Luther Allison —
Love Me Mama ... LP Delmark, 1969. Very Good+ ...
Just Sold Out!
Raw early work from the great Luther Allison – with the man himself on guitar and vocals, plus a bit of extra guitar from Jimmy Dawkins – and tenor on two tracks from Jim Conley too! LP, Vinyl record album
(70s Lincoln Ave pressing. Cover is lightly bent at about 3 inches from the opening, with light aging and a small stain in back.)
We know it's hard to think of anyone named Mildred as hip, but take it from us, the lady's actually a great singer with a deep capacity for jazzy blues and mellow R&B. These rare Savoy sides were cut during the years 1946 and 1947, and they feature great backing by pianist Ellis Larkin on ... (Vocalists, Blues)read moreLP, Vinyl record album
(Original green label Regent pressing with a deep groove. Cover has light wear.)
Big Maybelle's got a new bag – and we like it! This tasty set was cut for the tiny Rojac label in between Maybelle's earlier years at Savoy and later albums on Brunswick – and it's got a swinging, 60s mod sort of style that's pretty darn groovy, baby! The arrangements are by Bob Gallo ... (Soul, Blues)read moreLP, Vinyl record album
(Original mono white label promo. Cover has some light wear on the edges, a small stain in one corner, and a few light traces of pen in another corner. Vinyl is nice!)
Titles include "For The Last Time", "Let's Part As Friends", "I've Got A Problem", "Our First Blues Song", and "24 Hours A Day". LP, Vinyl record album
A record with a title that certainly fits the bill – as the amazing voice of Bobby Bland is as real here as it ever was, and blended with superbly soulful backings that take the singer's sound forward for a whole new generation! Some of Bobby's contemporaries were content to just stick in a ... read moreLP, Vinyl record album
Great guitar work from this legendary Caribbean player – working here with his Royal Victoria Hotel ensemble! (Global Grooves, Blues)LP, Vinyl record album
(Note: Labels have come unglued, but are still included. Cover is great, and vinyl is nice and clean.)
Bluesbusters —
This Time ... LP Landslide, 1987. Near Mint- ...
Just Sold Out!
A side each of these two important talents in blues – presented here in a format that makes the record a real double-header! Side one features Big Bill Broonzy in the lead – working with sweet electric lines on guitar alongside acoustic and his own really rich vocals – plus this ... read moreLP, Vinyl record album
One of the funkiest records ever recorded for Impulse – and the debut set by guitarist Mel Brown! Mel has a really down-and-dirty style that's quite unusual for the label at the time – a rootsy approach to guitar that's steeped in equal parts jazz, soul, and R&B – and which ... (Jazz, Blues)read moreLP, Vinyl record album
(Cut by Kevin Gray from the original master tapes!)
The cover has a 70s photo, but the set features key postwar work from this early king of R&B – titles that include "Gamblin Man", "I Feel That Young Man's Rhythm", "It's A Cryin Shame", "Cryin & Singin The Blues", "Deep Sea Diver", ... (Soul, Blues)read moreLP, Vinyl record album
An album recorded in the Netherlands, but a set that hits right to the heart of RL Burnside's Mississippi roots – thanks to a beautifully spare, careful presentation of the music! Most numbers feature just Burnside on vocals and guitar – with a vibe that's similar to the field ... read moreLP, Vinyl record album
(First time on vinyl – includes download! Limited edition Fat Possum Records 25th Anniversary pressing!)
Eddie C Campbell —
King Of The Jungle ... LP Mr Blues/P-Vine (Japan), 1977. New Copy (reissue)...
$32.9939.99
A raw cooker from the Chicago scene of the 70s – the best kind of gritty electric blues that was being recorded by the indie labels, even at a time when other bigger companies were trying to turn it into cliche! Eddie Campbell is great here – with raw vocals that captivate instantly, ... read moreLP, Vinyl record album
Funky blues from Albert – recorded in Nashville with a nice raw groove! The tracks are about half vocal and half instrumental – but the real standout star of the album is Albert's guitar, which is played here with a raw raspy quality that cuts through just about any sort of arrangement. ... read moreLP, Vinyl record album
Great early work from Albert Collins – the kind of mean, lean music that Collins specialized in before his later years of cliche – served up here in a style that's almost more funk than blues overall! The tracks are all instrumentals, with lots of raw guitar and soulful saxophone ... read moreLP, Vinyl record album
(Stereo pressing. Cover has surface and edge wear, with a small split on the top seam.)
