Looking for Blues with High Fidelity

Can't believe no one mentioned Champion Jack DuPree [might have misspelled last name].  Champion Jack moved to Europe years ago to escape American racism.  He passed a few years back, but his albums remain for eternity. 

Champion Jack is on my "Must Have" list. 

Here's the title track from one of the better sounding blues albums from my collection. Play it loud and often...

Tab Benoit - "Nice and Warm"

Robben Ford and the Blue Line - S/T is an excellent blues/rock album with great sound quality. Not straight up blues, it's a rocker too. But Oh So Fine...

The already mentioned Jimmy Smith - "Dot Com Blues" is an excellent album with great sound quality....

A variety of blues: I am somewhat of a blues collector. 474 cds and 135 albums. Carey and Laurie Bell SECOND NATURE; Big Joe Maher LAYIN IN THE ALLEY; Roosevelt Booba Barnes & his Playboys HEARTBROKEN MAN; Dion DiMucci TANK FULL OF BLUES; Jr Wells COME ON IN THIS HOUSE; Elmo Williams and Hezekiah Early TAKES ONE TO KNOW ONE; Terry Big T Williams and Wesley Junebug Jefferson MEET ME IN THE COTTON FIELD ( best produced cd of 2007 ); John Lee Hooker ANTHOLOGY; William Clarke BLOWIN LIKE HELL; John Campbell NO MERCY and ONE BELIEVER ; Johnny Yard Dog Jones AINT GONNA WORRY; Robt Belfour WHATS WRONG WITH YOU and PUSHIN MY LUCK; Lightning Hopkins THE ALADDIN RECORDINGS ( 2cds, best produced CD 1991 ); Steve Guyger with Paul Oscher PAST LIFE BLUES; Cee Cee James LOW DOWN WHERE THE SNAKES CRAWL. Get your hands on The Penguin Guide To Blues Recordings on Compact Disc by Tony Russell and Chris Smith. Will give insight to the best engineered recordings and the blues artists performance ratings.

I haven't read the entire thread, but if no one mentioned Jimmie Vaughn, check him out. Despite not being hi-res, the recordings are the best reproduced blues I've heard

I've always enjoyed releases by "Lucky Peterson"- He was an amazing musician and the music was recorded very well.

Listen to Mighty Sam Mcclain "Where You Been So Long". Amazing Blues Recording. When shopping for my Magnepans, the dealer played this cut & sold me on buying a pair. It’s on Tidal. Also check out Boz Scaggs "Thanks To You" on Tidal. This track will rock your system’s low end & possibly shake your walls.

Check out North Mississippi Allstars - Shake hands with Shorty - Great recording and amazing slide. Goin’ down south and drinking muddy water are my favs

Anything by Keb Mo.

Heard Otis Taylor?

If not try Resurrection Blues, 3 Days and 3 Nights or his version of Hey Joe for a good start. On another planet to a simple guy like Keb Mo......

Check out. Elles Bailey you will be impressed

Eric Bibb with Steffan Aster - Troubadour Live

Hans Theessink & Terry Evans - Delta Time

Gary Clark Jr. (hot young blues guitarist)

Robert Johnson is not synonymous with high fidelity and I, like most people, was turned off by the noisy, hiss-soaked sound of early releases.

Thats why I wholeheartedly recommend:

Robert Johnson - The Centennial Collection (Sony/Legacy Records, 2011, 88697 85907 2D1)

Recorded originally in the 1930’s, this 2011 re-release  still isn’t perfect but you can enjoy the music w/o the background noise.

As an appendix to my RJ Centennial Collection recommendation, let me say further that digital magic has been done on the master tapes so somehow the guitar still has vibrancy and depth despite whatever processing has been utilized.....check it out!

Other good ones:

Slim Harpo - The Excello Singles Anthology (2003, Hippo/UNI, B000583-02)

Memphis Minnie - Hoodoo Lady (2008, Snapper Label, SBLUECD 050)

Elmore James - Blues After Hours (2005, Ace Records, CDCHM 1043)

The White Stripes  Elephant

Jeff Beck  Truth featuring Rod Stewart

Luther Allison   Live in Chicago

Snowy White  did some great  recorded blues when he wasn’t touring with Pink Floyd or Thin Lizzy.. Check out Little Wing.

Baba Blues.

+1 for ANY Robben Ford.

+1 for "Dot.com Blues".

+1 for Gary Moore 

I'd thrown in a suggestion for Coco Montoya (used to play drums for Albert Collins then went on to play guitar for John Mayall after being taught by Collins....).

I'd further throw in most of Joey DeFrancesco's B3 work, especially an album he did with Danny Gatton titled "Relentless".  It's a desert island Top 10 of mine.

Lonnie Mack had some great stuff.

Lastly, I'd highly recommend Savoy Brown's "Street Corner Talking".

