The Best Blues Albums
The source almost everything else flows from — acoustic and electric.
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1King of the Delta Blues SingersRobert Johnson
King of the Delta Blues Singers
The foundational Delta-blues recordings that influenced virtually everyone who followed, from the Stones to Clapton. Eerie and essential. Where the electric blues lineage begins.
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2At Newport 1960Muddy Waters
At Newport 1960
A landmark live document of electric Chicago blues at its hottest. Thrilling and historic. A genre cornerstone.
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3Folk SingerMuddy Waters
Folk Singer
A stripped-back, acoustic detour that became a sonic showcase and an audiophile favourite. Intimate and powerful. A different, essential side of Muddy.
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4Electric MudMuddy Waters
Electric Mud
A divisive, psychedelic reimagining of Muddy's blues. Bold and strange. A cult curiosity.
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5Hard AgainMuddy Waters
Hard Again
A raucous, Johnny Winter-produced comeback of electric Chicago blues. Vital and acclaimed. A late peak.
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6Moanin' in the MoonlightHowlin' Wolf
Moanin' in the Moonlight
A foundational compilation of Wolf's early Chicago-blues power. Raw and historic. Essential blues.
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7Howlin' WolfHowlin' Wolf
Howlin' Wolf
The 'rocking chair' album of foundational Chicago blues classics, Wolf's voice an elemental force. Raw and essential. A blues cornerstone.
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8Live at the RegalB.B. King
Live at the Regal
Widely held to be the greatest live blues album, capturing King's call-and-response mastery and impeccable phrasing. Joyful and electric. A blues essential.
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9Completely WellB.B. King
Completely Well
A peak that produced the immortal 'The Thrill Is Gone'. Smooth and powerful. An essential record.
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10The HealerJohn Lee Hooker
The Healer
A Grammy-winning late-career comeback pairing Hooker's boogie with star guests. Warm and accessible. A modern blues landmark.
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11Damn Right, I've Got the BluesBuddy Guy
Damn Right, I've Got the Blues
A fiery comeback that reasserted Guy as a guitar great, with high-profile guests. Electric and acclaimed. A modern blues high point.
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12Born Under a Bad SignAlbert King
Born Under a Bad Sign
Stax-backed electric blues of enormous influence, King's string-bending guitar setting a template for rock players. Tough and tuneful. Essential.
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13West Side SoulMagic Sam
West Side Soul
A landmark of the West Side Chicago-blues sound. Soulful and acclaimed. A genre classic.
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14Hoodoo Man BluesJunior Wells
Hoodoo Man Blues
A landmark Chicago-blues record of harmonica and grit, with Buddy Guy on guitar. Tough and authentic. A genre classic.
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15At Last!Etta James
At Last!
Lush, soulful blues balladry defined by the timeless title track. Powerful and warm. A standard-setting record.
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16Father of Folk BluesSon House
Father of Folk Blues
A raw, powerful document of Delta-blues rediscovery. Intense and historic. A foundational record.
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17Today!Mississippi John Hurt
Today!
A gentle, fingerpicked document of rediscovered country-blues. Warm and beloved. A genre treasure.
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18The Paul Butterfield Blues BandThe Paul Butterfield Blues Band
The Paul Butterfield Blues Band
A landmark white-blues debut that bridged Chicago blues and rock. Tough and influential. A genre cornerstone.
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19East-WestThe Paul Butterfield Blues Band
East-West
An adventurous peak of raga-influenced blues-rock jamming. Bold and influential. A genre landmark.
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20Blues Breakers with Eric ClaptonJohn Mayall and the Bluesbreakers
Blues Breakers with Eric Clapton
The 'Beano' album that made Clapton a guitar god. Influential and hot. A British-blues landmark.
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21Boogie with Canned HeatCanned Heat
Boogie with Canned Heat
A peak of late-60s blues-boogie, home to 'On the Road Again'. Warm and beloved. A high point.
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22Taj MahalTaj Mahal
Taj Mahal
A warm, eclectic blues debut of country and rootsy invention. Lively and acclaimed. A genre highlight.
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23Texas FloodStevie Ray Vaughan
Texas Flood
The debut that single-handedly revived blues-guitar in the 1980s, all fire and feel. Virtuosic without losing the groove. A modern blues landmark.
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24Couldn't Stand the WeatherStevie Ray Vaughan
Couldn't Stand the Weather
A fiery follow-up that confirmed Vaughan's mastery. Electric and acclaimed. A blues-rock peak.
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25In StepStevie Ray Vaughan
In Step
A polished, Grammy-winning late peak of clean-living blues fire. Sharp and acclaimed. A high point.
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26Strong PersuaderRobert Cray
Strong Persuader
A polished, soulful blues peak that crossed over, home to 'Smoking Gun'. Smooth and acclaimed. A genre highlight.
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27Nick of TimeBonnie Raitt
Nick of Time
A warm, mature comeback that swept the Grammys. Soulful and acclaimed. Her commercial peak.
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28Blak and BluGary Clark Jr.
Blak and Blu
A modern blues-rock breakthrough blending soul, hip-hop and guitar fire. Bold and acclaimed. A contemporary highlight.
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29Fathers and SonsMuddy Waters
Fathers and Sons
A warm summit pairing Muddy with younger rock-blues players. Loose and beloved. A high point.
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30The London Howlin' Wolf SessionsHowlin' Wolf
The London Howlin' Wolf Sessions
A star-studded London session pairing Wolf with British rockers. Loose and beloved. A crossover record.
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31Indianola Mississippi SeedsB.B. King
Indianola Mississippi Seeds
A polished, soulful peak King himself prized. Smooth and acclaimed. A high point.
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32Live in Cook County JailB.B. King
Live in Cook County Jail
A fiery prison live peak, home to a definitive 'The Thrill Is Gone'. Electric and beloved. A great live record.
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33Getting Ready...Freddie King
Getting Ready...
A fiery Texas-blues peak, home to 'Going Down'. Tough and beloved. A high point.
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34Ice Pickin'Albert Collins
Ice Pickin'
A sharp, stinging Texas-blues comeback of cold-guitar fire. Tough and acclaimed. A genre highlight.
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35Johnny WinterJohnny Winter
Johnny Winter
A blistering blues-rock debut of Texas guitar fire. Hot and acclaimed. A genre highlight.
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36Second WinterJohnny Winter
Second Winter
A blistering blues-rock peak of Texas guitar. Hot and beloved. A high point.
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37Tell MamaEtta James
Tell Mama
A fiery, Muscle Shoals soul-blues peak. Powerful and beloved. A standout.
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38Give It UpBonnie Raitt
Give It Up
A warm, rootsy early peak of slide guitar and soul. Tuneful and beloved. A fan favourite.
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39The Turning PointJohn Mayall
The Turning Point
An acoustic, drummer-less blues peak of intimate invention. Bold and acclaimed. A creative high.
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40Keb' Mo'Keb' Mo'
Keb' Mo'
A warm, modern country-blues debut. Smooth and acclaimed. A breakthrough.
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41RevelatorTedeschi Trucks Band
Revelator
A soulful, Grammy-winning blues-rock debut of big-band warmth. Polished and acclaimed. A modern highlight.
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42KingfishChristone "Kingfish" Ingram
Kingfish
A dazzling young-gun blues debut of soulful guitar and voice. Vital and acclaimed. A modern blues breakthrough.