Penny Arcade Forums› Help / Advice Forum
The new forums will be named Coin Return (based on the most recent vote)! You can check on the status and timeline of the transition to the new forums here.
The Guiding Principles and New Rules document is now in effect.

Blues me up! (yet another music thread)

The_Glad_HatterThe_Glad_Hatter One Sly FoxUnderneath a Groovy HatRegistered User regular
edited July 2011 in Help / Advice Forum
So i have a holiday coming up during which i'll be home and drawing a lot, so i could do with some new tunes.

The world of blues is large, diverse and a bit intimidating...
I barely know the different styles so i cannot be super specific in this request.

I have a greatest hit of BB-King which i really like, but i don't think he's diverse enough for me to enjoy more than a best-of.
I absolutely LOVE Rory Gallagher and all his bluesy stuff. His "Million miles away" or Zep's "Since I've Been Loving You", like the mellow blues with some damn tasty licks.

I also have and like stuff by
Stevie Ray Vaughan
Dylan
Tom Waits (also has some bluesy stuff, love his gritty voice)
Kitty, Daisy and Lewis, (which i guess have some blues in 'em.)
Lots of 60-s and 70s rock.

First thing you always read about blues is Leadbelly and Robert Johnson. I prefer stuff recorded with some better quality for my daily listening. Say 60s and onwards?

The_Glad_Hatter on

Posts

  • Centipede DamascusCentipede Damascus Ho! Ho! Ho! Drink Coke!Registered User regular
    edited July 2011
    I've just started plumbing the depths of the blues recently myself. I got hooked by the Black Keys, I absolutely love their stuff.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XhYr1Dc6u-c

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zByEkP3Wsdc

    That led me to Howlin' Wolf and Muddy Waters, both phenomenal artists. Definitely check them out if you want some great blues from around the 50s to the 70s.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A1FK620bS7A

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Ou-6A3MKow

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V25iA2XPzuA

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c0_eRVroLqs

    Centipede Damascus on
    bluesky/tumblr
    eZB497F.jpg
  • useless4useless4 Registered User regular
    edited July 2011
    Hound Dog Taylor, loud fast and full of raw energy.

    His bass player couldn't afford a bass so they just took an extra guitar and tuned it low.

    Love some Hound Dog Taylor. That's some road trip music there.

    Get some older John Lee Hooker.

    It's going to sound blasphemous but the original soundtrack to The Blues Brothers is damn fine too.

    useless4 on
  • joshofalltradesjoshofalltrades Class Traitor Smoke-filled roomRegistered User regular
    edited July 2011
    useless4 wrote: »
    It's going to sound blasphemous but the original soundtrack to The Blues Brothers is damn fine too.

    That's uh

    That's not blasphemous at all

    The original Blues Brothers Band was pretty fucking fantastic

    It's what got me started playing blues harp, and thus my foray into live blues improv

    Even their non-OST stuff is good, don't feel bad for listening to the BB!

    joshofalltrades on
  • Forbe!Forbe! Registered User regular
    edited July 2011
    Black Keys are great. They did an album based on the work of Junior Kimbrough, a delta blues musician. Sort of a middle ground between TBK's normal music and classic delta blues. Kimbrough's widow called em up and said how proud she was of them, and how close they played to Junior.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S6QBjqw84R8

    John Lee Hooker performs in a pretty unique style called Country Blues or Talking Blues.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BM175x6xGVQ

    Lightnin' Hopkins - Country Blues

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t1PvXfSviSA

    R. L. Burnside - Pretty prolific blues artist. Starting experimenting/doing some cross over music in his later years.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BYo3gtkrBJ4

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JCIUBpbW0HU

    Buddy Guy - Straight up Chicago/Electric blues.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yowJiQZBXrA

    Edit:

    Pokey LaFarge & The South City Three - Ragtime Blues, Jazz, Roots music. St. Louis based band, they're a contemporary band playing roots type music. Sort of a proto-blues.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=imrr4829fvU&feature=related


    Hopefully this gives you a wide range of stuff to sample from.

    Forbe! on
    bv2ylq8pac8s.png
  • The_Glad_HatterThe_Glad_Hatter One Sly Fox Underneath a Groovy HatRegistered User regular
    edited July 2011
    Thanks guys, there's a lot of name in here i've heard of but never really heard, i'll definately check 'em all out (early morning now, so i can't blast blues through the house :D )

    The_Glad_Hatter on
  • The_Glad_HatterThe_Glad_Hatter One Sly Fox Underneath a Groovy HatRegistered User regular
    edited July 2011
    Just listening to some stuff and thought i'd comment for the people who did the recommendations.

    Lovin' those black keys! they really remind me of a belgian band, the Blackbox revelation (click 'em for some great bluesy stuff); Also really dug the Delta blues track Forbe recommended.

    Howlin' wolf sounds like BB King after he's just woken up, pretty cool stuff.
    Muddy Waters sounds great too.

    John lee Hooker sounds good, but i think i prefer it a bit more melodic and sung.

    Ligtning Hopkins was pretty good, and that RL Burnside had some great guitarwork.

