Urban Junkies | Music | Getting the Blues…

This month the hottest ticket in town is to see American blues guitarist Seasick Steve live. When he first appeared on Jools Holland show his performance floored anyone who was watching. Much the same reaction was garnered at his numerous festival appearances this summer. Steve's guitar playing is indeed an utter joy to witness.

With his 2006 album 'Dog House Music selling fast by word-of-mouth, the time feels right to recommend some very different, but no-less essential blues recordings.

Junior Wells - 'Hoodoo Man Blues'
Having played with blues legend Muddy Waters, Wells went on to record this quintessential - many would say classic - Chicago blues album.

Magic Sam - 'The Complete Cobra, Chief & Crash Recordings'
Despite kicking the bucket at the age of 32, Magic Sam made tunes in the ‘50s and ‘60s that were so thrillingly raw that they still get name-checked today by a new generation of blues players.

Professor Longhair - 'The London Concert Live'
Longhair was a true maverick of the genre fusing New Orlean's good times with a rocking piano style and off-the-wall yodelling vocals. Yes that is ‘yodelling' as in echoes of The Alps. Hearing is believing, but unfortunately many of his recordings are of poor sound quality, but this rare live show is a must-have of Delta blues if you can track it down.

Seasick Steve is live at The Scala on October 29-30