For anyone that enjoys the Blues, B.B. King teamed up with Eric Clapton on an album called "Riding with the King". Fortunatley they put the album out on DVD-Audio as well. Now I don't have a DVD-A player, but I do own a HK-525 and the DTS track is purely blissfull!
I love the blues, and though I'm blessed to be able to listen to great recordings of the blues there is just no substitute for actually being at a concert. Live, is the way to listen to the blues...and Live is what the sound mixing engineer had in mind! Now this isn't a review, so I'm not gonna get into any detail, I'm not an audiophile, I'm just a guy who knows the blues. Pick up a copy and see for yourselves. But to give you an idea, looking at the stage you'll hear Clapton on the left with vocals and guitar. B.B. in the middle with the drums behind him. On the right you'll hear the back up girls and piano. And the bass underlies the entire track. This is how just about every blues stage is set up, and the really nice thing about the mix is it's consistency. Every song was mixed the same way. You always know when clapton is stepping in with a lick. And, well, B.B. as usual is either playing or singing...since he never learned to do both at the same time. And then the songs are pure blues licks, with no R&B hints at all! This ones a classic!

I wasn't aware of this recording. Thank you very much for the heads up.

Not a problem! I'm itching to get home and hear it again!

Howdy, fellow blues'r.. And a purist no less? "..with no R&B hints at all !"
I see yer from the Lone Star state, so what's yer take on SRV ? The dude was something of a mixer.. Texas style roadhouse bluses, heavily influenced by yet another King (Albert), and a lover (and player) of jazz.. Hard combo not to like, but he had his moments..
As for me, I luv him.. I also dig good accoustic slide players, real harp players, and singers that can make you feel the heat..
When I'm left praying for rain, I know I've been listing to some good work..

SRV is a hero around here. My friends and I have spent many a night drinking beers and listening to the late, great Mr. Vaughn. I have a few of his albums, and DVD's in concert (he was in prime form at his Austin City Limits show). Of course when he played his "texas blues" style was when I always thought he shined. He dug jazz, and a little r&b, but it always seemed to me like he would throw those songs in just to try and be a little more mainstream. To me the only guys who ever made the whole "Rock-pop-bluesy-r&b" thing work was ZZ-Top. So it's not really that I'm a purist or don't like it, it's just that I like to sit down pop in a blues cd, and listen to it...but then sometimes there's a song that tries to be something other than blues and it interupts the mood. Just imagine watching "INDEPENDENCE DAY" and in the scene just after Will Smith crashes his plane and opens the hatch to the alien, well instead of the alien your used to popping out, you get Jar-Jar Binks!! That's what I mean. I just doesn't fit, especially when the pure blues is so good. Ahh, did you get a chance to see the SRV tribute? Theres an assortment of fine players! I only wish they had the Harp player from "Blues Travler" also. And yes, I own Blues Brothers and Blues Brothers 2000.

I suppose you guys already have heard John Lee Hooker's album "Mr. Lucky"? He features different guests on each track, many coming from outside the blues genre, so it may not be "pure" blues... but it is an awesome CD. Old world blues authenticity with Hooker, some great guitar work, and a very nice recording.
Also if you guys like SRV, you may also like Melvin Taylor and the Slack Band. The disc I have (Dirty Pool) is one of the best sounding recordings I have for my Axioms. He clearly doesn't have the talent of SRV and other greats - and he tries too hard at times - but the sound is very good.

The title track for "Riding with the King" was composed by another favorite - John Hiatt. While I enjoy virtually all of his work, his "Crossing Muddy Waters" disk is a compelling portrait of the blues.

Most of the conversation in this thread has been related to electric blues. I'm a fan, but I also want to point out the rich diversity of this genre, including great work by Joe Williams (I like the later stuff, not the Basie big band stuff). I also really appreciate Keb Mo' - he's a bit more mainstream, but writes well and the production is sublime.

Absolutely. Keb' Mo's "The Door" is my favorite from the discs that I've heard.