Albert Collins, Robert Cray, Johnny Copeland —
Showdown ... LP Alligator, 1985. Near Mint- ...
$14.99
... LP, Vinyl record album
(Cover has some edge wear and is lightly bent at the top right corner and spine.)
Chicago blues, but plenty darn funky – recorded with a sharpness and tightness that shows a strong soul-based influence in the second-generation electric work of James Cotton's generation! The core group here features James on harmonica and vocals – backed by piano, guitar, bass, and ... read moreLP, Vinyl record album
(Tan label stereo Verve Forecast pressing. Cover has ring and edge wear, Verve Forecast sticker, some splitting in the bottom seam, and is bent a bit at the bottom right corner.)
(Cover has a small corner cut and a peeled spot from price sticker removal.)
Arthur Big Boy Crudup —
Mean Ol Frisco ... LP Fire/P-Vine (Japan), Early 60s. New Copy (reissue)...
$32.9939.99
An early full length album from the great Arthur Crudup – and one that wasn't cut until after he'd had years on the scene, including some work that was a key inspiration for Elvis Presley and others of his generation! The set's done in a nice raw style – that grittier side of the ... read moreLP, Vinyl record album
Raw funky blues from the Cleveland scene – unreleased recordings from the obscure singer Fred Davis, who hardly ever set his music to wax back in the day! The album's got a gritty blend of blues inflections and soulful expressions – similar to some of the hippest west side work from ... read moreLP, Vinyl record album
Have guitar, will travel – and back in the day, Bo Diddley was going pretty darn far with great material like this! The album's a real standout, even in the classic Chess catalog of the early years –no filler, no covers, just all original material by Bo Diddley – done in that ... read moreLP, Vinyl record album
Bo Diddley/Muddy Waters/Little Walter —
Super Blues ... LP Chess, 1967. Near Mint- ...
$19.99
A Chicago blues trifecta – and the first time ever that Muddy Waters, Bo Diddley, and Little Waters ever worked together! The set's got a raw power that definitely lives up to the title – a wicked mix of raw guitars, rough rhythms, and some wonderfully soulful vocals – all served ... read moreLP, Vinyl record album
(80s MCA pressing. Cover has a few scrapes at the top seam and bits of paper stuck to the back.)
One of the greatest albums ever made by Willie Dixon as a leader – a really cooking set done after years backing other folks up in the Chess Records studio – and a date recorded for the Chicago-based Ovation Records label, who really let Willie do his thing! Given that Dixon plays bass ... read moreLP, Vinyl record album
Rare work from the legendary Honeyboy Edwards – a blues guitarist who was a key force in helping the music make the transition to an electric mode in the 40s – but an artist whose talents were eclipsed by so many others he worked with at the time! This set's got a real back-to-basics ... read moreLP, Vinyl record album
Lowell Fulsom —
Lovemaker ... LP Big Town, 1978. Sealed ...
Just Sold Out!
A bit later than some of Lowell Fulsom's funk work for Kent Records – but a set that's almost more vintage overall! The album's recorded for the short-lived Big Town imprint – a late 70s venue that took older R&B artists back to the sounds of a few decades before – never too ... read moreLP, Vinyl record album
(Sealed original pressing! Cover has a small cutout hole.)
One of THE all time classics of funky blues – a record built around Lowell's huge single "Tramp" – a massive tune that spawned a whole generation of answer tunes! "Tramp" kicks off the set with a stone break that's worth the price of the album – then Lowell ... read moreLP, Vinyl record album
(Vinyl has some small marks that click a bit on "Dock Of The Bay", "Who Was That Girl", and "If You Leave Me, I'll Go Crazy". Cover has light wear, unglued bottom seam, and is bent a bit at the sides.)
