Recommendations: Blues

Robert Johnson: The Complete Recordings (Columbia 1990/1936-7) Did he sell his soul to the devil? Listening to this recording, it's really like nothing else. In my opinion, Yardbirds, Faces, Stones, Zeppelin are based in Johnson at its core.

Muddy Waters: His Best 1956-64 (Chess 1997) Most known for his slide work and highly influential to the '60 British blues guitarists.

B. B. King: Live at the Regal (ABC/MCA 1965) A great live CD. B.B. was always a little slick for my taste, but he is the essence of string control and the father of the tasty guitar lick.

Little Walter: His Best, The Chess 50th Anniversary Collection (Chess 1997) He pioneered electric harmonica and the Shure Green Bullet microphone originally used in tape decks for the harp. There are a lot of great harp players, namely Sonny Boy Williamson, but for my money Walter is the best and this is a great recording representing this blues giant.