My Blues Media

This list is mostly from the old days, when there was no internet…

Books

Although I got most information either by finding it out by myself (tabs, chords, musical relations), searching the web, or by discussions with other people, I also used some books for historical and theoretical backgrounds.

  1. Eric Clapton: Clapton: The Autobiography
  2. Dave Thompson: Cream: The World’s First Supergroup (2005)
  3. Peter Guralnick (Author): Martin Scorsese Presents The Blues: A Musical Journey, Robert Santelli (Author), Christopher John Farley (Author), Amistad, Reprint edition (November 2, 2004)
  4. Lawrence Cohn (Editor): Nothing But the Blues: The Music and the Musicians, Abbeville Press, New Ed edition (September 1999)
  5. M. Roberty: Eric Clapton (Omnibus Press 1986, 1990). Great visual documentary.
  6. C. Sandford: Eric Clapton – Edge Of Darkness (Victor Gollancz, 1994/96). Very critical biography. Detailed, but almost negative.
  7. H. Shapiro: Lost In The Blues (Guiness Publishing, 1993). Great EC biography.
  8. P. Guralnick: Crossroads (Dutton, 1989). Robert Johnson biography.
  9. C. Sawyer: The Arrival Of B.B. King (Doubleday Inc., 1995). Biography.
  10. P. Oliver: Blues Fell This Morning (Cambridge University Press, 1990). Analysing Blues lyrics.
  11. C. S. Muray: Boogie Man – The Adventures of John Lee Hooker in the American Twentieth Century. (Biography)
  12. Ralph Denyer:The Guitar Handbook (Paperback), Random House, Rev Sub edition (October 20, 1992)
  13. A. M. Dauer: Blues aus 100 Jahren (Fischer 1983). Analyzing some important Blues classics.
  14. P.J. Kraus: Blues-Highway (Christoph Links, 1998). Stories between New Orleans and Chicago.
  15. Brooks/Koda/Brooks: Blues For Dummies (IDG Books Worldwide, 1998). Nice introduction.
  16. T. Lehmann: Blues And Trouble (1966/80/81/2001). History of Blues (German).
  17. G. Herzhaft: Encyclopedie du Blues (Edition Seghers, 1998). Encyclopedy.
  18. T. Bacon/P. Day: The Fender Book (Balafon Books, 1992). Fender history.
  19. J.E. Berendt: Das Jazzbuch (Fischer, 1973). Jazz history.
  20. J. Jörgensen/E. Wiedemann: Jazzlexikon (Mosaik, 19??). About Jazz musicians.
  21. L. Trampert: Elektrisch! (Sonnentanz, 1991). Hendrix biography.
  22. M. Fleetwood/S. Davies: My Life And Adventures With Fleetwood Mac (William Morrow and Company, 1990). Biography.
  23. Opgenoorth/Bessler: Grifftabelle (Voggenreiter, 1994). 4000 chord charts. 3997 more than you need for the Blues.
  24. Eulner/Dreksler: 1000 Tips für die Gitarre (Voggenreiter, 1981). My first guitar book…
  25. plus: several special edition guitar magazines (Guitar, Gitarre und Bass, …)
  26. plus: a few guitar tutorials

Recommended CD’s to start with Blues guitar

  • Robert Johnson (The complete recordings) – the roots of EC’s unplugged CD
  • Records from B.B., Albert and Freddy King; Muddy Waters, Son House, Big Bill Broonzy, Howlin’ Wolf, John Lee Hooker and all the other classic Bluesmen…

EC CD’s

Personal rating: * oh no, ****** awesome, milestone (remember, personal!)

No, I don’t have all “official” records. But almost all songs – most of them have been released more than one time on various samplers. “August” is still missing.