Not the Bay Area effort you might guess from the title – and instead a sweet Chicago session that's easily one of the funkiest records that Buddy Guy ever cut! There's a great mix of funk and soul mixed in with the blues – thanks to arrangements from Charles Stepney and Gene Barge, who ... read moreLP, Vinyl record album
(Mid 80s Original Chess Masters pressing. Cover has some ringwear, a bit of chewing at the top seam, center split in the bottom seam, and some stained spots in back.)
We love our Buddy Guy here in Chicago – and this set cut for Vanguard, one of his first full solo albums with his own band will always be a favorite! Buddy's late 60s sound was as charismatic as he'd always be, but there's an understated approach to his lead that's really wonderful, and hits ... read moreLP, Vinyl record album
(Gold label stereo pressing. Cover has light surface wear, some aging, and a small split on the top seam.)
(Stereo blue label King pressing. Cover has a cutout hole, minor seams splits, and a few corner bends.)
Wynonie Harris —
Playful Baby ... LP Route 66 (Sweden), Late 40s/Early 50s. Near Mint- Gatefold ...
$14.99
Killer work from one of the hippest cats of the postwar years – including tracks recorded under his own name, plus Wynonie Harris vocals on recordings by Oscar Pettiford, Johnnie Alston, Todd Rhodes, and Lucky Millinder! Titles include "I Gotta Lyin Woman", "Playful Baby" ... (Soul, Blues)read moreLP, Vinyl record album
(Mid 80s issue. Cover has light wear and aging, some minor stains, and lightly bent corners.)
Jessie Mae Hemphill —
Run Get My Shotgun ... LP Fat Possum/Big Legal Mess, 1989. New Copy ...
$13.9918.99
Jessie Mae Hemphill might look like an 80s blues artist on the cover, but the record's got a much more vintage vibe – as the set features field recordings done on New Years Eve in 1989, with Jessie Mae singing in a style that seems geared to ring in the year with the ghosts of the past! The ... read moreLP, Vinyl record album
A classic album from the early years of soul music – the only full length set ever served up by the great Joe Henderson – a vocalist with roots in the legendary Fairfield Four gospel group, but sounding equally great here in a secular mode! The arrangements are by Cliff Parham, and ... (Soul, Blues)read moreLP, Vinyl record album
(Original mono pressing. Cover has minimal wear, aging.)
Classic work from Joe Hinton – a labelmate to Bobby Blue Bland and Little Junior Parker on Duke Records, but an artist who was a bit more jazzy! The set includes his classic "Funny" – plus "If It Ain't One Thing", "Be Ever Wonderful", "The Whole Town's ... (Soul, Blues)read moreLP, Vinyl record album
(70s green label pressing. Cover has light wear, some aging, splitting at the bottom of the spine, a promo sticker in front, and a round sticker in back.)
Boogie, indeed – as the tracks here are filled with the kind of skittish guitar lines that made John Lee Hooker one of the real standouts of the 50s scene – maybe one of the most rhythmic bluesmen of his generation, next to Bo Diddley! Like Diddley's classic records for Chess, most of ... read moreLP, Vinyl record album
John Lee Hooker —
Cream ... LP Tomato, 1978. Very Good+ 2LP Gatefold ...
$49.99
... LP, Vinyl record album
(Includes the Tomato inner sleeves. Cover has light wear, but looks great overall.)
Gritty work from John Lee Hooker – a set recorded at the end of the 60s in Paris, at a time when that city was playing host to some of the hippest blues work of the decade! The style here is very much like John Lee Hooker of a decade before – simple, stark, and unadorned – with a ... read moreLP, Vinyl record album
John Lee Hooker —
I'm In The Mood ... LP Up Front, Late 1950s/1960s. Very Good+ ...
$16.99
A collection of early recordings for Vee Jay, with titles that include "Baby Lee", "Trouble Blues", "Drug Store Woman", "Frisco Blues", "I'm In The Mood", and "Hobo Blues". LP, Vinyl record album
(Late 60s dark grey label issue. Cover has some ring and edge wear, price sticker remnants, some yellowing from age, and a light stain at the bottom of the spine.)
