Frankie - Hey, I once wrote a song called "The Ballad of Frankie P". That's pretty close to you, bro. Maybe I oughto send you a snippet, or you can listen at http://www.geocities.com/fssharp/. Anyway, I looked at Barrett's list again, and here's my list of Basic Blues, mainly 'cause this is what I play. Other folks have given you a great listing as well, but here's mine...

Peepin & Hidin (Baby What You Want Me to Do)
Blues With A Feeling - P. Butterfield version
Help Me
Hootchie Cootchie Man
Red House
I'm Ready (I'm told chrom is the way to go with this one)
Key to the Highway (FANTASTIC harp song)
Stormy Monday
Sweet Home Chicago
Kansas City
Johnny B Goode

Thanks, pal.
It was in the back issue of Feb 2004 and I lifted it out. As you say, it's a very long list for a starter but is a good list of songs to acquire and become familiar with.

Hey guys, great suggestions from all. My idea is to come up with a repertoire that any blues musician should and would know by heart. Like if you run into a couple of guys and start jamming, there would be a few songs you can count on that everyone already knows. I think I have a good start now.:smile:

some slim harpo stuff.
some jimmy reed.
ever heard tad robinson out of chicago? incredible riffs but not too complex.
some tbone walker- tbone shuffle a la tbirds is great.
plus the stuff already mentioned.

here's what's REALLY cool. once you learn some different grooves, like a 12 bar, a shuffle or two (slow, medium, fast), a rhumba, a country blues thing, write a song your own self! open mic nights are such a great test bed for things like this.

also, a good idea is to listen to different kinds of music- rock, folk, funk, soul, etc etc- and see what you can emulate. little walter was such an innovator because he studied what horns did in a song and then emulated it on harp. this idea has broadened my playing immensely.

there is form, and there is content. working on different forms gives one a bigger picture of the possibilities of styles. working on content gives one his/her own unique style and repertoire.

Hi Frankie!
I'm not up to the level of performing in front of other people, but if I had to make a list of blues classics it would be something like this.....
Of course "Hooch Coochie Man" (thanks Greg) "I'm ready" and "Got My Mojo Working" by Muddy Waters.
Definitly some Robert Johnson such as "Love in Vain" & "Sweet Home Chicago"
BB King "The Thrill Is Gone" (extended version)
"Have You Ever Loved A Woman" by The Sons of Blues
"Black Night" by James Cotton (there are many older but also very good versions)
"Tin Pan Alley" by SRV
"Hound Dog" No, not the Elvis version, the one on "The Call Me Big Walter"
Anything from SBW 1 and 2
Anything from Walter Horton
and finally any 'ol song from Little Walter.....
(but that's if I could play that well of course) :evileye:

Anyway, lets us know what you list will look like Frankie