How To Buy... Country Blues!

6:03 PM GMT 26/01/2010

MUDDY WATERS ONCE SAID that the blues he played in Chicago wasn't the blues he grew up with in Mississippi. "People should hear the pure blues," he went on. "The blues we used to have when we had no money." Presumably Muddy meant the backwoods-based, largely unelectric blues guitar playing of the form's African-American forefathers and foremothers. This music was widely recorded onto 78s in the '20s and '30s and beyond, and the waxings of performers including Lightnin' Hopkins, Blind Lemon Jefferson and Robert Johnson continue to speak loud and clear down the ages. This month's question: who makes for the most transfixing listening in this gigantic area of music? What's the best way to appreciate Mississippi John Hurt, Fred McDowell or Blind Blake? And what of the more recently discovered practitioners - think T-Model Ford, RL Burnside, Junior Kimbrough - are worthy of your attention? Tell us, please. As ever, the best comments and recommendations will appear in the magazine. Cheers!

Posted by Danny_Eccleston at 6:03 PM GMT 26/01/2010

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There are a number of different "schools" of country blues. There's the Mississippi country blues, which seems to center around the styles of Charley Patton, Son House, Willie Brown, and Tommy Johnson. Then there's the Texas country blues, which center around Blind Lemon Jefferson, Henry Thomas, and later, Lightnin Hopkins. Then there's the East Coast blues, where you get more ragtime oriented blues like Blind Blake, Willie McTell, etc. My personal favorites are: Charley Patton, Skip James, John Hurt, Fred McDowell, and Willie McTell...and for a bit of Gospel, Blind Willie Johnson. I guess they are best appreciated with some alcohol, or preferably, some canned heat. The early electric blues is all just county blues with electric guitars. Muddy, Wolf, Elmore James, John Lee Hooker, Lightnin Hopkins, etc. Great stuff. T-Model Ford and RL Burnside fit in nicely with this crowd.

Posted by wrecksracer at 9:11 PM GMT 26/01/2010 Report Abuse

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Lightnin' Hopkins is an essential country blues artist, and his album, Autobiography in Blues, recorded in 1959, is a great place to start. It's a warm, beguiling collection, that captures the curmudgeonly charmer in stellar form.

Posted by Mike Mueller at 7:40 AM GMT 27/01/2010 Report Abuse

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What we now call as "country blues", could be defined as the blues driven primarily by the acoustic guitar and (usually) harmonica, performed predominantly in the Southern States of America from the 20's till the end of the 40's. Every legendary blues performer of those glorious days helped to the "creation" of that unique music style that has influenced since then all the great forms of music such as jazz, rock n roll, r&b, soul etc. Suggested blues legends from that period? Robert Johnson, Charley Patton, Leadbelly, Blind Lemon Jefferson, Son House and many many more!

PS. Did you know really how many blind blues player exist those days? Blind lemon Jefferson, Blind Willie Mctell, Blind Boy Fuller, Blind Willie Johnson, Blind Blake, Blind Willie Reynolds...

Posted by cretemar at 7:14 PM GMT 27/01/2010 Report Abuse

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Any serious student or beginner in country blues should have "Good Morning Blues - A Classic Blues Anthology 1920-1942". Fantastic 4 CD box set put out by Charly back in 1995. It kicks off with Mamie Smith's "Crazy Blues" (cited as the first real blues record) and winds up with "I Got A Break, Baby" by T-Bone Walker, the man often cited as introducing the electric guitar to the blues.

Posted by Alexander Meerkat at 10:52 PM GMT 27/01/2010 Report Abuse

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I suppose it's the obvious one, but it's probably my fave: RL Burnside's A Ass Pocket Of Whiskey. Most of the guitars sound like jet engines lifting off, while the slide playing sounds like naked live electrical cables being used as bullwhips. And I don't think there's any bass on it, and they claim it was recorded in one afternoon. One of the best albums ever.

