Electric Blues Recommendations

[Face of the Bass]

I need to expand my understanding of blues music from the 1940s and 1950s especially. All that I have in this direction is the five disc Chess box set that samples that label's output. Any other recommendations are very much welcome. I have a preference for box sets just because I like methods of chronicling the music that are more thorough and comprehensive.

Thanks!

[Jim R]

T-Bone Walker would be a good place to start, imo.

[StarThrower]

I second the T-Bone Walker. He's one of the major cats who came up in the 40s and influenced legions of guitarists.

Get some 50s BB King too.

[JSngry]

[JSngry]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=usyTlQ5hLAw

[cih]

not sure if box sets are the best/easiest way to go with this particular genre - though there are some handy things on JSP, eg:

Edited March 1, 2013 by cih

[robertoart]

Edited March 1, 2013 by freelancer

[Face of the Bass]

Where might be the best place to start with T-Bone Walker? The OOP Mosaic is prohibitively expensive...

[Joe]

T-Bone's Imperial recordings are pretty essential, and remain in-print... http://www.amazon.com/Imperial-Recordings-T-Bone-Walker/dp/B00000DRCV

As a single-disc summary of T-Bone's whole thing, his Atlantic LP is not a bad way to go:

If you can find the non-Mosaic issue of his Capitol / Black & White recordings (used copies turn up every now and again, and there's always iTunes)...

Oh, and as far as Lightnin' Hopkins goes...

Edited March 1, 2013 by Joe

[The Magnificent Goldberg]

Yes to all the above, plus

Lowell Fulson

Jimmy Dawkins

Buddy Guy

Howlin' Wolf

Otis Rush!!!!!!

MG

[robertoart]

Yes to all the above, plus

Lowell Fulson

Jimmy Dawkins

Buddy Guy

Howlin' Wolf

Otis Rush!!!!!!

MG

Quite the Electric Blues aficionado now MG

[skeith]

T-Bone's Imperial recordings are pretty essential, and remain in-print... http://www.amazon.com/Imperial-Recordings-T-Bone-Walker/dp/B00000DRCV

As a single-disc summary of T-Bone's whole thing, his Atlantic LP is not a bad way to go:

If you can find the non-Mosaic issue of his Capitol / Black & White recordings (used copies turn up every now and again, and there's always iTunes)...

Oh, and as far as Lightnin' Hopkins goes...

A lot of the Capitol and Imperial sides of T-Bone are included in a 2 cd best of on Rockbeat Records for a good price and excellent sound which I pointed out in a thread here on Recommendations some time ago.

No electric blues collection would be complete without B.B. King and Muddy Waters - stick to the earlier stuff

[cih]

Otis Rush!!!!!!

this:

[.:.impossible]

I can't look at that MOJO HAND cover without thinking of clem.

[robertoart]

[Joe]

There was also a Cobra Records box set that was released in the early / mid-90s that's worth finding in used condition.

Failing that, this Fuel 2000 collection looks to contian much of the same material...

In fact, that entire series looks pretty promising (volumes covering Enjoy, Chief...)

[paul secor]

Second Joe's rec. of the Cobra Records Singles - good way to get a taste of early Otis Rush, Magic Sam, Buddy Guy, & others.

And Joe's recs. of T-Bone's Imperial and Atlantic recordings.

Joe Knows!

Some other recs.:

Muddy Waters: Anthology 1947-1972 (Chess)

Elmore James: Classic Early Recordngs (Ace)

3 CD box, but cheap at less than $25 and you can't miss with Elmore.

Little Walter: His Best - Chess 50th Anniversary Collection

Sonny Boy Williamson II (Rice Miller): His Best - Chess 50th Anniversary Collection)

Jimmy Reed: Ain't That Lovin' You Baby (Jasmine)

Freddy King: Blues Guitar Hero (Ace)

This material is available in other forms, but this has the best sound.

Robert Nighthawk: Bricks in My Pillow (Delmark)

Guitar Slim: Sufferin' Mind (Specialty)

Two very fine mid-60s recordings:

Magic Sam: West Side Soul (Delmark)

Buddy Guy: A Man and the Blues (Vanguard)

Edited March 1, 2013 by paul secor

[cih]

Electric..

[Jim R]

Paul, great list there @ post 17. Very close to what I would have listed, if I hadn't been too lazy.

[paul secor]

Face, you've already received enough suggestions to keep you busy (and broke), but here are a few more:

John Lee Hooker: Legendary Modern Recordings 1948-1954 (Ace)

There are a million or so Hooker records out there. These are some of his earliest and rawest recordings.

Slim Harpo: Best Of (Hip-O)

Gatemouth Brown: Original Peacock Recordings (Rounder)

Johnny "Guitar" Watson: Space Guitar (Varese Fontana)

[cih]

Edited March 1, 2013 by cih

[Joe]

If we want to go full-on 60s classics...

[marcello]

[John Litweiler]

There's so much good music, Face, and some of the best is on Little Walter's recordings of the early-to-mid-1950s. He could manipulate the harmonica and hand-held microphone together to make thoroughly original sounds, and creative music with those sounds. "Blue Lights" is an especially wild example of electric harmonica and other period pieces like "Juke," "Blues w/a Feeling," etc. sound like nobody else (apart from a few fleeting Little Walter-influenced guys). Nicely structured harmoica solos, too, partly vbecause of drummer Fred Below's interplay. Dave Waldman, the blues d.j. at WHPK, points out that a lot of Walter's phrasing and repertoire originated in big-band swing recordings of the 1930s and early '40s.

Beware later Little Walter recordings, though. Dave said that one day (late '50s? definitely 1960s.) engineers began telling Walter to stand back from the mike. From then on his harmonica sound was like other guys' harmonica sound.

[Neal Pomea]

Paul made some great recs! Will check them out myself.

Also, Lightnin' Slim Excello label reissued on Ace, recorded in Crowley LA for J.D. Miller

Edited March 1, 2013 by Neal Pomea