005 History of the Blues

DEC GUITAR NEWSLETTER, issue no. 5

2009 Feb 23

It's time...for the greatest collection of youtube links (hopefully not outdated by the time you read this, haha) you will ever see!
This is a HISTORY OF THE BLUES month (in honor of black history month).  
Also - Blues lick compilations for enhancing your lead playing!

History of the blues
Let's talk for a second.  Some of you younger cats may not be able to appreciate the blues at first listen.  That's OK!  The lyrics can be hard to understand, the recording quality is sometimes terrible, and the songs may seem very simple to you.  That's the point!  The blues is pure visceral expression through a simple medium - a lesson we could all take to heart.  It's also interesting that the development of the blues went hand in hand with the evolution of recording and instrument technology.  Without the respect of the early blues musicians, electric rock as we know it wouldn't exist today!  If there was no Robert Johnson or B.B. King, we'd have no Jimmy Page, Jimi Hendrix, or Stevie Ray Vaughan.  So, get crackin' on these links!

Early Blues
Leadbelly - Bourgeois Blues  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iuNciPZlw8M
Leadbelly - Match box blues http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P-nGhz_SErU
Blind Lemon Jefferson  - Black Snake Moan http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h3yd-c91ww8
Blind Lemon jefferson - Easy Rider Blues (Cover)  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QJXWxEuWrz8
Henry Thomas - Fishing Blues http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TR8IyF_uuAI
Tommy Johnson - Big Road Blues http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0U6klK29G1k
  Big road blues played by David Evans http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7V0PBv21_30
  Blues Guitar lesson, MDBG:"Big Road Blues" TAB http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k2ZNUr4y-9U
Mississippi John Hurt http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BvRxA8gR7bw
Mississippi John Hurt - Delta Blues Guitar Lesson: Monday Morning Blues http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YsAqODiQkfE
Tampa Red - You Missed A Good Man http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oza3qqs1-Bk
Tampa Red - Grievin' And Worryin' Blues http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EK8A9qYtLU0
Sylvester Weaver - Bottleneck Blues http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D7JAGP0BzbA
Robert Johnson- Crossroad http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yd60nI4sa9A
Robert Johnson - Me and the Devil Blues http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3MCHI23FTP8
Frank Stokes - How Long Blues http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZQ0SZltVuAo
  Frank Stokes — How Long Blues http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U-uaahDREDY
Scrapper Blackwell - My Dream Blues (Black Bottom McPhail) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yjZO44o0E8A
John Lee Hooker - Hobo Blues http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zYrVwGxlcFA
Reverend Gary Davis - Cocaine Blues Cover http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=slk96yuYzh8
Stefan Grossman teaches "Cocaine Blues" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dHR1xk8Rp5k
"Slow Blues in E" taught by Stefan Grossman http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NwUEHBmrWkc
Ry Cooder-Vigilante Man http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoGkPTjZoBg
Lightnin' hopkins - lonesome road http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NVF-0JKLnd4

Early Blues Vocals
Ma Rainey - Booze And Blues http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LJm3YGAwPUM
Bessie Smith - Yellowdog Blues http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mcrx2-vvwC4
Bessie Smith -'Gimmie a pigfoot' http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J0_6YlEJi40

Ragtime/Boogie Woogie
BLIND ARTHUR BLAKE . 20's 30's Guitars Tribute http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IO5Ajf_eO_s
Blind Blake - Rag http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UrLWxgE_WKM
Blind Blake - West Coast Blues - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q2zu-vjDtcI
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qeEhp-oBQ6w
"The Entertainer" played by Chet Atkins http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kHtwF-gpluc
Memphis Jug Band - K.C. Moan http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AIgiyi1YA3o
Ragtime Guitar : BLIND WILLIE MCTELL . " Southern Can Is Mine " (1931) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ds1xVHsXm7Y
"The Entertainer" played by Chet Atkins http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kHtwF-gpluc

