The Top 10 Blues/Jazz Songs of All Time

We all have our favorite blues and jazz songs, the ones that get us up and moving or make us feel those warm and fuzzy emotions. But what are the absolute best blues and jazz songs of all time? Here are our top 10 picks.

Introduction

The following is a list of the top 10 blues/jazz songs of all time, as voted on by fans and critics. This list includes only songs that are firmly rooted in the blues or jazz genres, and does not include any crossover songs that may have had success in other genres.

“Sweet Home Chicago” – Robert Johnson

“Sweet Home Chicago” is a classic blues song written by Robert Johnson. It has been recorded by many artists, including Muddy Waters, Howlin’ Wolf, Junior Wells, Vaughan Hicks, and Eric Clapton. The song is about Johnson’s love for the city of Chicago and its music scene. It is considered to be one of the most important songs in the history of blues music.

“Be Bop a Lula” – Gene Vincent

This song was released in May of 1956 by Gene Vincent and His Blue Caps. The writing credit for the song is shared by its two composers, Gene Vincent and his lead guitarist Cliff Gallup. The song helped to launch Vincent’s career and went on to become one of rock and roll’s most enduring classics. It has been covered by many artists over the years, including Elvis Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis, Bob Dylan, and The Beatles.

“I Can’t Quit You Baby” – Willie Dixon

“I Can’t Quit You Baby” is a blues standard written by Willie Dixon and first recorded by Chicago blues artist Willie Dixon with Little Walter Jacobs in 1956. The song was a hit for both artists, reaching number six on Billboard’s R&B chart. It has been recorded by many other artists, including Led Zeppelin, whose version helped make it one of the most popular blues songs of all time.

“Stormy Monday” – T-Bone Walker

“Stormy Monday” is a song written by T-Bone Walker. It was first recorded in 1947 and became a hit in 1952 when Walker’s recording topped the R&B chart for six weeks. It is considered one of the first, if not the first, blues songs to be recorded in stereo.

The song has been recorded by many artists, including B.B. King, who made it a standard part of his repertoire; Eric Clapton, who had a hit with it in 1968; and the Allman Brothers Band, whose 1971 live version reached the rock charts.

“Cross Road Blues” – Robert Johnson

“Cross Road Blues” is a blues song written and recorded by Robert Johnson in 1936. The song has been highly influential, with both its lyrical themes of making a deal with the Devil and its musical style being adapted by numerous artists. Eric Clapton’s version of the song, recorded with Cream, was a major hit in 1968.

“Born Under a Bad Sign” – Albert King

“Born Under a Bad Sign” is a blues song written by Booker T. Jones and William Bell. Released as a single by Stax Records in 1967, it was recorded by Albert King at Memphis’s Volt Studios. The recording featured Steve Cropper on guitar, Donald “Duck” Dunn on bass guitar, Al Jackson Jr. on drums, and Isaac Hayes on piano.

The song is told from the perspective of a man who was “born under a bad sign.” Despite his hard luck, the man remains optimistic and is determined to make the best of his life.

“Born Under a Bad Sign” has been recorded by numerous artists, including Eric Clapton, Cream, Jimi Hendrix, and Led Zeppelin. It has been described as one of the most influential blues songs of all time and has been inducted into the Blues Foundation’s Blues Hall of Fame.

“The Thrill is Gone” – B.B. King

This civil rights-era slow blues classic is one of the most influential and important songs in the history of American music. B.B. King’s guitar solo is a masterclass in economy and emotion, and the lyrics are a sad and beautiful meditation on love and loss. “The Thrill is Gone” is a timeless song that sounds as fresh and relevant today as it did when it was first released.

“Mannish Boy” – Muddy Waters

“Mannish Boy” is a blues standard first recorded by Muddy Waters in 1955. It is a reworking of earlier songs, with credit given to both McKinley Morganfield and Mel London. The song features Waters on vocals and guitar, with Little Walter Jacobs on harmonica, James Cotton on second guitar, Otis Spann on piano, Walter “Shakey” Horton on drums, and Leonard Chess on bass.

The song is based on a 12-bar blues structure and is considered to be an important part of the Chicago blues canon. It has been recorded by numerous artists, including Bo Diddley, who had a hit with his version in 1955, and the Rolling Stones, who included it on their 1971 album Sticky Fingers.

“All Along the Watchtower” – Jimi Hendrix

“All Along the Watchtower” is a song written and recorded by American singer-songwriter Bob Dylan. The song initially appeared on his 1967 album John Wesley Harding, and it has been included on most of Dylan’s subsequent greatest hits compilations. Since the late 1970s, “All Along the Watchtower” has been one of Dylan’s most popular songs. It has been covered by many artists, including Jimi Hendrix, who recorded his now-famous rendition for Electric Ladyland in 1968.