British Blues Albums
Since the 60’s there has been a steady flow of Blues Music from the small island across the pond. The Brits recognised the power of the Blues originals they heard on records, and used the language of the Blues to write a new chapter in the story of modern music. Here is a list of what we believe to be the best examples of this exciting Blues Genre.
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The 'Dog and Dustbin' album was Peter Green's Fleetwood Mac's first record and laid down a marker for the standard that British Blues would have to meet if it was to be taken seriously. This re-mastered album has the original 12 songs, plus two bonus tracks and more than a dozen out-takes to give a feel of what was happening in the studio.
Available in different formats, CD, Box set and Vinyl; this release gives us tracks from the long history of the Rolling Stones. The first disc contains most of the hit singles and iconic album tracks from their first six years; the second picks the highlights from their work up to the late seventies; the third starts at 'Some Girls' in 1978, pulling tracks from several later albums and includes two new tracks. Together they show how much sheer quality you need to stay at the top for so long.
This remastered CD has the original album expanded to 28 tracks, by including songs issued as singles and EPs plus one alternate take. This is the album that launched Peter Green's career under John Mayall's careful mentoring, as one of the many alumni of the 'finishing school' that was The Bluesbreakers.
This live set was originally issued on a 10-inch LP in 1957. This CD also has Alexis Korner's next two EPs to give 17 tracks in all, including his versions of 'Death Letter' and 'Boll Weevil', as well as an album of 'skiffle' to give the full flavour of the late fifties!
This 25 track compilation charts the progress of Dick Taylor and the 'Prettys' from their rumbunctious early hits to the blissed-out period of psychedelia.
Mike Vernon personally re-mastered this high quality 55 track document that gives you Stan Web and Chicken Shack's first four albums and all the singles. Great value, too.
The Groundhogs best selling album has been remastered and this CD includes three live tracks from BBC sessions. First issued in 1970, 'Thank Christ' is all original material and offers social commentary that is both contemporary and timeless, in a Blues-rock format.
This remastered collection of 15 tracks gives us some excellent versions of Eric Burdon's interpretations of classic Blues songs, plus a little local special. (Walker is a district of Newcastle)
'Don't Try to Lay No Boogie Woogie on the King of Rock'n'Roll' by Long John Baldry is a great track, but slightly misleading as there is some great piano Blues on here, along with songs by Lead Belly, Willie Dixon and Randy Newman.
Since working with Eric Clapton, Andy Fairweather-Low has come back with this melange of blues/folk/rock standards that remind us what a great voice he has.
There are more than 50 tracks on this album, and I can still say “All Killer, No Filler!” Van Morrison has explored many musical styles over the years, and this compilation covers all of them and his poetic qualities and unique phrasing continue to amaze.
Jo Ann Kelly was not a prolific recording artist, but this album shows how good she was at conveying the emotional power of a Blues song. Although she is not widely known, she was a true Blues talent in the mould of Memphis Minnie.
With 7 bonus tracks, this remastered version of the Climax Blues Band's first album sounds just like the music played in Blues Clubs all over Britain in the late 60s.
Spit James and Miller Anderson were much under-rated guitarists who make this Keef Hartley album a lost classic of its time, with a sound that looked to the future.
There is some great slide-playing on this album, and Kim Simmonds shows he can write a Blues song too as this is all his own material. This acoustic project is not in the style of Savoy Brown, as Kim is accompanied just by Bob Hall's piano.
The Jools Holland R&B Orchestra throbs with energy behind some fabulous singer,s including Brits Paul Weller, Joe Strummer, Mica Paris, Paul Carrack and Sting. A wobbly 'Seventh Son' apart, they all rise to the joyful occasion.
This set is 80 minutes of pure nostalgia for those who saw SAHB in the 70s and a voyage of discovery for new fans. And if you wondered where 'Kiss' and all those "snotty boys with lipstick on" got the idea, then check out the Sensational Alex Harvey on any video you can find.
Recorded with a Swedish band, Mike Sanchez includes material by Roy Brown and Clarence 'Gatemouth' Brown on this 16 track album.
This hugely influential album is great value even without the bonus tracks, and another gift is Mick Abrahams' excellent new sleeve notes.
This album with Danny Kirwan moves Mac away from a pure Blues format, but opens a window on new the new Blues-rock and Metal it went on to inspire.
This is actually a chronological collection of Ronnie Lane's Slim Chance singles, with a couple of live tracks from 1975 as a bonus.
The 23 tracks assembled here, from many sources, show just how many styles Chris Spedding could play (and not a Womble in sight!)
This album is a kind of 'missing link' between The Faces and The Stones, showing Ronnie Wood's contribution to both.
This collection shows the scope of Paul Lamb's talent, from his Sonny Terry tribute, and his fine voice, through some classic Blues to his own compositions.
Duffy Power's original CDs are ruinously expensive, and 'Innovations', 'Little Boy Blue', 'Mary, Open the Door' and 'Vampers and Champers' are basically all the same stuff with variations in the bonus tracks. The Japanese set has (reduced) original artwork and the essential goods!
Great variety here from Chantel McGregor, with a few acoustic numbers, a solid band and mostly original tunes but three covers include a blistering 13 minute version of Robin Trower's 'Daydream'.
Hard to chose between this and King King's debut album 'Take My Hand', so perhaps give that a listen too. The spirit of British Blues Rock's 'Golden Age' of the 60s aand 70s is alive and well with these guys.