Posted by JWedd at 11:21 PM GMT 27/01/2010 Report Abuse

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The compilation "Devils Best Friend" is an essential collection of Charley Patton and Blind Lemon Jefferson. Delta and Texas schools in one package.

Posted by Brendan R at 5:09 AM GMT 28/01/2010 Report Abuse

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RE: wrecksracer

I accidently left out the Memphis school of country blues, featuring some of my favorites: Memphis Minnie, Frank Stokes, Robert Wilkins, and Furry Lewis.

Posted by WRECKSRACER at 9:15 PM GMT 28/01/2010 Report Abuse

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I would have to say it is the trickle down of blues that should be mentioned. I started off listening to Nirvana when I was about fifteen. That led me to Leadbelly. I started picking up on the blues sound then and kept my ear out for what was considered Blues in my modern music. As I ran into new artists who referenced old artists, I read and listened to all of their music. For example, I knew who Robert Johsnon was but didn't really "hear" him until I listened to the White Stripes. Then I hit Son House and RL Burnside. I listen to one for awhile until I run into another Blues man through reading something or hearing something else. I think their is no firm buy so to speak.. It is the first time you hear the "right" way. That specific voice, with the specific guitar, with the specific lyric at the specific time. That person is each person's blues master. Mississippi Fred McDowell is mine.

Posted by Chris Carr at 4:36 AM GMT 01/02/2010 Report Abuse

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Son House would be pretty much essential listening, Charly Patton, Bukka White, you get an album or so of these guys they'll tell you all you need to know about country blues.

Posted by joemack at 12:36 AM GMT 02/02/2010 Report Abuse

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My five choices would be as follows.
Robert Johnson - King of the Delta Blues Singers
Muddy Waters - The Real Folk Blues
John Lee Hooker - Burnin'
Howlin Wolf - Real Folk Blues
Sonny Boy Williamson - Real Folk Blues

This is only the tip of the iceberg. There are so many wonderful traditional blues artists and they have influenced so many rock artists. How many of their songs have been covered and continue to be played today, not to mention how well this music holds up over so many years. Can you say you'll be listening to Lady Gaga, Britney Spears and other pop artists in 5,10 or more years. I think not.

Posted by Pirate Boy at 5:19 PM GMT 07/02/2010 Report Abuse

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my favourite is SKIP JAMES: the complete 1931 session (yazoo). his falsetto voice is as otherworldly & hypnotic as his guitar and piano playing are mysterious.

Posted by djmushroom/vienna at 5:24 PM GMT 11/02/2010 Report Abuse

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Blind Willie Johnson "Praise God I'm Satisfied" (Yazoo) is essential in any blues collection. There is a reason Nasa put a copy of his "Cold was the night" into orbit ...

This guitar evangelist was a master of slide guitar and an accomplished songwriter who sang in a rich, gravelly voice. One of the true greats along with Robert Johnson, Charly Patton, Son House, Blind Lemon and ... Well, there are quite a few legends in the category of folk blues and it is difficult to cram all of them into a list of ten albums. Still, Johnson should be a necessity.

Yazoo's second volume "Sweeter as the years go by" is highly recommendable, too but "Praise God" is the top choice.

Posted by Danielsson at 12:53 PM GMT 15/02/2010 Report Abuse

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Blind Willie Johnson "Praise God I'm Satisfied" (Yazoo) is essential in any blues collection. There is a reason Nasa put a copy of his "Cold was the night" into orbit ...

This guitar evangelist was a master of slide guitar and an accomplished songwriter who sang in a rich, gravelly voice. One of the true greats along with Robert Johnson, Charly Patton, Son House, Blind Lemon and ... Well, there are quite a few legends in the category of folk blues and it will be difficult to cram all of them into a list of ten albums. Still, Johnson should be a necessity.

Yazoo's second volume "Sweeter as the years go by" is highly recommendable too, but "Praise God" is the top choice.