    Pokey LaFarge & The South City Three sound good, but i prefer Kitty Daisy and Lewis's sound. A bit more raw.

    Thanks alot, i'm looking forwards to checking the library for some albums by these guys.

    To expand on my further question,
    i'd love to find some tracks that have this vibe: relaxed blues, mellow drum, good voice and virtuoso yet not over-the-top guitar playing (i know it's a superspecific question, so obviously i won't mind if nobody replies to it. i'm more than happy with the regular 'ol blues recommends)
    Million Miles Away (gallagher)
    Since I've Been Loving You (zep)

    The_Glad_Hatter on
  • McVikingMcViking Registered User regular
    edited July 2011
    Going back to the OP, if you're already a Tom Waits fan, check out John Hammond's "Wicked Grin" -- it's him doing straight-up blues covers of some of the stranger Tom Waits songs. Which sounds like it could be really bad, but is actually awesome:

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fML3JHPxJr0

    McViking on
  • 3lwap03lwap0 Registered User regular
    edited July 2011
    Some more contemporary blues muscians you can look at:

    John Mayer (look up his live in L.A. album - the guy's a great blues musician).

    Johnny Lang

    The Allman Brothers (Statesboro Blues!). Also similar to SRV, so you'd def like this track, and a few others.

    B.B. King of course, but pick the compilation albums, not necessarily his 'greatest hits'. Live at the Apollo is a great album of his, and I highly recommend King Biscuit Flower Hour Presents B. B. King Live! - it's got some guest appearances from George Benson, who goes back to his roots and plays the blues with B.B. It's an older album (made in '78), but it's a great one.

    Also worth considering is Jimi Hendrix - the guy was a great blues player (find his cover of Red House), and even toured once with B.B. King I believe

    Also worth considering - Taj Mahal!

    3lwap0 on
  • RderdallRderdall Registered User regular
    edited July 2011
    I'm probably gonna get dogged for this, but you need to check out John Mayer's blues stuff if you're looking for newer, more modern blues. His live album, Where the Light is: Live in Los Angeles is one of my favourite albums of all time.

    Here's his opening blues song from that performance.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-5imPpWkZo8

    Rderdall on
    steam_sig.png

    Xbox Gamertag: GAMB1NO325Xi
  • 3lwap03lwap0 Registered User regular
    edited July 2011
    Rderdall wrote: »
    I'm probably gonna get dogged for this, but you need to check out John Mayer's blues stuff if you're looking for newer, more modern blues. His live album, Where the Light is: Live in Los Angeles is one of my favourite albums of all time.

    Nah man, I dig that album too. Mayer rocks the blues hard in that album. Hi5?

    3lwap0 on
  • DrZiplockDrZiplock Registered User regular
    edited July 2011
    Seriously, The Blues Brothers is nothing to be ashamed of.

    The band itself and the original movie soundtrack are full of extremely talented blues and R&B artists. You could do far far worse in the realm of soundtracks.

    DrZiplock on
    Hail, Satan! Wishlist Post
  • The_Glad_HatterThe_Glad_Hatter One Sly Fox Underneath a Groovy HatRegistered User regular
    edited July 2011
    I don't really know who John Mayer is, so i have no prejudice against him :)
    Thanks for the extra names!

    The_Glad_Hatter on
  • spool32spool32 Contrary Library Registered User, Transition Team regular
    edited July 2011
    Moar Muddy Waters. He's one of the greats.

    Also, if you like SRV and don't have "Texas Flood", go buy that record. While you're there, get The Black Crowes "Southern Harmony & Musical Companion". Wonderful, wonderful Texas gospel/blues, and right on the relaxed vibe you're aiming for.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=51ktQIcCbiM

    Finally: do not ignore ZZ Top.

    Every girl's crazy 'bout a sharp dressed man.

    spool32 on
  • SoaLSoaL fantastic Registered User regular
    edited July 2011
    i absolutely love this album

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=799trxDgoEc

    maybe it is more jazz than blues

    SoaL on
    DKFA7.gif
  • DarkewolfeDarkewolfe Registered User regular
    edited July 2011
    3lwap0 wrote: »
    Some more contemporary blues muscians you can look at:

    John Mayer (look up his live in L.A. album - the guy's a great blues musician).

    Johnny Lang

    The Allman Brothers (Statesboro Blues!). Also similar to SRV, so you'd def like this track, and a few others.

    B.B. King of course, but pick the compilation albums, not necessarily his 'greatest hits'. Live at the Apollo is a great album of his, and I highly recommend King Biscuit Flower Hour Presents B. B. King Live! - it's got some guest appearances from George Benson, who goes back to his roots and plays the blues with B.B. It's an older album (made in '78), but it's a great one.

    Also worth considering is Jimi Hendrix - the guy was a great blues player (find his cover of Red House), and even toured once with B.B. King I believe

    Also worth considering - Taj Mahal!

    More Memphis Blues. Look up anybody who has ever played the King Biscuit festival and give them a try.

    Darkewolfe on
    What is this I don't even.
Sign In or Register to comment.
Penny Arcade Forums› Help / Advice Forum