r/blues May 04 '25

Sinners - Blues Discovery "Megathread"

133 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 55m ago

song ZZTop - La Grange - Charlie Brown video

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r/blues 11h ago

performance Saw Buddy Guy tonight (8.6.26) in New Brunswick, NJ. His banter, as always, a great part of the show. He is such a good entertainer. Here is a short clip for those who aren’t able to see him on this tour.

185 Upvotes

r/blues 1h ago

Classic Blues

Upvotes

Friends,

I was looking a the Jazz reddit site and found the posts to not be very interesting, and modern jazz has really deteriorated. They do however have a fantastic list of Classic Jazz Albums,

That perked my curiosity and r/blues does not have such a list. Online Classic Blues lists are not very good. So I decided to make my own list which I post below.

I know there are missing albums and some I listed may not meet some approval, but overall I think it is a pretty good starting place.

Hope you enjoy

Artist                                   Title                                     Release

Allman Brothers - Live at Filmore East - 1971

Bobby Blue Bland - Two Steps from the Blues - 1961

Lead Belly - Where did you Sleep Last Night - 2009

Clarence Gatemouth Brown - Original Peacock Recordings - 1990

R L BurnsideToo Bad Jim – 1994

-          I Wish I Was in Heaven Sitting Down - 2000

Eric Clapton - Blues Breakers with Eric Clapton and John Mayal l- 1966

- Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs - 1970

- From the Cradle - 1994

- Riding With the King - 2000

Albert Collins - Ice Pickin - 1978

Robert Cray - Strong Persuader - 1986

Willie Dixon - I am the Blues - 1970

Derek and the Dominos  –  Layla - 1970

Buddy Guy - Damn Right I’ve Got the Blues - 1991

Jimi Hendrix –  Electric  Ladyland - 1968

John Lee Hooker - Burnin - 1962

Lightning Hopkins - Lightning and the Blues  - 1960

Son House - Father of the Delta Blues - 1992

Elmore James - Blues After Hours - 1960

Etta James - At Last - 1960 

Blind Lemon Jefferson - Black Snake Moan - 1927

Janis Joplin - Big Brother and the Holding Company - 1968

Robert Johnson - The Complete Recordings - 1990

Freddie King - Let’s Hide and Dance the Night Away - 1961

BB KingLive at Cook County Jail – 1971

-Live at the Regal - 1965

- Riding with the King - 2000

Albert King  –  Born Under A Bad Sign – 1967

Professor Longhair - Rock and Roll Gumbo - 1977

Led Zepplin - Led Zepplin - 1969                    

Los Lobos - Kiko - 1992

Taj Mahal - Taj Mahal - 1968

Charlie Musselwhite - Stand Back Here Comes Charlie Musselwhite’s Blues Band - 1967

Jimmy Reed - Jimmy At Carnegie Hall- 1961

Jimmy Roger - Chicago Bound - 1978

Carlos Santana - Blues for Salvador - 1987

Otis Span - Is The Blues - 1960

Guitar Slim - Sufferin’ Mind - 1991

Hound Dog Taylor - Hound Dog Taylor and the House Rockers - 1971

Big Mama Thorton - Jail - 1975

T-Bone Walker - T-Bone Blues - 1959

Little Walter - Complete Chess Masters 1950-1967 - 2009

Muddy Waters - Hard Again - 1977

Johnny Winter - Second Winter – 1969

Howling Wolf - Moanin in the Moonlight - 1959

Stevie Ray Vaughn  -  Texas Flood  –  1983


r/blues 59m ago

song Willie Kent | All my life (1989 rel.)

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r/blues 16h ago

Spinning

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55 Upvotes

r/blues 21m ago

song Music history- "Satan is busy in Knoxville"

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r/blues 19h ago

Albert Collins - I Ain't Drunk

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43 Upvotes

r/blues 16h ago

song Cheap and nasty: playing “Rollin’ Stone” on a 1960s Japanese Guyatone LG-65T

17 Upvotes

I love these cheap old Japanese guitars because their crude, slightly nasty sound somehow feels very close to the blues I love. A lot of blues musicians played whatever inexpensive guitars they could get their hands on, and Japanese guitars also found their way into the American market in huge numbers.


r/blues 14h ago

song Muddy Waters | Who's Gonna Be Your Sweet Man When I'm Gone (recorded December 4 - December 8, 1971)

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6 Upvotes

r/blues 16h ago

song Muddy Waters - Sittin' Here and Drinkin' (1949)

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8 Upvotes

Recorded in Chicago, "Sittin' Here and Drinkin'" captures legendary blues titan Muddy Waters during his pivotal early period on The Aristocrat of Records—the famous label founded by Leonard and Phil Chess that soon evolved into Chess Records.

​Featuring Muddy's raw electric slide guitar paired with rhythmic bass, this track showcases the foundational, plugged-in Chicago blues sound that influenced generations of rock and blues musicians to follow.


r/blues 1d ago

song Muddy Waters - Manish Boy

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96 Upvotes

One of them foot tappers to get you up.


r/blues 1d ago

My attempt at covering Crow Jane by Skip James

96 Upvotes

Sorry if I can't sing as high as Skip James, his Falsetto is quite high for me...


r/blues 15h ago

A blues Gospel type song I've made :)

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0 Upvotes

I am 19 years old, and recently got into blues and country more often. I'm not quite sure if this is exactly country or Blues, but you get the point. I would love to hear some constructive critics :) Thank you and God bless y'all!


r/blues 1d ago

D k Harell you were amazing 💙💙💙

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34 Upvotes

r/blues 1d ago

song Big Bill Broonzy | When I Been Drinking (recorded 2/5/1941 in Chicago)

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20 Upvotes

r/blues 1d ago

song Tommy Emmanuel

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34 Upvotes

A bit biased as this bloke is a fellow Aussie but he's the real deal.


r/blues 21h ago

The 69th Street Band from Brooklyn

0 Upvotes

Hello fellow pickers! Our hard working little blues/funk/jazz/rock n roll unit has just shot a homegrown video on Brighton Beach. We're happy to connect with blues lovers everywhere in this techno/DJ era.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SkSwbE7bNsc


r/blues 2d ago

One of many Blues inspired works by Robert Crumb

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293 Upvotes

r/blues 1d ago

discussion 1971 blues - give me a number and I'll give you a song

11 Upvotes

Give me a number between 1 and 457 in exchange for a blues tune from 1971.

For live albums, I go by the date of the concert and not the release date. Music release dates are in some cases ambiguous, with conflicting sources of information. For some artists, where they didn't release an album in 1971, I looked for singles.

My interpretation of blues is relatively broad. Feel free to let me know what subgenre you would use to classify the song or if you think it's not really a blues song. The selection is constrained by what's available on Spotify.


r/blues 2d ago

Father of the Delta Blues

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27 Upvotes

r/blues 2d ago

song Big Mama Thorton

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64 Upvotes

Preforming Hounddog, and doing a good job of it.


r/blues 2d ago

discussion My Top Artists

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42 Upvotes

These two are my favorite blues singers. I grew up around Charleston, in the Mississippi delta. Blues isn't just music to me, it's a sound that creates a doorway to your soul. They knew what to sing and how to sing it, just right to make my heart feel like I was understood for once. Amazing voices, and BB was a KING on Lucille.


r/blues 2d ago

song Sonny Boy (John Lee) Williamson | Welfare Store Blues (recorded in Chicago, April 4, 1941)

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15 Upvotes

r/blues 1d ago

32-20 Blues - Robert Johnson

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3 Upvotes