I'm just getting into blues...any suggestions?
 

From what I've heard I definitely like the slower, smooth, sadder blues than the heavy guitar, kinda rock, upbeat jazz, but I dont really know any names to look up and see if I like.

Anyone got any suggestions?


Also, since I've got blues on my mind I've always been curious about the origins of that blues song thats so often parodied and done over and over where someones just talking and says something random followed by guitar dun dun dun dun...and usually ends up with I got the (whatever they were talking about) blues. Its been parodied in everything from The Simpsons to Adventures in Babysitting!!

taj mahal
bb king
robert johnson
muddy waters

check them out for some of the sad stuff, though BB is about half and half.

for guitar blues, i'd recommend luther allison, buddy guy, albert king

check out little know bayou singer corey harris as well, very delta like johnson.

R.L. Burnside
Sleepy John Estes
Charley Patton

cheers,

-the Jesus

Muddy Waters, most definiteley.

your best bet, and this is my opinion of course is to buy a Blues collection with different various artist so you can get a sample of all forms of blues weither it's classic or modern. That's how i got into blues. It helped me branch out on specific sometimes obscurred musicians. Besides the most famous choices such as BB King or Stevie Ray Vaughan, I also find great stuff from Robert Ward and Katie Webster.

When i was in high school, this was the first cd (Alligator Records 20th Anniversary Collection) i bought that got me hooked and to branch out. Good luck!

http://www.amazon.com/Alligator-Reco...905985&sr=1-11

http://prozac.sleeping-tablets.com/images/prozac.jpg

Ohhhhh, you meant....

Warren Haynes' (from Gov't Mule/Allman Bros/etc.) solo stuff is incredible. You can probably still find some of his live shows at bt.etree.org.

Howlin' Wolf, although it's probably more like rock than you're looking for. But a song like "Hidden Charms" or "Shake it For Me" is a good gateway since a lot of Hubert Sumlin's and Wille Johnson's riffs seem to me to be copied wholesale by 60s-era rock.

For more slower, acoustic stuff I recommend:
Robert Johnson

Blind Willie Johnson, although his really gruff, sinister voice can take some getting used to. I especially love BWJ's "John the Revelator"

Skip James (he sings in a falsetto in most of his songs)

For a more gentle, not so sad, but very smooth blues, maybe Mississippi John Hurt.

Ahhh the blues. Where do you start? There are many,many flavors of the blues. You might want to take a look at this website: http://allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=73:41 It will give you a good start.

It sounds like you may be interested in the delta/country blues or the Chicago blues. Many consider Robert Johnson the father of all blues. He is the one who legend says went to the crossroads and sold his soul to the Devil in exchange for his musical talent. Willie Dixon, Elmore James, Muddy Waters all fall into that category. There are many others as well. Some one suggested compilations, and I agree that is the place to start. Pick up a couple blues collections that have a variety and see what you like. You may discovery you like most, if not all, of the different forms. Enjoy. There is something really special about listening to the blues.

Or go for the for the lady that sings the blues-------Billie Holiday----------you can never go wrong with this lady.

Acoustic ("country") blues:

Robert Johnson (IMO the essential artist in this subgenre)
Brownie McGhee
Son House
Blind Lemon Jefferson
Big Bill Broonzy
Fred Patton

Electric (Chicago) Blues:

Muddy Waters (IMO the essential artist in this subgenre)
Howlin' Wolf
Willie Dixon
Buddy Guy
Freddie King
Elmore James

I'm <i>not</i> much of a B.B. King fan, FWIW.

Elmore James
Leadbelly
Billy Boy Arnold
Little Walter
Lightnin' Hopkins
Blind Willie McTell
Etta James
Jimmy Reed
John Lee Hooker
Rising Sons
Jesse Fuller
Hound Dog Taylor
Sonny Boy Williamson (both of them)

wow, great recommendations! I would also add Otis Taylor. I love his acoustic blues style.

http://www.nndb.com/people/874/00006...nter-sized.jpg
Johnny Winter

I actually just reviewed this very good book The Rough Guide To The Blues for this web site I write for:
http://blogcritics.org/archives/2007/06/30/194327.php

They also put out a companion CD version that's an excellent compilation of blues greats.

And I'd second many of the recommendations on here, but the top two to start with IMHO are Muddy Waters and Howlin' Wolf.

I would certainly not classify many of those I'm seeing here to the original inquiry. For instance, Elmore James is my favorite blues artist to recommend to those starting out, but no way would he fit this description (IMO). :)

Saw Buddy Guy in Vegas last month and the old guy is still awesome. Loved that show!