Best Blues singles of all time - Rate Your Music
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Top Blues singles of all time

Separate: live, archival, soundtracks and scores
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Updated: 30 April
Average Ratings Reviews
Nina Simone - Four Women / What More Can I Say, Cover art
Four Women / What More Can I Say
Nina Simone
4.14 318 318 3 3
October 1966 Single
Vocal Jazz Piano Blues Soul Jazz
conscious epic nocturnal melancholic sparse alienation serious introspective
318 Ratings 3 Reviews 4.14 Average
Blind Willie Johnson - Dark Was the Night - Cold Was the Ground / It's Nobody's Fault but Mine, Cover art
Dark Was the Night - Cold Was the Ground / It's Nobody's Fault but Mine
Blind Willie Johnson
4.11 1k 1,464 24 24
20 April 1928 Single
Acoustic Texas Blues
Gospel Delta Blues
lonely acoustic sombre dark raw nocturnal spiritual religious
1k Ratings 24 Reviews 4.11 Average
Howlin' Wolf - Smoke Stack Lightning / You Can't Be Beat, Cover art
Smoke Stack Lightning / You Can't Be Beat
Howlin' Wolf
4.07 541 541 4 4
February 1956 Single
Chicago Blues
Rhythm & Blues
raw passionate breakup sombre ominous nocturnal longing melancholic
541 Ratings 4 Reviews 4.07 Average
Etta James - At Last / I Just Want to Make Love to You, Cover art
At Last / I Just Want to Make Love to You
Etta James
4.03 667 667 18 18
January 1961 Single
Soul Rhythm & Blues Soul Blues
Traditional Pop
romantic love uplifting lush ballad passionate happy melodic
667 Ratings 18 Reviews 4.03 Average
(Black Gal) Where Did You Sleep Last Night? / In New Orleans
Lead Belly
3.96 547 547 6 6
1944 Single
Delta Blues
cold nocturnal acoustic death conscious sad repetitive
547 Ratings 6 Reviews 3.96 Average
The Howlin' Wolf - Moanin' at Midnight / How Many More Years, Cover art
Moanin' at Midnight / How Many More Years
The Howlin' Wolf
3.96 398 398 6 6
August 1951 Single
Chicago Blues
nocturnal raw anxious longing
398 Ratings 6 Reviews 3.96 Average
Fleetwood Mac - Oh Well (Part 1) / Oh Well (Part 2), Cover art
Oh Well (Part 1) / Oh Well (Part 2)
Fleetwood Mac
3.95 494 494 9 9
26 September 1969 Single
Blues Rock British Blues Psychedelic Rock
Hard Rock Spaghetti Western Progressive Rock
progressive epic suite serious energetic dense
494 Ratings 9 Reviews 3.95 Average
Mississippi John Hurt - Frankie / Nobody's Dirty Business, Cover art
Frankie / Nobody's Dirty Business
Mississippi John Hurt
3.94 425 425 5 5
April 1928 Single
Piedmont Blues
mellow death acoustic melodic violence calm raw soft
425 Ratings 5 Reviews 3.94 Average
Howlin' Wolf - Howlin' for My Darlin' / Spoonful, Cover art
Howlin' for My Darlin' / Spoonful
Howlin' Wolf
3.95 258 258 4 4
25 July 1960 Single
Chicago Blues Rhythm & Blues
258 Ratings 4 Reviews 3.95 Average
Geeshie Wiley - Last Kind Words Blues / Skinny Leg Blues, Cover art
Last Kind Words Blues / Skinny Leg Blues
Geeshie Wiley
3.93 505 505 11 11
June 1930 Single
Country Blues
sombre death dark acoustic war melodic pessimistic ominous
505 Ratings 11 Reviews 3.93 Average
Etta James - Tell Mama / I'd Rather Go Blind, Cover art
Tell Mama / I'd Rather Go Blind
Etta James
3.94 295 295 4 4
November 1967 Single
Southern Soul Soul Blues
sensual breakup playful love passionate
295 Ratings 4 Reviews 3.94 Average
Skip James - Cherry Ball Blues / Hard Time Killin' Floor Blues, Cover art
