I have collected over a dozen lists of ‘best blues albums’ that I found in books, magazines and websites and compiled them into a single meta-list. This list is organized in chronological order, based on the earliest recording on the album. For a list organized by rank, that is, with the albums on the most lists at the time, go here.
NOTE: Many older blues albums are compilations. Much of the material from the artist is available on multiple compilation albums. For example, all the music on Robert Johnson’s King of the Delta Blues is also available on Robert Johnson’s The Complete Recordings.
1920s
Bessie Smith – The Essential Bessie Smith (rec. 1923-1933) (on 3 lists)
Bessie Smith – The Complete Recordings, Vol. 1 (rec. 1923-1924) (on 2 lists)
Bessie Smith – The Collection (rec. 1923-1933) (on 2 lists)
Ma Rainey – Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom (rec. 1924-1928) (on 3 lists)
Blind Blake – Ragtime Guitar’s Foremost Fingerpicker (rec. 1926-1929) (on 4 lists)
Blind Lemon Jefferson – King of the Country Blues (rec. 1926-1929) (on 3 lists)
Various Artists – The Roots of Robert Johnson (rec. 1926-1936) (on 2 lists)
Various Artists – Masters of the Delta Blues: The Friends of Charlie Patton (rec. 1926-1936) (on 2 lists)
Blind Willie Johnson – The Complete Blind Willie Johnson (rec. 1927-1934) (on 4 lists)
Cannon’s Jug Stompers – The Best of Cannon’s Jug Stompers (rec. 1927-1930) (on 2 lists)
Lonnie Johnson – Steppin’ on the Blues (rec. 1927-1932) (on 2 lists)
Blind Willie Johnson – Praise God I’m Satisfied (rec. 1927-1934) (on 2 lists)
Mississippi John Hurt – Avalon Blues: Complete 1928 Recordings (rec. 1928) (on 5 lists)
Tommy Johnson – Complete Recorded Works in Chronological Order (1928-1929) (on 2 lists)
Tampa Red – The Guitar Wizard (rec. 1928-1934) (on 2 lists)
Scrapper Blackwell – The Virtuoso Guitar of Scrapper Blackwell (rec. 1928-1935) (on 2 lists)
Blind Willie McTell – The Definitive Blind Willie McTell (rec. 1929-1933) (on 4 lists)
Memphis Minnie – Bumble Bee: The Essential Recordings of Memphis Minnie (rec. 1929-1941) (on 4 lists)
Charley Patton – Founder of the Delta Blues (rec. 1929-1934) (on 2 lists)
Charley Patton – Complete Recordings 1929-1934 (rec. 1929-1934) (on 2 lists)
1930s
Kokomo Arnold – Complete Recorded Works Vol. 1 (1930-1935) (rec. 1930-1935) (on 2 lists)
Skip James – The Complete Early Recordings of Skip James – 1930 (rec. 1931) (on 5 lists)
Lead Belly – King of the 12-String Guitar (rec. 1935) (on 3 lists)
Robert Johnson – King of the Delta Blues (rec. 1936-1937) (on 7 lists)
Robert Johnson – The Complete Recordings (rec. 1936-1937) (on 4 lists)
Bukka White – The Complete Bukka White (rec. 1937, 1940) (on 3 lists)
John Lee “Sonny Boy” Williamson – Sonny Boy Williamson: The Bluebird Recordings (rec. 1937-1938) (on 2 lists)
1940s
Son House – Delta Blues: The Original Library of Congress Sessions from Field Recordings 1941-1942 (rec. 1941-1942) (on 2 lists)
Lead Belly – Where Did You Sleep Last Night: Lead Belly Legacy, Vol. 1 (rec. 1941-1947) (on 2 lists)
Big Maceo Merriweather – The Best of Big Maceo: The King of Chicago Blues Piano (rec. 1941-1947) (on 2 lists)
Lightnin’ Hopkins – The Gold Star Sessions (rec. 1946-1949) (on 2 lists)
Lightnin’ Hopkins – Mojo Hand: The Lightnin’ Hopkins Anthology (rec. 1946-1974) (on 2 lists)
Muddy Waters – The Chess Box (rec. 1947-1972) (on 2 lists)
John Lee Hooker – The Legendary Modern Recordings 1948-1954 (rec. 1948-1954) (on 4 lists)
John Lee Hooker – The Ultimate Collection 1948-1990 (rec. 1948-1990) (on 3 lists)
Muddy Waters – The Best of Muddy Waters (Chess, rec. 1948-1954) (on 3 lists)
John Lee Hooker – Alternative Boogie: Early Studio Recordings 1948–1952 (rec. 1948-1952) (on 2 lists)
