Hey All,

Starting up a blues project and I am kicking around some tunes for the band.

I wanted to get an idea of what everybody's fav 5-10 tunes were in that vein.

Any opinions would be appreciated. Any style of Blues welcome

Shawn

I've been out of legitimate Blues circles for so long that I have no idea what's considered hip or passe'... but a tune I've always wanted to cover is "Ain't My Cross To Bear". I'm a sucker for any blues with a gospel feel, and I like the stuff that leans towards jazz or a swampy N'awlins vibe. Ya gotta have some sweaty I-IV-V shuffles of course, but throw in some sophistication with some I-VI-II-V turnarounds as well. Anything Robert Johnson is cool by me. I'm currently doing "Stop Breakin' Down Blues" and "Love in Vain". The Don Nix tune "Goin' Down" always does the trick, as does "How Many More Years" by Howlin Wolf... keep in mind that you can arrange any great tune anyway you want it, as long as it succeeds in making people jump up and down. A few that I don't have any interest in doing anymore - "Sweet Home Chicago", "Wang Dang Doodle", and "Stormy Monday"...!

Anything from Albert Kings magnum opus, "Born Under a Bad Sign" but "Crosscut Saw" has always been a favorite because of the horns and the calypso/mambo/cha-cha rhythm.

Here's my five:
1) Things I Used to Do (SRV)
2) Love Struck Baby (SRV)
3) Red House (Jimi Hendrix)
4) Blue Jean Blues (ZZ Top)
5) I'll Play the Blues For You (Albert King)

red house is always a sure-fire...
a ray charles tune "outskirt of town"...badass tune!! kinda like a gospel/blues...absoulutly awesome tune...

Bag's Grove - Miles Davis