, but this was never how they were intended to be listened to.

Some of the lesser known players were great too like Magic Sam and I have always liked Otis Rush - much darker sounding than a lot of the Chicago guys and a big influence on the 60's blues boom. Ike Turner played on some of his early recordings as well and, legend has it,played some of the parts using the bar on his strat. To recreate these live Otis had to learn to do huge bends (and how thick were guitar strings in the late 50's?) so developed awesome bending and vibrato.

+1

Magic Sam's "west side soul" album is a gem and a true blues album as it was recorded as one.

My person favourite is Junior Wells "Hoodoo Man Blues" Buddy Guy is on great form also.

[TheGuitarWeasel]

One of my favourites is Arthur 'Big Boy' Crudup. Many people cite him as the missing link between blues R&B and rock and roll. He's the man who wrote That's All Right Mama ... way before Elvis sung it.

[richardhomer]

One of my favourites is Arthur 'Big Boy' Crudup. Many people cite him as the missing link between blues R&B and rock and roll. He's the man who wrote That's All Right Mama ... way before Elvis sung it.

That's fantastic. Thanks for posting.

[TheGuitarWeasel]

Robert Pete Williams ... someone you don't hear much about ... the timing is killer.