Electric Blues Recommendations

[Big Beat Steve]

The blues elements found in his music are so familiar to me, being an American who has grown up listening to American music, but there is an element to his voice and his guitar that feels otherworldly and immortal. It can't possibly get any better than this, can it?

I depends on the direction you want to pursue to go from there in your quest for "raw vocals and slide guitar" ... (not "better" in the strictest sense of the world but "evolving" ...)

I have a hunch you could do worse than to check out the recordings by HOUND DOG TAYLOR on the Alligator label.

Edited March 9, 2013 by Big Beat Steve

[cih]

and also JB Hutto - Hawk Squat on Delmark

[MomsMobley]

needmore has harmed many a man

thank the hell out of ya'

I was going to stay out this, knowing that you would be in good hands, but I want to expand one of cih's recommendations by saying that these two albums:

Snooky Pryor and Chicago Blues Harmonicas, both on Paula, are not only excellent musically, they're kind of "important" in terms of documenting Mississippi blues in the process of becoming Chicago blues. The Chicago Blues Harmonicas disc has further Snooky Pryor tracks not on the first album.

Edited March 9, 2013 by MomsMobley

[Quincy]

So, a first observation as I begin to absorb the music I bought as a result of this thread:

Elmore James. Holy shit, Elmore James....I just keep replaying it and replaying it. The blues elements found in his music are so familiar to me, being an American who has grown up listening to American music, but there is an element to his voice and his guitar that feels otherworldly and immortal. It can't possibly get any better than this, can it?

Or maybe as an American listening to British musicians who listened to American music. Brian Jones was so blown away by Elmore James that when Keith met him he was calling himself Elmore Lewis. I had the same experience with that set you're wearing out - it's music that won't let go of you. It's different but Howlin' Wolf shares some of the raw-electric charismatic qualities. There is a Hip-O Select 4 disc Part 1 set that has likely gotten expensive, but because of its release perhaps the earlier box now costs less on the used market. I've been continuing on in the acoustic area but may have to add a little more electric into my listening thanks to this thread.

[John L]

It's great that Elmore grabbed you. But don't give up on the rest just yet. Some blues takes a bit longer to dig into your soul, but the wait is worth it.

[Face of the Bass]

What is the best choice for James's later sessions with Fire, Enjoy, etc? It appears there are a number of different collections out there.

Edited March 10, 2013 by Face of the Bass

[paul secor]

Both this one http://www.amazon.com/Complete-Enjoy-Recordings-Elmore-James/dp/B00000096W/ref=sr_1_3?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1362948452&sr=1-3&keywords=elmore+james+fire

or this one http://www.amazon.com/King-Slide-Guitar-Elmore-James/dp/B00008IUX8/ref=sr_1_2?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1362948452&sr=1-2&keywords=elmore+james+fire

seem to cover the Fire/Enjoy sessions. The second set has an extra cut.

I can't give a preference because I have an earlier set with fewer cuts and at this stage in my life I'm not about to buy the music again for a few extra tracks.

[John L]

Charly and Collectables can both really botch the sound. I have it on Charly, myself, although in a different package. The sound is OK, although probably not as good as it could be.

You will enjoy the later sessions, as they contain a good share of Elmore's all time classics. There are also the two short sessions on Chess. With those two installments, together with the box of early recordings, you will have the complete Elmore James on record.

Edited March 11, 2013 by John L

[skeith]

This would be myl first recommendation for an electric blues album to anyone just getting into the blues. This one has never been surpassed.

[paul secor]

Just to play devil's advocate, I've always thought that Blues Is King is the best live B.B. King record. Much more spontaneous than Live at the Regal - at least to my ears. That said, the sound on the MCA CD sucks. At least the version that I had did. I listen now to an import MCA LP - possibly from France, but I can't tell from the jacket and label. I'd suggest picking up an LP version, either an import or an original Bluesway, rather than getting the CD. The music is great.

Edited March 11, 2013 by paul secor

[John L]

By the way, since you are in an Elmore sort of mood, the Elmore James band backs Junior Wells on half ot the tracks on this album. The Muddy Waters band is on the other half. The music is absolutely timeless:

Edited March 11, 2013 by John L

[skeith]

Just to play devil's advocate, I've always thought that Blues Is King is the best live B.B. King record. Much more spontaneous than Live at the Regal - at least to my ears. That said, the sound on the MCA CD sucks. At least the version that I had did. I listen now to an import MCA LP - possibly from France, but I can't tell from the jacket and label. I'd suggest picking up an LP version, either an import or an original Bluesway, rather than getting the CD. The music is great.

I have Blues Is King and like it very much...but don't think it matches Live at the Regal. As you say, one problem on Blues Is King is the sound quality and IIRC the audience is much more participatory on Live at the Regal (check out the climactic moment on "How Blue Can You Get" .... I get goose bumps/ cold chills up and down my spine every time.

[John L]

My take: The guitar playing is better on Blues is King, but the singing is better on Live at the Regal. So is the atmosphere. I love them both, but if I could only have one of the two, it would be Live at the Regal.

[Dan Gould]

Count me as agreeing with Paul - Blues is King is my preference, and I've never had a complaint about the sound on my LP. Too bad if they f-ed up the CD transfer.

My transfer is part of a custom two-fer: Blues on Top of Blues, with brassy arrangements by Johnny Pate. Its a little different from his other Bluesways but I like it a lot too.

