Otis Rush

Slim Harpo

I thought it was going to be hard top last week’s Sunday Blues. While I was sifting through my CD’s today, I found some nuggets. The tracks posted below are from blues artists that incorporated rock & roll rhythms into their music.

Bo Diddley, sometimes called “The Originator”, has inspired countless acts that have followed in his musical footsteps, including The Rolling Stones, The Who, and The Yardbirds. Sadly he died of heart failure in June. There are some great tracks worth downloading on Diddley’s 50th Anniversary Collection.

Download:
Slim Harpo – The Best of Slim Harpo (iTunes)
Bo Diddley – The Chess 50th Anniversary Collection: Bo Diddley – His Best (iTunes)
The Lonnie Brooks Blues Band – Living Chicago Blues, Vol. 2 (iTunes)
Lazy Lester – Blues Stop Knockin (iTunes)

When Muddy Waters took the stage at the Checkerboard Lounge [Buddy Guys Bar] in Chicago on November 22, 1981 to play a session with members of the Rolling Stones, no one expected it to become one of his last live concert appearances. Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Ron Wood and Ian Stewart were excited to meet their long-time idol, perhaps the greatest bluesman ever and, of course, one of the major influences which led to the formation of the Rolling Stones back in 1962. They even took their band name from one of Waters’ songs, “Rolling Stone.”

I’m thinking of retiring the Sunday Blues series. It doesn’t get better than this. Muddy Waters and The Rolling Stones playing together in Chicago. It’s mind blowing. Nice shirt Mick. He may be hanging out with Larry.

Download:
John Lee Hooker – The Best of John Lee Hooker, 1965-1974 (iTunes)
Elmore James – Dust My Broom (iTunes)
Stevie Ray Vaughan & Double Trouble – The Real Deal: Greatest Hits (iTunes)

Freddie “The Texas Cannonball” King

Download:
Freddie King – The Best of Freddie King – The Shelter Records Years (iTunes)
Howlin' Wolf – His Best (Chess 50th Anniversary Collection) (iTunes)
Son House – Father of the Delta Blues – The Complete 1965 Sessions (iTunes)
Hound Dog Taylor – Deluxe Edition (iTunes)
Lonnie Brooks – Deluxe Edition: Lonnie Brooks (iTunes)

Jimi Hendrix and Buddy Miles

Download:
B.B. King & John Lee Hooker – Blues Summit (iTunes)
Albert King – Stax Profiles: Albert King (iTunes)
Jimi Hendrix – Blues (iTunes)
Stevie Ray Vaughan – The Essential Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble (iTunes)
Roy Buchanan – Sweet Dreams: The Anthology (iTunes)

Jimmy Reed
Download:
Jimmy Reed – The Very Best of Jimmy Reed (iTunes)
Big Mama Thornton – Hound Dog: The Peacock Recordings (iTunes)
Elmore James – Let's Cut It – The Very Best of Elmore James (iTunes)
Robert Johnson – The Complete Recordings (iTunes)
R.L. Burnside – A Ass Pocket Of Whiskey (iTunes)

Download:
John Lee Hooker – The Best of John Lee Hooker, 1965-1974 (iTunes)
Buddy Guy – Best of the Silvertone Years (1991-2005) (iTunes)
Bo Diddley -The Best Of (iTunes)
Howlin' Wolf – His Best (iTunes)
Taj Mahal – The Essential Taj Mahal (iTunes)