I hear ya.. It's really hard to find an album you can just throw down, and not have to hit 'next' a couple a times !! Drives me nuts.. But blues is a hard sell, and those guys (and gals) have to mix it up a little to reach a bigger market just to stay alive and keep food on the table..
I'm kind of a nut on Stevie, and have almost all his recordings.. He had the passion AND the talent.. Hard combo to beat.. Too many today just can't do it all.. Even Eric, the god (small 'g') of guitar falls short on vocals..
Bought ZZ tops 1st album back in 70 or 71.. Great stuff.. I even got behind the amp'd Recycler, Afterburner, era..
I'm always on the look out for a good accustic album.. Slide work, finger picking, what have ya.. I only wish someone could record the sound like those old C/S/N - James Taylor - late 60's early 70's sound.. Stills was the best at it.. He (or his engineer) knew how to record an acoustic..
That's one reason I have more electric albums, it's easier to find good ones.. Acoustic takes talent to play AND to record..
Then there's the whitest blues man in Texas, good old Johnny Winters ! That is, when he's not playing rock n roll.. (Or getting another tattoo !! hahaha)
Here's a pick for ya, Michael Burks "Make it Rain", on Alligator records.. Straight up electric blues.. Dude plays a Flying V, thru a Fender amp and nothing for the most part but bass and drums behind him.. Cut 3 and 4 would be worn out on my copy, if it was an LP.. hahah.. Last cut is a little surprise for ya.. Check it out..

I've got a couple of Big Joe Williams cd's.. Good stuff.. And I'm going to take your advise and head up to Tower records at lunch and pick up a copy of Crossing Muddy Waters..
I do have a question for ya though.. Do you have any female guitar playing/singing artists you could recomend ?
I have a copy of Rory Block 'Gone Woman Blues', and it's close.. Just picked up Debbie Davies 'Austin Motel', and it's ok..
Couple tracks near the end are better, but over all, it's kind of flat..
Any ideas ? thks..

Man, I'm wishing some moderator would just go ahead and rename the thread "Blues recommendations" so that we'd have some symmetry with the Jazz and Classical threads.

I appreciate the sharing, and will definitely take advantage of recommendations made here (thanks for the tip on Rory Block).

I've been really enjoying Susan Tedeschi lately. I know, it's a pretty commercial album and not pure blues, but a girl's gotta pay the bills. Love her voice. And I don't seem to tire of Bonnie Raitt; the double live CD from a few years ago is one of the better remote recordings I've heard. Again, not a purist's blues record, but fun anyway. They are playing Lucinda Williams on the radio up here quite a bit, but I don't own any yet. She might do.

Other than that, you've got me stumped for the moment.

Another obscure, regional recommendation - Lloyd Jones (aka "The Lloyd Jones Struggle"). Have seen him many times at bars and festivals in the Northwest (I think he is from Portland), including opening for Dr. John at which he stole the show, IMO. Electric guitarist/singer with full band including horns. "Small Potatoes" is a fabulous disk, but may be very difficult to find. Check out a new record by him collaborating with Double Trouble at http://www.telarc.com/Blues/title.asp?sku=CD%2D83585 and his homepage at www.lloydjonesmusic.com. No affiliation, just a fan.

Woah! A very nice knowlege base of the blues we got here! Allow me to insert a few more names. Buddy Guy. The speed and ability to make masterpieces up on the fly is astonishing. Jimmy Hendrix had some very excellent blues songs, Red House being the standout. Alber Collins could finger pick like a madman. And although he isn't truly bluesy persay, Eric Johnson has technique that is perfect. The man never messes up! I'm enjoying Susan Tedeschi as well, at least the whole album is mainstream. And finaly, Sue Foley is another female singer/guitarist that I'm liking. Sue's only weakness in my ears is her high piched voice. Currently at Sam's Wholesale you can find a 4 disk SRV package that has many recordings, live recordings, previeously unreleased material (MTV Unplugged songs), and a one of the disks is a DVD with live perfomances from his Austin City Limits apperances. Now I gotta go and find a few of these cd's mentioned...I'm so glad I started this thread, the blues have a strong hold on you once you hear it and understand it. In turn it creates a bond among all those who love it. And unlike some of the music being released for newer generations, (some of this music I truly enjoy btw), the blues isn't a jealous genre...it allows you to visit and explore other music. It encourages you too.

Crossing Muddy Waters is my favorite CD from John Hiatt. I was lucky enough to see him live acoustic along with Guy Clark, Joe Ely, and Lyle Lovett. Just 4 guys and their guitars. Awesome!

I bought that SRV collection at Costco a couple years back for my brother (who first introduced me to SRV with "Couldn't Stand the Weather"). I didn't think the DVD was as good as the "Live at the Mocambo" disc - or even the rest of the Austin City Limits footage you can find on PBS every now and then, but there are some gems on the CDs. "Goin' Down" with Jeff Beck, and a medley of surf riffs played SRV style are a couple that stood out for me. What I really want, and don't flame me for saying this on your blues thread, is Riviera Paradise. Never seen that disc for sale used though.

