Chicago Blues

Chicago blues on vinyl: the blues goes electric

In short: Chicago blues emerged in the late forties and fifties, when blues musicians from the South moved to Chicago and electrified their music: electric guitar, amplified harmonica, piano and drums. Muddy Waters, Howlin’ Wolf and Little Walter recorded for Chess, Jimmy Reed for Vee-Jay. The Vinyl Room currently has 23 Chicago blues records.

What is Chicago blues?

Louder and harder than Delta blues: Muddy Waters is represented with “More Real Folk Blues” and “The Best Of Muddy Waters”, Howlin’ Wolf with two albums, Little Walter – who amplified his harmonica through a microphone – with “The Best Of Little Walter”.

Plus Jimmy Reed with his laid-back boogie, Junior Wells’ Chicago Blues Band with “Hoodoo Man Blues” and pianist Sunnyland Slim with “Chicago Jump”.

What to look for

Many Chicago blues classics first came out as singles and later as LP collections; label and catalogue number help you tell which edition you have – it’s noted with each copy.

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First pressings

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→ Howlin’ Wolf · Chess · Electric blues · Blues on vinyl · How to spot a first pressing · Grading explained

FAQ

What is Chicago blues? Electrically amplified blues, born in Chicago in the late forties and fifties.

Who shaped Chicago blues? Among others Muddy Waters, Howlin’ Wolf, Little Walter and Jimmy Reed.

Which label is associated with it? Above all Chess Records in Chicago, and also Vee-Jay.

What is the difference from Delta blues? Delta blues is mostly acoustic and solo; Chicago blues is played with a band and electric amplification.