Ben's Recs: Blues on Vinyl - Great Christmas gift, or Greatest Christmas gift?

By: Ben Haager, Alumni And Investment Relations Director

This past Christmas I got a record player as my main gift. Since then I have been bargain hunting for some gems. My collection has built considerably since Christmas; here are some of the best and blusiest.

1. Jimi Hendrix and Otis Redding: Live at the 1967 Monterey International Pop Festival



Jimi Hendrix on one side and Otis Redding on the other. Can't beat that. Because less people seem to know the delight that is Otis Redding, here is “Try A Little Tenderness.” You should recognize it as the sample Jay-Z and Kanye took for “Otis” on Watch the Throne.

2. Creedence Clearwater Revival Bayou Country



John Fogerty's voice is one of the most recognizable ever. It is astonishing that the Forgerty brothers were born in Berkeley, California, considering their association with the swampy bayou blues. Between “Good Golly, Miss Molly” and “Proud Mary” is “Penthouse Pauper,” which proves CCR had as much swag as any rap artist today.

3. Blues Brothers Soundtrack



Growing up in Illinois meant my father raised me watching Blues Brothers at an all-too-early age. And why not? It is undoubtedly one of the greatest movies ever, and has a ridiculous collection of artists featured both on film and on the soundtrack. Aretha Franklin, James Brown, Cab Calloway, and Ray Charles to name a few. Not to mention Belushi and Aykroyd are phenomenal artists themselves as the Blues Brothers.

4. Texas Flood - Stevie Ray Vaughan



SRV's talent was unfathomable. You know the nursery rhyme. Now listen to the song.

5. Good Old Boys - Randy Newman



Randy's talent is not limited to soundtracks by any means. His non-Pixar stuff actually contains some pretty controversial social commentary. Good Old Boys happens to be about the south, so you can easily imagine the focus of “Rednecks.”

6. Muddy Waters – Sweet Home Chicago



This album doesn't have a version of “Sweet Home Chicago” on it ironically enough. But I must question why people don't listen to Muddy Waters? You should.