The Best Blues Music of 2010
Looking for the best blues music of 2010? Look no further than our top picks. From classic artists like Muddy Waters to modern legends like Gary Clark Jr., these are the best blues albums of the year.
Best Electric Blues Album:
The Electric Blues is the type of the blues that is created by the use of electric guitars, amplifiers, and drums. This type of blues is often louder and has more of a “rocking” sound than the acoustic blues. The electric blues first became popular in the Chicago scene in the 1940s.
Joe Bonamassa – Black Rock
Joe Bonamassa’s Black Rock is the best electric blues album of 2010. Released in March of 2010, the album features eleven tracks of classic blues-rock. The title track, “Black Rock”, is a tribute to the late great bluesman, Muddy Waters. Other highlights include “High Water Everywhere”, “Stones in My Passway”, and “Bird on a Wire”. With its mix of originals and covers, Black Rock is a must-have for any fan of electric blues.
Delbert McClinton and Glen Clark – Blind, Crippled and Crazy
The title track, “blind, crippled and crazy”, is a down-home slow blues but with a defiant message. It sets the tone for the rest of the album which is full of great songs and inspired performances. The two artists have a great chemistry and feed off each other throughout. There are also some nice guest appearances from Keb Mo and Billy F Gibbons. This is a strong album from start to finish and is one of the best electric blues albums of 2010.
Ronnie Earl and the Broadcasters – Maxwell Street
On Maxwell Street, Ronnie Earl and the Broadcasters tip their hats to the blues greats who played on Chicago’s fabled Maxwell Street in the 1950s and 1960s. The album features 12 tracks of classic Chicago-style electric blues, and was recorded live in the studio with no overdubs. This stripped-down approach gives the album a raw, live feel that really captures the essence of the blues.
Ronnie Earl is one of the best guitarists in the business, and his playing on this album is simply outstanding. He is backed by a tight rhythm section that provides a solid foundation for his solos. The result is an album that any fan of electric blues will enjoy.
Best Traditional Blues Album:
It’s been a good year for the blues. There have been a lot of great traditional blues albums released in 2010. Here are my picks for the best traditional blues albums of 2010.
Bobby Rush – Porcupine Meat
Bobby Rush’s album Porcupine Meat is a return to the Louisiana sound and feel of his earlier recordings. It’s an album that harkens back to a time when the blues was a raw and gritty music, unafraid to address social issues. The album earned Rush a Grammy for Best Traditional Blues Album, as well as a nomination for Best Contemporary Blues Album.
Mavis Staples – You Are Not Alone
Mavis Staples was born in Chicago, Illinois, on July 10, 1939. The daughter ofRoebuck “Pops” Staples, Mavis is the eldest member of The Staple Singers. The group began their career singing spirituals in churches before adding more secular material to their repertoire and achieving widespread commercial success in the 1960s and 1970s with hits such as “I’ll Take You There” and “Respect Yourself.” In 2005, Mavis released her first solo album in nearly two decades, Have a Little Faith. Produced by Ry Cooder, the project earned Mavis a Grammy Award for Best Americana Album. You Are Not Alone is Mavis’ follow-up to that album and was once again produced by Cooder.
Willie “Big Eyes” Smith – Joined At The Hip
Willie “Big Eyes” Smith was born in Grenada, Mississippi, in 1935. He began his career playing drums for Howlin’ Wolf in the early 1950s. Smith later switched to playing the harmonica, which he became known for. He recorded with Muddy Waters on a number of occasions throughout the 1960s and 1970s. In 1980, he released his first solo album, Big Eyes.
Smith won a Grammy Award in 1983 for his work on the album Shades of Blue. In 2010, he won another Grammy for Best Traditional Blues Album for Joined at the Hip, which he recorded with Pinetop Perkins. Joined at the Hip was also nominated for a Grammy in the Best Americana Album category.
Willie “Big Eyes” Smith passed away on September 2, 2011, at the age of 76.
Best Contemporary Blues Album:
Joe Bonamassa’s “Black Rock” is the best blues album of 2010. It’s not just the best contemporary blues album, but the best blues album, period. “Black Rock” is a return to form for Bonamassa.
Susan Tedeschi – Back To The River
The Best Contemporary Blues Album of 2010 goes to Susan Tedeschi for her album Back To The River. This album is a return to Tedeschi’s blues roots, and features some of the best musicians in the genre. The title track is a soulful ballad that will stay with you long after the last note fades away. Other standout tracks include “That’s All”, “Goodnight Irene”, and “Hate To Lose Your Lovin'”. If you’re a fan of blues music, or just looking for a great album to add to your collection, be sure to check out Back To The River by Susan Tedeschi.
Koko Taylor – Royal Blue
Koko Taylor’s album Royal Blue was released in 2010 to critical acclaim. Royal Blue was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Blues Album.
Shemekia Copeland – Deluxe Edition
Shemekia Copeland’s album, “The Soul Truth,” was nominated for a Grammy in 2010 and is widely considered one of the best contemporary blues albums. The deluxe edition includes five bonus tracks, making it an essential album for any blues fan.
