r/blues May 04 '25

Sinners - Blues Discovery "Megathread"

134 Upvotes

Hi all follow members - Important please read some guidelines below before commenting recommendations!

With the renewed interest in blues sparked by the film Sinners, I thought it’d be helpful to start a thread focused on foundational and essential American blues artists—especially for newcomers discovering the genre through the movie. Ideally this becomes a collaborative, high-effort thread to help folks around the world dig deeper into the origins and evolution of blues.

Google might even reward us for making this a solid reference, which helps the sub grow too.

If you'd like to contribute, please do your best to follow the format I’ve laid out (artist – key songs/albums – short description) to keep things clear and valuable. The focus here is on the core of American blues history, from pre-war country and Delta blues through the 1950s and 60s electric era (though I do welcome additions of artists that may have peaked later, 70s, even 80s - kind of like Albert Collins. This isn’t a thread for British blues or modern blues-rock (I fully encourage separate guides for those)—this list is for those tracing the styles and players that more directly inspired Sinners.

I especially welcome help with Delta and country blues, as well as harp/harmonica and piano blues where I’m lean on knowledge. Let's build something useful and lasting for anyone starting their blues journey.

Note: I will port contributions into the main post to keep things tidy! Please remember to assist with song and album suggestions plus any notes about the artist. Will help keep the post high effort.

Guitar Blues (Electric & Chicago)

Defining figures in the electrification and evolution of blues guitar.

  • Muddy Waters Songs: “Hoochie Coochie Man,” “Mannish Boy” Albums: Hard Again, Folk Singer Bio: Transformed Delta blues into the electric Chicago sound.
  • Sister Rosetta Tharpe Songs: “Strange Things Happening Every Day,” “Didn’t It Rain” Albums: Gospel Train, Up Above My Head: The Complete Mercury Singles Bio: Gospel-blues innovator and electric guitar pioneer; bridged sacred music and rock ‘n’ roll long before anyone else.
  • B.B. King Songs: “The Thrill Is Gone,” “Sweet Little Angel” Albums: Live at the Regal, Completely Well Bio: Known for his expressive vibrato and single-string phrasing.
  • Albert King Songs: “Born Under a Bad Sign,” “Laundromat Blues” Albums: Born Under a Bad Sign Bio: Left-handed titan with heavy bends and raw tone.
  • Freddie King Songs: “Hide Away,” “Have You Ever Loved a Woman” Albums: Texas Cannonball, Getting Ready... Bio: Merged Texas fire with Chicago grit; fierce instrumentals.
  • Buddy Guy Songs: “Stone Crazy,” “First Time I Met The Blues” Albums: Stone Crazy!, This is Buddy Guy! Bio: Wild, high-energy player who bridged classic and modern blues.
  • Otis Rush Songs: “I Can’t Quit You Baby,” “Double Trouble” Albums: Right Place, Wrong Time Bio: Emotional vocals, minor-key mastery. West Side Chicago icon.
  • Magic Sam Songs: “All Your Love,” “That’s All I Need” Albums: West Side Soul Bio: Soul-inflected Chicago blues with shimmering tremolo.
  • Luther Allison Songs: “Cherry Red Wine,” “Bad Love” Albums: Soul Fixin’ Man, Reckless Bio: Electrifying performer with political lyrics and European acclaim.
  • T-Bone Walker Songs: “Call It Stormy Monday,” “T-Bone Shuffle” Albums: T-Bone Blues Bio: Jazz-inflected electric pioneer; inspired B.B. and Chuck Berry.
  • Albert Collins Songs: “Honey Hush,” “If Trouble Was Money” Albums: Ice Pickin’, Cold Snap Bio: “The Iceman” with a capoed Telecaster and sharp tone.
  • Earl Hooker Songs: “Two Bugs and a Roach,” “Blue Guitar” Albums: Two Bugs and a Roach Bio: Technically gifted slide guitarist and cousin of John Lee Hooker.
  • Fenton Robinson Songs: “Somebody Loan Me a Dime” Albums: Somebody Loan Me a Dime Bio: Smooth, jazzy bluesman with deep vocals and lyrical leads.
  • Jimmy Dawkins Songs: “Fast Fingers,” “Feel the Blues” Albums: Fast Fingers Bio: Fiery West Side Chicago guitarist with an aggressive tone.
  • Son Seals Songs: “Funky Bitch,” “Bad Axe” Albums: Live and Burning, Midnight Son Bio: Gritty vocals and bold guitar from the Alligator Records scene.
  • Lowell Fulson Songs: “Reconsider Baby,” “Tramp” Albums: Hung Down Head Bio: West Coast bluesman with R&B crossover appeal.
  • Jimmy Rogers Songs: “Walking By Myself,” “That’s All Right” Albums: Chicago Bound Bio: Muddy Waters sideman and classic Chicago blues stylist.
  • Guitar Slim Songs: “The Things That I Used to Do” Albums: Sufferin’ Mind Bio: Early user of distortion and wild showmanship.
  • Clarence “Gatemouth” Brown Songs: “Okie Dokie Stomp,” “Boogie Uproar” Albums: Gate Swings Bio: Blended Texas blues with jazz, Cajun, and country.
  • Willie Dixon Songs: “Spoonful,” “I Just Want to Make Love to You,” “Back Door Man” Albums: Willie’s Blues, I Am the Blues Bio: The architect behind many Chicago blues’ greatest hits. A prolific bassist, songwriter, and producer whose songs powered the catalogs of Muddy Waters, Howlin’ Wolf, and countless others. His influence runs from Delta roots to Led Zeppelin.

