What did Shemekia Copeland's father, Johnny Copeland, do to help her career? What are the influences on her singing? Why aren't there more daughters of the blues. Explore these and other questions in Shemekia Copeland's "My Kind of Guy."

Blues on My Mind

Daughter of the Blues: Shemekia Copeland

How do people come to play the blues? What's the relationship between the blues and the church? Explore these and other questions in Kenny Neal's "Bloodline."

Blues as Inheritance: Kenny Neal's "Bloodline"

What is stride piano? What does it sound like? What does James P. Johnson contribute to Bessie Smith's rendition of "Back Water Blues"?  Explore these and other questions.

Natural Disaster: Bessie Smith's "Back Water Blues"

Why did Muddy Waters record an acoustic album in 1965? How does the sound on the LP differ from his electric work? Why is he singing about leaving Chicago? Explore these and other themes.

Muddy Waters: My Home Is in the Delta

What do blues and zydeco have in common? What does it sound like when a zydeco artist covers a blues song? Explore these and other questions with Beau Jocque and the Zydeco Hi-Roller's version of "Baby, Please Don't Go." 

Blues and Zydeco: Beau Jocque and the Zydeco Hi-Rollers?

What's new about the Chicago sound of Toronzo Cannon? What kind of a contract is he talking about? What does it have to do with the history of the blues? Explore these and other questions.

Toronzo Cannon: "Bad Contract"

How does B. B. King tell a story? What are the lyrical elements? What does he achieve with Lucille?  Explore these questions in "Sweet Sixteen."

B. B. King Tells a Tale: "Sweet Sixteen"

Why does Lonnie Johnson get overlooked as a blues musician? What's different about his music? What is his social message? Explore these questions in "Don't Ever Love."

Lonnie Johnson: Revealer of Deceit

What characterizes Buddy Guy's sound? What do the blues symbolize in songs? Explore these and other questions in "First Time I Met the Blues."

Buddy Guy: Keeping the Blues Fresh

Why do a tribute album to Big Bill Broozy? How can songs evoke pain and sadness and still sound happy? Explore these and other issues in Billy Boy Arnold's version of "Sweet Honey Bee."

Pain behind the Happiness: Billy Boy Arnold

What characterizes Albert Collins's playing style? How does he achieve that signature sound?  Explore Albert Collins's blues in "Lights Are On but Nobody's Home."

Albert Collins: Master of the Telecaster

Christmas blues are rarely about the actual holiday and certainly never religious. They more often discuss loneliness, jail time, illness, cheating or sex.  Explore these themes in songs by Blind Blake, Peetie Wheatstraw, Champion Jack Dupree and Eddie C. Campbell.

Christmas Blues

How do blind musicians play guitar? What kinds of choices to musicians make in covering older material?  Explore these questions in The Jeff Healey Band's "Stop Breakin' Down."

Canadian Blues: The Jeff Healey Band

What draws men to young women? Why are these relationships frustrating? Are the blues full of misogyny?  Explore these questions in Muddy Waters's "She's Nineteen Years Old."

Love of Young Women: Muddy Waters's "She's Nineteen Years Old"

Why don't blues songs talk about guilt or shame or regret? Why does Robert Cray address these emotions that most blues songs avoid?  Explore themes of the modern blues.

Guilt: Robert Cray's "Right Next Door (Because of Me)"

Discussion of blues music. Each episode analyzes one or two blues songs. Topics cover lyrics, musical structure, history and meaning of songs.

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Blues on My Mind

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