Cherry Ball Blues / Hard Time Killin' Floor Blues
Skip James
3.94 221 221 3 3
March 1931 Single
Delta Blues
acoustic passionate pastoral sad longing breakup
221 Ratings 3 Reviews 3.94 Average
Robert Johnson - Cross Road Blues / Ramblin' on My Mind, Cover art
Cross Road Blues / Ramblin' on My Mind
Robert Johnson
3.90 526 526 7 7
20 April 1937 Single
Delta Blues
raw acoustic longing passionate lonely melancholic religious ominous
526 Ratings 7 Reviews 3.90 Average
B.B. King - The Thrill Is Gone / You're Mean, Cover art
The Thrill Is Gone / You're Mean
B.B. King
3.90 373 373 7 7
December 1969 Single
Electric Blues Soul Blues Blues Rock
Soul
breakup lush passionate melancholic melodic
373 Ratings 7 Reviews 3.90 Average
Bessie Smith - Nobody Knows You When You're Down and Out / Take It Right Back ('Cause I Don't Want It Here), Cover art
Nobody Knows You When You're Down and Out / Take It Right Back ('Cause I Don't Want It Here)
Bessie Smith
3.89 472 472 7 7
September 1929 Single
Vaudeville Blues Vocal Jazz
melancholic lonely passionate sad acoustic alcohol
472 Ratings 7 Reviews 3.89 Average
Muddy Waters - I Can't Be Satisfied / Feel Like Going Home, Cover art
I Can't Be Satisfied / Feel Like Going Home
Muddy Waters
3.91 264 264 3 3
June 1948 Single
Chicago Blues
Acoustic Chicago Blues
passionate raw
264 Ratings 3 Reviews 3.91 Average
Robert Johnson - Come On in My Kitchen / They're Red Hot, Cover art
Come On in My Kitchen / They're Red Hot
Robert Johnson
3.91 267 267 5 5
1 June 1937 Single
Delta Blues Acoustic Blues
Ragtime
raw sexual acoustic melodic passionate energetic
267 Ratings 5 Reviews 3.91 Average
Muddy Waters - Got My Mojo Working / Rock Me, Cover art
Got My Mojo Working / Rock Me
Muddy Waters
3.90 256 256 2 2
March 1957 Single
Chicago Blues
Rock & Roll
raw passionate energetic
256 Ratings 2 Reviews 3.90 Average
Lead Belly - The Gallis Pole / The Bourgeois Blues, Cover art
The Gallis Pole / The Bourgeois Blues
Lead Belly
3.92 180 180 3 3
1939 Single
Country Blues Delta Blues
death acoustic energetic passionate
180 Ratings 3 Reviews 3.92 Average
Mississippi John Hurt - Stack O' Lee Blues / Candy Man Blues, Cover art
Stack O' Lee Blues / Candy Man Blues
Mississippi John Hurt
3.90 359 359 3 3
February 1929 Single
Piedmont Blues
crime death acoustic mellow melodic sexual technical violence
359 Ratings 3 Reviews 3.90 Average
Skip James - Devil Got My Woman / Cypress Grove Blues, Cover art
Devil Got My Woman / Cypress Grove Blues
Skip James
3.88 495 495 6 6
July 1931 Single
Delta Blues
longing dark lethargic raw passionate acoustic sad paranormal
495 Ratings 6 Reviews 3.88 Average
Robert Johnson - Sweet Home Chicago / Walkin' Blues, Cover art
Sweet Home Chicago / Walkin' Blues
Robert Johnson
3.89 313 313 6 6
July 1937 Single
Delta Blues Acoustic Blues
acoustic passionate melodic rhythmic lonely longing
313 Ratings 6 Reviews 3.89 Average
Lead Belly and the Golden Gate Quartet - The Midnight Special / Ham an' Eggs, Cover art
The Midnight Special / Ham an' Eggs
Lead Belly & The Golden Gate Quartet
3.88 338 338 4 4
January 1941 Single
Delta Blues Country Blues Work Songs
Gospel Work Songs
longing acoustic conscious protest melodic vocal group
338 Ratings 4 Reviews 3.88 Average
Robert Johnson - Preachin' Blues (Up Jumped the Devil) / Love in Vain Blues, Cover art
Preachin' Blues (Up Jumped the Devil) / Love in Vain Blues