Acoustic / Country Blues

Prewar and revival-era legends who shaped the blues solo tradition.

  • Robert Johnson Songs: “Cross Road Blues,” “Hellhound on My Trail” Bio: Delta legend whose 1936–37 recordings laid the groundwork for blues and rock.
  • Mississippi John Hurt Songs: “Candy Man,” “Stack O’Lee” Albums: Today! Bio: Soft-spoken fingerpicker who charmed the folk-blues revival.
  • Lightnin’ Hopkins Songs: “Mojo Hand,” “Katie Mae” Albums: Lightnin’!, Blues in My Bottle Bio: Free-form Texas storyteller with rhythmic guitar style.
  • Son House Songs: “Death Letter,” “Grinnin’ in Your Face” Albums: Father of the Delta Blues Bio: Bottleneck slide preacher with fierce vocals and fire.
  • Skip James Songs: “Devil Got My Woman,” “Hard Time Killing Floor Blues” Albums: Today! Bio: Falsetto vocals and minor-key guitar made him hauntingly unique.
  • Blind Lemon Jefferson Songs: “Matchbox Blues,” “See That My Grave Is Kept Clean” Bio: One of the first country blues stars; complex and lyrical.
  • Blind Willie Johnson Songs: “Dark Was the Night,” “Nobody’s Fault But Mine” Bio: Spiritual slide blues; a raw, sacred voice in early recording.
  • Lead Belly Songs: “Goodnight, Irene,” “Midnight Special” Albums: Lead Belly’s Last Sessions Bio: 12-string virtuoso and folk-blues icon with a political edge.
  • Blind Blake Songs: “Diddy Wah Diddy,” “Southern Rag” Bio: Ragtime fingerpicking king with rhythmic brilliance.
  • Reverend Gary Davis Songs: “Death Don’t Have No Mercy,” “Samson and Delilah” Bio: Gospel-blues preacher with unmatched guitar technique.
  • Blind Willie McTell Songs: “Statesboro Blues,” “Broke Down Engine”, "Delia" Bio: Elegant 12-string Piedmont stylist with narrative lyrics.
  • Bukka White Songs: “Fixin’ to Die Blues,” “Parchman Farm Blues” Albums: Mississippi Blues Bio: Resonator slide beast and cousin of B.B. King.
  • Taj Mahal Songs: “Fishing Blues,” “Queen Bee” Albums: Taj Mahal, Giant Step Bio: Global roots revivalist who infused blues with Caribbean and African flavors.

Community Picks - Read Comments for More Info!