Professor Longhair – Fess: The Professor Longhair Anthology (rec. 1949-1980) (on 2 lists)
1950s
T-Bone Walker – The Complete Imperial Recordings: 1950-1954 (rec. 1950-1954) (on 4 lists)
Jimmy Rogers – Chicago Bound (rec. 1950-1959) (on 3 lists)
Percy Mayfield – Memory Pain (rec. 1950-1955) (on 2 lists)
Willie Dixon – The Chess Box (rec. 1950-1970) (on 2 lists)
Howlin’ Wolf – Moanin’ in the Moonlight (rec. 1951-1959) (on 8 lists)
Elmore James – The Sky Is Crying: The History of Elmore James (rec. 1951-1961) (on 6 lists)
B.B. King – Singin’ the Blues/The Blues (rec. 1951-1958) (on 4 lists)
Sonny Boy Williamson (II) – King Biscuit Time (rec. 1951-1965) (on 3 lists)
Howlin’ Wolf – The Chess Box (rec. 1951-1953) (on 2 lists)
J.B. Lenoir – His J.O.B. Recordings (rec. 1951-1954) (on 2 lists)
Howlin’ Wolf – His Best: Chess 50th Anniversary Collection (rec. 1951-1964) (on 2 lists)
Clarence ‘Gatemouth’ Brown – The Original Peacock Recordings (rec. 1952-1959) (on 6 lists)
Little Walter – His Best: Chess 50th Anniversary Collection (rec. 1952-1963) (on 5 lists)
Big Maybelle – The Complete Okeh Sessions, 1952-1955 (rec. 1952-1955) (on 2 lists)
Big Mama Thornton – Hound Dog/The Peacock Recordings (rec. 1952-1957) (on 2 lists)
Little Walter – The Essential Little Walter (rec. 1952-1963) (on 2 lists)
Elmore James – Let’s Cut It: The Very Best of Elmore James (rec. 1952-1956) (on 2 lists)
Bobby “Blue” Bland – I Pity the Fool: The Duke Recordings, Vol. 1 (rec. 1952-1960) (on 2 lists)
Guitar Slim – Sufferin’ Mind (rec. 1953-1955) (on 5 lists)
Guitar Slim – The Things That I Used To Do (rec. 1953-1956) (on 2 lists)
Jimmy Reed – Big Boss Man: The Best of Jimmy Reed (rec. 1953-1963) (on 2 lists)
Lightnin’ Hopkins – The Herald Recordings 1954 (rec. 1954) (on 3 lists)
Jimmy Reed – Jimmy Reed at Carnegie Hall (rec. 1954-1961) (on 2 lists)
Albert King – The Ultimate Collection (rec. 1954-1984) (on 2 lists)
T-Bone Walker – T-Bone Blues (rec. 1955-1957) (on 6 lists)
Sonny Boy Williamson (II) – Down and Out Blues (rec. 1955-1958) (on 3 lists)
Sonny Boy Williamson (II) – His Best (Chess, rec. 1955-1964) (on 3 lists)
Lightnin’ Slim – Rooster Blues (rec. 1955-1960) (on 2 lists)
Sonny Boy Williamson (II) – The Essential Sonny Boy Williamson (rec. 1955-1963) (on 2 lists)
Bo Diddley – His Best (Chess/MCA, rec. 1955-1966) (on 2 lists)
Otis Rush – The Classic Cobra Recordings: 1956-1958 (rec. 1956-1958) (on 4 lists)
Big Joe Turner – The Boss of the Blues (1956) (on 3 lists)
Big Bill Broonzy – Trouble In Mind (rec. 1956-1957) (on 2 lists)
Bobby “Blue” Bland – Two Steps from the Blues (rec. 1956-1960) (on 2 lists)
Freddie King – Hide Away: The Best of Freddie King (rec. 1956-1970) (on 2 lists)
Sonny Boy Williamson (II) – The Real Folk Blues/More Real Folk Blues (rec. 1957, 1960-1964) (on 3 lists)
The Reverend Gary Davis – Pure Religion & Bad Company (1957) (on 2 lists)
Billie Holiday – Songs For Distingué Lovers (1957) (on 2 lists)
Buddy Guy – The Very Best of Buddy Guy (Rhino, rec. 1957-1981) (on 2 lists)
Champion Jack Dupree – Blues from the Gutter (1958) (on 3 lists)
Howlin’ Wolf – Howlin’ Wolf (rec. 1959-1962) (on 7 lists)
Bobby “Blue” Bland – The Voice: Duke Recordings 1959-69 (rec. 1959-1969) (on 3 lists)
Memphis Slim – At the Gate of Horn (1959) (on 2 lists)
Lightnin’ Hopkins – Lightnin’ Hopkins (1959) (on 2 lists)
1960s
Muddy Waters – At Newport 1960 (rec. 1960) (on 6 lists)
Elmore James – Blues After Hours (1960) (on 2 lists)
Otis Spann – Otis Spann is the Blues (1960) (on 2 lists)
Etta James – At Last! (rec. 1960) (on 2 lists)
Koko Taylor – What It Takes/The Chess Years (rec. 1960-1971) (on 2 lists)
Scrapper Blackwell – Mr. Scrapper’s Blues (1961) (on 2 lists)
Freddie King – Just Pickin’ (rec. 1961, 1965) (on 2 lists)
