(April 2024) Episode 562 is MUDDY WATERS. As the “father of the Chicago blues,” it’s hard to measure his impact. He helped make Chicago a capital of blues music, fronting and fostering many famous musicians and songwriters of the genre. Any listener of classic rock will immediately recognize his influence there, as so many rock groups covered and adapted his songs. Personally, I like best his 1940s-early 1950s recordings, which accords with my preference among blues music for the earlier generation of acoustic guitar performers (Johnson, Jefferson, Patton, Cotton, etc.). However, I must admit that the electric blues style, the one he is most famous for, tends to lose my attention fairly quickly. And I have idiosyncratic taste for his 1968 album “Electric Mud,” considered the nadir of his career by critics, but for me it’s Muddy deliciously awash in fuzzed up psychedelic guitar.

Favorite album: Folk Singer

Favorite song: Feel Like Goin’ Home

Guilty pleasure album: Electric Mud

Compared to expectations: same

Recommendation: There are lots of compilation albums, but I suggest “His Best: 1947 to 1955”

(February 2024) Episode 550 is WILLIE DIXON, the most important person in the development of the Chicago Blues, along with Muddy Waters. His contributions are primarily as a songwriter, producer and double bass player (at Chess Records) rather than as a frontman performer. But he still recorded plenty of albums performing his own material. To my ear, his voice is not as commanding as many of his blues master peers. The list of songs he wrote is astounding, made famous especially by Waters, Bo Diddley, Howlin’s Wolf and Little Walter. Classic rock fans will recognize many of these songs, covered Led Zeppelin, Cream and the Rolling Stones among others.

Favorite album: I Am the Blues

Favorite song: I Ain’t Superstitious

Compared to expectations: same

Recommendation: Willie Dixon: The Chess Box is a concise compilation of most of his famous songs by others as well as by Dixon himself

(December 2022) Episode 458 is HOWLIN’ WOLF. Classic blues delivered in that singularly distinctive voice – all grit and gravel – make it a favorite of mine.  He learned his guitar style from master Charley Patton, bridging Delta blues and Chicago blues. So many of his songs are covered as standards. Big in sound and body – he was a giant of a man. Special mention to the turn to psychedelic blues of his late 60s albums.

Favorite album: The Howlin’ Wolf Album

Favorite song: Killing Floor

Compared to expectations: ↑

Recommendation: definitely yes even if you have a passing interest in the blues

(October 2022) Episode 447 is JOHN LEE HOOKER. A true blues superstar.  A next-generation Delta Blues artist, his early recordings were primitive and powerful, which is why his Detroit years (late 40s-early 50s) are my favorite. Hooker may be best known for developing the single-note boogie; when he gets in a distorted and crunchy groove it’s just awesome.  He touched almost all varieties of blues in his long recording career – electric, jazzy, pop, including many collaborations.

Favorite album: Plays and Sings the Blues

Favorite collaboration album: Hooker ‘n Heat (with Canned Heat)

Favorite soundtrack album: The Hot Spot (with Miles Davis)

Favorite song: Boogie Chillen’ No. 2

Compared to expectations: same

Recommendation: go for the early recordings and the boogie stuff, but if you’re like me you can only take so much blues in one sitting.

(April 2022) Episode 402 is BLIND WILLIE JOHSNON, one of the great gospel blues musicians, known for his bottleneck slide guitar and molasses-mixed-with-sand voice, sometimes accompanied by his wife. He had a short recording career between 1927-30, but many of his songs have been covered.

Favorite song: The Soul of a Man

Compared to expectations: same

Recommendation: for sure if you like pure, original blues