Definition:

Due to my one song / one genre tagging policy, I've deliberately joined two distinctive genres to remove the dilemma of what to do with any hybrid recordings caught between the two. I view the Blues in the traditional spiritual sense typified by Robert Johnson, Muddy Waters, Howlin' Wolf et al, acoustic or electric. Specifically excluded would be the blues-flavoured rock records; these are filed under my Blues Rock / Soul Rock genre tag. I view Rhythm n Blues in the first-wave form of the genre, most commonly delivered in the 50s and 60s, when blues music was used as the foundation, and a lively dance rhythm was added, usually featuring bass and drums as well as other features of a full band sound. Typical exponents of the genre would be the likes of Bo Diddley, Fats Domino, The Everly Brothers, Van Morrison and The Rolling Stones. Specifically excluded would be (what I've always considered to be) the strangely named contemporary R n B records from the likes of Michael Jackson, Whitney Houston, Beyoncé et al; these are filed under my R n B genre tag.

The Jukebox Pick (of 6,077):

 The Sun Is Shining

 (Elmore James)

 Elmore James

  “Utterly perfect” Blues / Rhythm n Blues

 Recorded on April 14th, 1960 and released on the b-side to “I Can't Hold Out” in May, 1960. Somewhat ridiculously, Elmore was ripping off his own preceding classic single from a couple of months earlier, “The Sky Is Crying”, but emerged improbably with something which had an even stronger emotional edge. It don't matter a damn that the sun is shining, his baby has left him and it's raining in his heart. She didn't even say goodbye! This really is the epitome of the blues, and it's played to devastating effect by grandmasters of the genre, namely Elmore and his long-time band, The Broomdusters. Elmore's the king of the slide guitar and his vocal oozes soul; feel the longing, feel the hurt. Cementing the magic are: J. T. Brown (tenor sax), Little Johnny Jones (piano), Homesick James (guitar) and Odie Payne (drums). Sheer dynamite.

Some favourite artists:

Howlin' Wolf, Elmore James, Jimmy Reed, Fats Domino, Captain Beefheart

The Jukebox pick: