Quote
StonesTod
thing is- most of his legacy is based on his nasty slide guitar chops that have been imitated ad naseum for decades now. but, i submit that he had one of the best, most emotive blues voices in the biz...right up there with wolf and muddy.

I'm right there with you.

That Elmore isn't universally ranked as one of the greatest blues vocalists ever shocks me.

It's also disheartening that he's routinely pigeonholed as a guy who played one guitar riff. In fact, a review of his entire recorded works shows he often played some very tasty blues guitar in which the slide was nowhere to be heard.

Pinetop Perkins! Greatest name ever . . .

saw pinetop over 30 years ago - he was considered old even among the blues heroes of the day then....i'm convinced he's gonna out-live us all....

I'm going to use this thread as an excuse to talk about the terrific Buddy Guy show I saw in Lake Tahoe sunday night. It is relavant and on topic,because Buddy used a good part of the show to talk about and sample some old blues legends. He kept talking about how in the early days,they couldn't get played on the radio. How their music was censored(again topical) and how today's hip hop and rap artists are basicly carrying on with some of their early ideas. Anyway,fun show. He also sampled a little Stones. Playing a little bit of Miss You. As well as paying respect to Eric Clapton and playing a little bit of Strange Brew. Funniest thing was when I stepped out to use the restroom,came back in to find Buddy standing in the aisle jamming and singing. He even walked out into the lobby and gave the people in the ticket office a thrill by standing there and jamming for a few seconds. I'm not sure what was better,his guitar playing or his in song monologs. Most of which wouldn't be Wal Mart approved.....Somebody want to tell Buddy motherf'ing Guy he's not supposed to use dirty words.

james cotton

Here's another load ...Best heard in the dark......


Cool Down Mama - Lost John Hunter
I Be's Troubled - Muddy Waters - Library of Congress recording 1941
How Many More Years - Howling Wolf - Sam Phillips Memphis 1951
My Baby Walked Off- Howling Wolf - Sam Phillips Memphis 1951
Money Marbles & Chalk - Jimmy Rogers
Easy - Shaky Walter Horton
Cool Dispostion - Sonny Boy Williamson
Rock With Me Baby - Juke Boy Bonner
She Comes To See Me Sometimes - Joe Hill Louis
I Cant Be Satisfied - Muddy Waters
This Ain't No Place For Me - Slim Harpo
Murmer Low - Big Boy Spires
Crawling King Snake - John Lee Hooker
Katie May - Lightnin' Hopkins
Mystery Train - Little Junior Parker
44 Blues - Mose Vinson
I'm Gonna Murder My Baby - Pat Hare
Try Me One More Time - Willie Nix
Keep Away From My Baby - Joe Hill Louis
Cant Love Me And My Money Too - L.B Lawson
I'm A King Bee - Slim Harpo
Kid Man Blues - Big Maceo
Blood Stains On The Wall - Honeyboy
I'm Gonna Leave You Baby - Lazy Lester
Keep Your Arms Around Me Mama - Shakey Walter Horton
Baker Shop Boogie - Willie Nix
She's My Kinda Girl - Shy Guy Douglas
Rollin' And Tumblin' Pt 1 - Baby Face Leroy
Your Funeral And My Trial - Sonny Boy Williamson
Goin' Mad Blues - John Lee Hooker
Chicago Breakdown - Big Maceo
I'm A Man - Bo Diddley
Fish Tail - Johhny Shines
Walked All Night - Charlie Booker
I'll Be Around - Howling Wolf
My Home Is A Prison - Lonesome Sundown
I'm Gonna Whip You Baby - John Lee Hooker
Have To Let You Go - Lightnin' Hopkins
Sweet Home Chicago - Honey Boy Edwards



ROCKMAN

I am not sure what defines old, but one must not forget the West side Of Chicago sounds from Magic Sam(huge talent, died WAY to young), and Otis Rush. Essential to any collection. Thanks JR for including Sam in your list.

Chess box sets from Muddy, Wolf, Willie Dixon are some must haves. Little Walter, Jimmy Reed Slim Harpo compilations as well. Jimmy Rogers album "Chicago Bound", is a classic with incredible lineups. As one can see via the above postings, the list is huge. You won't go wrong with any of these thoughtful recommendations.

Gus Cannon and Son House for the old ones, and Hound Dog Taylor for the modern times blues rockers...That's artists I could spend a life-time listening too...

2 1 2 0

Lightnin' Hopkins

In addition to Muddy, Wolf, & Robert Johnson (which you mentined you know already), Charley Patton is a must. Mississippi Sheiks, Blind Willie McTell, Jimmy Reed, Lightnin', Little Walter, Elmore James, John Lee Hooker, Tampa Red, Bessie Smith, Skip James, Son House, Sonny Boy II (Rice Miller), Snooks Eaglin & Bo Diddley (though neither of the last two are really what I would call strict blues) are all important to any burgeoning blues collection.

...and, Rockman, great list (no surprise), but I think you missed Geechie Wiley's Last Kind Word Blues - an absolute classic.

EDIT:
Sorry - I just noticed you only wanted suggestions for super old timers. Well, some of the folks on my list are, and some of 'em aren't - but they're all pretty damn fine.





Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 2009-05-26 23:23 by The Ghost Of Good taste.

Don't forget albert and freddie king... Not prehistoric just historic. Man what a good list. I need some funds to print this list off go on a buying spree on amazon.

Buy Bill's Blues Odyssee book for ther background information. He told me it wasb bought by lots of US universities, f.e.

Quote
nankerphlege
Man what a good list. I need some funds to print this list off go on a buying spree on amazon.

agreed - thanks for the lists Rockman...head-spinning stuff.

start here:

[www.amazon.com]

Don´t know if this has been posted here before, anyway it´s an interesting story on the life of Robert Johnson.

[www.bbc.co.uk]

B.B KING, live at the regal

Quote
The Greek
B.B KING, live at the regal

definitely. one of the classics. didn't get to see bb until 1979 - he was riding high with another classic live album then, too....

don't remember if anyone posted this one on the thread (and too lazy to look):

junior wells - hooodoo man

Quote
T&A

Quote
The Greek
B.B KING, live at the regal

definitely. one of the classics. didn't get to see bb until 1979 - he was riding high with another classic live album then, too....

don't remember if anyone posted this one on the thread (and too lazy to look):

junior wells - hooodoo man

hey friend thanks for the vote of confidence !!!!!!!!!!!!

well, truth be told - i wasn't voting for you, i was voting for bb, but still....

Quote
T&A
well, truth be told - i wasn't voting for you, i was voting for bb, but still....

you are a man of good taste !!!

Robert Pete Williams.......T-Model Ford

Stumbled over this killer rendition of Lil Red Rooster
from Denver, Colorado back in 1973

Blind Willie Johnson
JB Lenoir

...All my other possible suggestions have been mentioned already.

But Mán, did I learn new stuff from this thread!! Thanx guitarbastard, for starting this, and thanx eveyone for their ad-ons.

P.S.: maybe a good suggestion: try "tHE BLUES"; 7 fine films, produced by Martin Scorsese, about the blues in all its glory- directed by highworthy people like Wim Wenders, Clint Eastwood a.o. ... Loads of 'pre-historic', classic (Delta) blues there too!!

Memphis Minnie and Joe Mccoys original..
Those Zepp'lin lads were indeed kinda cleptomaniacs...

More Memphis Minnie

Not to forget..

80 years & 20 days ago today this little piece was recorded..