Blues — In Stock
Our Chicago roots run deep here, with plenty of postwar Chicago blues -- plus delta blues, folk blues, electric blues, pre-war blues, and more!
CDs (131) new/used, Vinyl (109) new/used, LPs (98) new/used, 12-inch (3 used), 7-inch (4 used), 78 RPM (4), Magazines (1), All (241)
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Billy Boy Arnold —
More Blues On The South Side ... LP 
Prestige, 1965. Near Mint- ... Just Sold Out!
Smoking blues from Billy Boy Arnold – an artist who never got the fame as some of the bigger acts on Chess Records in the 60s – but who could certainly cook with the best Chicago electric sound! Arnold sings and plays guitar on the record – with a bold, upfront quality that ... read more LP, Vinyl record album
(Green label pressing. Cover has light wear.)
Truetone, 1983. Near Mint- ... $9.99
... LP, Vinyl record album
Jasmine (UK), 1950s/Early 60s. New Copy ... $14.99 15.99
A great overview of the guitar talents of Mickey Baker – an artist who's maybe best remembered during this time for an album on Atlantic, or his duets with the young Sylvia Robinson (as Mickey & Sylvia) – but a player who also worked on countless sessions during the years of R&B ... (Soul, Blues) read more CD
Rounder, 1983. Near Mint- ... $4.99
... LP, Vinyl record album
(Cover has a light spot from sticker removal in front.)
Big Chief Ellis —
Big Chief Ellis – Featuring Tarheel Slim, Brownie McGhee, & John Cephas ... LP Trix, Mid 70s. Near Mint- ... $39.99
Mid 70s material with Big Chief Ellis on vocals and piano – working in shifting lineups with either Tarheel Slim, Brownie McGhee, or John Cephas on guitar! LP, Vinyl record album
(Nice original pressing! Cover has light wear, but looks great overall.)
Flying Fish, 1980. Near Mint- ... $5.99
Titles include "You & Me", "Who's Cheating Who", "Turn Back The Hands Of Time", "Children's Blues", and "Happy Man". LP, Vinyl record album
(Cover has a cut corner and light wear.)
Monad, 1950s/1960s. Used (pic cover)... $6.99
... CD
(Out of print.)
Bobby Blue Bland —
Best Of Bobby Bland ... CD Duke/MCA, Early 60s. Used ... Just Sold Out!
To us, most of Bobby's early Duke albums would serve fine as "best of" sets in and of themselves – so great is his work for that label during this period! This one's a pretty great sampling of his genius – that unique blend of blues and soul that still makes Bobby's work ... read more CD
(Out of print.)
ABC, 1974. Very Good+ Gatefold ... $24.99
Sure it's not his Duke recordings, and sure, the sound's a bit 70s-ish – but Bobby's voice is always fantastic, and he still sounds great in this smooth batch of tracks recorded in LA. Backings were arranged and conducted by Michael Omartian – but it's Bobby's vocals that really make ... read more LP, Vinyl record album
(Cover has light edge & surface wear, tiny drill hole. Includes ABC inner sleeve.)
Bobby Blue Bland —
Sweet Vibrations ... LP MCA, 1980. Sealed ... $9.99
Bobby Bland is one of those rare talents that never lost his groove, even as the years went on – maybe a bit like The Dells, in that he started out in the earliest days of soul music, but then was able to shift with the styles and the times, all without ever giving up the vocal strengths that ... read more LP, Vinyl record album
(Still sealed, with a cutout notch. Shrinkwrap is cracked a bit at the opening but still intact.)
Magic Angel (Germany), 1979. Near Mint- ... $49.99
With Eddie Boyd on vocals and piano, accompanied by Ulli Kohsel and Heiner Buitkamp on guitar, Rolf Kiki Schumacher on tenor, Till Schierer on cornet, Jean Malbranche on percussion, Martin Pfitzenmaier on basss, and Dietmar Didi Dietrich on drums. Titles include "Talkin' To The Operator" ... read more LP, Vinyl record album
(Cover has some surface wear and lightly bent corners.)
RCA, 2001. Near Mint- Gatefold (pic cover)... $14.99
Includes "Green Light Girl", "Soul Shaker", and "So You Want It To Rain". 12-inch, Vinyl record
Second City, 1977. Sealed ... $24.99
Features Lonnie Brooks on vocal and lead guitar – with piano and organ from Robert Waters, and more guitar from Bob Tevis! LP, Vinyl record album
(Still sealed! Cover has two bumped corners, and a light stain in another corner – but is still nice overall.)
Alligator, 1979. Near Mint- ... $5.99
... LP, Vinyl record album
(Cover has light wear.)
