Essential artists/albums for a blues music collection?

[shaugran]

I'm beginning to start Djing more and more and I was wondering what albums and artists I should begin to collect to increase my repitoire of blues music for dancers.

I don't have much, but hear's what I have so far. (some are not strictly blues but have songs one can dance to)

30 Greatest Hits Disc 1&2-A. Franklin
Acoustic Soul-India Arie
Congo Blues-C. Parker
The Essential Bessie Smith Disc 1&2
Gold Collection Disc 1&2-B. Holiday
The Great Blues Men-Various Artists
In Concert-M. Gaye
Just Won't Burn-S. Tedeschi
a bunch of Diana Krall
The Lady Has the Blues-N. Simone
Live at Blues Alley-E. Cassidy
Live at Carnegie Hall-S. R. Vaughan
Live in Swing City-LCJO
Makin' Love is Good For You-B.B. King
Me and Mr. Johnson-E. Clapton
Night Train-O. Peterson Trio
Putumayo Presents: Mississippi Blues-Various Artists
St. Louis Blues [Prime Cuts]-L. Armstrong
When the Sun Goes Down, Vol. 2: The First Time I Met the Blues-Various Artists
When the Sun Goes Down, Vol. 3: That's Chicago's South Side-Various Artists

[justdance]

I consider these CDs as essential:

The 4 CD chess box set
Atlantic Blues: Piano
Alberta Hunter-Amtrack blues
Best of T-Bone Walker
Any best of Muddy Waters set that has his songs from 47 to 55.
There are a bunch of good blues harmonica compilations; Harp and Soul is my favorite

[shaugran]

Thanks Roy.

BTW, you should change your location in your profile.

[LindyChef]

The 4 CD chess box set

Which one? I have the Willie Dixon and Bo Diddley ones, but do you suggest others?

[justdance]

Chess Blues-Various artists

http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=am ... 4gtq5zbu4o

[Telemarker]

You should get some Ray Charles in your collection, too. The movie soundtracks are actually quite good. (Just look out for the one that has all the orchestrated background music.)