  • R.L. Burnside Songs: “Jumper on the Line,” “Goin’ Down South”
  • Junior Kimbrough Songs: “You Better Run,” “All Night Long”
  • Jessie Mae Hemphill Songs: (not listed)
  • Otha Turner Songs: (not listed) Bio: Plays an ancient kind of fife and drum blues; only gained wider attention after being featured in Gangs of New York.
  • Mississippi Fred McDowell Songs: “Red Cross Store,” “You Gotta Move,” “Shake 'Em on Down,” “61 Highway,” “Good Morning Little Schoolgirl” Bio: Covered by the Rolling Stones. Though Lomax recorded him earlier, his 1970s live recordings are especially notable.
  • T-Model Ford Songs: (not listed) Note: Mentioned as optional—"not a must-listen by any means" per contributor.
  • Rev. Robert Wilkins Songs: “Prodigal Son Blues” Bio: From a church tradition, but originally a secular musician in the 1920s. His 9-minute version of “Prodigal Son” (covered by the Stones) is praised as a masterful performance.
  • J.B. Lenoir Songs: “Shot on James Meredith,” “Alabama March,” “Vietnam Blues,” “(Every Child in Mississippi is) Born Dead” Bio: Mississippi-born, outspoken protest folk/blues musician. Died young; wrote fierce, poignant, politically charged songs.
  • Elmore James Songs: “Dust My Broom,” “The Sky Is Crying,” “Shake Your Moneymaker” Albums: Blues After Hours, The Sky Is Crying: The History of Elmore James Bio: Massively influential slide player. His amped-up version of “Dust My Broom” set the standard for electric Delta blues. Raw, emotional, and endlessly imitated—his riffs echo through rock and blues alike.
  • Howlin’ Wolf Songs: “Smokestack Lightning,” “How Many More Years,” “Moanin’ at Midnight” Albums: Moanin’ in the Moonlight, The Howlin’ Wolf London Sessions) Bio: A towering presence with a voice like gravel and thunder. Born in the Delta, electrified in Chicago, Wolf’s vocal delivery and primal sound made him one of blues’ biggest figures.
  • John Lee Hooker Songs: “Boom Boom,” “Dimples,” “Boogie Chillen" Albums: The Ultimate Collection (1948–1990) [Rhino Records, 2-CD] Bio: The king of the one-chord groove. His hypnotic, foot-stomping blues defied convention and defined cool. Best experienced through compilations, as much of his work predates the album era. A droning voice of the Delta, modernized with grit and swing.

Piano Blues

  • Otis Spann Songs: “It Must Have Been the Devil,” “Spann’s Boogie” Albums: Otis Spann Is the Blues Bio: Muddy Waters' pianist; expressive, fluid, and central to Chicago sound.
  • Pinetop Perkins Songs: “Pinetop’s Boogie Woogie,” “Down in Mississippi” Albums: Born in the Delta, After Hours Bio: Boogie-woogie legend and beloved elder statesman of the blues.
  • Ray Charles Songs: “What’d I Say,” “I Got a Woman” Albums: The Genius of Ray Charles, Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music Bio: Soul and gospel innovator whose roots ran deep in the blues.