Arhoolie, 1979. Near Mint- ... $14.99
One of the youngest groups of the zydeco wave of the 70s – and one of the grooviest too! The group's got a solid swing and sense of soul that goes beyond most of their contemporaries – almost a deeper current of blues at most points, especially in the guitar – and even in some of ... read more LP, Vinyl record album
(Cover has some light wear, but this is a nice copy overall.)
Souffle, Late 50s. Near Mint- ... $7.99
A collection of early work from Buster Brown – with titles that "Madison Shuffle", "John Henry", "Sincerely", "Going On A Picnic", "Corena", "Don't Dog Your Woman", and "I'm Going But I'll Be Back". LP, Vinyl record album
Alligator, 1989. Near Mint- ... $8.99
Bear Family (Germany), Late 40s/1950s. New Copy ... $15.99 20.99
Tremendous work from Clarence Gatemouth Brown – a postwar guitarist who was big on the Texas scene, but who had the modern flair and jazzy swinging groove of some of his contemporaries who'd left for the west coast! All the work here is from the early years of the Peacock Records label, and ... read more CD
Jasmine (UK), Late 40s. New Copy ... $15.99 16.99
Wonderful work from Walter Brown – a bluesy singer who first rose to prominence in the early 40s band of Jay McShann (alongside a young Charlie Parker) – but who recorded these great cuts in the postwar years! The style is a nice fusion of earlier jazz modes and some of the leaner ... (Vocalists, Blues) read more CD
Mr Blues, 1982. Very Good+ ... $19.99
Features Mojo Buford on harmonica and vocals – with Little Smokey Smothers on bass, and Sonny Rogers, Sammy Lawhorn, and Pee Wee Madison on guitars! LP, Vinyl record album
(Cover has a corner cut and light wear.)
Fat Possum, 2004. New Copy ... $19.99 21.99
Gritty revival blues from RL Burnside – and a record that really broke his music into a wider audience! Of course, it helps that the set features guest appearances from Kid Rock and Lyrics Born – the latter we enjoy more than the former – but the overall vibe is still very much ... read more LP, Vinyl record album
(Includes free download.)
Big Boy, 1989. Near Mint- ... $6.99
Classic work from a time when Little Johnny Christian was a key figure on the small blues club scene in Chicago – with titles that include "All Because Of Your Love", "I Want To Know", "Turn In Point", "Somebody Call My Baby", "All Of Your ... read more LP, Vinyl record album
(A nice copy!)
James Cotton —
Recorded Live At Antone's Night Club ... LP Antone's, 1988. Near Mint- ... $16.99
... LP, Vinyl record album
(Recent 180 gram pressing on New West in the die-cut Antone's cover. Vinyl has a cosmetic sleeve mark on Side 2.)
Buddah, 1976. Very Good+ 2LP Gatefold ... $14.99
... LP, Vinyl record album
(Cover has light wear with a small cut corner.)
Waterhouse, 1981. Sealed ... $4.99
... LP, Vinyl record album
(Shrinkwrap has a large opening on the bottom right corner. Cover has a promo stamp.)
Robert Cray —
Don't Be Afraid Of The Dark ... CD Hightone/Mercury, 1988. Used ... $0.99
... CD
Also available Don't Be Afraid Of The Dark ... LP 6.99(Out of print.)
Hightone/Mercury, 1988. Near Mint- ... $6.99
... LP, Vinyl record album
Also available Don't Be Afraid Of The Dark ... CD 0.99(A nice copy.)
Blue Goose/Airmail (Japan), 1976. Used ... $19.99
A cool little record with vintage sounds to match its cover image from Robert Crumb – performed here by a combo with Crumb on banjo and vocals, in kind of an offbeat take on early styles from jazz and string band music! The rest of the group plays a number of different instruments – ... (Jazz, Blues) read more CD
(Out of print, includes obi.)
Sunset Blvd, Late 60s. New Copy 2CD ... $21.99 22.99
Two rare concert performances from the Reverend Gary Davis – both from a time when his talents were finally getting the exposure they deserved, and presented in stunning showcases like this! CD1 features a performance from Portland, in 1969 – recorded with a gritty edge, but a great ... read more CD
Specialty, 1953. Good ... $1.99
Epic/Legacy, 1970s. Used ... $2.99
Wounded Bird, 1975/1977. Used ... $14.99
Chess/BGO (UK), 1964/1968. New Copy ... $10.99 16.99
A pair of amazing all-star albums from Chess Records – back to back on a single CD! First up is Two Great Guitars – in which Bo Diddley and Chuck Berry come together in a really unique album for Chess Records in the 60s – and that's saying a lot, given all the groundbreaking ... read more CD
Chess, 1950s/Early 60s. Used ... $4.99
... CD
Chess, 1950s/Early 60s. Used 2 CDs ... $6.99
36 tracks on 2CDs – a rich collection of work from this legendary Chicago bluesman! CD
(Please note that the outer box is not included – CD's are packaged in two individual jewel cases and priced accordingly.)