Little Milton – Greatest Hits (MCA-Chess, rec. 1962-1983) (on 4 lists)
The Rolling Stones – The Rolling Stones (1964) (on 3 lists)
Robert Nighthawk – Live on Maxwell Street (1964) (on 2 lists)
Robert Nighthawk & Houston Stackhouse – Masters of Modern Blues (rec. 1964, 1967) (on 2 lists)
Junior Wells – Hoodoo Man Blues (1965) (on 10 lists)
B.B. King – Live at the Regal (1965) (on 7 lists)
The Paul Butterfield Blues Band – The Paul Butterfield Blues Band (1965) (on 7 lists)
Son House – Father of the Delta Blues: The Complete 1965 Recordings (1965) (on 6 lists)
Big Mama Thornton – Ball N’ Chain (Arhoolie, rec. 1965-1968) (on 3 lists)
Koko Taylor – Koko Taylor (rec. 1965-1969) (on 2 lists)
Albert King – Born Under a Bad Sign (rec. 1966-1967) (on 8 lists)
John Mayall – Bluesbreakers with Eric Clapton (1966) (on 6 lists)
Albert King – King of the Blues Guitar (rec. 1966-1968) (on 5 lists)
Skip James – Today! (1966) (on 4 lists)
B.B. King – Blues Is King (1966) (on 4 lists)
Paul Butterfield Blues Band – East-West (1966) (on 3 lists)
Various Artists – Chicago/The Blues Today/Vol. 1-3 (1966) (on 2 lists)
Magic Sam – West Side Soul (1967) (on 9 lists)
Charlie Musselwhite – Stand Back! Here Comes Charlie Musselwhite’s South Side Blues Band (1967) (on 5 lists)
Johnny Winter – Progressive Blues Experiment (1967) (on 2 lists)
John Mayall – Crusade (1967) (on 2 lists)
Magic Sam – Black Magic (1968) (on 3 lists)
Canned Heat – Boogie With Canned Heat (1968) (on 2 lists)
Taj Mahal – Taj Mahal (1968) (on 2 lists)
Skip James – Devil Got My Woman (1968) (on 2 lists)
Albert King – Live Wire/Blues Power (1968) (on 2 lists)
B.B. King – His Definitive Greatest Hits (Universal TV, rec. c. 1968-1989) (on 2 lists)
Mississippi Fred McDowell – I Do Not Play No Rock and Roll (1969) (on 3 lists)
Eddie “Cleanhead” Vinson – Old Kidney Stew Is Fine (1969) (on 2 lists)
Junior Wells – Southside Blues Jam (rec. 1969-1970) (on 2 lists)
1970s
Buddy Guy – I Was Walking Through the Woods (1970) (on 3 lists)
Willie Dixon – I Am the Blues (1970) (on 2 lists)
B.B. King – Indianola Mississippi Seeds (1970) (on 2 lists)
B.B. King – Live at Cook County Jail (rec. 1970) (on 2 lists)
John Lee Hooker & Canned Heat – Hooker & Heat (1970) (on 2 lists)
Hound Dog Taylor – Hound Dog Taylor & the Houserockers (1971) (on 5 lists)
Otis Rush – Right Place, Wrong Time (1971) (on 3 lists)
James Cotton – 100% Cotton (1974) (on 2 lists)
Hound Dog Taylor – Beware of the Dog (1974) (on 2 lists)
Rory Gallagher – Irish Tour ’74 (1974) (on 2 lists)
Koko Taylor – I Got What It Takes (1975) (on 2 lists)
Muddy Waters – Hard Again (1977) (on 4 lists)
Albert Collins – Ice Pickin’ (1978) (on 6 lists)
Professor Longhair – Crawfish Fiesta (1979) (on 2 lists)
1980s
Buddy Guy – Stone Crazy (1981) (on 3 lists)
Stevie Ray Vaughan – Texas Flood (1982) (on 6 lists)
Albert Collins, Robert Cray & Johnny Copeland – Showdown (1985) (on 5 lists)
Robert Cray – Strong Persuader (1986) (on 5 lists)
Johnny Copeland – Bringing It All Back Home (1985) (on 2 lists)
Albert Collins – Cold Snap (1986) (on 2 lists)
Johnny Winter – 3rd Degree (1986) (on 2 lists)
John Lee Hooker – The Healer (1989) (on 2 lists)
1990s
Gary Moore – Still Got The Blues (1990) (on 2 lists)
R.L. Burnside – Too Bad Jim (1992) (on 4 lists)
Various Artists – Deep Blues: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack (1992) (on 3 lists)
Junior Kimbrough – All Night Long (1992) (on 2 lists)
Junior Kimbrough – Sad Days, Lonely Nights (1993) (on 2 lists)
Eric Clapton – From The Cradle (1994) (on 3 lists)
Alvin Youngblood Hart – Territory (1998) (on 2 lists)
Corey Harris – Greens from the Garden (1999) (on 2 lists)
2000s
R.L. Burnside – Wish I Was in Heaven Sitting Down (2000) (on 2 lists)