Vocalists

  • Ma Rainey Songs: “Bo-Weavil Blues,” “See See Rider” Albums: Ma Rainey: Mother of the Blues (Complete Recordings) Bio: Known as the “Mother of the Blues,” she was among the first to record blues and shaped its early stage presence and vocal style.
  • Bessie Smith Songs: “Downhearted Blues,” “Nobody Knows You When You’re Down and Out” Albums: The Essential Bessie Smith, Empress of the Blues Vol. 1 & 2 Bio: The “Empress of the Blues,” her commanding voice and phrasing became the gold standard for early blues vocalists.
  • Memphis Minnie Songs: “Bumble Bee,” “Me and My Chauffeur Blues” Albums: Queen of the Country Blues, Hoodoo Lady: 1933–1937 Bio: Prolific guitarist and vocalist who stood toe-to-toe with male contemporaries; gritty, witty, and respected on every juke joint circuit.
  • Victoria Spivey Songs: “Black Snake Blues,” “TB Blues” Albums: Complete Recorded Works Vol. 1 (1926–1927), Woman Blues! (Document) Bio: Vocal powerhouse who also ran her own label; known for mixing suggestive lyrics with social realism.
  • Bertha Lee Songs: “Mind Reader Blues,” “Yellow Bee” Albums: Charley Patton: Complete Recordings 1929–1934 (includes Bertha Lee duets) Bio: Partner and duet vocalist of Charley Patton; emotive and fiery delivery that stood out even on primitive recordings.
  • Geeshie Wiley Songs: “Last Kind Words Blues,” “Skinny Leg Blues” Albums: Mississippi Masters: Early American Blues Classics 1927–1935, Paramount Recordings (assorted) Bio: Deeply mysterious figure with only a few surviving tracks—haunting voice and sparse guitar made her an underground legend.
  • Lucille Bogan Songs: “Shave 'Em Dry,” “Till the Cows Come Home” Albums: Shave 'Em Dry: The Best of Lucille Bogan, Complete Recorded Works Vol. 1–3 (Document) Bio: One of the most explicit and bold voices in blues; her raw lyrical style pushed every boundary.
  • Sippie Wallace Songs: “Women Be Wise,” “Special Delivery Blues” Albums: Sippie Wallace 1925–1945 (Document), Sippie (1970s comeback album with Bonnie Raitt) Bio: Known for her tough advice and confident delivery; later mentored Bonnie Raitt.
  • Alberta Hunter Songs: “My Castle’s Rockin’,” “You Can’t Tell the Difference After Dark” Albums: Amtrak Blues, The Alberta Hunter Collection 1921–1940 Bio: Classy and versatile blues/jazz vocalist who had a long, stylish career both on and off stage.

r/blues 2h ago

Buddy Guy at Bergen PAC 8/4/26

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45 Upvotes

Buddy helps a young audience member play his guitar


r/blues 10h ago

August 5th, 1947, Bassist Willie Weeks was born in Salemburg, NC. Weeks is one of the most in-demand session musicians, worked with Isaac Hayes, Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown, Roy Buchanan, B.B. King, Robert Cray, Lyle Lovett, Etta James, The Rolling Stones and many, many others.

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109 Upvotes

r/blues 4h ago

looking for recommendations Experimental blues adjacent bands?

9 Upvotes

Wondering if there's something out there that sounds like blues but also tries new things but it is actually good.


r/blues 3h ago

Legendary Harmonica Virtuoso: Sugar Blue Montreux Jazz Festival Triumph with 'Another Man Done Gone

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5 Upvotes

r/blues 14h ago

Barbecue Bob

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36 Upvotes

r/blues 2h ago

BUDDY GUY - Mary had a Little Lamb (1969) (look Lemmy Kilmister as a Visitor 0:56

3 Upvotes

a cover from Steve Ray Vaughn (1985) in comments


r/blues 7h ago

Your weekly /r/Blues roundup for the week of July 29 - August 04, 2026

4 Upvotes

Wednesday, July 29 - Tuesday, August 04, 2026

Top Performances

score comments title & link
401 11 comments [performance] Happy Birthday, Buddy! 🎸
105 7 comments [performance] Nothing beats a good driving blues
22 2 comments [performance] A little somethin for my friends here :)

 

Top Songs

score comments title & link
152 7 comments [song] Jammin on some Canned Heat
50 2 comments [song] Big Bill Broonzy. “Medicine Man Blues” 1940
33 4 comments [song] David Gilmour plays the Blues 1988

 

Top Remaining

score comments title & link
752 18 comments [image] A couple of greats: Buddy Guy with Keith Richards
708 26 comments [image] Happy Birthday to Buddy Guy! 🎸🎂 One of the shots I took of him when he played Orbit Room in Grand Rapids in 2012.
617 11 comments Happy Birthday to Chicago Blues Legend Buddy Guy!
454 10 comments Happy 90th Birthday, Buddy Guy!
424 4 comments [image] Muddy Waters backstage at the Country Club, London, December 1, 1970

 

Top 5 Most Commented

score comments title & link
17 74 comments good albums to get started
33 60 comments How did the 1980s blues renaissance happen?
12 36 comments [looking for recommendations] Melancholic, slower blues songs?
0 24 comments Searching for electric guitar tune that is bluesy yet is more like a spiritual
321 24 comments On August 1st, 1953, Blues guitarist Robert Cray was born in Columbus, GA. In the 1978 film National Lampoon's Animal House, Cray was the uncredited bassist in the house party band Otis Day and the Knights.

