Universal Revives Essential Blues Vinyl

It's an odd, ironic turn of events. As the major record labels attempt to make up for the loss of sales of their one-time cash cow – the compact disc – they're returning to the format that made them famous in the first time…vinyl records! Although this isn’t the time or place to discuss the merits of vinyl vs. CD (said subject flogged to death here), the move certainly bodes well for blues fans who have kept their turntables ready to roll.

Universal Music, the biggest dog in the major label junkyard, has announced its plans to reissue a number of essential blues and blues-rock albums on vinyl in the coming weeks. Just a few days ago the label dipped its toe in the water with reissues of two classic Jimi Hendrix Experience albums from 1967: Are You Experienced and Axis: Bold As Love, both fine examples of psych-drenched electric-blues rock by the master guitarist.

In a couple of weeks, they'll go back to the well to reissue Eric Clapton's 1977 album Slowhand, a subtle but hard-hitting collection of blues, blues-rock, pop, and even a touch of country; and the classic 1966 John Mayall collection, Bluesbreakers with Eric Clapton, a powerful showcase for the talents of a young "Slowhand."

Only time will tell if this "back to vinyl" strategy works out for Universal and the major labels, and I hope that it does…if only because the Reverend would love to see Universal dig a little deeper in the vaults and reissue some of the classic Chess label albums they have stored away from folks like Muddy Waters, Howlin' Wolf, Little Walter, and other stalwarts of the modern blues era.

Related Content: John Mayall's Bluesbreakers with Eric Clapton album review

Photo courtesy Polydor Records/Universal Music