David Honeyboy Edwards/Earwig, 1980. Near Mint- ... $24.99
That's a great shot of a Chicago street on the front cover – a perfect setting for this all-star recording! LP, Vinyl record album
(Cover has a cut corner.)
Fat Possum, 1969/1971. New Copy ... $19.99 21.99
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 more LP, Vinyl record album
(Includes download!)
Jasmine (UK), Mid 50s. New Copy ... $15.99 16.99
Really fantastic work from Willie Egan – a west coast singer from the glory days of R&B on that side of the country, and one you might know best from his work in the duo of Marvin & Johnny! And yes, that's a pretty obscure duo, but an important one in the pre-soul years – ... (Soul, Blues) read more CD
Lowell Fulsom —
Tramp/Kent/Ace (UK), Mid 60s. New Copy ... $9.99 18.99
2 classic Lowell Fulsom albums – back to back on one CD! Tramp is 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 ... read more CD
Chess (Japan), 1950s. Used ... $24.99
Great early work from Lowell Fulson – tracks recorded in the 50s for Chess Records – all in Chicago, and a fair bit more obscure than some of Lowell's better-known sides from the 60s! There's still a nicely gritty groove going on here – a style that's rooted in blues, but which ... read more CD
(Out of print – and includes obi!)
Jasmine (UK), 1950s. New Copy ... $15.99 16.99
A really well-done dip into the New York City blues scene of the 50s – one that presents a wealth of work we might not have heard otherwise, pulled from labels that include Old Town, Harlem, Jax, Wing, Dog, and Groove! There's a nice mix of material here that really shows the way the city ... read more CD
P-Vine (Japan), Late 40s. Used ... $14.99
With 25 tracks including "Cecil's Mop Mop", "Original Cecil Boogie", "My Baby's Changed", "Nashville Jumps", "Time Will Tell", and "Sloppy Joe's". CD
(Out of print.)
Jasmine (UK), Late 40s. New Copy ... $15.99 16.99
Seminal sounds from one of the most important early figures on the music scene in New Orleans – an artist who was able to mix blues roots with jazzier elements, in a way that often hit the classier styles of some of the hippest artists on the LA scene in the postwar years! Gayten would later ... (Soul, Blues) read more CD
Bear Family (Germany), Mid 50s. New Copy ... $34.99 46.99
The lost legacy of Stomp Gordon – a hard-wailing artist who should have been a crucial force in the early years of rock and roll – had an early death not taken him away from us all too soon! Stomp plays piano with the dexterity of the best postwar players of his generation, but also ... (Soul, Blues) read more LP, Vinyl record album
(Includes a 10 inch LP, a CD, and a booklet of notes!)
Guitar Slim Green with Johnny & Shuggie Otis —
Stone Down Blues (with bonus tracks) ... CD Kent/BGP (UK), 1970. New Copy ... $7.99 14.99
A blues album, but one with a difference – thanks to some tremendous help from the legendary Johnny Otis and his young son Shuggie! Despite the fact that the leader is billed as Guitar Slim Green, Shuggie actually plays some lead guitar on the record too – adding in some cool, ... read more CD
Silvertone, 1991. Used ... $2.99
... CD
(Out of print, BMG Direct pressing.)
Silvertone, 1993. Used ... $4.99
... CD
(Out of print, BMG Direct pressing.)
Chess, Mid 60s. Very Good+ ... $19.99
Buddy Guy —
Man & The Blues ... LP Vanguard, 1968. Very Good+ ... $49.99
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 more LP, Vinyl record album
(Gold label stereo pressing. Cover has some ring and edge wear.)
Aamco, Early 60s. Very Good+ ... $11.99
A bit more than just a tribute to Bessie Smith, thanks to arrangements from the great George Rhodes – who brings in some very cool R&B currents to the album! Titles include "Lectric Chair", "Whisper Daddy", "It's Your Turn", "Spirit Blues", "Ba ... (Vocalists, Blues) read more LP, Vinyl record album
(Cover has tape on the bottom seam – vinyl is nice!)
Cannonball, 1998. Used ... $12.99
... CD
(Out of print – includes the original case and "cannonball"!)
