Blues from the 50s/60s/70s

Buy any blues LPs on the Arhoolie label you come across. Arhoolie was started in 1960 by a blues enthusiast named Chris Strachwitz, who still runs the label. Strachwitz has exceptional taste and, as far as I can tell, has never put out a bad record. I've long used one Arhoolie LP, the wonderfully - titled Country Negro Jam Session, as a reference record. It's extraordinary late 1950s field recordings of Louisiana blues musicians. The music is raw and haunting and the recordings are sometimes astounding. You can hear birds in the trees in the distance (if your system is good enough the birds will sound as if they're coming from outside your room) and floorboards creaking under the musicians. There's also a jaw - dropping recording of a music therapy session at a state mental hospital that is unlike anything you've ever heard. The LP has been reissued on CD with additional tracks.

Thanks Robdoorack for that information, Im sure will be usefull for all.

I was the first to respond , I focused on your request for 1950s Blues vinyl(really hard rubber & commonly also includes records referred to as race recordings). I believe I subsequently outlined the difficulity score in locating and the reason(s). I believe what you now settle upon are recordings of a latter era , blues players but not always the inventors of the musical language we refer to as the "blues". And I provided a tip or two on locating "real" blues for a fraction of the cost. I took you to literally : If that happened , no harm intend. Another, Tip : Whenever, vacation in New Orleans . Go to the French Quarter , several great "blues-type" record stores, on high ground, unaffected by water. Now I gotta go back to cleaning some tin cans.

Thnaks Crem1 for the imput.

I've been buying quite a lot of blues of late. You have to get some Muddy Waters, it is just sublime. I have been picking up a few of the "Real Folk Blues" and "More Real Folk Blues" albums and they have been very good. Johnny Winter is fabulous as someone above said. John Lee Hooker's Burning Hell is amazing, a 45rpm double lp with fantastic sound, just John and his guitar.

What I am looking for at the moment is some Blind Willie Johnson - anyone have any ideas what, if anything, has been reissued on vinyl over the years?