The albums that define
delta blues.
Our picks for where to start with delta blues — with a one-line read on why each one matters.
Top Delta blues artists
Start with one of these.
The delta blues essentials
Twenty-four picks. Press play on any of them.
Mississippi John Hurt
American Epic: The Best of Mississippi John Hurt
A heartfelt collection of Delta blues, blending intricate fingerpicking with soulful storytelling and timeless melodies.
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Robert Johnson
The Complete Recordings
Raw, emotive guitar and haunting vocals weave tales of heartache and the supernatural.
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Robert Johnson
King of the Delta Blues Singers, Vol. II
A haunting collection of raw, emotive Delta blues that captures the spirit of early American music.
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Robert Johnson
King of the Delta Blues Singers
Raw, emotive storytelling intertwines with haunting guitar melodies that define the Delta blues tradition.
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Son House
Delta Blues and Spirituals
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Skip James
She Lyin'
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Skip James
Devil Got My Woman
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Skip James
Greatest of the Delta Blues Singers
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Skip James
Today!
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Mississippi John Hurt
Last Sessions
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Bokanté
What Heat
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Leo Welch
I Don't Prefer No Blues
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Leo Welch
Sabougla Voices
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Charley Patton
Screamin' and Hollerin' the Blues: The Worlds of Charley Patton
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