How to Build a Chicago Blues Record Collection

Reverend Keith A. Gordon's Instant Chicago Blues Record Collection is as enticing as it sounds: 10 hand-picked albums deliver you to the stoop of the most essential recordings of Chicago blues.

I asked Reverend Keith, who is About.com's Guide to the Blues, if he could share more about his recommendations and how he chose them.

"In creating my Instant Record Collection for the Chicago Blues, I concentrated on the 'Modern Era' of blues music, roughly from 1950 through 1980, and I focused on those artists most closely connected with the style," he told me.

"Although this left out important early Chicago blues pioneers like Big Bill Broonzy, Tampa Red, and John Lee "Sonny Boy" Williamson, I feel that these ten albums represent the Chicago blues sound that most fans are familiar with.

"In some instances, as with Little Walter, Buddy Guy, Jimmy Reed, and Otis Rush, these were either 'greatest hits' collections or singles compilations that represented the artist's best work (usually 1950s-era singles for labels like Chess, Checker, and Cobra). In some cases, as with the choice of Muddy Waters' At Newport 1960, I wanted to feature a powerful album that was often overlooked by all but the hardcore blues fan.

"As for selections from Howlin' Wolf, Junior Wells, Paul Butterfield, Magic Sam, and Son Seals, I went with those albums that are widely considered to be classics of the genre among blues fans.

"You won't go wrong with any of these ten albums, which span the living history of the Chicago blues from the 1950s through the '80s."

Sometime in the near future, Rev. Keith plans on putting together a second "Instant Record Collection" that will cover the Chicago blues sound from the 1980s through the present day. But, in the meantime, this should be enough to keep your ears happy.

Related: Buddy Guy's Legends | BLUES on Halsted | Rosa's Lounge

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