A collection of stories from the archives of The Blues Magazine and Classic Rock, The Blues Collection take you inside the world of the blues greats. From Howlin' Wolf to Joe Bonamassa, via Jimi Hendrix, Fleetwood Mac, ZZ Top, Gary Moore and Stevie Ray Vaughan – and many more – it takes you on the music's journey from the Delta to the guitar shops of Denmark Street and beyond.
Classic Rock Special Edition: The Blues Collection
Editor′s Note
THE BIRTH OF HEAVY BLUES • When Jimi Hendrix arrived in London in 1966 he blew the minds of the British rook elite including Eric Clapton, Jimmy Page and Jeff Beck. Soon, however, they would follow his lead and develop an explosive new form of electric blues…
Unsung sixstring heroes • Six overlooked pioneers of blues-rock guitar.
Marshall Law • How Jimi Hendrix turned an amplifier into a definitive blues-rock icon.
The essentials • Our pick of the 20 heavy blues albums you need to own.
The Real Me • Jimi Hendrix by those who knew him best…
Bo Diddley • Gunslingin’, cigar-box guitar-totin’ cool cat who wrote the book of rocking R&B, covered by them all. Now hear the judge…
THE KILLING FLOOR • Now revered as a linchpin moment in the history of the blues, Howlin’ Wolf’s 1970 London Sessions with a superstar assemblage of England’s rock royalty, started with a chance encounter several months earlier at a gig in San Francisco.
THE CHICAGO OVERDUB SESSIONS • The blues crosses back across the Atlantic…
CHRIS BARBER REMEMBERS WOLF′S FIRST TRIP TO THE UK
Jeff Beck • From psych-rock rave-ups with The Yardbirds to heavy rock pioneer and jazz fusion maestro, he wrote the blueprint.
LEADER OF THE MAC • Among the many stars of London’s mid-60s blues scene, one guy outshone and outplayed them all – Peter Green. Here, in interviews with John Mayall, Mike Vernon, former bandmates and the ‘Man of the World’ himself, we tell the story of how Fleetwood Mac were born.
TALKIN′ TRASH • Our consulting editor casts a critical eye over Dog And Dustbin.
COVER NOTES • The celebrated Dog and Dustbin cover
Eric Clapton • From purist Yardbird mod to Bluesbreaker God, to shaggy Afro-ed Creamster and Layla worshipper, Eric had it all.
MAKE IT A DOUBLE • He’s one of the most heralded guitarists of his generation, whose admirers include Eric Clapton and Stevie Ray Vaughan. BUDDY GUY looks back on his career and pays tribute to the bluesmen who inspired his own beginnings with a new two-disc album.
THE ULTIMATE GUIDE TO THE GREATEST ALBUMS EVER MADE
Aretha Franklin • From gospel soloist to the queen of soul, Aretha Franklin became the face of “blues with a feeling”.
CAN YOU SEE ME? • Hendrix’s debut album, Are You Experienced, was pieced together in London in between dazzling live gigs that left the competition reeling. But the end results are still a revelation.
INTRODUCING THE LEGENDARY BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN & THE E STREET BAND
Stax Records • From Albert King’s blues to Otis Redding’s sweet soul and Isaac Hayes’ throbbing funk… the best of Stax.
HOT, BLUES AND RiGHTEOUS • With Tres Hombres, ZZ Top transformed from a Little Ol’ Band From Texas into a phenomenon, putting the Lone Star State back on the musical map as they defined the sound of Texan blues.
The Story Of Texas Blues • From “Blind” Lemon to Gary Clarke Jr, the biggest blues stars are at home in Texas.
Digging Deep • Everyone knows ZZ Top but here are some blues pioneers you probably haven’t heard of.
THE INCREDIBLE STORY OF ROCK’S PIONEERING DECADE
Johnny Winter • Bringing Texas white-blues lightning to the world since 1969 – but on which albums did Johnny Winter flash brightest, strike hardest and...