Swing/Jazz
Louis Armstrong 8 - St. Louis Blues http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9nwHdvxEDaU
Lonnie Johnson / 'got the blues for murder only' http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lS0P8KjPn9M
Lonnie Johnson - Another Night to Cry, 1963 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RSa_JluRs4E
T-Bone Walker - w/ Jazz At The Philharmonic - Live in UK 1966 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pFqK6PBq-hA
T-Bone Walker - Call It Stormy Monday http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hVR8lg1YLuc
Play Blues Guitar Like T Bone Walker - Guitar Lesson http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hhGl_znyfvQ
Charlie Christian playing Stompin' At The Savoy live 1941 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mkyIqYYBX-4
George Benson - All Blues http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AoMVRGY82i8

Electric Blues
Albert King - Move to the Outskirts http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JhAya5FLw78
Albert King - Blues Power http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h5dpp2iCRwM
**Notice how he sounds like Stevie Ray Vaughan!
Blues guitar lesson: Learning the Albert king, SRV style http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CaX2g3HMypg
Howlin' Wolf - Spoonful (1960) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6TwEYuues6Y
Howlin' Wolf - How Many More Years http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Ou-6A3MKow
Muddy Waters - Got my Mojo Workin' http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V25iA2XPzuA
BB King : How Blue Can You Get http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NmWz2jEk8HI
B.B. King - The Thrill Is Gone: 1993/Live At B.B. King's Blues Club, Blues Summit http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qtm66Z3lebc
Freddie King - Have You Ever Loved A Woman http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GGLmZCZ1sXY
Freddie King: Ain`t No Sunshine When She`s Gone http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=16AnGcB7MHA
Chuck Berry & Keith Richards - Oh Carol http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PEA6gzAAPfc  *this is hilarious
Chuck Berry - Johnny B. Goode live http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AEq62iQo0eU
John Lee Hooker: Boom boom http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rOyj4ciJk34
John Lee Hooker Boogie Chillen http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zpuaCoK_rl4
Lightnin' Slim - Rooster Blues http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z5fAxJuxL9c
Lightnin' Slim - Oh Baby http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QqdmvRswuOU
Taj Mahal - Fishing Blues http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8mVWWmIXKxk
Otis Rush: I`Cant Quit You Baby http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uy2tEP3I3DM
 Otis Rush - Instrumental (1966) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QsXK2zL2-yM
Buddy Guy - Sweet Home Chicago http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xuRhaDrnlWo
Johnny Winter-Highway 61 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-8siLZ4zNbY
Jimmy Reed - Ain't No Big Deal http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tUdqS0rYQuQ
Elmore James - The Sky is Crying http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hKEdlSTHjtU
Albert Collins - Iceman http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ihvvf1R_vWo

Rockabilly/Surf/Country
Surfaris Wipe Out http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W5D07c0dJuQ
The Lighttown Skiffle Group - The Cotton Song (1960) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=odz83ilLzu4
Beach Boys - Surfin' USA http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k1FaflUn4Co
Johnny Cash - Folsom Prison http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N5Ts4M3irWM
Elvis Presley - Hound Dog http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FJsQSb9RFo0
Brian Setzer - Guitar Rag - Live! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d-ZB-SzK8lE
Brian Setzer (68' Comeback) - Rock This Town - Live! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uNCzEbDSkHM
Brian Setzer - Stray Cat Strut - Live! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ODFrMvLYkMY

Funk/Soul/Motown
James Brown http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EOw00cWaD88
James Brown - Papa's got a brand new bag http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dtqDB2spyG0
James Brown - E I Feel Good http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XgDrJ5Z2rKw
Ray Charles - I got a Woman http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3IQBKWdXnqU
Ray Charles - Hit the road Jack! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q8Tiz6INF7I
Joe Cocker - With A Little Help From My Friends http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_wG6Cgmgn5U
Stevie Wonder ~ Superstition http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wDZFf0pm0SE
Marvin Gaye - I Heard It Through The Grapevine http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hajBdDM2qdg

