CD-Charts Position 21
Average Rating:

Live in Cook County Jail

CD-Charts > Music > Chicago Blues
by: B.B. King

Release Date April 21, 1998
BB King had already recorded over 300 songs when this album was recorded. Prime arrangements of some standards and a few lesser known tunes. If you've never seen him live, this is close to it.

CD-Charts Position 22
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The Definitive Collection

CD-Charts > Music > Chicago Blues
by: Bo Diddley

Release Date April 17, 2007
This is just a really good collection assembled here. There's always those purists who think one song shouldn't have made it on a greatest hits type album and that another should have gotten its place, but the fact is that this is a really good album.

As someone who has only recently started listening to the Blues, I was surprised when I first introduced myself to Bo Diddley because I knew so many of his songs but just not sung by him. I was amazed to find out how much influence this man had on my own musical experience without my ever even hearing about him until very recently. I was happy to remedy that situation with a great album such as this one. This is the type of CD you can put in and just listen over and over again. ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 23
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West Side Soul

CD-Charts > Music > Chicago Blues
by: Magic Sam

Release Date June 10, 1993
This is recognized by all as one of the classic blues albums of all time, probably the best Chicago blues album ever recorded. It is just about perfect. In saying that, I do not minimize the work of Howling Wolf or Muddy Waters who did their best recordings as singles. But,if you only are going to have 10 blues cds in your collection, this is a must have. Listen to these vocals with their honest emotion, appreciate this songwriting, the perfect guitar work and you will have a standard to measure all blues music by, particularly blues in the Chicago style. The present blues scene is populated by way too much weak songwriting that does little more than act as a way to get to the long guitar solo. Having said that, the blues should evolve and not be stuck in ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 24
Average Rating:

Born Under a Bad Sign

CD-Charts > Music > Chicago Blues
by: Albert King

Release Date June 18, 2002
This album and Earl Hooker's "The Moon Is Rising" are two of the greatest electric Blues albums of all-time. There is not a bad song on this disc. Albert King also displays great versatility; "Born Under A Bad Sign" sounds nothing like "The Very Thought Of You", perhaps an odd song choice for Albert, but very well-handled. This is one of the albums that the late Stevie Ray Vaughan most admired. He was heavily influenced by Albert's playing on this record, as were scores of other Blues guitarists and Blues-Rock performers.

CD-Charts Position 25
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Road Runner: The Chess Masters 1959-1960

CD-Charts > Music > Chicago Blues
by: Bo Diddley

Release Date August 12, 2008
This is the second volume of Hip-O-Select's (hopefully) complete review of Bo's incredible output from the late 50's, into the 60's (and maybe the 70's?). The first set was released earlier this year and is called "Bo Diddley - "I'm A Man / The Chess Masters, 1955-1958". That was a two CD set covering every recorded track from 1955-1958 and this set picks up with 1959 and covers tracks recorded into early 1960. Obviously the first set is a bit stronger as it contained all of the classic early tracks like "I'm A Man", "Bo Diddley" etc.. but in some ways this set is almost more fun and interesting. I say that because those earlier tracks have been released a thousand times and this set includes some fantastic tracks that have not had the airplay and as many different ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 26
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La Bamba: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack

CD-Charts > Music > Chicago Blues
by: Various Artists

Release Date October 25, 1990
For the most part, this is a great soundtrack. The only problem I have with this, is that the "La Bamba" on the CD is not the exact one played in the movie during the concert and also at the end of the movie where the credits are. The one in the movie is SLIGHTLY faster and upbeat. Would have loved to have that version on the CD.

CD-Charts Position 27
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Buddy's Baddest: The Best of Buddy Guy

CD-Charts > Music > Chicago Blues
by: Buddy Guy

Release Date June 15, 1999
I like "Damn Right, I've Got the Blues" better, but this is still great. I loved Stevie Ray Vaughn, and since Buddy played at the last concert Stevie ever gave, I looked forward to hearing the instrumental tribute to him. I wasn't disappointed. Anybody who thinks Chicago blues is always loud and driving should listen hard to that one. Like any great music, there's more than one way to be blue. Yeah, Buddy.

CD-Charts Position 28
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Fathers and Sons

CD-Charts > Music > Chicago Blues
by: Muddy Waters

Release Date October 30, 2001
There are seminal moments in the arts when circumstances bring giants together in perfect alignment, and this album is one of them. The cast could never be better than the one contained herein, with the huge blues voice of Muddy Waters leading the way, half-brother Otis Spann pounding out some of his most brilliant piano ever, Paul Butterfield blowing his harp as if nations rise or fall by his effort, Mike Bloomfield (not long for this world after this 1969 recording) spinning out black blues guitar licks in a faithful but trailblazing fashion, plus a killer rhythm section of Stax/Volt's Donald "Duck" Dunn and Muddy's own Sam Lay on drums.

The songs are Muddy classics, from the thundering "40 Days And 40 Nights" to the braggadocio of "I'm Ready" to the oddly ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 29
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From the Cradle

CD-Charts > Music > Chicago Blues
by: Eric Clapton

Release Date September 13, 1994
First, let me say I have nothing against white blues guitar slingers. Love Bloomfield and Jonny Winter.

Second, as a "classic rock dude" Clapton can't be beat. Layla, and all that other stuff- its seminal classic rock. The guy almost defines the genre.

However, as a blues player, and especially as a blues singer, he is way overrated. People float him five stars because of the above classic rock god status. "Clapton? I love Clapton. Five stars."

The licks are ok, the solos are ok when he keeps them short. When he tries to go gonzo on a slow blues, he just sounds silly. Everything after Bluesbreakers was downhill for the guy blues-wise.

And the singing. Terrible. Imagine the whitest dude you know- Nay, the whitest BRITISH dude ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 30
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Breakin' It Up & Breakin' It Down

CD-Charts > Music > Chicago Blues
by: Muddy Waters

Release Date June 05, 2007
What a concert CD! "Breakin' it Up, Breakin' it Down" features the vocals of three pretty good bluesmen--Muddy Waters, James Cotton, and Johnny Winter. Waters and Winter also play guitar, and James Cotton is referred to as "Superharp" in the notes accompanying the CD. Also in the group: Bob Margolin (guitar and vocals), Pinetop Perkins (vocals and piano), Willie "Big Eyes" Smith (drum), and Charles Calmese (Bass). They play awfully well together. . . .

Bob Margolin wrote to notes. At one point he says of this CD: "[The CD] showcases each of these [three] blues legends leading the band, but more important historically, and much more fun, we find them jamming together, pushing, teasing, and inspiring one another."

Let's take a look at a few examples of the cuts on this ... Read More: