Blues recommendations anyone?
Other sub genres include zydeco and blues piano (both of which tend to be Louisiana-centric). Many rock fans find both genres easy to love. For the former, you might try Zachary Richard (Fatras! is great, but any record featuring Sonny Landreth on guitar will do). For the latter, Professor Longhair is the go-to guy, although James Booker's Lost Paramount Tapes is also a great record. Happy hunting! |
Lot's of Blues recommendations in this Audiogon thread: http://forum.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/fr.pl?gmusi&992873774 . |
Eric Clapton's solo on "Strange Brew" was lifted note for note from Albert Kings early hit "Crosscut Saw", but if you really want to hear his influence it would be on Stevie Ray Vaughn's work. Young Albert King taught himself to play holding a right hand guitar upside down back wards since he was left handed. He also plucked the strings with his thumb without a pick, although you would never guess by listening to his dynamic style. Yup, my favorite of the classic electric blues men was the late great Albert King. Now switch gears and check out Etta Baker. Shes about 100 years old and plays authentic Piedmont Blues. An interesting finger picking style from the mountains of North Carolina. Cool Stuff. My last suggestion is to go out and get a couple compilation albums, like the Alligator Samplers. You will find some great music this way. Good Luck ! |
To my taste, a lot of the old classic blues is tough for modern ears to listen to. It's the real deal and part of understanding the genre but not always easy going... that btw was the stuff that influenced the 60's british bands. Listen to early John Mayall, Stones etc. In the rock genre Johnny Winters is a definitive one along with the aforementioned Stevie Ray. Totally random that no one has mentioned BB King is a mystery. To say nothing of Albert King. Actually check out Eric Clapton's "Riding With The King" which is a duet with BB King; and "Me & Mr Johnson" which is a tribute to seminal bluesman Robert Johson For a change of pace try some of the great jazz singers - Peggy Lee, Dinah Washington and Ella Fitzgerald all have albums with "Blues" in the title. Maria Muldaur is more contemporary - "A woman alone with the blues" is full of feeling. My newest, latest greatest find is an obscure Duke Ellington album called Back To Back which is a small ensemble with Johnny Hodges on trumpet. Coubt Basie has one called Good Time Blues that really gets rolling. And there is an early Basie with Jimmy Rushing that is pretty raw. All of the Verve/Blue Note gang did some blues - as did Satchmo. |