Tooooooo many Susan Tedeschi cd's.. !!?? Which one is the best of the lot ??
I was also unable to find a Lloyd Jones cd... Will try again tomorrow.. Same for Lucinda Williams..

Ok, I have a brand new still wrapped copy of Crossing Muddy Waters sitting right here on my desk.. Will be opening it up and giving it a spin just as soon as Keb MO's City Boy finishes up.. Boy, ain't it sweet..
Bill, get a copy of 'The Sky is Crying'.. And his 'In the Beginning' cd... In my opinon, this has the best version of Tin Pan Alley.. I also really like his version of VooDoo Chile over Jimmy's.. You CAN'T play that one loud enough.. I do get some looks from time to time sittin out in the parking lot at lunch time.. hahaha..
Oh yeah, Riviera Paradise is on the 'In Step' album..
Ok... Time to slip Hiatt into the player.. The anticipation is killing me..
By the way, Jeff Beck is another over looked great.. Blow by Blow used to rock my neighborhood back some years.. I would set up a large part of my concert sound system INSIDE my apt !! And crank it.. People were a lot more understanding back in the early 70's.. Try that one today, and see how many helicopters fly over your place .. hahahaha

Hey Mikey, how's it goin'in the OC? Where you at? - I grew up in Yorba Linda.

Re: Beck's Blow By Blow and Wired. The Axioms work well on opening up those '70s recordings. I heard there are new digitally remastered SACD (or were they DVDA?) versions of both those albums. Might be worth it.

I have that SRV album laying around here somewhere, but it's either vinyl or a cassette - neither of which I use anymore. I do have Riviera Paradise on the SRV tribute album "Crossfire", but needless to say, it ain't as good as the original.

Yeah, The OC ! haha.. Like, who calls it that, eh ? Now we are all famous for living here.. Gotta hand it to hollywierd, they do know who to promote stuff..
As for me, I'm in Surf City USA.. Huntington Beach, right down near the pier.. Sweeeet...
Gonna have to look for those remastered copies.. I don't have a high tech player yet, but some day..
And I take if from your post in Home Theater, that you did in deed find the big screen you wanted ?? Ain't life grand...... You betcha...

Oh yeah, you told me HB before. Duh. No big screen yet. With the way TV technology is changing it's difficult to pull the trigger. If I were to get one right now I would probably go with the 60" Phillips at Costco for $1599 (or was it $1699?). Looked at the 60" Mits but the cheaper one is not HD upgradeable, and I did seem to see some of that "red push" that some mention with Mits.
For now I just move my chair closer to that little ol' 36" JVC and cry in my beer.

36 ! Try 17 !! I had a 17 inch Zenith for years and years, sitting where the big screen was supposed to go.. Surrounded by changing sound systems, and furniture, etc.. But the t/v just stayed put ? I could not make up my mind which big set to get.. (Sound familiar ?) I even held 2 Super bowl parties with that thing !! Can you believe my friends came back the next year, knowing what I had for a t/v ??!! haha.. But they did.. You think it was the FREE beer ?? (I may be dumb, but I ain't stupid..)
Made up for it in spades this year.. 65 inch Mits in HiDef with 7.2 axiom sound ! And I STILL provided the beer ! haha.. What a guy..
Talk about shock and awe, those guys were speechless.. For weeks and weeks after, all they talked about was that picture.. They had never seen anything like it before..
Check 'em all out.. Make sure it's the one you want, but don't put it off too long.. Unlike my buddies, YOU already KNOW what you are missing. .hahah
I've seen the prices falling on most sets.. It doesn't have to be a top of the line model, just so long as it can take HD.. You can alway add an HD reciever.. And those are coming down as well.. I've even heard that some cable companies are offering the HD receivers as part of some contracts ?? Check on that ?

Thanks Mikey. Awhile back I was told that HD wasn't available through cable, but perhaps that has changed. And I guess 36" ain't roughing it too bad. 17" would be bad - my computer monitor is bigger than that.

Another couple of good blues artist would be Jimmy Thackery
or Sonny Landreth's "The Road Were On". On the female side there is a young lady out there (13 or so when this album was cut) who shows alot of potential Shannon Curfman...check it out

I live in SRV's hometown (Austin, TX), and you hit the nail on the head. I highly recommend the DVD Stevie Ray Vaughan & Double Trouble: Live From Austin, Texas. It brings tears to my eyes every time I watch it. Others can joke about "talent on loan from God"; SRV had it.