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The Rolling Stones, Love in Vain

A wonderfully bluesy song fantastically recorded live and stripped down by the Rolling Stones, it was originally recorded by the legendary Robert Johnson in 1937. His original has been described as devastatingly bleak, while the Stones’ cover offers some hope!

Ram Jam, Black Betty

A hugely popular hit for Ram Jam, this one was first made famous by Lead Belly in 1939, however it goes back further even than that. It’s originally thought to originate from an 18th century marching song, with Black Betty thought to be a musket.

The Doors, Back Door Man

A hit from the Doors’ debut album, and one that got everyone moving, it was first released in 1961 by Chicago Blues Master, Howlin’ Wolf.

Led Zeppelin, You Shook Me

A fantastic song that showcases the distorted slide guitar prowess of Jimmy Page and the pained, psychedelic vocals of Robert Plant. It was actually recorded eight years earlier by Muddy Waters.

Nirvana, Where did you Sleep (My Girl)

Famous for being the last song Kurt Cobain ever sang, this wonderfully simple, hauntingly sad song is a pure Blues classic. But it was first recorded in the 1940’s by legendary Blues musician Lead Belly. However, it goes back even further than that; this traditional American folk song dates back to around 1870, though the exact origins are unknown. Also known as “in the pines” and “black girl” it’s a timeless song that has been recorded by many artists over the years. Nirvana play tribute to Lead Belly’s recordings, keeping to the same lyrics, chord progressions and timings.

BB King

This legendary, larger than life Bluesman had a long and impressive career, with his unmistakable sound and powerful voice recognised by all. However, it wasn’t always plain sailing during his years in the spotlight. For many years he struggled with a gambling addiction, throwing away thousands of dollars on a roll of the dice or a spin on the wheel. Casinos were his thing and he struggled to say no especially at GARBO.com. Surprisingly it was when he moved to Vegas that he finally managed to beat his addiction. A former manager advised him to write a check every time he went to the casino and it was this advice that saved him. Seeing how much money he had thrown away when that check came back shook him out of the habit as he realized how much he was wasting each time he walked into a casino.

Janis Joplin

The legendary Janis Joplin, famed for her sultry, raucous voice and big presence was a Blues legend that left us too soon. As her voice earned her wider recognition, she battled a drink and drug addiction for much of her career. She managed to get off the drugs for a while, but she could never give up alcohol. In the end she sadly died from an overdose after getting her hands on a potent batch of uncut heroin. She and several others died as a result of taking the drug.

Modern Blues Artists

While you won’t often hear a pure Blues band on the radio these days, you might be surprised at some of the modern musicians who stick predominantly to the Blues.

• Jack White – One of the few Blues purists out there that made it to more mainstream charts, Jack White certainly has his own style, but it all stems from classic blues. With the White Stripes he covered the Robert Johnson classic “Stop breaking down” and in more recent years songs such as “Will there be enough water” showcase classic Blues traits. He uses minimal effects on his guitar and insists on keeping his music raw and from the heart. Listen back to his music and you’ll pick out the Blues influences clearly.
• Joe Bonamassa – With music in his blood, Joe is the fourth generation of his family to take to the stage and make music. His music is heavily influenced by British style blues rather than traditional delta blues and has a hard rock, electric blues sound.
• Janiva Magness – This is a woman who has the blues oozing out of her soul. The product of a tragic life, her parents committed suicide while she was a child and she spent most of her youth in foster care. She discovered the Blues, and with it a way to heal her broken heart and troubled soul. She has a beautiful, rich and smoky voice and creates deep, emotional lyrics.

Robert Johnson; “King of the Delta Blues Singers” (1961)

If you want to go way back and discover some of the earliest Blues recordings, straight out of the Mississippi Delta, this is an essential album. It’s a collection of Robert Johnson’s recordings from the 1930’s, before he sadly passed away at the age of 27. While it may seem a little dated compared to what you’ve probably been listening to, it’s worth listening in. This is the music that laid the foundations for modern rock music, and is packed full of beautiful, melancholic imagery.

Muddy Waters; “The Anthology” (1947 – 1972)

There’s nothing more welcoming for a new fan than a “best of” compilation, and this anthology of Muddy Waters’ best works is a great way to introduce yourself to the Blues. The earlier records showcase amplified electric guitars, which paved the way for rock and roll artists such as Elvis and Buddy Holly. You’ll no doubt recognise more familiar songs such as “Hoochie Coochie Man” and “I just want to make love to you”, while getting to grips with some of his earlier material. It’s a fantastic album that shows off how the Blues progressed over the years.

Stevie Ray Vaughan; “Texas Flood” (1983)

With a more up to date sound this is a fairly easy album to get into, packed full of old bluesy riffs. With a big nod to Blues legends such as Chuck Berry, Muddy Waters and Howlin’ Wolf, it showcases everything that Blues music stands for. Reckless guitar riffs and wild solos, paired with classic lyrics and chord progressions, it awoke a new generation to the sound of the Blues, at a time when Blues music had all but fallen off the radar.

