Blues  •  Country Blues

Memphis Blues

A strain of country blues all its own, Memphis Blues gives the rise of two distinct forms: the jug band (playing and singing a humorous, jazz-style of blues played on homemade instruments) and the beginnings of assigning parts to guitarists for solo (lead) and rhythm, a tradition that is now part and parcel of all modern day blues -- and rock & roll -- bands. The earliest version of the genre was heavily tied to the local medicine show and vaudeville traditions, lasting well into the late '30s. The later, post-World War II version of this genre featured explosive, distorted electric guitar work, thunderous drumming, and fierce, declamatory vocals.

Memphis Blues Album Highlights

Whiskey Is My Habit, Women Is All I Crave: The Best of Leroy Carr
Leroy Carr Whiskey Is My Habit, Women Is All I Crave: The Best of Leroy Carr
Live at the Regal
B.B. King Live at the Regal
Original Greatest Hits
B.B. King Original Greatest Hits
Live in Cook County Jail
B.B. King Live in Cook County Jail
The Best of the Kent Singles 1958-1971
B.B. King The Best of the Kent Singles 1958-1971
Gold
B.B. King Gold
The Anthology
B.B. King The Anthology
Cadillac Daddy: Memphis Recordings, 1952
Howlin' Wolf Cadillac Daddy: Memphis Recordings, 1952
The Vintage Years
B.B. King The Vintage Years
King of the Blues
B.B. King King of the Blues
The Best of the Early Years
B.B. King The Best of the Early Years
Singin' the Blues/The Blues
B.B. King Singin' the Blues/The Blues
Sun Masters
Little Milton Sun Masters
Junior's Blues: The Duke Recordings, Vol. 1
Junior Parker Junior's Blues: The Duke Recordings, Vol. 1
I Ain't Gonna Be Worried No More 1929-1941
Sleepy John Estes I Ain't Gonna Be Worried No More 1929-1941
One Kind Favor
B.B. King One Kind Favor
Singin' the Blues
B.B. King Singin' the Blues
Rarest B.B. King
B.B. King Rarest B.B. King
The Blues
B.B. King The Blues
Do the Boogie! B.B. King's Early '50s Classics
B.B. King Do the Boogie! B.B. King's Early '50s Classics
Classic Masters
B.B. King Classic Masters
Early Blues Boy Years, Vol. 2: 1952-54
B.B. King Early Blues Boy Years, Vol. 2: 1952-54
Martin Scorsese Presents the Blues
B.B. King Martin Scorsese Presents the Blues
His RPM Hits 1951-1957
B.B. King His RPM Hits 1951-1957
Blues on Top of the Blues
B.B. King Blues on Top of the Blues
Blues Kingpins
B.B. King Blues Kingpins
King of the Blues [Box]
B.B. King King of the Blues [Box]
1949-1952
B.B. King 1949-1952
Ladies and Gentlemen, Mr. B.B. King
B.B. King Ladies and Gentlemen, Mr. B.B. King
Delta Blues: 1951
Big Joe Williams / Luther Huff / Willie Love Delta Blues: 1951
Confessin' the Blues
B.B. King Confessin' the Blues
The Best of B.B. King [1973 MCA]
B.B. King The Best of B.B. King [1973 MCA]
Spotlight on Lucille
B.B. King Spotlight on Lucille
The Wolf Is at Your Door
Howlin' Wolf The Wolf Is at Your Door
Live in Japan
B.B. King Live in Japan
The Great B.B. King [Ace]
B.B. King The Great B.B. King [Ace]
He's Dynamite
B.B. King He's Dynamite
Completely Well
B.B. King Completely Well
His Definitive Greatest Hits
B.B. King His Definitive Greatest Hits
Greatest Hits (1951-1960)
B.B. King Greatest Hits (1951-1960)
Lucille
B.B. King Lucille
Let the Good Times Roll: The Music of Louis Jordan
B.B. King Let the Good Times Roll: The Music of Louis Jordan
The Best of B.B. King, Vol. 1
B.B. King The Best of B.B. King, Vol. 1
My Sweet Little Angel
B.B. King My Sweet Little Angel
Mr. Blues/Confessin' the Blues
B.B. King Mr. Blues/Confessin' the Blues
Back in the Alley
B.B. King Back in the Alley
Indianola Mississippi Seeds
B.B. King Indianola Mississippi Seeds
Blues Is King
B.B. King Blues Is King
Great Moments with B.B. King
B.B. King Great Moments with B.B. King
There Is Always One More Time
B.B. King There Is Always One More Time
The Anthology 1962-1998 [Bonus DVD]
B.B. King The Anthology 1962-1998 [Bonus DVD]
The Ultimate Collection
B.B. King The Ultimate Collection
Memphis Monday Morning
Bobby "Blue" Bland Memphis Monday Morning
Why I Sing the Blues [Past Perfect]
B.B. King Why I Sing the Blues [Past Perfect]
The Soul of B.B. King
B.B. King The Soul of B.B. King
Reflections
B.B. King Reflections
The Life of Riley [The Soundtrack]
B.B. King The Life of Riley [The Soundtrack]
In France: Live at the 1977 Nancy Jazz Pulsations Festival
B.B. King In France: Live at the 1977 Nancy Jazz Pulsations Festival
Complete Works, Vol. 1 (1929-1937)
Sleepy John Estes Complete Works, Vol. 1 (1929-1937)
Next Time You See Me
Junior Parker Next Time You See Me
The Essential
Sleepy John Estes The Essential
Look Out Highway
Charlie Musselwhite Look Out Highway
Brownsville Blues [Delmark]
Sleepy John Estes Brownsville Blues [Delmark]
The Legend of Sleepy John Estes
Sleepy John Estes The Legend of Sleepy John Estes
Someday Baby Blues
Sleepy John Estes Someday Baby Blues
Complete Works, Vol. 2 (1937-1941)
Sleepy John Estes Complete Works, Vol. 2 (1937-1941)
In Europe
Sleepy John Estes In Europe
Legendary Country Blues Artists
Sleepy John Estes Legendary Country Blues Artists
Blues Live
Sleepy John Estes Blues Live
Someday Baby
Sleepy John Estes Someday Baby
Memphis Blues 1928-1935
Robert Wilkins Memphis Blues 1928-1935
Good Morning Judge
Furry Lewis Good Morning Judge
Boogie Disease
Dr. Ross / Doctor Ross Boogie Disease
Gypsy Blood
Mason Ruffner Gypsy Blood
Complete Recorded Works (1928-1941)
Walter Vinson Complete Recorded Works (1928-1941)
The Memphis Blues
Frank Stokes The Memphis Blues
Juke Box Boogie: The Sun Years, Plus
Doctor Ross / Doctor Ross & His Jump and Jive Boys Juke Box Boogie: The Sun Years, Plus
The Sun Records Collection [Rhino]
Various Artists The Sun Records Collection [Rhino]
The Sun Records Story
Various Artists The Sun Records Story
The Sun Blues Box: Blues, R&B and Gospel Music in Memphis
Various Artists The Sun Blues Box: Blues, R&B and Gospel Music in Memphis
Sam Phillips: The Man Who Invented Rock 'n' Roll
Various Artists Sam Phillips: The Man Who Invented Rock 'n' Roll