Robert Johnson
3.86 366 366 8 8
February 1939 Single
Delta Blues Acoustic Blues
acoustic
366 Ratings 8 Reviews 3.86 Average
Elmo James - Dust My Broom / Catfish Blues, Cover art
Dust My Broom / Catfish Blues
Elmo James
3.86 351 351 8 8
November 1951 Single
Electric Blues Chicago Blues
Rock & Roll
energetic rhythmic raw breakup passionate
351 Ratings 8 Reviews 3.86 Average
Muddy Waters and His Guitar - Manish Boy / Young Fashion Ways, Cover art
Manish Boy / Young Fashion Ways
Muddy Waters and His Guitar
3.84 412 412 9 9
June 1955 Single
Chicago Blues
heavy raw boastful repetitive sexual triumphant hypnotic
412 Ratings 9 Reviews 3.84 Average
Howlin' Wolf - Wang-Dang-Doodle / Back Door Man, Cover art
Wang-Dang-Doodle / Back Door Man
Howlin' Wolf
3.90 163 163 2 2
January 1961 Single
Chicago Blues Rhythm & Blues
rhythmic raw sexual summer
163 Ratings 2 Reviews 3.90 Average
Charley Patton - Shake It and Break It But (Don't Let It Fall Mama) / A Spoonful Blues, Cover art
Shake It and Break It But (Don't Let It Fall Mama) / A Spoonful Blues
Charley Patton
3.86 252 252 5 5
December 1929 Single
Delta Blues
Country Blues
sexual acoustic raw humorous melodic hypnotic playful
252 Ratings 5 Reviews 3.86 Average
Muddy Waters - Just Make Love to Me / Oh! Yeh, Cover art
Just Make Love to Me / Oh! Yeh
Muddy Waters
3.86 198 198 4 4
May 1954 Single
Chicago Blues
Rhythm & Blues
sensual longing sexual
198 Ratings 4 Reviews 3.86 Average
Blind Willie Johnson - Let Your Light Shine on Me / God Don't Never Change, Cover art
Let Your Light Shine on Me / God Don't Never Change
Blind Willie Johnson
3.87 199 199 1 1
January 1930 Single
Acoustic Texas Blues Traditional Black Gospel
Gospel
Christian peaceful religious melodic
199 Ratings 1 Reviews 3.87 Average
Robert Johnson - Terraplane Blues / Kind Hearted Woman Blues, Cover art
Terraplane Blues / Kind Hearted Woman Blues
Robert Johnson
3.86 240 240 9 9
January 1937 Single
Delta Blues
acoustic sexual raw melancholic longing melodic passionate lonely
240 Ratings 9 Reviews 3.86 Average
The Howlin' Wolf - Evil Is Goin' On / Baby How Long?, Cover art
Evil Is Goin' On / Baby How Long?
The Howlin' Wolf
3.84 204 204 2 2
July 1954 Single
Chicago Blues
Rhythm & Blues
204 Ratings 2 Reviews 3.84 Average
Slim Harpo - I'm a King Bee / I Got Love If You Want It, Cover art
I'm a King Bee / I Got Love If You Want It
Slim Harpo
3.85 197 197 2 2
July 1957 Single
Swamp Blues
197 Ratings 2 Reviews 3.85 Average
Henry Thomas (Ragtime Texas) - Bull Doze Blues / Old Country Stomp, Cover art
Bull Doze Blues / Old Country Stomp
Henry Thomas (Ragtime Texas)
3.84 202 202 6 6
January 1929 Single
Country Blues
Acoustic Texas Blues
longing acoustic playful
202 Ratings 6 Reviews 3.84 Average
John Lee Hooker - Boogie Chillen' / Sally May, Cover art
Boogie Chillen' / Sally May
John Lee Hooker
3.83 329 329 6 6
3 November 1948 Single
Electric Blues
Hill Country Blues Delta Blues
raw rebellious minimalistic passionate party urban rhythmic
329 Ratings 6 Reviews 3.83 Average
Skip James - I'm So Glad / Special Rider Blues, Cover art
I'm So Glad / Special Rider Blues
Skip James
3.85 184 184 6 6
September 1931 Single
Delta Blues Acoustic Blues
raw acoustic
184 Ratings 6 Reviews 3.85 Average
Little Walter and His Jukes - My Babe / Thunder Bird, Cover art
My Babe / Thunder Bird
Little Walter and His Jukes
