Blues — In Stock — CDs

Classic Chicago Blues from JB Lenoir – tracks originally recorded for the tiny Parrot label, a key Chicago indie in the 50s – but a company that never lasted as long as Chess, Vee Jay, or other classic Chi-town imprints. The set includes liner notes on the material, and a total of 13 ... read more CD

Lazy Lester's a lover, not a fighter – and a hell of a bluesman too, as you'll hear on these excellent sides cut for the Excello Records label at the end of the 50s and start of the 60s! Some numbers are instrumental, and focus strongly on Lester's incredible harmonica lines – blues ... read more CD

A stunner of a set from funky harmonica genius Papa George Lightfoot – an obscure late 60s album cut for the Vault label, but cut at the early Malaco Studios – not too far from Lightfoot's Mississippi home! George passed away just two years after this record, which makes the set a key ... read more CD

The lesser-known "Lightnin'" of the postwar blues years – and a hell of a bluesman, heard here on some early sides for Excello Records! Lightnin Slim's got this raw, rootsy voice that's brimming with power – an approach that would have been great enough on its own, even with ... read more CD

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Classic early work from Little Walter – the kind of tight, sharp, Chicago cuts that first got him notice – served up with plenty of raw guitar in the grooves, and lots of Walter's amazing harmonica over the top! The collection presents a very well-chosen array of titles – not ... read more CD

Sublime sounds from one of the west coast greats of the postwar years – the wonderful Little Willie Littlefield, a singer who took his Texas roots into rich new territory on these early recordings for the Modern Records label! The imprint's name is a good indication of the groove here – ... (Soul, Blues) read more CD

Stunning sounds from the great Little Willie Littlefield – a blues musician with Texas roots, but who really transformed a lot in the LA scene of the postwar years – where his music took on lots of cool, modern touches – as you'll hear in this killer collection of tracks for King ... (Soul, Blues) read more CD

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A great date from this legendary Chicago musician – an artist who recorded in the early days for Chess Records, then seemed to find his most welcome recording home overseas on albums like this! The material is from a 1973 session in France, but has all the grit and growl of a Chicago ... read more CD

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Rough-edged blues from the west side of Chicago – a stone classic from the mighty Magic Sam – a player who was taken from us all too soon! On the west side, they mix plenty of soul in with their blues – and you can definitely hear that on this stone smoker – a record that ... read more CD

Rough-edged blues from the west side of Chicago – a stone classic from the mighty Magic Sam – a player who was taken from us all too soon! On the west side, they mix plenty of soul in with their blues – and you can definitely hear that on this stone smoker – a record that ... read more CD

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One of the better records that Taj Mahal cut during in the later 70s – probably because it was a soundtrack, and pushed the groove into some interesting places – with Taj's gruff vocals working over some Caribbean rhythms and modern blues, and more smoothed out moments! The latter ... read more CD

A well-titled set – given that the record really shows an evolution in the style of Taj Mahal! Some cuts are still in an older bluesy mode, but a few others feature some great backings from Leon Pendarvis – who creates this fuller, soaring sort of style that takes off with plenty of ... read more CD

A sweetly soulful set that has Taj Mahal really trying on some new flavors – yet still keeping things strongly in the bluesy territory of his roots! In addition to the lead vocals and lots of acoustic guitar, the set also features key contributions from Rudy Costa on a range of saxes, plus ... read more CD

The first album in a mighty legendary run from Taj Mahal – one of the first generation of blues musicians to really learn to recast their sound for the younger crossover generation! By that, we don't mean that Taj is commercial at all – it's just that he's kind of reclaiming the blues ... read more CD

Possibly one of the best-remembered albums by John Mayall's legendary Blues Breakers combo – thanks to vocals and guitar from a young Eric Clapton! Clapton at this point is way fresher than in later years – not prone to cliches, and still coming across with a raw, edgey power that is ... (Rock, Blues) read more CD

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(Folk/Country, Blues) CD

Sockin soul from an under-heard Chicago legend! Johnny Moore was one of the best deep soul singers in the Windy City scene of the late 60s – but an artist who only ever recorded singles across a variety of labels, so he's not as well remembered as album-oriented artists, like Syl Johnson or ... read more CD

Killer work from one of the classiest combos on the coast – Johnny Moore's Three Blazers, a trio who were a key link between jazz and R&B in the postwar years! Moore has a wonderfully smooth approach to the music that's a bit like that of his brother Oscar's old boss – Nat King ... read more CD

Raw soul from the second Piano Slim – Willard Burton of Houston, who's heard here on some killer tracks from the start of the 60s! Slim's definitely got some blues in the way he approaches the piano, but the productions here are more soul-based and R&B-styled overall – often in ... (Soul, Blues) read more CD

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Stunning work from the great Lula Reed – a bluesy singer who cut some killer R&B work for King Records in the early 50s – material we'd rank right up there with the best Ruth Brown or Lavern Baker work for Atlantic at the time! Lula's got a hip style that's rooted in blues, but has ... (Soul, Blues) read more CD

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In case you're wondering, they DO still make 'em like they used to – at least when it comes to classic-styled soul records, like this St Louis effort from Kenny Rice! Kenny comes from a world that might be more blues than soul, but there's definitely a lot of southern soul styles at play on ... (Soul, Blues) read more CD

Great work from Chicago bluesman Jimmy Rogers – some excellent sessions from the early 70s! CD

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The last album ever from the mighty Otis Spann – and maybe one of the greatest, too! The set's got Otis working in a hip blend of blues and jazz – served up with some tight combo work from west coast players who include Tom Scott on tenor and flute, Max Bennett on bass, Luie Shelton on ... read more CD

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A really well-titled album, given that Joe Turner was a key force in the birth of rock and roll in the 50s – not to mention a strong link between jazz, soul, and R&B as well! At the time of these recordings, Turner was already a relatively old singer – at least compared to some of ... read more CD

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If you've never fully exposed yourself to the genius of Eddie Cleanhead Vinson, prepare to get your mind blown – because he's a hell of a singer, a hell of an alto saxophonist, and a massive R&B talent in these early sides for King Records! Eddie's work here easily rivals contemporary ... read more CD

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The late 90s solo album and sorta comeback effort by Tennessee soul legend Charles Walker – better known in the post millennium for his next sorta comeback fronting the funky soul combo The Dynamites – and a solid set of timeless bluesy soul! Walker is one of those great soul artists ... (Soul, Blues) read more CD

The music that put Muddy Waters on the map – the kind of hard-burning, electrified work that made his work on the Chicago scene of the postwar years such a groundbreaking force! Muddy's sound from this time inspired countless others – not just through his warm collaboration with other ... read more CD

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A storming second album from Dave Weld – a contemporary figure on the Chicago blues scene, and one who's often joined on vocals by female singer Monica Myhre! The presence of Monica makes the record almost feel more like a collaborative ensemble outing – still blues, but with some old ... read more CD

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(Vocalists, Blues) CD

One of those key albums that reminds us once again that although Jimmy Witherspoon was a blues singer at the core, he could often come across in much more jazz-based styles overall – especially on an early 60s swinger like this! The album's got a tight small combo behind the singer – ... (Vocalists, Blues) read more CD

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A beautifully-recorded concert from early 60s Paris – one done as part of the legendary folk-blues tour, and featuring a great selection of musicians, all with introductions from Memphis Slim! Slim's a hell of an MC for the event, and really provides this warm context that seems to open up ... read more CD