Robert Johnson & John Lee Hooker

Chong

Started listening to these two guys for the first time in the past two days. I have never listened to blues before up until last week, so so so so impressed. I started listeneing to a guy by the name of Seasick Steve, then on Amazon I saw other customers bought stuff by these two geniuses , and I decided to check them out on Youtube.

Robert Johnson

John Lee Hooker

Rigsby

Congrats on discovering the world of blues. You 've got off to a good start with R. Johnson and J. Lee Hooker.

Others to check out are the three "Kings" i.e. B.B, Freddy, and Albert. Also I would recommend John Mayall, early Fleetwood Mac, Buddy Guy and Paul Butterfield.

Happy listening.

Setun

Welcome to the forum

As Rigsby said, J.L. Hooker and Robert Johnson are fantastic players. Make sure you check out Son House aswell!

cavedave

Robert Johnson is one of the very few musicians who make you think you can spit in the face of god (joy division are the only other ones i can think of). Scary scary stuff.

John Lee Hooker is brilliant. I would recommend Muddy Waters next

Chong

Cheers guys for the advice, this is my first foray in to blues, I have a very eclectic music taste, and never seemed to get into blues up until now. I dunno what it is about the blues it really speaks to you from what I have listened to its amazing. I will definately be checking out everyone you mentioned.

Setun

There's a John Lee Hooker album called the Real Folk Blues. Am listening to it now, it is unreal. Get it!

BostonB

Muddy waters and Howling Wolf.

Chong

I got his greatest hits the weekend , its pretty good. I also got the complete recording of Robert Johnson, but because its so old its very crackly , straight from vinyl to cd I suppose.

Setun

Was it one of those chess compilations? I got a Son House one, and while the crackles and pops are fairly prominent it kinda suits the music in a way. John Lee Hooker's Best of Friends is also a great album - it's him playing some of his own tunes with guests, eg Santana/Van Morrisson/Jimmy Vaughan/Bonnie Raitt to name a few.

BostonB

Van Zuylen wrote: »

I got his greatest hits the weekend , its pretty good. I also got the complete recording of Robert Johnson, but because its so old its very crackly , straight from vinyl to cd I suppose.

limitations of the 1930's...

Chong

BostonB wrote: »

limitations of the 1930's...

Oh ya totally as Daddio says it adds to the listening experience in a way. I dont see it as a bad thing.

Chong

Daddio wrote: »

Was it one of those chess compilations? I got a Son House one, and while the crackles and pops are fairly prominent it kinda suits the music in a way. John Lee Hooker's Best of Friends is also a great album - it's him playing some of his own tunes with guests, eg Santana/Van Morrisson/Jimmy Vaughan/Bonnie Raitt to name a few.

I am not sure, I dont believe it to be the chess recordings, as I have chuck berry one of them. I actually cant find it on amazon the one I bought.

dasdog

Two real greats you have found there. I first heard Robert Johnson when I was about 16 and I still get moved listening to some of his songs. If you like this kind of stuff also check out Leadbelly and Howlin Wolf.

Chong

I will go to further my display of ignorance, but I listened to some lead belly on Saturday. I heard Kurt Cobain mention him on the track "Where did you sleep last night" on the Unplugged album, and when I saw Leadbelly on Youtube I was happily surprised to see it was blues.

'Ol Jack Chance

Just to add to what others have said other guys to check out would be Blind Willie McTell and Lightning Hopkins both mean bluesmen

Frankie Lee

cavedave wrote: »

Robert Johnson is one of the very few musicians who make you think you can spit in the face of god (joy division are the only other ones i can think of). Scary scary stuff.

John Lee Hooker is brilliant. I would recommend Muddy Waters next

I know exactly what you mean, they are probably the only artists that can make you believe in the devil.

Setun

Frankie Lee wrote: »

I know exactly what you mean, they are probably the only artists that can make you believe in the devil.

Lmao, that's a fantastic way of putting it

JerryHandbag

I must admit I've spent the night thus far looking at the old bluesmen doin their thing on youtube and I'm transfixed! Have a fairly wide taste in music and up until now my only exposure to the blues would be Hendrix, Clapton, White Stripes and Rory Gallagher, whom I idolise (I went to visit his grave last week)....I noticed the White Stripes did a few covers, Son House, Blind Willie McTell, Robert Johnson, but I dont know where to start as to collecting CDs of these guys...lets say my local record store doesnt cater for this taste.....I just love the rawness of these recordings, the scratchy tape recordings, just awesome, so primal....I dont think the teenage girlies will be listening to this stuff! And so now begins my quest to completely immerse myself in the blues and collect as many records as possible.....:)

Setun

JerryHandbag wrote: »

I must admit I've spent the night thus far looking at the old bluesmen doin their thing on youtube and I'm transfixed! Have a fairly wide taste in music and up until now my only exposure to the blues would be Hendrix, Clapton, White Stripes and Rory Gallagher, whom I idolise (I went to visit his grave last week)....I noticed the White Stripes did a few covers, Son House, Blind Willie McTell, Robert Johnson, but I dont know where to start as to collecting CDs of these guys...lets say my local record store doesnt cater for this taste.....I just love the rawness of these recordings, the scratchy tape recordings, just awesome, so primal....I dont think the teenage girlies will be listening to this stuff! And so now begins my quest to completely immerse myself in the blues and collect as many records as possible.....:)

Great stuff, its always great when a new genre is opened up to you, so much new music to discover!

Rigsby

JerryHandbag wrote: »

I must admit I've spent the night thus far looking at the old bluesmen doin their thing on youtube and I'm transfixed! Have a fairly wide taste in music and up until now my only exposure to the blues would be Hendrix, Clapton, White Stripes and Rory Gallagher, whom I idolise (I went to visit his grave last week)....I noticed the White Stripes did a few covers, Son House, Blind Willie McTell, Robert Johnson, but I dont know where to start as to collecting CDs of these guys...lets say my local record store doesnt cater for this taste.....I just love the rawness of these recordings, the scratchy tape recordings, just awesome, so primal....I dont think the teenage girlies will be listening to this stuff! And so now begins my quest to completely immerse myself in the blues and collect as many records as possible.....:)

Congrats on discovering the world of blues. You have a wealth of listening in store. Now you can listen to the artists that inspired Clapton, Gallagher ect.

As for buying the CD's...................... try Ebay. They have a good selection. If you are in Dublin try "Tower" on Wicklow St or 1st floor in Easons on O'Connell St. Both have a good selection for between 7-10 euros.

Happy listening. :cool:

Froot

Muddy Waters, John Lee hooker, Son House, R.L. Burnside, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Ry Cooder (my favourite), Howlin' Wolf, BB King.

Check all of those guys out. Heres some Stevie for you The camera work in this video is sh!t but you get the idea.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tih3scxV1OQ