Listening List for the Blues (class March 24, 2026)

 Here is the Blues listening list. There is a lot here, and we probably won't finish this week but I might add a few items next week.

While Blues music has only been very popular for short periods of time, it was one of the  most influential types of music from the 20th century and has affected almost every other kind of popular music in America (and beyond). Jazz, rock, country, soul, gospel and other genres all owe their existence at least partly to Blues music, so it needs to be examined in more detail than some other varieties of music.
As always, I haven't checked each link so if you find any dead links please let me know.
Enjoy!

Blues Structure

8 bar blues (Key to the Highway)

12 bar blues (random)

16 bar blues (Watermelon man)

A more formal explanation (don't worry if you don't understand)

Another one (again, don't worry if you don't understand)


Country Blues

Black snake moan
Blind Lemon Jefferson (1926)

Devil got my woman
Skip James (1931)

Cross Road Blues
Robert Johnson (1936)

Last Kind Words
Geeshie Wiley (1930)

Good mornin' blues
Leadbelly (193?)

Key to the Highway
Big Bill Broonzy (1941)

Trouble in Mind (1924 song)
Lightning Hopkins (1967)


Classic Blues

Crazy blues
Mamie Smith (1920)

Shave 'em dry blues
Ma Rainey (1923)

Send me to the 'lectric chair
Bessie Smith (1927)


Memphis Blues

Dirty Butter
Minnie Wallace (1929)

Cocaine Habit Blues
Memphis Jug Band (1930)


Hokum/Dirty Blues

Tight like that
Clara Smith (1929)

Shave 'em dry
Lucille Bogan (Bessie Jackson) (1935)


Jazz and Blues

Fine and mellow
Billie Holiday (1939)

New blow top blues
Dinah Washington (1951)