John Lee Hooker gets some great treatment here – working in a loose, groovy style for the Bluesway label – and getting a nice dose of funk right down at the core! The set's produced by Ed Michel – who'd also done some great soul jazz work over the years – and in addition to ... read moreLP, Vinyl record album
(Original pressing. Includes the ABC inner sleeve. Cover has surface wear, a promo sticker, and a number in pen.)
A really great, but very unusual John Lee Hooker album – one that was recorded in London with backing from later blues rock heroes The Groundhogs – a group who do a really great job here of hanging back, and letting Hook really take the lead! All those raw, gritty charms of Hooker's ... read moreLP, Vinyl record album
Great gritty sides from the mighty John Lee Hooker – material with a slightly obscure origin, but recorded in the late 50s, right in a stretch when he was cutting some of his classics! Hooker's guitar and vocals are center stage – both growling with a hell of a lot of soulful power ... read moreLP, Vinyl record album
Lightnin Hopkins —
Strums The Blues ... LP Score/Third Man, Early 50s. New Copy (reissue)...
$20.9926.99
A late 50s collection of earlier 78rpm singles issued by Aladdin Records – material that's far rawer than the "strums" in the title might imply! At a time when other blues musicians were fleshing things out a bit – sometimes adding in larger backings, horns, and a bit of ... read moreLP, Vinyl record album
Walter Horton —
Fine Cuts ... LP Blind Pig, 1977. Sealed ...
$11.9916.99
Features Big Walter Horton on vocals and harmonica – with Ron Levy on piano, John Nicholas on guitar, and Mark Kazanoff on sax – on tiles that include "Walter's Swing", "Everybody's Fishin", "Worried Life", "Stop Clownin", "Hobo Blues", ... read moreLP, Vinyl record album
A really well done collection of work recorded by Howlin Wolf for Chess – put together in the early 70s, but featuring sides from the 50s and 60s. The album's got a good set of notes by Pete Welding, and tracks that include "Down In The Bottom", "Forty Four', "My Country ... read moreLP, Vinyl record album
(70s orange label pressing. Cover has light ringwear, slightly wavy panels, and some heavy wear at the bottom seam.)
The title definitely gets it right – as this 70s collection brings together most of the best Chess Records material by Howlin Wolf from the late 50s and early 60s – almost all of them small combo sides that present the man in all of his raspy, growling glory! The tracks span a space ... read moreLP, Vinyl record album
A famous date that showcases the Chess Records influence on the sound of the Brit rock scene – one that has a number of key players "giving back" to the label, and working on a special date with Howlin Wolf! Wolf's rough vocals are in the lead on all tracks, and he also plays a bit ... read moreLP, Vinyl record album
(Limited edition of 1000 – on heavyweight vinyl!)
Howlin Wolf, Muddy Waters, & Bo Diddley —
Super Super Blues Band ... LP Checker, 1967. Very Good+ ...
Just Sold Out!
A group that definitely lives up to its name – given that the lineup features the Chess Records stalwarts Bo Diddley, Howlin Wolf, and Muddy Waters! The set's maybe a bit more in the mode of Wolf or Waters than some of Bo's own records – although there's a bit of that riffing spark of ... read moreLP, Vinyl record album
(Blue fade label stereo pressing with deep groove. Cover has surface wear, edge wear, and some aging. Vinyl is nice.)
An amazing step forward for the young Etta James – a singer who was delivering a raw, shouting form of R&B just a few years before – but who here ascends into soul music heaven with her famous work on the album! The title cut is the stuff of legend – played and played, again ... (Soul, Blues)read moreLP, Vinyl record album
A great overview of the work of Abner Jay – as much of a blues singer as the folk artist promised on the cover – working here in a stunning array of styles, pulled from a variety of recordings he made in the late 60s and early 70s! It's clear that Jay is one of those talents who was ... read moreLP, Vinyl record album
Folk soul guitar player, singer, songwriter, storyteller and genuine character Abner Jay's brilliant home recordings – the first release of his "terrible comedy blues" in far too long – courtesy of the always deep digging Mississippi label! Abner takes on the topical issues ... read moreLP, Vinyl record album
Piano blues from the legendary Curtis Jones – a Texas player who first rose to fame in the late 30s, and who here still has a way with the keys and a vocal style that nobody else can touch! It's a bit hard to put the distinctness of Jones in words, but it definitely comes through on the ... read moreLP, Vinyl record album
(Lincoln Ave pressing, with Sample stamp. Vinyl appears heated but play is not affected. Cover has minimal wear and a Sample stamp in back.)
