Best Blues Songs of All Time

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   RJ
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   Cross Road Blues

   Robert Johnson · from King of the Delta Blues Singers (1961)

   The eerie Delta cornerstone of it all.

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2. 2
   MW
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   Got My Mojo Working

   Muddy Waters · from At Newport 1960 (1960)

   Electric Chicago blues at its hottest.

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3. 3
   BK
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   The Thrill Is Gone

   B.B. King · from Completely Well (1969)

   King's signature, with weeping strings.

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4. 4
   HW
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   Smokestack Lightnin'

   Howlin' Wolf · from Moanin' in the Moonlight (1959)

   A hypnotic, elemental howl.

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5. 5
   EJ
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   At Last

   Etta James · from At Last! (1960)

   Lush, soulful blues balladry.

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6. 6
   AK
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   Born Under a Bad Sign

   Albert King · from Born Under a Bad Sign (1967)

   String-bending that shaped rock guitar.

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7. 7
   SR
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   Pride and Joy

   Stevie Ray Vaughan · from Texas Flood (1983)

   A shuffle that revived blues guitar.

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8. 8
   JL
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   The Healer

   John Lee Hooker · from The Healer (1989)

   A late-career boogie comeback with star guests.

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9. 9
   BG
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   Damn Right, I've Got the Blues

   Buddy Guy · from Damn Right, I've Got the Blues (1991)

   Fiery, reasserting his guitar mastery.

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10. 10
    JW
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    Messin' with the Kid

    Junior Wells · from Hoodoo Man Blues (1965)

    Tough Chicago harmonica and grit.

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    FK
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    Going Down

    Freddie King · from Getting Ready... (1971)

    A driving Texas-blues stomp.

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    MS
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    Sweet Home Chicago

    Magic Sam · from West Side Soul (1967)

    The definitive West Side reading.

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    MW
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    Mannish Boy

    Muddy Waters · from The Best of Muddy Waters (1958)

    The amplified swagger that taught every rock band what electricity was for.

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14. 14
    RJ
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    Cross Road Blues

    Robert Johnson · from King of the Delta Blues Singers (1961)

    The delta blues document that myths are still built around.

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15. 15
    BK
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    The Thrill Is Gone

    B.B. King · from Completely Well (1969)

    The BB King signature: minor key, string arrangement, complete command.

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16. 16
    SR
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    Pride and Joy

    Stevie Ray Vaughan · from Texas Flood (1983)

    Texas blues revived: everything Vaughan could do in three minutes.

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17. 17
    AK
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    Born Under a Bad Sign

    Albert King · from Born Under a Bad Sign (1967)

    The Booker T session that Cream rushed to cover.

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18. 18
    SH
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    Death Letter

    Son House · from Father of Folk Blues (1965)

    The moan and the resonator guitar — the oldest sound and the most direct.

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19. 19
    JL
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    Boom Boom

    John Lee Hooker · from The Big Soul of John Lee Hooker (1963)

    One riff, two chords, and the most unstoppable groove in blues.

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20. 20
    LW
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    Juke

    Little Walter · from The Best of Little Walter (1957)

    The amplified harmonica as lead instrument — a revelation in 1952.

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21. 21
    MS
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    All Your Love

    Magic Sam · from West Side Soul (1967)

    The Chicago west side sound at its most urgent and searching.

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