Best Memphis Blues

Bobby Blue Bland’s “Two Steps from the Blues,” released in 1961, showcases the Memphis blues artist's distinctive vocal style and soulful interpretations. The album is notable for establishing Bland’s signature sound—a potent blend of traditional blues with emerging soul influences. It remains a sig...

Bobby Blue Bland’s “His California Album” released in 1973 showcases a mature evolution of his vocal style. The album features a distinctive blend of Memphis blues with sophisticated arrangements influenced by West Coast production trends. It's notable for its soulful delivery and complex instrument...

Little Milton’s “We're Gonna Make It” is a significant blues album from the 1960s. The record showcases Milton’s soulful guitar work and vocal style, establishing him as a key figure in Memphis blues. Originally released on Checker Records, it gained attention through tracks like "We're Gonna Make I...

Lonnie Mack's 1963 album, released on Fraternity Records, is a significant contribution to Memphis blues. The title track “Wham!” showcased his innovative use of tremolo and became a notable example of guitar-driven blues. Primarily aimed at listeners interested in electric blues and particularly th...

Bobby Blue Bland’s “Dreamer,” released in 1974, represents a significant work within the Memphis blues tradition. The album showcases Bland's distinctive soulful vocal style and his continued partnership with producer Steve Barri. It blends classic blues instrumentation with elements of soul music,...

Live Wire/Blues Power is a live album by American blues guitarist and singer Albert King, recorded at San Francisco's Fillmore Auditorium in 1968 and released by Stax Records. It documents King performing electric blues for the rock-oriented Fillmore audience, with his vocals and distinctive left-ha...

Grits Ain't Groceries is a soul-blues album by American guitarist and singer Little Milton, released in 1969 on the Checker Records subsidiary of Chess Records. The album is a defining record of the soul-blues genre, heavily integrating R&B rhythms, brass arrangements, and Milton's expressive electr...

"Trapped by a Thing Called Love" is a 1971 studio album by American soul and blues singer Denise LaSalle, released by Westbound Records. The record is a defining example of the southern soul genre, blending assertive vocals with funk rhythms and Memphis-style horn arrangements. Its title track becam...

I'll Play the Blues for You is a studio album by American blues guitarist Albert King, released in 1972 on Stax Records. The album was recorded in Memphis and features integration of funk and soul elements into King's electric blues style, with backing provided by the Bar-Kays and the Movement. The...