Excello/Americana Anthropology, Late 60s. New Copy (reissue)... $23.99 24.99
A classic album from the mighty Slim Harpo, and one that definitely lives up to the "scratch" in the title! That scratch is present strongly in the rhythms – which have this skittish style that's really a precursor to funk, although a lot more rootsy overall – almost Slim's ... read more LP, Vinyl record album
Corey Harris —
Fish Ain't Bittin' ... CD Alligator, 1997. Used ... $3.99
... CD
(Punch through barcode.)
Coronet, 1962. Very Good+ ... $16.99
... LP, Vinyl record album
(Black label mono pressing. Cover has some wear & aging, partial top split, sticker remnant, light staining on spine, spot of marker on the back.)
Kent, 1984. Near Mint- ... $0.99
ZZ Hill —
Rhythm & The Blues ... LP Malaco, 1982. Sealed ... $9.99
Holmes Brothers —
Where It's At ... CD Rounder, 1991. Used ... Just Sold Out!
... CD
(Out of print.)
BMG, Late 40s/1950s/1960s/1970s/1980s/1990s. Used ... $4.99
16 track promotional sampler. CD
Ace (UK), Late 40s/Early 50s. New Copy 3CD ... $32.99 34.99
A really amazing package – not just for fans of John Lee Hooker, but for anyone who loves postwar blues in general! The work here is all from the tiny Sensation Records label in Detroit – the label to first record John Lee Hooker in the late 40s, and who continued to do sessions with ... read more CD
Chess, Early 50s. Near Mint- ... $29.99
A rootsy cover, and some rootsy blues to match – a fairly stripped down session from John Lee Hooker –- and one that mostly just features vocals and guitar, plus some occasional added guitar and piano! Most of the recordings here are from the early 50s, pulled together in a full LP at ... read more LP, Vinyl record album
(80s Original Chess Masters pressing – in great shape!)
Sunset Blvd, Late 50s/1960s/Early 70s. New Copy 3CD ... $27.99 28.99
Sure, you've got other Lightnin Hopkins CDs back home in your collection – but this set is will pretty darn essential – as it features a whopping 57 songs in all, including 37 unreleased tracks, and other material that's hard to find on CD! CD1 features some of Hopkins' best work of ... read more CD
Sony/Columbia, 1965. Used 2 CDs ... $9.99
A great return to recording for Son House – a musician who'd stopped playing the guitar in the postwar years, but rose again to fame during the great folk blues revival of the 60s! The style here is every bit as classic as some of Son's earliest music – just recorded a lot better, too ... read more CD
Columbia, 1965. New Copy (reissue)... $16.99
A great return to recording for Son House – a musician who'd stopped playing the guitar in the postwar years, but rose again to fame during the great folk blues revival of the 60s! The style here is every bit as classic as some of Son's earliest music – just recorded a lot better, too ... read more LP, Vinyl record album
ATO, 2019. Near Mint- ... $29.99
Columbia, 1982. Near Mint- ... $6.99
... LP, Vinyl record album
Riverside/OBC, 1961. Used ... $6.99
Two great female blues talents, recorded at a time when they were still alive and well in Chicago – Alberta Hunter on vocals, and Lovie Austin on piano! CD
(Out of print.)
Prestige/Bluesville, 1961. Very Good+ ... $33.99
Raw, rootsy blues – recorded by a trio of gals who are definitely old enough to have taught your mom a few songs! The set's got a mixed blues/jazz vibe – that sweet 20s/30s mode when the two genres would often blur nicely together – and players include Sidney De Paris on tuba, JC ... read more LP, Vinyl record album
(Blue label Bluesville pressing, with RVG stamp. Cover has some light wear on the top seam, but this is a great copy overall.)
Intermedia, 1960s. Near Mint- ... $16.99
Titles include "Rich Woman Blues", "Trouble I Had In My Days", "CHICKEN Blues", "Frankie & Albert", "Talking Casey", "Hard Times In The Old Town Tonight", "Spike Driver Blues", and more. LP, Vinyl record album
(80s issue.)
Sunset Blvd, Mid 60s. New Copy 2CD ... $24.99 25.99
Really great later recordings from Mississippi John Hurt – recorded in Washington DC, hence the title – and done in this stripped-down mode that really captures Hurt at his best! The tracks were all recorded for the Library Of Congress, mostly on the stage of the Coolidge Auditorium, ... read more CD
Arhoolie, 1960. New Copy (reissue)... $16.99 19.99
A rare one from TX blues great Melvin "Lil Son" Jackson – massively influential, though! Lil Son has a kind of relaxed vocal style, not as gritty as some of the other southern acoustic blues figures of the period, be they fellow Texans or from elsewhere – but that voice ... read more LP, Vinyl record album
(Includes code for download.)
