Blues-y? Or actual blues?

Most of my favorites are Willie Dixon songs but they are extensively covered by other artists (and usually one of the covers is best, or most famous, version):
Spoonful (covered by: Howlin' Wolf, Muddy Waters and I really like Dixon's version too)
Back Door Man (Howlin' Wolf)
The Seventh Son
I Ain't Superstitious (Howlin' Wolf)
Hoochie Coochie Man (Muddy Waters)
The Little Red Rooster (Howlin' Wolf, the Rolling Stones)

So basically anything by Howlin' Wolf or Muddy Waters. The Rolling Stones and the Yardbirds covered many of these as well.

Some more:
Bo Diddley: I'm a Man
John Lee Hooker: anything, but I especially like "Boogie Chillen", "Boom Boom" and "Big Legs, Tight Skirt"
Robert Johnson: anything, he's a little older and more of an acoustic style

Thanks, I originally wanted just blues, but I thought blues-y would open it up to things I might not have originally considered.

I like your suggestions so far! I am listening to Little Red Rooster right now.

For some newer blues (but still the real deal), check out T-Model Ford and R.L. Burnside.

One of my favourite blues-y songs is "Going Up The Country" by Canned Heat. I love Bob Hite's voice, such a high light voice for a man who was so large.

I also love Ramsay Midwood's dirty Delta blues style.

I scrolled through the blues I have, and found none of it remarkable enough to mention, but I did find King Oliver & His Dixie Syncopators doing "New Wang Wang Blues". New Orleans jazz makes me very happy. It's on this record.

I tend to prefer Delta blues, so I will recommend this box set, which is quite good. As far as individuals go, look for Blind Willie McTell. On preview: Robert Johnson is definitely a good choice, too.

Jump Blues is also a lot of fun. I'll see if I can't post a couple of things when I get home tonight.

It's not a blues song, and it's not my favorite, but your question triggered this in my brain:

I had the blues, so bad one time it put my face in a permanent frown
You know I'm feeling so much better, I could cakewalk into town

Honey, I woke up this mornin' feelin' so good, you know I laid back down again
Throw your big leg over me mama, I might not feel this good again

We now return to the scheduled discussion.

"Hellhound On My Trail" Robert Johnson
"How Many More Years" Howlin' Wolf
"Last Kind Word Blues" Geechie Wiley
"Blues Before Sunrise" Elmore James
"Mannish Boy" Muddy Waters
"Shave 'Em Dry" Lucille Bogan
"Hideaway" Freddie King
"Nobody Loves Me But My Mother" B.B. King
"Walkin' On" Muddy Waters & Little Walter

I love Bob Hite's voice, such a high light voice for a man who was so large.

I'm not sure, but I think Al Wilson might've sung that track.

Howlin' Wolf is my Man.

Dust My Broom -Elmore James
Levee Camp Moan - Son House
Goin' Down South _ R.L. Burnside
Moanin' Blues - Lightning Hopkins
God Moves on the Water - Blind Willie Johnson

Praise God I'm Satisfied - Blind Willie Johnson.

Favorite blues-y is anything by Blueshammer.

Yay! I have so many new songs to listen to. I am going to have serious amounts of blues at work all day tomorrow.
My coworkers will thank you (or be annoyed, but I don't care).
Thanks, friends!

Thanks for posting this--I found out that I somehow didn't manage to rip one of my favorite blues albums to my iPod. Junior Wells (w/ Buddy Guy on guitar)!

There's a great YouTube version of one of the best tracks: Junior Wells - "Messin with the Kid"

Judging from my playlist, Lead Belly [Huddie Ledbetter]. Outstanding.
"Where Did You Sleep Last Night". Beautiful, yep, Nirvana did a great version of it too. Can't take away from the original though....
"Green Corn" with Alan Lomax. A tad old country/bluesey. Sweet.
"Pretty Flower in Your Backyard"
"Borrow Love and Go"...
"Gray Goose", gospel-y. Wow.
"When I Was a Cowboy".
"Fannin Street".
"John Hardy". Simple strummin', great story.
"Death Letter Blues Part II", yes, White Stripes covered it v. well.
"The Gallows Pole", yep covered by Led Zeppelin, but really, his is excellent./ and I didn't care much for LZ back then, guess I was not into the blues. Funny how I'm liking them much more today. When the Levee Breaks...for instance. Listen to Memphis Minnie's version though....for mo 'o the Delta Blues.
"Daddy I'm Coming Back To You" — oh. lord. That's plaintive.

Also a huge favourite: Karen Dalton — "Ribbon Bow" here. Fucking blue. Beautiful 12 string. Whadda voice. What a songwriter, RIPeace.
Her "In the Evening" — stunningly beautiful combination of voice and 12 string. It hurts. badly.
All 'a her shit is the Fantastic.
"Katie Cruel" w banjo & fiddle.
"Blues on My Ceiling"
"Sweet Substitute" —HAH./
"It Hurts Me Too".
"If I should leave you"
"I Love You More Than Words Can Say"


"Little Red Rooster" sung by Willie Mae [Big Mama] Thornton, w/BBKing & Muddy Waters¿.

"Death letter Blues'–Son House.
"Preachin' Blues"—Son House. Love that guitar... is that a resophonic guitar¿ gad, love the sound of them. Themz 'da blues personified. That and the 12 string.
Gotta mention "TB Sheets"—Van Morrison. Fucking hell, OUCH./ And I don't care for much of his other stuff... but that tune is truly outstanding.

ah, Delta Blues.

I also like it when it verges on country too. And yodeling...
heh.