One of THE electric blues records of the 60s – a seminal set by Albert King that was probably blasted out of more college dorm rooms than southside juke joints, but which still more than deserves its due! The set was recorded by Stax with a nice raw sound – guitar very much upfront, ... read moreLP, Vinyl record album
BB King —
Great BB King ... LP Crown/P-Vine (Japan), 1960. New Copy (reissue)...
$29.9944.99
The definitely got the title right here – as BB King is plenty great, and already a powerhouse in these early years of his career! King sprung forth from the Memphis scene almost fully-formed – and in addition to his famous guitar work, he was also a hell of a singer who could bring a ... read moreLP, Vinyl record album
BB King at his late 60s best – working here in the company of producers Johnny Pate and Quincy Jones, and serving up a great blend of blues and soul in the process! The set's less a "best of", than a collection of ABC work that doesn't seem to be on the other full albums of the ... read moreLP, Vinyl record album
(80s non-gatefold pressing on MCA in a barcode cover.)
BB King hips up his groove a bit here – picking up some of the crossover soul and rock touches used by contemporaries over at Chess/Cadet, and expanding his sound with a range of guests that include Leon Russell, Joe Walsh, and Carole King! Despite the presence of these bigger names, the set' ... read moreLP, Vinyl record album
(Black label stereo pressing with Artisan etch. Cover has some surface wear & aging.)
BB King —
Singin' The Blues ... LP Crown/P-Vine (Japan), 1957. New Copy (reissue)...
$29.9944.99
The very first full length album from BB King – a killer collection of previous singles for the RPM Records label, served up as a bold statement of King's early genius! The record announces its presence right from the very first note – that brilliant blend of effortless electric guitar ... read moreLP, Vinyl record album
A posthumous collection of work from Freddie King – material recorded in a variety of different sources, but all of it with Freddie's well-honed guitar sound in the lead! Some tracks were done down at Criteria Studios in Miami, and have a warmly southern sort of glow – others were done ... read moreLP, Vinyl record album
(Includes the printed inner sleeve. Cover has light wear.)
A record that really has Alexis Korner stretching out from the straighter blues of his 60s material – using his fantastic style on a set of tunes that show as much New Orleans influence as you might guess from the title – but also an evolved British roots rock quality too! The group is ... (Rock, Blues)read moreLP, Vinyl record album
(Green label stereo pressing in the textured cover, with light wear and some sticker remnants. Includes the Warner inner sleeve.)
Great 40s work from Leadbelly – featuring the man himself on vocals and guitar, caught in a nice raw mode – plus extra odd zither accompaniment on a few tracks too! LP, Vinyl record album
(Duophonic stereo lime green label pressing. Cover has light wear.)
(Blue label pressing – FA 2942 – in the box set package. Includes the booklet, bent a bit at the top right corner. Box has light wear, split corners, center split at the right edge, and small splash spots of white paint in back.)
Raw early blues material – with Bobby Leecan on guitar and Robert Cooksey on vocals – including tracks with the Dixie Jazzers Washboard Band! LP, Vinyl record album
(Mid 80s issue. Cover has light marks from sticker removal.)
A later performance from blues harmonica great Lazy Lester, but one that's got all the same great energy as his famous early work for the Excello label! There's plenty of grit in the grooves here – a set that's nicely under-produced, with a great backroom vibe – Lester blowing harp and ... read moreLP, Vinyl record album
Incredibly rootsy blues from Warner/Reprise – a set that features Mance Lipscomb, recorded down in Houston – very different than the usual work you'd expect from the label! LP, Vinyl record album
(White label stereo promo. Cover has some ringwear, edge wear, bumped corners, and is bent at the bottom left corner.)