Psychedelic Rock Blues Instrumental Jams to Listen to Now
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Psychedelic rock blues is a subgenre of rock music that combines elements of psychedelic rock and blues rock. It typically features lengthy improvisation sessions and is heavily influenced by the work of Jimi Hendrix, Cream, and the Grateful Dead.
Jimi Hendrix- “Voodoo Child (Slight Return)”
This track is off of Hendrix’s album Electric Ladyland, and is one of his most well known songs. “Voodoo Child (Slight Return)” is a great example of Hendrix’s signature psychedelic rock blues sound. The song features a driving bassline, catchy guitar riffs, and Hendrix’s signature wah-wah pedal sound.
The Doors- “Riders on the Storm”
The Doors’ return to the studio following the death of Jim Morrison was a cautiously optimistic affair. The band had lost its visionary leader and lyricist, and while they had no intention of replacing him, they also weren’t sure how to move forward without him. The result wasOther Voices, their first album without Morrison, which was greeted with a mixture of relief and disappointment upon its release in October 1971. Musically, it wasn’t much different from L.A. Woman, their final album with Morrison – there were still plenty of lengthy jams and Robert Krieger and Robby Krieger’s guitar interplay remained at the center of the band’s sound – but without Morrison’s larger-than-life presence, it lacked the power and focus of their best work.
Led Zeppelin- “Kashmir”
“Kashmir” is a song by English rock band Led Zeppelin, appearing as the eighth track on their sixth album Physical Graffiti (1975). It was written by Jimmy Page and Robert Plant over a period of several years with contributions from John Bonham. Plans to record it in 1972 were shelved due to logistical and scheduling problems, and although work resumed the following year, Page later stated that it was “one of those pieces that just didn’t come off”.
Cream- “Crossroads”
Cream was a 1960s British rock power trio consisting of drummer Ginger Baker, bassist/singer Jack Bruce and guitarist/singer Eric Clapton. The group’s third album, Wheels of Fire (1968), is the world’s first platinum-selling double album. The band is widely regarded as the first successful supergroup. They became well known for their combined instrumental prowess and on-stage banter; the latter often took the form of an impromptu jam during which Clapton, Baker and Bruce would interchange solos on guitar, bass and drums respectively.
The Rolling Stones- “Gimme Shelter”
The Rolling Stones’ “Gimme Shelter” is a psychedelic rock classic. The song features a driving bass line, dueling guitars, and Keith Richards’ signature slide guitar sound. The lyrics tell the story of a woman who is pregnant and on the run from the law. The song is both dark and dangerous, and it’s one of the best examples of the power of the psychedelic rock genre.
