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These 5 Albums Will Show You Why Blues Is the Bedrock of American Music
HBO’s recent biopic about Bessie Smith got us all thinking about, and listening to, blues music again, and reflecting on what an incredible artistic phenomenon it is. Combining multiple folk music styles and traditions, its structure and chord progressions became the bedrock of popular music in the 20th century. Not only that, it is uniquely American music. The blues is one of the cornerstones of American culture, developed by African-American communities in the Deep South long before the rest of the world took notice. These five albums are essential to anyone’s understanding of the blues, where it came from, and why it’s so important.
Moanin’ In the Moonlight, by Howlin’ Wolf
One of the godfathers of modern blues, Howlin’ Wolf released this album—his first—in 1959. Much has been said about Wolf’s powerful, gritty voice and skill on the guitar, but this album says a lot about his skills as a bandleader; Wolf’s band was way ahead of their time, and Moanin’ In the Moonlight set the table for nearly every blues, rock, and soul album recorded thereafter, from the Rolling Stones to James Brown to the Black Keys. Wolf’s business acumen left him with plenty of money to hire the best musicians of his era—including Ike Turner, Willie Dixon, and Willie Johnson—to record and tour with him, and the results still sound great 56 years later, especially “Moanin’ At Midnight” and “I Asked for Water (She Gave Me Gasoline).”
Icon, by Muddy Waters
Calling Muddy Waters a blues legend is totally accurate, and yet still doesn’t capture the monumental influence he had on not just blues, but on American music altogether. He was an early adopter of amplification, a necessity for being heard in rowdy Chicago clubs, which makes him a primary link between the blues and early rock ‘n roll. Icon is an attempt, and a good one, to summarize Waters’ incredible career and legacy in a single compilation album. Songs like “Rollin’ Stone,” which gave the Rolling Stones their name, and “You Shook Me” show off Muddy’s skillful guitar playing and his big, resonant voice that made most other blues singers (including the guys covering his songs in the 1960s and ’70s) sound like little kids. Like Howlin’ Wolf, he was way ahead of his time.
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20th Century Masters – The Millennium Collection: The Best of Etta James, by Etta James
It’s important to recognize Etta James for the musical pioneer she was. James helped bridge the gap between R&B and rock music in the 1950s, and contributed much to soul and jazz later in her career, but fell into obscurity until the 1990s, when the industry finally acknowledged all she’d done for American pop music. Her 20th Century Masters album is a collection of her best work, from her R&B beginnings to her breakthrough as a pop singer. Etta’s contralto vocal range was both smooth and husky, which gave additional emotional heft to ballads like “All I Could Do Was Cry” and “Almost Persuaded,” and lent energy to more upbeat songs like “Something’s Got A Hold On Me.”
Blues Brothers Original Soundtrack, by the Blues Brothers
As much criticism as John Belushi and Dan Ackroyd got for daring to take on classic R&B material as the Blues Brothers, it can’t be argued that the soundtrack to their 1980 film is fantastic. Along with James Brown’s “Old Landmark,” and Aretha Franklin’s “Think,” both of which are performed in the film, Belushi and Ackroyd perform several songs with an incredible band comprised of members of Booker T. and the M.G.’s and Blood, Sweat, & Tears. In fact, guitarist Steve Cropper praised John Belushi’s vocal performance here, noting that he had a keen sense of rhythm and made up for any perceived lack of ability with his obvious enthusiasm for the material. Not only was this soundtrack a huge success, it helped reintroduce blues and soul music to the American public during the 1980s.
Bessie: Music From the HBO Film
And of course, we have to discuss the album that got us thinking about the blues in the first place. Bessie is the soundtrack to the HBO biopic about legendary blues singer Bessie Smith, who was the most famous female blues singer of the 1920s and ’30s, and an influence on just about every other blues singer that followed her. The film stars Queen Latifah in the title role, and she also sings a handful of Smith’s songs on the soundtrack. Latifah’s no slouch as a singer either, and her performance matches Smith’s power and vulnerability so well that it’s eerie; “Young Woman’s Blues” is a good example of this. The rest of the soundtrack mixes classic blues numbers by Louis Armstrong and Fats Waller with new music from Smith-inspired musicians like Tamar-Kali and Vince Giordano & the Nighthawks.