Analogue Productions was mentioned earlier.  It's also worth highlighting that around the turn of the century they did a series of all-analog, direct to two-track recordings in Salinas, Kansas, of blues artists, and released them to stereo SACD discs.

Those SACDs are currently offered at Acoustic Sounds for $5.00 each.

https://store.acousticsounds.com/index.cfm?get=results&categoryid=8&orderby=price%5Fd%20asc&GenreID=1

Jimmie Lee Robinson / All My Life CAPO 2011 SA
Original Price: $25.00
$5.00

Henry Townsend - My Story - Hybrid Stereo SACD CAPO 2014 SA
Original Price: $25.00
$5.00

Harry 'Big Daddy' Hypolite - Louisiana Country Boy - Hybrid Stereo SACD CAPO 2016 SA
Original Price: $25.00
$5.00

Wild Child Butler - Sho' 'Nuff - Hybrid Stereo SACD CAPO 2015 SA
Original Price: $25.00
$5.00

Honeyboy Edwards - Shake 'Em On Down - Hybrid Stereo SACD
Original Price: $25.00
$5.00

“East/West” Paul Butterfield Blues Band.

I stopped wasting my time with Clapton back in 1973. 

The new release by MoFi on their 'One Step' process from Muddy Water, 'Folk Singer' is probably the best sounding blues album I have heard. If you can source one, it is a great listen, not just for SQ, but for music as well.

I would add to the CD list above, which are all excellent, the following:

Little Hatch, 'Rock with me baby'.  This one is extraordinary.

I stopped wasting my time with Clapton back in 1973.

Well, some pretty good guitarists didn’t, including Buddy Guy and B. B. King. What’s your problem with Clapton? Yes, that’s Bloomfield in the picture and here's what he thought about Clapton:

Rolling Stone:.You were telling me that Eric Clapton was a perfect guitarist. What makes you think that?

Mike Bloomfield: His attack is flawless, that’s one of the things. A perfect musician is dedicated. He has ideas, attack, touch, ability to transmit emotion and abillity to transmit his ideas. His ability to transmit his ideas and his emotion logically is kineticism; he can build. Eric does all of these about as well as you can do them. It shows in the area that he plays that his attack is perfect. His tone is vocal; his ideas are superb; he plays almost exclusively blues–all the lines he plays in the Cream are blues lines. He plays nothing but blues; he’s a blues guitarist and he’s taken blues guitar to its ultimate thing. In that field he’s B. B. King cum the Freddie King and Ernie Cahill style of guitar playing. Eric is the master in the world. That is why he is a perfect guitarist. Eric plays in bad taste when he wants to. He can play crappy. But, like, Eric plays almost exclusively perfect.

We all like who we like, and I am one who believes there is no “best” in any artistic endeavor but Clapton has had a hell of a career and a book of work that can rival anyone in the blues/rock realm, IMO. In addition to being an awesome guitarist who is able to make listeners “feel” the music, he is also very good when playing with others. The only time I saw him live, SRV got on stage for a few songs and it was an incredible moment. Check out his Beacon Theatre concerts with ABB where four of the better guitarists playing today were all together on stage at one time - Warren Haynes, Derek Trucks, Doyle Bramhall II, and Clapton.

Lots of great suggestions here. I'll get a few of mine together. 

In general, one good label to set your sights on for well- engineered blues recordings is the Audioquest label. 

"Fathers and sons"   so many top blues men old and young ( Muddy, Otis, Booker T,  Butterfield,Bloomfield, Duck Sam etc) part sudio recording and  part live at the Super Cosmic JoyScout Jamboree at the Adler and Sullivan acoustically perfect " Auditorium Theatre in the home of the Blues:  Sweet Home Chicago.

In general, one good label to set your sights on for well- engineered blues recordings is the Audioquest label. 

Good call @starlightdiamond.  I really enjoy Robert Lucas on Audioquest, "Luke and the Locomotives" and "Completely Blue".

" Think of Me"  by Little Milton is a great CD.

@77jovian, and somebody else mentioned Mighty Sam McClain, “Give it up For Love”

This album won many awards and was chosen Blues album of the month, or was it year? can't remember. Great sound quality.

My fav. track: Too Proud  (turn the volume up and hear the Hammond organ add power and depth)

B.B. King: Lucille

Lightnin' Hopkins: Goin' Away

Son House: Father Of Folk Blues

Muddy Waters: Folk Singer

Terry Evans: Puttin' It Down

Junior Wells: Hoodoo Man Blues

Otis Span: Good Morning Mr Blues

Jimmy Witherspoon: Evening Blues

Mighty Sam McClain: Give It Up To Love

Robert Cray: Strong Persuader

Lightnin' Hopkins/Brownie McGhee/Sonny Terry: Blues Hoot

Tomcy6, 

Thnx. Luke and Locos- Great unknown. Young talent lost early.

@hartf36  - What the @(%@# !!!!

