Blues question

[Guest cynicalprofit]

I recently started getting into blues, but my knowledge on the subject is limited as all hell. So my question is, who is good and who is the "darkest"? I remember mtv spouting off about someone singing about the hounds of hell and that sounded pretty interesting.

[Guest WrestlingDeacon]

That depends what you want to get into. Are you looking for older blues, newer, with that mix of classic r&b, what?

 

A good starting base would be to check out the work of guys like Muddy Waters, Howlin' Wolf, B.B. King, Billie Holiday, Joe Turner, John Lee Hooker, Elmore James, Johnny Otis, some early Ray Charles and Keb Mo.

[B. Brian Brunzell]

Buddy Guy is always good blues to listen to. Don't forget about newer blues artists like Johnny Lang, Kenny Wayne Sheppard, and of course, SRV.

[Guest saturnmark4life]

Ah, SRV. I remember learning to play bass, I was in my teacher's blues band and we covered a lot of hi stuff. 'Texas Flood' has a lot of sentimental value because of that.

[Guest La Parka Es Mi Papa]

The hounds of hell guy was more likely than not Robert Johnson, who along with Skip James, are both good for some dark, depressing blues.

[Guest Agent of Oblivion]

Add Willie Dixon to this list, as well. Although Muddy Waters is my favorite, due to him basically birthing the electric blues and all, but Dixon's a close second. A lot of the classic rock bands we all know and love owe a lot to this guy, Led Zeppelin in particular.

[Guest myburninghammer]

In addition to Dixon, Waters and Johnson, you also might want to check some of the Mississippi Hill Country guys like Fred McDowell and RL Burnside, etc. I'm a big fan of Junior Kimbrough, who has a really stark and deep style.

[Guest HellSpawn]

Get all you can find of BB King and Billie "Angel of Harlem" Holiday.

 

And well, you can look for some Eric Clapton blues stuff too.