Blues (Showing 478 Results)
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Blues on Vinyl & SACD: The Heartbeat of American Music
Few genres are as emotionally potent, historically rich, and musically impactful as the Blues. A child of African-American spirituals, field hollers, and folk music, the Blues spoke pain, hope, love, and injustice and, in the process, sowed the seeds for almost every major music genre to come, from jazz and rock to soul and hip-hop.
At Elusive Disc, we believe that Blues is one of the most vital forms of music in the United States. If you've ever heard a truly great blues performance, you know there's nothing else like it. If you are a lifelong blues lover or just discovering this truly American art form, our collection of beautiful vinyl LPs, Super Audio CDs, and rare CDs from the genre's biggest names, as well as reissue rarities, enables you to experience the blues in its full emotional depth and an irresistible groove.
Why the Blues Need to Be on Every Audiophile's Playlist
Blues is one of those genres of music that just has a soulful quality that sounds best through a spinning record. The roar of a slide guitar, the sadness in a harmonica wail, the acoustics of a live-room recording - these are sonic textures that give back to listeners who appreciate a certain kind of authenticity and emotional depth.
You can experience the intimacy and energy of these original recordings in all their ragged glory on vinyl, SACD, or high-resolution CD. With audiophile pressings from the likes of Analogue Productions, Speakers Corner, and Pure Pleasure, time stands still on these Blues albums.
Essential Blues Albums Available at Elusive Disc
We stock award-winning classics and the gems that represent the best of Prohibition Blues.
- Muddy Waters - Folk Singer (180g 45RPM 2LP, Analogue Productions)
An all-time essential record here in a perfectly recorded and sparsely produced acoustic set.
- Howlin' Wolf - Moanin' in the Moonlight (180g LP, Speakers Corner)
The grind, growl, and ghostly power of Wolf's voice are rendered here in all their glory.
- B.B. King - Live at the Regal (SACD Hybrid)
See the king of the Blues at his best in this electrifying 1964 Chicago performance.
- Son House - The Legendary Father of Folk Blues (200g LP, Classic Records)
Son House's spiritual intensity gets devotedly incarnated on this heavyweight reissue.
- John Lee Hooker - The Healer (180g LP)
A Grammy-winning combo of down-home Hooker grooves and special guests like Carlos Santana and Bonnie Raitt.
The Many Shades of the Blues
The Blues isn't a single entity; it is a continuum of sound, style, and regional variation. Notable subgenres include:
Delta Blues
Born in the Mississippi Delta, this raw, acoustic method of songwriting showcases the bottleneck guitar and emotional vocal delivery. Think Robert Johnson, Son House, and Charley Patton.
Chicago Blues
Amped up and urban, Chicago Blues brought in electric guitars, harmonicas, and rhythm sections. Legends like Muddy Waters, Howlin' Wolf, and Willie Dixon embody that sound.
Texas & West Coast Blues
Typically more melodic and jazzy, this approach features players such as T-Bone Walker, Freddie King, and Stevie Ray Vaughan.
British Blues Rock Revival
In the 1960s, the music was reintroduced to the world by artists such as Eric Clapton, Fleetwood Mac, and Led Zeppelin, whose British rock sensibility gave it a fresh perspective.
Elusive Disc's Blues sets manage to encompass all those subgenres on audiophile formats that pay homage to the roots while enhancing the sound.
Best Gear for Listening to the Blues
Good speakers complement any fine blues recordings, especially those from the classic analog era. If you want to go down the rabbit hole:
- Turntables with Precise Tracking - Critical for mimicking the delicate finger-picking of an acoustic guitar and the warm tone of a vocal artist
- Low-Noise Phono Preamps - Record all the details of the most subtle, quiet parts of your music while maintaining the intensity of the most powerful, overdriven passages.
- Nitty Gritty Record Cleaning Machines - Clean Your Rare LPs And Keep The Sound Crackler-Free
- BCW Sleeves - Preserve your collectible Blues jackets and tickets
Beyond Music: Hardship and Triumph
The Blues is a tale of America, as seen and heard by those who, born into its harshest reality, overcame and still overcome its challenges. It's a story of resilience, grief, love, migration, protest and pride.
Beyond that, much of the music we love today, from Bob Dylan and The Rolling Stones to Gary Clark Jr., has its sonic roots in the Blues. That's why this genre isn't just music but also cultural history.
Final Thoughts: Keep the Blues Alive on Wax
Whether you are rekindling the giants of the genre or digging into forgotten deep cuts, Blues music is available on audiophile formats and offers a parallel level of listening experience. It's real, emotional, and unforgettable.
At Elusive Disc, we appreciate any opportunity to help save the Blues with high-quality pressings, remastered releases, and handpicked selections for the aficionado.
Let the Blues blow all over your system and let it transport your soul.