Resentment and despair leavened with wit and humor…isn't that the blues? It is here as you encounter 103 tracks that vent even as they entertain with dazzling musicianship: "Last Fair Deal Gone Down"... more

Dependent on residencies for income, early blues pianists had to be adaptable to whatever instrument—in whatever condition—they happened upon in their travels. Ergo St. Louis, Memphis, New Orleans... more

These 103 tracks chronicle the fascinating nexus of urban and rural blues that started gathering steam in the '20s. From the sophisticated to the raw, these recordings capture an extraordinary... more

Beale Street was the street. Black man's street. More slickers come off Beale Street than come out of New York. So many slick people came from down that way, learnt how to gamble, learnt how to con,... more

You'll encounter lots of big names and killer cuts among these independent-label blues gems—and also 20 tracks that have never been released 'til now! You get 100 sides in all: Little Mary; Cheatin'... more

This trailblazing African-American label owner/producer (who died in early 2011) had such a good relationship with his artists that many said they did their best-ever work for him. Here are 4 CDs of... more

Studio owner, label head, talent scout…Bob was a crucial figure in Bay Area blues in the '40s and '50s. Here's the first comprehensive look at his legacy: 107 sides including Jelly, Jelly; Tell Me... more

Every fan of blues and roots music should own these vintage sides by these looming giants of country blues. Among the 104 pieces of history here: Walkin' Blues; Special Rider Blues Son House; Devil... more

This precious link to a lost rural past takes us from Georgia and Alabama up to Indiana and New York, where all-day singing conventions were as much a social gathering as a musical event. Hauntingly... more

One of the sparks that ignited the British blues boom was Paul Oliver's 1960 book Blues Fell This Morning. It's been cited as a catalyst by countless UK artists; here are 4 CDs of seminal tracks... more

Blues is everywhere, not just in the Delta or in Chicago, these vintage East Coast blues records have been overlooked again and again. Now's their time to shine: Bad Love; Cold Mama; Mean Old Blues... more

Doesn't matter how many juke joints you visit—you won't hear this many vintage blues classics for that price…104 on 4 CDs! Includes Jimmy's Boogie Jimmy Reed; I'm a King Bee Slim Harpo; Late Hours... more

Globetrotting blues aficionados know that Chicago is the place to go today—but they also know that Mississippi is where it all began. The roots lead back to these vintage Mississippi blues sides, all... more

New York attracted a number of blues musicians during the ‘40s and early ‘50s, and this wonderful, 113-track set collects the biggest names and the best sides to emerge from the scene! Sonny Terry... more

The blues-recording floodgates opened on the West Coast after WWII, and here are 53 of the finest cuts that flowed forth: Penitentiary Blues Pts. 1 & 2 Smokey Hogg; Far East Blues; Old Hen Soldier... more

Detroit certainly was jumpin' back then, with the auto industry mirrored by a thriving music scene. John Lee Hooker dominates this 100-track retrospective, with "Rocks," "Leavin' Chicago," "Mercy... more

Houston had a vibrant music scene to match any city in the South in the years around 1950. Here are 103 compelling pieces of proof: My Best Wishes Little Willie Littlefield; All Right Baby Big Mama... more

Migrants from Texas, Oklahoma, Louisiana and Mississippi brought new blood to the Bay Area in the WWII era, and a new R&B sound began to take shape. Some of these artists shot to fame, some did not,... more