Blue for newbie

Blues has many different styles

Vocal/Rock - Janis Joplin "I got them ol kozmic blues again" the remastered version

Delta/Acoustic - Blue Rider Trio "Harp, Steel and Guts" mapleshade records

Telarc records has a pretty good selection of well recorded blues, audioquest and mapleshade are other good companies for well recorded blues.

Muddy Water's "Hard Again". The Zen Master of the Blues' finest late era recording that will show you how its done.

A real good way to get the essence of the blues is to buy the Chess Records 50th Anniversary CD compilations. Look for them on Amazon. Put "Chess 50th" into a search and you will find them. If you don't know, Chess Records was a Chicago record label that recorded Blues musicians from the late 40's until the 1970's. If you can only buy one, it should be the Howlin' Wolf. If you can afford two, add Sonny Boy Williamson. After that, you'll need Muddy Waters (2 discs, the early years are better) and John Lee Hooker.

Every one of the Chess 50th collection is a gem and worth having. Buy as many of them as you can.

Cheers (from Chicago)

Hoodoo Man Blues by Junior Wells...this got me started many years ago....a true classic.