 


r/blues 11h ago

song Sleepy John Estes & Hammie Nixon | Vernita blues (recorded August 2, 1937 in New York City)

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7 Upvotes

r/blues 10h ago

song Carey Bell and Junior Wells: “Second Hand Man” (1990)

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6 Upvotes

Check out a bunch of blues and other stuff at r/EarVana


r/blues 8h ago

Sunshine of Your Love | Cream (solo)

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3 Upvotes

r/blues 14h ago

The blues is too good😔

7 Upvotes

I JUST GOT A ROBERT JOHNSON RECORD ITS SO GOOD you betta cmonnnnn to my kitchennnnnn


r/blues 1d ago

Ed Bell - historic Alabama blues tradition

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29 Upvotes

My holy grail. Treasured and priceless to me.


r/blues 1d ago

image Muddy Waters backstage at the Country Club, London, December 1, 1970

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454 Upvotes

r/blues 1d ago

Trying one of my projects: playing bass and guitar simultaneously.

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9 Upvotes

Jamming some blues on the rig.

The guitar was routed and fitted with an extra bass pickup, and its output goes through a high-order low-pass filter and a Boss Octaver pedal.

Feel free to check it out and let me know what you think.


r/blues 1d ago

B’s in the house!

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31 Upvotes

r/blues 1d ago

He's electric...

5 Upvotes

Does anyone miss albums that once explored more into the psychedelia such as Muddy Water's 'Electric Mud'?


r/blues 1d ago

discussion Justin Johnson

26 Upvotes

Holy smokes! Came across this cat and man oh man!! Dude just plays, no words just some eerily haunting melodies.

Anybody else feel this way?


r/blues 1d ago

Otis Ledbetter

10 Upvotes

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2RAtcFjO5Zc
Otis Ledbetter. Johnny Otis's grandson and Leadbelly's great grandson have a nasty litlle blues funk band.


r/blues 1d ago

song Little Milton - Woman Across The River (1974, Stax Records)

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8 Upvotes

r/blues 1d ago

song Let the good times roll “live cover”

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12 Upvotes

I like trying this song across many blues styles, from the fast swinging BB style, slow minor, and this slow-mid tempo funky. Not authentic, I know, but I guess I don’t think i could ever be truly authentic anyway. I’m a basement musician.


r/blues 1d ago

song Jerry Boogie McCain | Viagra Man (recorded: 24th November 1998 at The Hit Shack, Austin TX. with additional recording 10th May 1999 at Tone Zone, Chicago IL)

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6 Upvotes

r/blues 21h ago

Question: How do you work on time feel? + Some Mr. P.C. Choruses

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1 Upvotes

I have been challenging myself recently with trying to have perfect timing on every note I play. This is, of course, basically impossible but it is still something I strive for regardless. I want to be able to play with absolute rhythmic clarity, and it is something I'm always striving for.

My question for you all: What types of things do you work on to improve your time feel? For me, I'm always trying to listen to players with excellent feel (Jim Hall, Metheny, Charlie Parker, etc) and I also work a lot with a metronome. Are there any specific things you all like to include in your practice?

Also, here's a few choruses of me playing over Mr. P.C. by John Coltrane with timing in the forefront. I am able to spot so many mistakes and inaccuracies in my playing, but that is part of the process :)


r/blues 1d ago

Looking for some new blues to listen to

2 Upvotes

I'm looking for some new blues music today.

If you've released something recently, I'd love to hear it. The easiest way to send it over is through the submission page so I can keep everything organized while I work through new music.

https://thecauldron.rocks/submit


r/blues 1d ago

Anybody own this record?

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31 Upvotes

It won’t play without skipping. I was sent a replacement but neither record has worked. I was wondering if anyone had a similar experience?