Joey DeFrancesco and Danny Gatton on the same album? I'm in! Thanks Brother! That's what these music threads are all about. Sharing little know/unknown morsels.... 

Unfortunately, no vinyl and not on Spotify. I guess I need to keep my CD player...

Might Sam McClain
Sledgehammer Blues Pressing 

 

I know Johnny Winter has already been mentioned, but not sure about this album of his:

The Progressive Blues Experiment

Recorded in 1968 during his Austin days.  Just Johnny fronting a trio.  Such powerful, confident playing.  A classic.

There is a remastered version from 2005 on Capitol.

Also, if you want to pursue Clapton in particular, there is the "Bluesbreakers with Eric Clapton" album.  The Amazon summary says: "Apart from being one of the most overall influential albums in Blues-Rock history, it was likely the first time anyone had heard a Gibson Les Paul guitar through an overdriven Marshall amplifier; this unique sound would become particularly influential."  An Amazon commenter says that the 2009 2-CD version is saturated, but that the 2001 reissue has great sound.

And there is also "Layla & Other Love Songs" by Derek & The Dominos, with the dream pairing of Clapton and Duane Allman.  This is one the rock end of the spectrum but there are several fine blues numbers on it.  There is a 40th Anniversary edition with additional tracks.

The  OP clearly asked for recommendations for Blues CDs with HIGH FIDELITY. 

Many here seem to be simply listing their favorite Blues CDs. 

I like Keb Mo's first album for acoustic guitar.  Also play Tommy Castro's Painkiller or  The devil you know.

Say it again. :)

Check out Snowy White.

Rockpalast Concert.

And cont.

@roxy54 

love that album

I would add Turning Point as well to the list for Mayall

Great fusion of Jazz and Blues. They were experimenting with the music by using no drums at all. So much talent and well recorded. One of my favorites. 

John Lee Hooker & Canned Heat -“Hooker N Heat” classic boogie- the harmonica playing is second to none 

Lot of great lists here, will have to look carefully myself.

Echo ridiculously cheap hybrid sacds from acoustic sounds which I did grab.

Have not listened yet to check sound quality, but good songs on them.

Guessing they overbought, but can check out songs at Tidal, Spotify, etc

before buying.

Like people said Muddy Waters Folk Singer in the room sound quality.

Have Mobile Fidelity but people have stated SACD even little better.

(3 performers recorded at different times, incredible magic of mixing/mastering)

Jimmy Hendrix Blues also saw on list, essentially in the room sound.

A compilation album.

Not mentioned, good, not great sound quality-acclaimed Clapton Unplugged

Another in the room sound is harder blues out of Madison, WI

Paul Black and the Flip Kings, King Dollar, great album

Great album, good sound quality is acclaimed BB King Live at the Regal.

Eva Cassidy Live at Blues Alley, very good sound quality, mix of different types of songs including the blues, jazz, ballads, etc. Sound can be little edgy.

Versatile singer. Became famous after death from aggessive cancer.

Also agree with Doug McLeod and Keb Mo, though have not listened in a while.

But recall basically in the room sound quality.

Albert Collins Cold Snap, MFSL also very clean, think was listed here.

There are so many - Magic Slim, Kenny Wayne Shepherd, thanks to all you that responded, looks like I am going to expand my library.

Savoy Brown "Voodoo Moon"

All of my Steve Howell and the Mighty Men sound real good.

+1 Muddy Waters Folk Singer (Mo-Fi Master)

+1 John Lee Hooker the Healer (Mo-Fi Master)

Buddy Guy Sweet Tea (CD)

Bloomfield, Kooper, Stills  Super Session (CD)

Holly Cole Temptation (Tom Waits songs) jazz-blues CD)

The cd's have very good sound too.

+1 for Lucky Peterson😎

That's a tremendous list of recommendations, with numerous +1s from me that's too long to list

A couple of my off the beaten path faves that hit the mark on SQ

Ronnie Earl Still River released on Audioquest

Lightin Hopkins by Lightin Hopkins released on Folksway in 1959

ZZ Top One Foot In The Blues

The SQ of the playback of the first two Dire Straits albums are very well done

The Black Keys do a great tribute to Junior Kimbro on a disk named Chulahoma

And while more southern rock, you can't go wrong with any of the live Allman Brothers material as most of it is dripping with blues influences

A couple of notable go to cuts from the Allmans that I use for reference when testing new gear are 

Hard Times on Hitting The Note

Instrumental Illness on Hitting The Note

An acoustic version of In Memory Of Elizabeth Reed on A Night With The Allman Brothers 2nd Set

Someone who likely has never been mentioned on Audiogon before, the late Jump Blues pianist/singer; H Bomb Ferguson. Unfortunately, his records can;t live up to his live performances.

Mighty Sam McClain  Keep on Movin'  I use this as a test CD.  Dynamics and soundstage are tops regardless of genre.