Top 10 Blues Albums

I wish someone had given me this list when I was getting into Blues. And that’s why I’m writing it here for you. 🙂

My Top 10 Blues Albums is perfect if you want to know some great Blues music and guitar players. But, obviously, I probably didn’t include your favorites. Also, feel free to drop your suggestions in the comments below. These are only my personal opinion, and I can’t wait to know yours!

I always get asked about my favorites, and with so much music around, I think it can be helpful to have a list of great albums to check out. I hope you enjoy these fine recordings as much as I do! By the end of this post, there’s a cool playlist you can listen to – and some guitar lesson recommendations too. 

Now let’s see the list.

1. B.B. King – Live At The Regal

Live At The Regal is a live album by B.B. King from 1965. It’s undoubtedly one of the fines Blues albums ever recorded, and it’s just incredible on every level. I don’t know anyone who doesn’t like this album, but I do know many awesome players who mentioned this record as a great influence: John Mayer and Mark Knopfler are just two of them! 

B.B.’s playing is right on it, and the audience interaction is a window to the world at a very different time. Powerful. I don’t have any song lessons – yet! – on tracks from this album, but you can listen to it on Spotify.

2. Stevie Ray Vaughan – Texas Flood

Steve Ray Vaughan was an incredible guitar player, for sure one of the greatest to grace our planet and influenced many. He released Texas Flood in 1983, and it features some of the finest Texas Blues you’ll ever hear. From the raw power of Pride And Joy to the subtle jazz fringes in Lenny, this is one of the all-time great Blues albums. 

3. Blues Breakers with Eric Clapton

This John Mayall album featuring Eric Clapton was released in 1966. It blew my mind when I first heard it. Clapton is full of energy, and the power of the band is incredible – you can feel it. The album features some incredible lead solos and a brilliant cover of Freddie King’s song Hideaway.

This album is also known as The Beano because Clapton is reading a British children’s comic of the same name on its album cover. 🙂

4. Albert King – Born Under A Bad Sign

Albert King’s unique style is based around incredible string bending techniques. He played his guitar upside down with the thin string at the top – string bending is a bit easier this way, pulling down. He’s really worth exploring! King was a huge influence, and most later blues players copied his licks. I have a full course exploring Albert King Style on guitar! 

5. Robert Johnson – Complete Recordings (1936-37)

Robert Johnson sold his soul to the devil at the crossroads and started a legend, and his playing has been even more influential. He is the Blues, and though all his recordings are a bit scratchy (it was a while back), his genius still shines through.

6. Freddie King – Let’s Hide Away and Dance Away

Ah, Freddie King is one of the great 3 Kings – with Albert and B.B. He was a Texas Blues pioneer and was a huge influence on young Steve Ray Vaughan. Let’s Hide Away and Dance Away album is all instrumental and features great writing as well as incredible playing. It was released back in 1961.

7. T-Bone Walker – The Original Source

I love T-Bone’s playing. As well as being a brilliant player, he was one of the first showmen who played behind his head. He did the splits and rocked the house! The Original Source track box set spans his whole incredible career – it’s mandatory. 

8. Jimi Hendrix – Are You Experienced

I always wonder if Jimi should be Blues or Rock – he’s kind of both. Even though there are no 12 Bar forms on the Are You Experienced album, it’s certainly Blues-based and was a huge influence on many blues guitar players. Well, all guitar players, I guess. 🙂 It’s a must!

9. Robben Ford – Talk To Your Daughter

This album is slightly different from the others on this list, with slick production (maybe overdone.) Still, Robben is an incredible player and tears it up on this album. With one foot in traditional Blues and the other in Jazz Be-Bop, he makes a unique and brilliant blend!

10. Howlin Wolf – His Best

The guitar player for Howlin Wolf (vocals and harmonica) is a fella called Hubert Sumlin, who’s one of the finest blues guitar players of all time. You’ll hear plenty of his great work on the Chess 50th anniversary collection.