Riding With The King Eric Clapton / B.B. King Once again B.B, and Eric hold up the Blues for all the world to discover and groove. The best selling Blues record of 2000. WARNER BROTHERS
Vu-Du Menz Corey Harris A Blues match made in heaven is the highlight of this CD. New Orleans' piano god Henry Butler joins Harris for some real-as-it-gets jams. ALLIGATOR RECORDS
Wish I Was in Heaven Sitting Down R.L. Burnside Mr. Burnside is one of the few Blues artists left who can bring you back to the real Blues. Raw and gritty, beyond real, R.L. Burnside continues to hit a Blues nerve. FAT POSSUM RECORDS
Shake Hands With Shorty North Mississippi Allstars Luther and Cody Dickinson
have taken a Blues lesson from R.L. Burside and recorded some of the freshest
Blues around. Not for purists, this is Blues today. TONE COOL RECORDS
West Coast House Party Kid Ramos As a member of the Fabulous
Thunderbirds, Ramos seems as Texas as Lone Star Beer. But the Kid is more
than that, this swinging CD is West Coast smooth and guitar competent. EVIDENCE RECORDS
Blues for a Rotten Afternoon
Various Artists A compilation record makes our list this year not just because of the title. A star-studded lineup includes Junior Wells, Charlie Musslewhite, Kenny Neal, and many others. TELARC RECORDS
The Classic Cobra Recordings 1956-1958 Otis Rush People need to remember Otis Rush. He created a template for most modern Blues bands. There are just a few of his hits, but truckloads of his style. VARESE RECORDS
New Train Paul Pena It's been an interesting year for Pena. His documentary Genghis Blues was nominated for an Oscar and an ultra-grooving record he made in 1973 was released. HYBRID/SIRE RECORDS
Blues At Sunrise Stevie Ray Vaughan This CD features SRV in a slow Blues mode. His subtle chops are the highlight as there is more space for his presence. SONY RECORDS
Circle Indigenous Indigenous once again shows us common roots in music. The South Dakota-based band along with the North Mississippi Allstars are strong young voices in the Blues. PACHYDERM RECORDS