  • Eric Clapton: Beginnings (Page, Blues Breakers, Yardbirds, 1994) *** (early recordings, nice to jam)
  • Eric Clapton: with Yardbirds and Jimmy Page (1994) *** (almost the same as above)
  • Eric Clapton: A wonderful night (Yardbirds live) *** (just another compilation of the above)
  • Eric Clapton: Blues Breakers with Eric Clapton (Beano, 1966, 1982) ****** (the milestone)
  • Cream: Fresh Cream (1967) **** (the first Cream record)
  • Cream: Disraeli Gears (1967) ***** (EC’s woman tone)
  • Cream: Wheels of Fire (1968) ***** (crossroads…)
  • Cream: Goodbye Cream (1969) ***** (the last one)
  • Cream: Live I (1986) ****** (long live jams)
  • Cream: Live II (1986) ****** (including nearly the 14 min solo on steppin’ out)
  • Cream: Those Were The Days (4 CD Set)(1997) ****** (all together in a box)
  • Derek and the Dominos: Layla and Assorted Love Songs (1970) ****** (just the best)
  • Derek and the Dominos: Live at the Fillmore (1970, 1994) ****** (without Duane, but still good)
  • Eric Clapton: Stages (Blues Breakers, Cream, Blind Faith, Derek + Dominos) ****** (very good compilation!)
  • Eric Clapton: Blind Dominos (live records, Hyde Park, Johnny Cash, Paris, Buffalo, 1969-1970) ***** (rare but good)
  • Eric Clapton: Timepieces II – Live in the Seventies (1983) ***** (if you have crossroads II, you don’t need it)
  • Eric Clapton: Rainbow Concert (1973) *** (getting better at the second half)
  • Eric Clapton: Just One Night (1980) **** (Double Trouble ******)
  • Eric Clapton: Another Ticket (1981) *** (another CD)
  • Eric Clapton: Money and Cigarettes *** (could be more with Ry Cooder…)
  • Eric Clapton: Behind the Sun *** (pop with 2 gems: Same Old Blues / Just Like A Prisoner)
  • Eric Clapton: Journeyman (1989) **** (some are top, some are *)
  • Eric Clapton: Crossroads I (1988, my first EC record) ****** (very good compilation)
  • Eric Clapton: 24 Nights (1990+91) **** – ****** (wonderful blues section)
  • Eric Clapton: Rush (1991) ****** (excellent, including the original Tears In Heaven)
  • Eric Clapton: Unplugged (1992) ****** (even unplugged just the best)
  • Eric Clapton: From the Cradle (1994) ****** (back to his roots), plus several live boots from the FTC tour
  • Eric Clapton: Crossroads II – Live in the Seventies (1996) ***** (4 CD’s of live EC)
  • Eric Clapton: Change the World (Maxi-CD, 1996) *** (not my taste)
  • TDF: Retail Therapy (1997) – for sale… * (drum computer…)
  • Eric Clapton: Legends, live (1997) *****
  • Eric Clapton: Pilgrim (1998) ** – *** (could be ***** without eletronic firlefanz, live it was *****) plus some concert boots
  • Eric Clapton: Blues (1999) *** – ***** (nice compilation, but only 5 prev. unreleased tracks…)
  • B.B. King and Eric Clapton: Riding with the King (2000) **** – ***** (a bit lame, too relaxed)
  • Eric Clapton: Reptile (2001) *** (why Climie???)
  • Eric Clapton: Me And Mr. Johnson (2004) **** – *****
  • Eric Clapton: Sessions for Robert J. (2004) ****** (+DVD, get this instead of the above)
  • Eric Clapton: Back Home (2005) * – ** (Why?)
  • Eric Clapton: The Soundtracks From The Motion Pictures (2001) *** – *****
  • Eric Clapton: Live in Montreaux, with the Prof. Blues Review featuring Otis Rush (1986) **** (starts good)
  • Eric Clapton: USA 1987 (with SRV, A. King, R. Cray,… 1987) **** (so much blues greats, but average)
  • Cream: Wheels of Fire Sessions – Outtakes and Alternatives (1968) *** – *****
  • Cream: Steppin’out (Cream live, 1967, 1989) ****** (from various live concerts)
  • Derek and the Dominos: The Miami Sessions (vinyl, 2 LP, collector’s item) (1970, 1990) ***** (jams)
  • Eric Clapton: Live USA, Santa Monica (1978) ****
  • Eric Clapton: Kind of Blues (live in L.A. 1994, 2 CD boot) ******
  • Eric Clapton: Club Full of Blues (live 1994, 2 CD boot) ****** (belongs to his best recording ever)
  • Eric Clapton: RAH 1990 (1990) **** (bad sound quality)
  • Eric Clapton: Live Rehearsals (live in N.Y. 1994, boot) ******
  • Eric Clapton: Interview Disc with booklet (1990) *** (if I just could understand all)
  • Eric Clapton: live, concert for Montserrat (RAH 1997) (Tape) *** (Layla unplugged with Mark Knopfler)
  • Eric Clapton: Pilgrim Live in L.A. with Interview (German) (1999) ****
  • Eric Clapton: Pilgrim Live in Hannover (1999) ****
  • Eric Clapton: Myself (live at Yokohama Arena, Japan, 1999) *****
  • Eric Clapton: Reptile live in Moscow (2001) ****
  • Eric Clapton: Reptile live in Columbia (2001) ****
  • Eric Clapton: Reptile live at Budokan (2001) ****