Blue Horizon (UK), 1969. Near Mint- 2LP Gatefold ... $24.99
A great collection of some of the work that Elmore James recorded with Bobby Robinson in the early 60s - complete with some interesting studio patter and alternate takes! LP, Vinyl record album
(Original UK stereo pressing. Label on Volume II Side One has a bit of pen. Cover has a small peeled spot from sticker removal in front and is bent just a bit with a half inch tear in back at the opening.)
Argo/Chess, 1960. Used ... $4.99
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 more CD
Etta James —
Miss Etta James – The Complete Modern & Kent Recordings ... CD Ace (UK), Late 50s. New Copy 2CD ... $12.99 19.99
The most complete collection of pre-Chess work by Etta James ever offered – a huge 2CD package that's filled with rare album tracks, key singles, and even some previously unissued material! Etta's fame at Chess in the 60s is a well-known fact of classic soul music – but in the years ... (Soul, Blues) read more CD
Jasmine (UK), Mid 50s. New Copy ... $15.99 16.00
A great split set of recordings – one that brings together a good deal of rare material from both the artists on the cover! The set begins with important Chicago recordings from Homesick James – great electrified work, but often with a quality that still echoes some of the rural roots ... read more CD
Mississippi, Late 60s/Early 70s. New Copy ... $15.99
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 more LP, Vinyl record album
Rounder, 1993. Used ... Just Sold Out!
... CD
Columbia, 1936/1937. Used 2 CDs ... $2.99
All 41 recordings of Robert Johnson – a lasting legacy of music that's still one of the touchpoints for any exploration of early blues! CD
(Out of print, smaller 2CD pressing in a regular jewel case that actually fits on your shelf!)
Columbia, Mid 30s. Used 2 CDs ... $3.99
All 41 recordings of Robert Johnson – a lasting legacy of music that's still one of the touchpoints for any exploration of early blues! CD
(Out of print. Please note that the outer box and large booklet are not included – just the CD's, packaged in two individual jewel cases.)
Columbia, 1936. Near Mint- ... $29.99
... LP, Vinyl record album
(70s pressing. A nice copy!)
Robert Johnson —
Last Of The Great Mississippi Blues Singers ... CD Fabulous/Acrobat (UK), 1936/1937. Used ... $3.99
... CD
(Out of print, CDr release.)
Charly (UK), 1936/1937. Used ... $1.99
... CD
(Out of print.)
Rooster, Late 80s. Sealed ... $3.99
... LP, Vinyl record album
(Cover has a cut corner.)
Decca/BGO (UK), 1964. Used ... $6.99
Heavy blues, cut on the London scene of the 60s – a set that features singer/pianist Curtis Jones, working with a cool combo that includes a young Alexis Korner on guitar! The sound is nice and stripped down – lots of vamping piano lines from Curtis, very much in a space between boogie ... read more CD
Crosscut/Bear Family (Switzerland), 1999/2003. Near Mint- ... $14.99
... 12-inch, Vinyl record
Rhino, 1950s/1960s/1970s/1980s/1990s. Used 2 CDs ... $6.99
... CD
(Out of print, please note that the outer slipcover or booklet is not included– 2 CDs in individual cases.)
MCA, 1960s/1970s. Used ... $2.99
... CD
(Still sealed.)
BMG, 1950s/1960s. Used ... $4.99
20 track promotional sampler. CD
Bluesway, 1970. Very Good+ ... $5.99
ABC, 1972. Near Mint- ... $24.99
BB King's collapsed here on the beach in California – and maybe that's because he gave so much energy to the session – which is a lot more full than some of his previous work from the 60s! The whole thing is a mix of blues and soul – some larger charts that really provide a great ... read more LP, Vinyl record album
(Cover has a small cutout hole and is bent a bit at the corners.)
ABC, 1972. Near Mint- ... $14.99
BB King brings in a sweet dose of jazz to his work – just a touch of the funkier backings that some of his electric contemporaries were getting at the time – maybe not as hard-wailing as some of the Chess funky blues records, but definitely somewhere in that direction! Players on the ... read more LP, Vinyl record album
(Black label stereo pressing. Cover has light wear.)
BB King —
Live & Well ... LP Bluesway/ABC, 1969. Very Good Gatefold ... $11.99
BB King not just live, but well-recorded in the studio too – in this classic ABC set that showcases both sides of his talents! Side one is the live set – and it's arguably better than any of the previous other concert recordings he did for the label – with a tighter, moodier feel ... read more LP, Vinyl record album
(Cover has light wear.)
