Best Texas Blues

Freddie King’s Texas Cannonball, released in 1972, is a significant blues-album showcasing the guitarist’s powerful electric style. Recorded under the guidance of Leon Russell on the Shelter label, it represents a critical commercial comeback for King after years of struggles. The album's raw energy...

Stevie Ray Vaughan’s “Couldn't Stand the Weather” is a landmark blues album released in 1984. It showcases Vaughan’s exceptional guitar skills and powerful Texas blues sound, establishing him as a leading voice within the genre. The album features extended instrumental passages and dynamic performan...

Albert Collins – Live in Japan documents the renowned Texas blues musician’s performance from a 1984 Japanese tour. The album showcases Collins' distinctive guitar style, particularly his use of the Telecaster and his signature “wah-wah” technique. It provides a valuable recording for fans of classi...

The Progressive Blues Experiment is Johnny Winter’s 1969 debut album on Sonobeat Records. This electric blues offering established Winter's signature sound blending traditional Texas blues with experimental instrumentation and extended improvisations. Recorded in Texas, the album highlighted his pow...

Clarence ‘Gatemouth’ Brown’s “Alright Again!” is a 1982 Rounder Records album showcasing the Texas blues musician's distinctive blend of electric and traditional styles. The record earned Brown a Grammy Award for Best Traditional Blues Recording recognizing his innovative approach to the genre. It’s...

"In Step" is the fourth studio album by American blues rock guitarist Stevie Ray Vaughan and his band Double Trouble, released in 1989. The record holds significant biographical importance as it was Vaughan's first fully sober studio recording, reflecting a distinct clarity and focus in his musical...

"Jail" is a blues album by singer, harmonica player, and drummer Willie Mae "Big Mama" Thornton, released in the 1970s on Vanguard Records. Thornton is historically recognized for her original 1952 recording of "Hound Dog," which later became a massive hit for Elvis Presley. This album captures her...

The Sky Is Crying is a posthumous Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble album released in 1991, the year after Vaughan's death. It compiles studio recordings made during sessions for earlier albums but not issued on those original releases. The collection includes Vaughan's interpretation of the Elm...

Copeland Special is an electric blues album by Texas guitarist and vocalist Johnny Copeland, released in 1981 on Rounder Records. The album served as his breakthrough recording, introducing his aggressive guitar style and passionate vocals to a wider audience outside of the regional Texas circuit. C...

Lightnin' Hopkins – Blues in My Bottle (1962) is a Bluesville Records album by the Texas acoustic blues guitarist, recorded in New York and featuring his characteristic spontaneous, conversational lyrical delivery.

Showdown! is a collaborative blues studio album released in 1985 on the Alligator Records label. The record features performances by Texas blues guitarists Albert Collins, Robert Cray, and Johnny Copeland. It documents a collaborative session between the three musicians, highlighting their distinct...

Debut 1979 album by Austin blues band the Fabulous Thunderbirds, led by guitarist Jimmie Vaughan and vocalist and harmonica player Kim Wilson.

"Ice Pickin'" is a studio album by Texas blues guitarist Albert Collins, released in 1978 as his debut on the independent Alligator Records label. The album features Collins's distinctive electric guitar style, characterized by his use of a Fender Telecaster, alternate tunings, and a capo positioned...

Getting Ready... is a studio album by Texas blues guitarist Freddie King, released in 1971 on Shelter Records. It served as his first recording for the label, marking a transition to a heavier blues-rock sound backed by rock-oriented studio musicians. Produced by Leon Russell and Don Nix, the trackl...

Soul to Soul is the third studio album by the American blues rock guitarist Stevie Ray Vaughan and his band Double Trouble, released in 1985. The record marked an evolution in the band's sound with the official addition of Reese Wynans on keyboards, which allowed them to incorporate elements of jazz...

"Strange Pleasure" is the debut solo album by American blues rock guitarist Jimmie Vaughan, released in 1994 on Epic Records. The album marked Vaughan's return to recording following his departure from the Fabulous Thunderbirds and the death of his brother, Stevie Ray Vaughan. It heavily features hi...

"T-Bone Blues" is a compilation album by the American blues guitarist and singer T-Bone Walker, released by Atlantic Records in 1960. The album features tracks recorded between 1955 and 1959, highlighting Walker's pioneering use of the electric guitar. His playing style on the record influenced the...

Do You Get the Blues? is a 2001 studio album by American blues rock guitarist Jimmie Vaughan, released through Epic Records. The record features Vaughan's signature Texas blues guitar style and includes contributions from musicians such as organist Bill Willis and drummer George Rains. It received c...

Texas Twister is a blues album by American guitarist and vocalist Johnny Copeland, originally released in 1984 on the Rounder Records label. The album showcases Copeland's energetic Texas blues guitar work and vocal style, helping to solidify his reputation outside of regional circuits. It features...

An album by Texas multi-instrumentalist Clarence 'Gatemouth' Brown, who blended blues, country, and jazz and won a Grammy Award for Best Traditional Blues Recording in 1982.

Johnny Winter is the self-titled major-label debut album by Texas guitarist and singer Johnny Winter, released by Columbia Records in 1969. Its performances combine electric blues, blues rock, and interpretations of material associated with earlier blues musicians. The recording helped introduce Win...

"Frostbite" is a 1980 studio album by American electric blues guitarist Albert Collins, released by Alligator Records. The record exemplifies Collins' signature "icy" guitar tone, which he achieved using a Fender Telecaster, a capo, and unique minor tunings. It features a mix of original tracks and...

"Mojo Hand" is a blues album by Texas guitarist and singer Lightnin' Hopkins, released in 1960 on the Fire Records label. The recording features Hopkins' signature acoustic and electric country blues fingerpicking style, often accompanied only by his own guitar and occasional percussion. The title t...

One More Mile is a studio album by Texas musician Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown, released in 1983 on Rounder Records. Brown was known for refusing to be strictly categorized, blending traditional blues with elements of country, jazz, and Cajun music. On this album, he demonstrates his proficiency on mu...

Guitar Slinger is a studio album by Texas blues guitarist and singer Johnny Winter, released in 1984 on Alligator Records. This record marked a deliberate return to his blues roots following a period focused on hard rock and mainstream rock production. Backed by a standard electric blues band, Winte...

Let's Hide Away and Dance Away with Freddie King is the debut studio album by American blues guitarist Freddie King, released in 1961 on the Federal Records label, a subsidiary of King Records. The album is composed entirely of instrumentals and was produced by Sonny Thompson, who also plays piano o...

T-Bird Rhythm is a studio album released in 1982 by the American blues band the Fabulous Thunderbirds on Chrysalis Records. The album continues the Austin, Texas-based band's approach to blues and R&B, featuring the core lineup of Kim Wilson and Jimmie Vaughan. It includes a mix of original tracks a...

Cold Snap is a 1986 studio album by the American Texas blues guitarist Albert Collins, released by Alligator Records. The record captures Collins's raw, aggressive Telecaster guitar style backed by a full horn section and several guest vocalists. It achieved significant critical acclaim, notably win...

Released in 1969 on Columbia Records, Second Winter is a double LP by Texas blues-rock guitarist Johnny Winter. The album is historically notable for being issued as a three-sided record with the fourth side left blank, making it the first official three-sided vinyl release in commercial music. The...