[John Litweiler]

So, a first observation as I begin to absorb the music I bought as a result of this thread:

Elmore James. Holy shit, Elmore James. Listening to the early recordings 3-cd set on Ace, and the music seems to offer an almost perfect blend of raw vocals and slide guitar. I've been listening this week to Muddy Waters, Howlin' Wolf, Little Walter, all of it so far is various degrees of good. But Elmore James is, for me, operating at another level. I've been listening to this set for the last three days, and I can't get past disc one because I just keep replaying it and replaying it. The blues elements found in his music are so familiar to me, being an American who has grown up listening to American music, but there is an element to his voice and his guitar that feels otherworldly and immortal. It can't possibly get any better than this, can it?

The desperate intensity of his singing - it's as if his very life is hanging on every phrase - is amplified by the heavy guitar reverb and the brutal simplicity of his guitar phrasing and sax-harmony accompaniment. Slow James songs and some minor-key Otis Rush Cobras are the most noir Chicago blues.

[Face of the Bass]

Continuing my journey through many of the recordings recommended in this thread, I've been listening to the T-Bone Walker Capitol recordings, and the music provides such a nice contrast from the rawer blues of some of the other guys I've been listening to. I find his playing to be so wonderfully laid back, it makes me want to relax on the couch and drink until I'm barely able to stand.

Also, I finished reading Robert Palmer's Deep Blues, which I found to be very engaging. The broad outlines of the subject were already familiar to me, but Palmer has a deft touch when it comes to humanizing his subjects, and I really appreciated that.

Next year, it looks like I'm going to be teaching at least one class on Modern U.S. history for the first time (I'm an African historian by training) and I'm already thinking of doing a major section on the blues, with an assigned book (Palmer, or something else if I can find something better for an undergraduate audience) and maybe some recordings as well.

[skeith]

Continuing my journey through many of the recordings recommended in this thread, I've been listening to the T-Bone Walker Capitol recordings, and the music provides such a nice contrast from the rawer blues of some of the other guys I've been listening to. I find his playing to be so wonderfully laid back, it makes me want to relax on the couch and drink until I'm barely able to stand.

Also, I finished reading Robert Palmer's Deep Blues, which I found to be very engaging. The broad outlines of the subject were already familiar to me, but Palmer has a deft touch when it comes to humanizing his subjects, and I really appreciated that.

Next year, it looks like I'm going to be teaching at least one class on Modern U.S. history for the first time (I'm an African historian by training) and I'm already thinking of doing a major section on the blues, with an assigned book (Palmer, or something else if I can find something better for an undergraduate audience) and maybe some recordings as well.

Interesting ... I have a similar impression of T-Bone... particularly his singing is way more refined than most blues singers I like... but I think ultimately I prefer a rawer type of voice that supplies more emotion.

[The Magnificent Goldberg]

T-Bone worked with jazz bands in the thirties and with lots of jazz musicians in the forties.

MG

[bogdan101]

[paul secor]

A good reason to pick up on Memphis Slim's United (now available on Delmark) and VeeJay (formerly on Charly - now available here http://www.amazon.com/Messin-Around-Memphis-Slim/dp/B00004TY20/ref=sr_1_9?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1364746447&sr=1-9&keywords=memphis+slim - and probably elsewhere.)

2 Delmark releases: http://www.amazon.com/Memphis-Slim-U-S/dp/B000009O4L/ref=sr_1_4?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1364746447&sr=1-4&keywords=memphis+slim

http://www.amazon.com/Come-Back-Memphis-House-Rockers/dp/B00006I09M/ref=sr_1_7?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1364746447&sr=1-7&keywords=memphis+slim

[robertoart]

So this is what he was up to before he left Aretha at the deep fry.

Damn that's good.

Where is this trio playing?

Edited March 31, 2013 by freelancer

[paul secor]

I imagine that it's from the American Folk Blues Festival tours - 1963? The video may come from this: http://www.amazon.com/American-Folk-Blues-Festival-1962-1966/dp/B0000AYL2N/ref=sr_1_3?s=movies-tv&ie=UTF8&qid=1364768665&sr=1-3&keywords=american+folk+blues+festival

[robertoart]

Another great reminiscence from George Benson.

I love the youtube comment posted below,

"Joe, please, SHH. An icon is trying to tell you stories".

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hCeIn473W7w

[kh1958]

A record company in Austin, Cleopatra Records, has been quietly releasing a number of Buddy Guy and Junior Wells live recordings. These state they are issued with the consent of  the Junior Wells estate.

The releases include:

Live at the Newport Folk Festival 1968. Very good recording and stellar performance.

Live in Hiroshima 1975. This was previously released only in Japan as Live in Yuhbin-Chokin Hall. One of the best recordings of this duo.

Live in Montreux (1978). I believe this was previously released on a European label.

Chicago Hustle (1982). Very good live recording of the Buddy Guy/Junior Wells Blues Band..

Live at Cotati Cabaret (1984). Backed by Little Charlie and the Nightcats, Buddy Guy is in unbelievable form on this one.

This brings back to mind when the Buddy Guy/Junior Wells Blues Band rolled into Austin to play at Antone's the last two weekends that I lived there for school (in May of 1983) and the two times they played engagements at the Caravan of Dreams. Those were the days.

 

Edited July 6 by kh1958

[Dan Gould]

@kh1958 Thanks for this.