3.84 192 192 4 4
February 1955 Single
Chicago Blues Rhythm & Blues
rhythmic happy romantic melodic love
192 Ratings 4 Reviews 3.84 Average
Young John Watson - Space Guitar / Half Pint-a-Whiskey, Cover art
Space Guitar / Half Pint-a-Whiskey
Young John Watson
3.81 412 412 12 12
March 1954 Single
Electric Blues Rhythm & Blues Rock & Roll
Surf Rock Experimental Rock Jump Blues Psychedelic Rock Proto-Punk
instrumental avant-garde psychedelic raw playful energetic noisy space
412 Ratings 12 Reviews 3.81 Average
Robert Johnson - Hell Hound on My Trail / From Four Until Late, Cover art
Hell Hound on My Trail / From Four Until Late
Robert Johnson
3.83 290 290 8 8
1 August 1937 Single
Delta Blues
raw passionate acoustic ominous anxious lonely
290 Ratings 8 Reviews 3.83 Average
Blind Willie Johnson - John the Revelator / You're Gonna Need Somebody on Your Bond, Cover art
John the Revelator / You're Gonna Need Somebody on Your Bond
Blind Willie Johnson
3.82 365 365 3 3
June 1930 Single
Acoustic Texas Blues
Gospel
Christian acoustic passionate
365 Ratings 3 Reviews 3.82 Average
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Soundtracks

  • Tom Waits - 16 Shells From a Thirty - Ought - Six / Big Black Mariah, Cover art
    16 Shells From a Thirty - Ought - Six / Big Black Mariah
    1988 Single
    162 Ratings 3 Reviews 3.87 Average
    3.87 162 162 3 3
  • The Blues Brothers - Everybody Needs Somebody to Love / Think, Cover art
    Everybody Needs Somebody to Love / Think
    1990 Single
    53 Ratings 3.53 Average
    3.53 53 53
  • Ed Sheeran - Make It Rain (From Sons of Anarchy), Cover art
    Make It Rain (From Sons of Anarchy)
    2014 Single
    48 Ratings 3.37 Average
    3.37 48 48
  • Måneskin - If I Can Dream, Cover art
    If I Can Dream
    2022 Single
    36 Ratings 2.76 Average
    2.76 36 36
  • Daniel Lanois - Table Top, Cover art
    Table Top
    2019 Single
    16 Ratings 3.60 Average
    3.60 16 16
    • See all 8 Include in main chart

    Live

  • Nina Simone - Mississippi *%??**&% [Mississippi Goddam] / Sea Lion Woman, Cover art
    Mississippi *%??**&% [Mississippi Goddam] / Sea Lion Woman
    1964 Single
    382 Ratings 3 Reviews 4.00 Average
    4.00 382 382 3 3
  • Eric Clapton - Layla, Cover art
    Layla
    1992 Single
    213 Ratings 11 Reviews 2.99 Average
    2.99 213 213 11 11
  • Ry Cooder - Crazy 'Bout an Automobile (Every Woman I Know), Cover art
    Crazy 'Bout an Automobile (Every Woman I Know)
    1980 Single
    11 Ratings 3.45 Average
    3.45 11 11
    • See all 16 Include in main chart

    Archival

  • Abner Jay - Depression / I'm So Depressed, Cover art
    Depression / I'm So Depressed
    2009 Single
    365 Ratings 1 Reviews 3.95 Average
    3.95 365 365 1 1
  • Elizabeth Cotten - Freight Train, Cover art
    Freight Train
    2014 Single
    45 Ratings 4.14 Average
    4.14 45 45
  • Howlin' Wolf - Spoonful / Smokestack Lightning, Cover art
    Spoonful / Smokestack Lightning
    1985 Single
    40 Ratings 1 Reviews 4.18 Average
    4.18 40 40 1 1
  • Prince - 17 Days, Cover art
    17 Days
    2018 Single
    54 Ratings 3.63 Average
    3.63 54 54
  • Prince - Mary Don't You Weep, Cover art
    Mary Don't You Weep
    2018 Single
    57 Ratings 3.28 Average
    3.28 57 57
    • See all 18 Include in main chart
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