Piano Blues

Piano blues on vinyl: blues from the keys

In short: Piano blues is blues on the piano – born in the early 20th century in bars and dance halls, where a single pianist set the mood. Out of it grew boogie-woogie with its rolling left hand, and later pianists in New Orleans, Chicago and on the West Coast developed styles of their own. The Vinyl Room currently has 14 piano blues records.

What is piano blues?

The left hand drives, the right hand tells the story: Jimmy Yancey and Meade Lux Lewis were among the pioneers of boogie-woogie – Yancey here together with singer Mama Yancey.

Charles Brown sang an early classic of the mellow West Coast blues with “Drifting Blues”, while Champion Jack Dupree brought the sound of New Orleans. Plus Curtis Jones with “Trouble Blues” and Jimmy McCracklin. Under this label we also have records such as Tom Waits’s “Lie To Me”.

What to look for

Many early recordings first came out on shellac and were later collected on LP; label, catalogue number and year of release help you tell which edition you have – it’s noted with each copy.

From our stock

First pressings

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→ Meade "Lux" Lewis · Boogie-woogie · Chicago blues · Blues on vinyl · How to spot a first pressing · Grading explained

FAQ

What is piano blues? Blues with the piano at its centre – often played by a pianist who also sings.

What is boogie-woogie? A fast form of piano blues with a rolling, continuous left hand.

Who shaped piano blues? Among others Jimmy Yancey, Meade Lux Lewis, Champion Jack Dupree and Charles Brown.

Are these original recordings? Many early pieces date from the shellac era and came out on LP later; which edition it is is noted with each copy.