Other Artists featuring EC

  • Santana: Supernatural (1999) *****
  • Various Artists (House of Blues): Songs of Eric Clapton (1999) ***-*****
  • Jerry Lynn William: The Peacemaker (1998) ***
  • John Mayall and the Blues Breakers: The Best of (1997) ******
  • John Mayall and the Blues Breakers: Along For The Ride (2000) ***-****** (no EC, but some good songs anyway.)
  • John Lee Hooker: Best of Friends (1998) ****** (excellent to start with Hooker)
  • Blues Brothers 2000: O.S.T. 1998 ****
  • B.B. King: Deuces Wild (1997) ***** (EC: ****)
  • Clarence Gatemouth Brown: Long Way Home (1995) *****
  • Kate Bush: The Red Shoes (1993) *****
  • Jack Bruce: Somethin Els (1993) ***
  • George Harrison: Live in Japan (1992) *****
  • Buddy Guy: Damn Right I Got The Blues (1991) *****
  • Various Artists: A Tribute to Stevie Ray Vaughan (1996) *****
  • Various Artists: Stone Free – A Tribute to Jimi Hendrix (1993) *****
  • Various Artists: Romanian Angel Appear – (1989) ***
  • Bob Dylan: The Anniversary Concert (1992) ****** (***********) (2CD, peak performance!)
  • Bob Dylan: The Best of Bob Dylan’s Anniversary Concert (1992) ******
  • Luciano Pavarotti: Friends (1996) ***
  • Howlin’ Wolf: The London Sessions (1970) ******
  • Stevie Ray Vaughan: The Last Night (Live, 3 CD, boot)

Blues CD’s, LP’s and Tapes

  • Slowhanders – An Eric Clapton Tribute (tape, collected by Rob Sticka) ******
  • Allman Brothers Band: Beginnings (LP) *****
  • Allman Brothers Band: Live Jam (garage boot) *****
  • Allman Brothers Band: The Fillmore Concerts ******
  • Allman Brothers Band: Live at Fillmore East on March 1971 *****
  • Stevie Ray Vaughan: In Step (1989) ****
  • Stevie Ray Vaughan: Couldn’t Stand The Weather (1989) *****
  • Stevie Ray Vaughan: Blues at Sunrise ****** (slow Blues album)
  • Stevie Ray Vaughan: Live And Alive (1986) *****
  • Buddy Guy: Slippin’ In (1994) ****
  • John Lee Hooker: The Healer (1989) ****** (The album which brought me the Blues! Still great!)
  • John Lee Hooker: Mr. Lucky (1991) *****
  • John Lee Hooker: Boom Boom (1992) *****
  • John Lee Hooker: Chill Out (1995) ******
  • John Lee Hooker: Don’t Look Back (1997) *****
  • John Lee Hooker: Best of Friends (1998) ******
  • John Lee Hooker: From Clarksdale To Heaven (2004 tribute) ******
  • Albert King + Otis Rush: Door by Door *****
  • Albert King: Red House (1991) *****
  • B.B. King: Live at the Regal (1971) *****
  • B.B. King: Blues Collection (Sampler, 1983) *****
  • B.B. King: Blues Om The Bayou (1998) *****
  • Freddie King: Live at the Ballroom, including 2 unplugged songs and interview (1974) ******
  • Luther Allison: Live In Paris (1995, reissue) ****
  • Ry Cooder: Crossroads (Soundtrack) (1986) *****
  • Robert Johnson: Hellhound on my Trail (1936, 1995) (take the other one!)
  • Robert Johnson: The Complete Recordings (1936, 1992) ****** (The best sampler, with all text, nice booklet)
  • Jimi Hendrix: Blues (1994) *****
  • Jimi Hendrix: Experience Hendrix (2000) *****
  • Alvin Lee: Zoom (1992) **
  • T-Bone Walker: Sampler *****
  • Robert Cray, Johnny Copeland, Albert Collins: Showdown ****
  • Sampler: Play Me the Blues 1,2,6 *** – *****
  • Sampler: Essential Blues *** – *****
  • Sampler: Blues Greats *** – *****
  • Sampler: Blues Collection Vol. 2 *** – *****
  • plus some more blues samplers

Other CD’s, LP’s and Tapes (little or no Blues)

Only a few are listed here – too much. Very personal rating, most albums from my pre-Blues era.