Classic Rock
The Kinks- you really got me http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dvyDWGF290M
The Beatles - Can't Buy Me Love http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2LoYM5OWIqI
The Beatles - I want you http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dROLfId-Zsg
The Beatles - Why don't we do it in the Road http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o9Gjd_EAa64
John Lee Hooker & Jim Morrison ( The Doors ) Roadhouse Blues http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KxJpFM10yxI 
Janis Joplin-move over http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MxdCWdaUv18
Jethro Tull - Locomotive Breath http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dwbBxxML6iM
ZZ Top - Vincent Price Blues http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i0U4mCZYkYU
ZZ Top - Billy Gibbons - Gives us a 'Blues' Guitar Lesson http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=34wNfmpYrb8
ZZ Top La Grange: Main Riff (guitar lesson) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ktbE9SEt8DA
Rolling Stones - Keith Richards blues acoustic http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U5ANjb-yAVE
Eric Clapton's Acoustic Blues Jam http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KCPzUUuLNHY
Captain Beefheart & Magic Band - Sure 'nuff 'n Yes I do http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hCSPf5Viwd0
JJ Cale - After Midnight http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uGtUNelJf94
Grateful Dead - Truckin' http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vPNgjA4i6gM
Marshall Tucker Band Ramblin On My Mind http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hy6n5ovPRjs
Rolling Stones - Ventilator Blues http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0wEvKIrGcNI
Cream - Sunshine of your Love http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FI8SUc2SV4k
Cream-Outside Woman Blues http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bMGEJ0gjy70
The Allman Brothers Band - Midnight Rider http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6EkJRy3gIS4
The Allman Brothers Band - Statesboro Blues http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0P8iTHpRD8g
Led Zeppelin - When The Levee Breaks http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SoND4Edz-jw
LED ZEPPELIN: travelling riverside blues http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tVSXtPf72wk
Jimi Hendrix - Hear My Train A Comin' (Acoustic) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wCQBbgb_Lvo
Jimi Hendrix- Red House http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CjOQ9r35uiU
Creedence Clearwater Revival- Midnight Special http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DksGi7B5BdM

Jazz Fusion
John Scofield Plays Blues http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ler4KKEcHDY
Jaco Pastorius and John Scofield - The Chicken (Studio) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lwhkPSEXs1Q
Blood Sweat & Tears - Go Down Gamblin' http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jj231TLCbD4
Chicago - It Better End Soon (3rd & 4th Movements) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hWDgSfma0-8
Scott Henderson - Hole Diggin' http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ak_8izQxcXI
Scott Henderson - Tore Down House (Live In Salerno) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=stMPRu4GuIA
Jeff Beck - Brush with the blues http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1yGB6d_3n58
Billy Cobham stratus http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ae3l12PM2c
Mahavishnu Orchestra - Eternity's Breath http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v4K1VxNg9Bc
Greg Howe Jammin' on Sunny http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=edVbz_uXJd0

Modern
Robben Ford (Tired of Talkin) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YLrRwjM8z48
Stevie Ray Vaughan- Texas Flood http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YDBIbJKjAZQ
Stevie Ray Vaughan Most Popular Riff http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W8iSdBbewpA
Joe Bonamassa - Essence of the blues http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BAjpWAyFo7A
John Mayer Trio - Wait Until Tomorrow http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pjf36Rg5w6Q
Kenny Wayne Shepherd - "Born With A Broken Heart" Live '96 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8cHQTcdPDTk
Johnny Lang - Lie To Me http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DayCrQWJXuI

Metal/Grunge
Black Sabbath - Sabbra Cadabra, Pt. 1 (Live) 7/15 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y4f1-73mqmA
Nirvana-grey goose http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=867rI5BPEJQ
Alice In Chains - Man In the Box http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c9FA9hRcsk0
Pearl Jam Alive http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e_LQU2-GOXY
Kyuss - Gardenia http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2pMfqZGg-FA
Down - Stone the Crow http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FBLbrJxGtro
Soundgarden - Rusty cage http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IHy5tFI05js
Soundgarden - Spoonman http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QWkbFKJZB0k
Guns n Roses Welcome to the Jungle http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xtXN_EHPwSg
Zakk Wylde - 'farewell ballad' solo - Original http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rYMupc564zE