Friday Mix Tape: Kind Of Blue

We talk a lot about jam, indie, folk, funk, etc. around these parts, but rarely do we get to pay homage to the genre that essentially birthed all these style – the blues. Let’s get right into it with six songs from some of the best blues artists out there. So sit back, enjoy and play it loud…

We kick things off with the one and only Robert Johnson, who has legend has it sold his soul to the devil to be able to play music, with Sweet Home Chicago from his King Of Delta Blues Singers album. From there we’ve got Muddy Waters with a blistering take on Mannish Boy which can be found on Hoochie Coochie Man. Next up is Howlin’ Wolf with Little Red Rooster which features Eric Clapton and The Rolling Stones’ Bill Wyman and Charlie Watts from his 1971 London Sessions record.

We follow that up with B.B. King and a down and dirty take on Call It Stormy Monday, that also features Albert King on guitar and vocals, from Blues Summit. Then, we’ve got John Lee Hooker, who pioneered the talking blues, with the title track from Boogie Chillun. Finally, we close things out with the youngest of the blues men on this mix – Taj Mahal, with Going Up To The Country, Paint My Mailbox Blue from his sophomore effort Natch’l Blues.