(+ others means I have other CD’s/LP’s from that artist/band, too)

  • Tori Amos: Under The Pink *****
  • Jeff Beck: You Had It Coming ***
  • Kate Bush: Hounds Of Love ****** (I really love this album!) + others
  • Deep Purple: In Rock (Anniversary Edition, 1995) ****
  • Dire Straits: Sultans Of Swing ***** + others
  • Wes Montgomery: The Incredible Jazz Guitar *****
  • Woodstock: Best Of *****
  • Helge Schneider: Es gibt Reis, Baby – only for germans… ***** (Schwachsinn, aber gut!)
  • The Cranberries: Everybody Is Doing It, So Why Can’t We? ***
  • Eddie Brickell And The New Bohemians: Ghost Of A Dog ****
  • Meat Loaf: For Crying Out Loud *****
  • Alvin Lee: Zoom ***
  • Marcella Detroit (aka Marcy Levy!): Jewel ***
  • Neil Young: Harvest Moon ***
  • Bobby Whitlock: It’s About Time (Bell Bottom Blues…) ****
  • Fleetwood Mac: Rumours ****** + others
  • ELO: Zoom **** + others
  • Jon Lord: Sarabande (LP) ****** + Gemini Suite
  • Ry Cooder: Get Rhythm (LP) ***** + others
  • Eberhard Schoener: Trance Formation (Andy Summers on guitar!) *****
  • Traveling Wilburies: Vol. 1 + 3 (=2) *****

(plus albums from
Michele Shocked, Susanne Vega, Tribute, Sting, Jackson Browne, Mike Oldfield, CSN+Y, Chris Rea, Commodores, Van Morrison, Moody Blues, Rickie Lee Jones, McLaughlin/Di Meola/Lucia, Joni Mitchell, Notting Hill Billies, Roy Orbison, Renaissance, Chet Atkins and many many more.)

My Blues Videos/DVD’s
(videos are in PAL-VHS)

Back in 1996 there was no Youtube…

  • Crossroads Guitar Festival (DVD) ***-******
  • Eric Clapton and Friends (DVD) ****
  • Eric Clapton: Chronicles (DVD) ****
  • Eric Clapton: 24 Nights (1990+91) *****
  • Eric Clapton: Unplugged (DVD + Video, 1992) ******
  • Eric Clapton: Concert in Hyde Park (Everyday I Got the Blues… 1996) ******
  • Eric Clapton: Nothing but the Blues (1994), Martin Scorsese made the best Clapton Blues video ever!
    Info: this one is captured from broadcast (ARTE), the comments are in German. Up to now it was never released commercially. There’S a DVD version of the English original going around.
  • Eric Clapton: Eric Clapton and Friends (Birmingham 1986)
  • Cream: Farewell Concert (1969)
  • Cream: Fresh Cream (1995)
  • Cream: Strange Brew (?)
  • The Yardbirds – Story (EC, Beck, Page, with interviews)
  • A man and his blues (?) – Interviews, songs, stories
  • Knebworth (1991)
  • Cream of EC (sampler)
  • EC / Legends at the North Sea Jazz Festival, two songs (1997)
  • EC / Legends at the Montreaux Jazz Festival, one song (1997)
  • EC at the Armani Party (1997)

EC with other Artists

  • The Last Waltz (The Band, Muddy Waters, … 1976)
  • Bob Dylan Anniversary Concert (Don’t Think Twice… 1992)
  • Southbank show, with B.B. King, SRV,…
  • Concert for Nelson Mandela (with Dire Straits)
  • John Mayall with EC: 70th Birthday (live DVD 2003)
  • EC and friends: Concert for George Harrison (live DVD 2003)

Blues Videos/DVD’s

  • John Hammond, Jr.: The Search For Mr. Johnson (1992) *****
  • Bill Wymann: Bill Wyman’s Blues Odyssey – A Journey to Music’s Heart & Soul (2003) *****
  • B.B. King: Life at Montreaux
  • John Lee Hooker – That’s My Live (2000)
  • B.B. King: Blues Summit (with Joe Louis Walker, Buddy Guy, Albert Collins, Robert Cray,… 1993)
  • B.B. King: Rockpalast, with Muddy Waters (19??)
  • Jimi Hendrix: Portrait (19??)
  • Woodstock (1969)
  • Blues Brothers (1980) – my all-time favorite movie
  • Blues Fest Leverkusen 1997 (var. artists)