Posted by Danielsson at 12:55 PM GMT 15/02/2010 Report Abuse

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Tommy McClennan "Vol 1 Whiskey Head Woman" (Document)
Not one of the biggest stars and perhaps not very well known, but well worth checking out. Several later stars of the Chicago scene probably did before they plugged in and turned up the volume. McClennan may have been unsophisticated and musically limited but he definitely had style and attitude. He was recorded just before the war and in that respect he was no pioneer or ground breaker. Still, if you like your blues men ragged, charismatic and expressive - look no further.

Posted by Danielsson at 1:32 PM GMT 15/02/2010 Report Abuse

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Charlie Patton "Complete Recordings 1929-1934" (JSP)
92 tracks over five discs and immense amounts surface noise may sound scary, but at approximately 15 quid this is the ultimate Patton bargain. The father of the Delta Blues was regretfully recorded by Paramount, a label with a reputation of printing their records on cheap material that has aged poorly, but here his legacy sounds as good as you'll ever be likely to find it. JSP has done a good work in remastering.
If this still is more than you can swallow, try "The Definitive Charley Patton" (Catfish, three cd:s) or at least "The Best of Charlie Patton" (Yazoo, single disc). There's really no excuse.

Posted by Anonymous at 3:24 PM GMT 15/02/2010 Report Abuse

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Robert Johnson "The Complete Recordings" (Sony)
There is no escaping Johnson The Revelator.

Posted by Anonymous at 4:09 PM GMT 15/02/2010 Report Abuse

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Son House "Martin Scorsese Presents The Blues: Son House" (Columbia)
Perhaps the most influential of the Delta blues singers, the man who put the Howling in the Howling Wolf. Here's a very good introduction that covers all the stages of House's recording career, from 1930 to 1965.

Posted by Danielsson at 4:28 PM GMT 15/02/2010 Report Abuse

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Blind Lemon Jefferson "Black Snake Moan: the First Country Blues Superstar" (Complete Blues)
There are boxes and several other collections to pick from and there will be arguments on the selections, but this one is comprehensive and that said it's indispensable.

Posted by Danielsson at 4:41 PM GMT 15/02/2010 Report Abuse

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Blind Willie McTell "The Best of Blind Willie McTell" (Shanachie)
A good selection of songs by this gripping storyteller and refined stylist playing twelve string guitar and singing in a high and nasal voice. One of the greatest in country blues.

Posted by Anonymous at 4:53 PM GMT 15/02/2010 Report Abuse

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Frank Stokes The Best of Frank Stokes (Yazoo)
A legend and originator from Memphis who also recorded with the Beale Street Sheiks and performed as a twelve year old as early as 1900. Terrific, rhythmic singing style - must be heard.

Posted by Danielsson at 5:09 PM GMT 15/02/2010 Report Abuse

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Mississippi John Hurt "The 1928 Sessions" (Yazoo)
The comforting one, Hurt sang in a relaxed, soft and warm voice that is quite the opposite to the style of Patton. He was also an accomplished guitar picker. He was rediscovered in the sixties, but these sessions are what you are looking for.

Posted by Anonymous at 5:21 PM GMT 15/02/2010 Report Abuse

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Mississippi John Hurt “The 1928 Sessions” (Yazoo)
The comforting one, Hurt sang in a tender and relaxed voice quite the opposite to Patton. He was an accomplished guitar picker as well. His songs were versatile and ranged from sacred songs to ragtime and blues and even country. He was rediscovered in the sixties, but this is the stuff that you are looking for. Really.

Posted by Danielsson at 5:27 PM GMT 15/02/2010 Report Abuse

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Muddy Waters - At Newport 1960.

Primal and alive. Could just be the best blues album of them all. There'd be no 'Let It Bleed' without this LP.

Posted by ICFQ at 11:14 AM GMT 22/02/2010 Report Abuse

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My favourite Blue album is All Rise. I miss those boys.

Posted by Sweary Stan at 12:28 PM GMT 22/02/2010 Report Abuse

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