Henry Sloan

We’re stepping into the realms of Blues mythology here, as there is very little information known about Henry Sloan. He never recorded or wrote any of his music down, but his name crops up time and again. He was born around 1870 and lived in Clarksdale – considered by many as the birthplace of the Blues, with the Dockery Plantation at the epicentre.

By the 1900’s it’s widely agreed upon that he was a popular bluesman, singing and playing his guitar to crowds all over town. But it is his alleged tutoring of many young, future Blues legends that has got people talking about him. Blues singers such as Charley Patton, Robert Johnson and Willie Brown all apparently learnt the ropes from Sloan, and this is why his influence is so recognized. In 1917 he boarded a train to Chicago, never to be seen again. Some theorise that it was Sloan that W.C Handy heard that fateful day at the railway station..

Robert Johnson

This mysterious, hugely talented Bluesman laid the foundations for beautiful, emotional, poetic lyrics. His songwriting, guitar playing and singing are legendary and have been covered many times over the years. It’s said that he made a deal with the devil in exchange for his musical talent. Sadly, the devil soon came to collect what was now his, and just months after mastering his talents, Robert died at the age of 27. He was a true enigma, and his 29 recorded songs laid down some core Blues principles that survive to this day.

Her talent wasn’t fully recognized until 1902, when she heard a touching song about unrequited love. Her musical brain got to work and she soon had it memorised. It wasn’t long before she was using it as her closing act, stunning audiences with her powerful, passionate voice. As she toured, spreading the sound of the Blues across the Deep South, a number of imitators fell in love with her style and adopted it themselves.

She married William Rainey and together they performed as “Ma and Pa Rainey; The Assassinators of the Blues”. They spent the next twenty years travelling the country, spreading their sound well out of the Mississippi Delta, as far as Texas and the Atlantic coast. Their lyrics blended the joys of love, with the desperation of struggle and poverty, moving the hearts and souls of the audiences they performed to.

Ma Rainey is widely considered responsible for training and making a star of a young Bessie Smith, who joined their show as a dancer in 1912. Ma soon saw her potential, taught her to sing and became a huge role model to the young Bessie. In 1923 they both signed record deals, following the success of the first ever Blues song to be recorded – Mamie Smith’s “Crazy Blues”.

Ma spent the next six years recording over a hundred songs in the studio and went on to perform to packed out theatre audiences, alongside famous artists such as Louis Armstrong before comfortably retiring in 1933. Aside from spreading and defining the Blues, the original Diva paved the way for other black female singers to make their own way in life.

W.C Handy; The Father of the Blues

Former teacher turned talented musician, William Christopher Handy soon became band leader for Mahara’s Minstrels, a travelling show touring the countryside. They would entertain the public with their music, dance, acrobatics and a variety of other side shows. As leader of the band, he was free to experiment and soon expanded on the simple folk songs he’d grown up with.

It was while waiting for a delayed train during his time touring with the Minstrels, that he discovered the raw, heart and soul of the music that would become the 12 bar blues. He heard a man playing a three chord progression on a guitar, using a knife blade to slide up and down the notes characteristic of the Blues. He was singing his sad song in a style familiar from traditional folk tunes, with two verses repeated over four bars, answered by a third line.

W.C Handy listened intently to this haunting song and started writing down the chord structure and the flattened “blues” notes used. The result was the 12 bars that we are so familiar with today. He later went on to record “Memphis Blues” in 1912, the first Blues song to be published as sheet music.

Handy gave the Blues a structure that could be replicated by anyone, and in doing so managed to spread the genre across the country. It’s worth bearing in mind though that many early bluesmen didn’t necessarily follow this set structure, instead changing chords whenever it felt right, and if the words didn’t rhyme, no worries!

It cannot be denied however, that his structure has lived on and can still be heard in popular music today.

This sums up the free spirit of the Blues; it cannot be chained down to a certain time and place. Having said that, it’s nice to take a look back and discover how it took shape and became the style we all know and love.

Many agree that the roots lie in African folk music, with the basic musical structure and bluesy characteristics present in these ancient songs. However, this seed of a musical idea didn’t really begin to take shape until it found its way to America.

Fast forward to the late 19th century and the Mississippi Delta, a place that thousands of former slaves now called home. Long before any sheet music was written down, an oral tradition of working songs, based on ancient African music, laid down the basics of the twelve bar blues. The classic call twice and response vocals were born in the fields, to the rhythm of the backbreaking work.

As time went by, many field workers took up the guitar and harmonica, playing for anyone who would listen. From tent gigs to circuses, these new bluesmen were spreading and shaping their music all over the Deep South. Sadly, most of these performers took their music to the grave, but the spirit lives on to this day.

Bluesmen were soon rife and performing anywhere they could, with their travels often taking them to rowdy bars, juke joints and brothels. It was in these wilder environments that they had to adapt their music further to suit the audience, adding a vigour to the blues that would soon help define it as a genre. Indeed, the Blues was becoming far more than a solely melancholic sound, with upbeat tunes lifting the spirits of plantation and factory workers.

So how did this improvised music makes its way to the general public? Check back soon as we discuss the founding figures of the Blues.