Top 5 For the Newbie (in no particular order)

I would like to share my top 5 blues albums for newcomers to the blues. These were selected to give beginners a broad yet palatable taste of the world of blues music to, hopefully, peak their interests and inspire then to explore more. Feel free to share your own thoughts in the comment section or on the Facebook page.

#1.
Jimi Hendrix: Blues

#2.
Muddy Waters - Fathers and Sons

#3.
Robert Johnson - The Complete Recordings

#4.
John Lee Hooker - The Country Blues of John Lee Hooker

#5. (tie)
B.B. King - Live at the Regal & Live in Cook County Jail

Honorable Mentions:
Eric Clapton - From the Cradle
The Allman Brothers Band - Live at the Fillmore East
Stevie Ray Vaughn - Texas Flood
Skip James - The Complete Early Recordings
Howlin' Wolf - self titled
Son House - Delta Blues

The Slide

        The most iconic tool the bluesman has used throughout the years (other than his guitar itself) is the slide. There have been many variations on the slide, however, the most widely used in the early days were the glass bottleneck and the knife blade. The resonator guitar became the preferred instrument of many musicians which emits a very distinct and often haunting moan.
        Perhaps the first mention of a guitarist using a slide was from blues legend W.C. Handy. At a Tutwiler, Mississippi, train station in the early 20th century, the band leader heard a man play in this style with a knife blade and it had a profound effect on Handy.
        Probably little known to early, rural bluesmen in the American South, slide playing was also a popular method in Hawaii.
        Many contemporary musicians have shown just how versatile the slide can be. Virtuosi such as Duane Allman, Sonny Landreth, Derek Trucks, David Gilmore, and Ry Cooder.

Refer to these links to learn more about the blues slide. Happy listening!

A history of the pedal steel by PremierGuitar.com

A Mini Guide to Slide Guitar from Dawsons.co.uk

The Top 10 Slide Guitarists by WristRock.com

We Need More Blues Festivals

This will be a short entry.

There needs to be more blues festivals.

For real, guys. There are many great small festivals around the U.S., but I have not seen many big ones recently. Maybe I just don't know where to look. Please, go out and support your local blues festival and advocate for the spread of America's greatest music. Even an increased number of blues acts in general music festivals would be awesome. Bands like Tedeschi Trucks Band or Gary Clark Jr. are getting well earned attention. However, there is always room for more. Many festivals take suggestions for who people want to see.

So go out there and support the cause. Support the bands. Support the blues.

Obscure Bluesmen

        Most blues fans (I would think) have, at some point or another, come across a particular artist who is relatively unknown and thought, "How is this guy (or gal) not popular?!" I have had a few such occasions myself.  And this leads one to wonder how many more outstanding blues artists that were never heard outside of a rural juke joint by a hand full of people. Those who actually did record blues are not always widely received and fall into relative obscurity. I say relative because there are so many artists out there to choose from, that great musicians can  be overlooked even if they do have a substantial following. For example the great R. L. Burnside is not a household name by any means, but is a recognized as a giant of North Mississippi blues. He didn't necessarily fall into obscurity, but you get the picture.

        So now I want to ask those of you reading to take one minute of your time and tell the Blues United community what artist you love that people may not have heard of.

Tell us at the Facebook page HERE or comment below.