Whether you’re new to the blues or a true aficionado, few things in life are as daunting as walking into your local record store and trying to decide what CDs to add to your collection. To help you sort through the myriad possibilities, we asked three members of the Year of the Blues Advisory Board—Mary Katherine Aldin, Barry Dolins, and Jeff Place—to pick 52 great blues recordings that span the past and present and are currently available. Each week we’ll post a new selection, with notes on what makes it such a great recording, as well as one featured audio excerpt to give you a taste of it.

Week 52
Memphis Slim, At the Gate of Horn
(Collectables 7130)

Week 51
Mississippi Fred McDowell, I Do Not Play No Rock 'n' Roll
(FUEL 2000 - 302 061 158 2)

Week 50
Various Artists, Blues Masters Volume 8: Mississippi Delta Blues
(Rhino 71130)

Week 49
Slim Harpo, The Best of Slim Harpo
(Hip-O 40072)

Week 48
Blind Willie Johnson, The Complete Blind Willie Johnson
(Columbia/Legacy C2K52835)

Week 47
Little Milton, Greatest Hits (Chess 50th Anniversary Series)
(MCA/Chess)

Week 46
Blind Lemon Jefferson, The Best of
(Yazoo 2057)

Week 45
Big Joe Turner, Boss of the Blues
(Collectables 6327)

Week 44
Jimmy Rogers, His Best
(MCA/Chess 000069402)

Week 43
Elmore James, The Sky is Crying: The History of Elmore James
(Rhino 71190)

Week 42
Magic Sam, West Side Soul
(Delmark 615)

Week 41
Cephas and Wiggins, Dog Days of August
(Flying Fish 70394)

Week 40
J.B. Lenoir, Martin Scorsese Presents The Blues: J.B. Lenoir
(MCA/Chess B0000617-02)

Week 39
Johnny Young, Chicago Blues
(Arhoolie 325)

Week 38
Koko Taylor, I Got What it Takes
(Alligator 4706)

Week 37
Little Walter, His Best (Chess 50th Anniversary Series)
(MCA/Chess 9384)

Week 36
Mississippi John Hurt, The Complete Studio Recordings
(Vanguard 181/83—2)

Week 35
Otis Rush, The Essential Otis Rush: The Classic Cobra Recordings 1956-1958
(Fuel 2000/Varese Sarabande 061077)

Week 34
Robert Cray, Strong Persuader
(Mercury 830568)

Week 33
Sonny Boy Williamson, His Best
(MCA/Chess 9377)

Week 32
Various Artists, Heavy Timbre: Chicago Boogie Piano
(The Sirens 5002)

Week 31
Various Artists, Fathers and Sons
(MCA 088112 648-2)

Week 30
Professor Longhair, Fess: The Professor Longhair Anthology
(Rhino 71502)

Week 29
Various Artists, Men are Like Street Cars: Classic Women Blues Singers 1928 - 1969
(MCA 11788)

Week 28
T-Bone Walker, Complete Imperial Recordings
(EMI CDP-7-96737-2)

Week 27
Skip James, The Complete Early Recordings of Skip James
(Yazoo 2009)

Week 26
Memphis Minnie, Hoodoo Lady 1933 - 1937
(Columbia/Legacy 46775)

Week 25
Keb Mo, Keb Mo
(OKeh/Epic 57863)

Week 24
Muddy Waters, His Best, 1947-1955 (Chess 50th Anniversary Series)
(MCA 9370)

Week 23
The Paul Butterfield Blues Band, The Paul Butterfield Blues Band
(Elektra 7294-2)

Week 22
Lonnie Brooks, Bayou Lightning
(Alligator 4714)

Week 21
Lightnin' Hopkins, Complete Aladdin Recordings
(EMI 96843)

Week 20
Johnny Winter, Progressive Blues Experiment
(Razor and Tie 82210)

Week 19
Jimmy Reed, His Very Best (Rhino Blues Masters Series)
(Rhino 79802)

Week 18
Freddie (Freddy) King, Hideaway: The Best of Freddie King
(Rhino 71510)

Week 17
Charlie (Charley) Patton, Founder of the Delta Blues
(Yazoo 2010)

Week 16
John Mayall's Bluesbreakers, Bluesbreakers with Eric Clapton
(Deram 800086)

Week 15
Albert King, King of the Blues Guitar
(Atlantic 8213)

Week 14
Junior Wells, Hoodoo Man Blues
(Delmark 612)

Week 13
Clifton Chenier, Bayou Blues
(Specialty 2139)

Week 12
Howlin' Wolf, Howlin' Wolf, aka The Rocking Chair Album / Moanin' in the Moonlight
(MCA 5908)

Week 11
Buddy Guy, Sweet Tea
(Silvertone 41751)

Week 10
B.B. King, Live at the Regal
(MCA 11646)

Week 9
John Lee Hooker, The Legendary Modern Recordings 1948-1954
(Virgin Records America 39658-2)

Week 8
Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble, Texas Flood
(Sony Legacy 065870)

Week 7
Hound Dog Taylor and the Houserockers, Hound Dog Taylor and the Houserockers
(Alligator 4701)

Week 6
Bessie Smith, The Collection
(Columbia CK-44441)

Week 5
Various Artists, Roots 'n' Blues: The Retrospective 1925 -1950
(Columbia/Legacy C4K-47911)

Week 4
Robert Johnson, The Complete Recordings
(Sony/Columbia C2K 64916, or C2K 46222)

Week 3
Various Artists, Blues Classics: 1927 – 1969
(MCA 11441)

Week 2
Various Artists, When the Sun Goes Down, Vol. 1: Walk Right In
(RCA 09023-63986-2)

Week 1
Muddy Waters, The Complete Plantation Recordings: The Historic 1941-42 Library of Congress Field Recordings
(MCA/Chess CHD-9344)