Blues vinyl records in the UK, from budget reissues of Chicago and Delta classics to original pressings for collectors. Blues was the music that inspired a generation of British bands, and its classic albums are still some of the best value on vinyl. Here is where to start, with live prices.
Table of Contents
Blues albums to start with
- Muddy Waters, Folk Singer (1964). Muddy Waters on acoustic guitar with Buddy Guy, recorded for Chess in Chicago. A good first blues record for anyone who likes quiet, close recordings.
- Robert Johnson, King of the Delta Blues Singers (1961). A collection of 1930s recordings by the Delta guitarist whose songs were covered by Cream and the Rolling Stones.
- Howlin' Wolf, Moanin' in the Moonlight (1959). Raw Chicago blues from one of the music's biggest voices, and his first album.
- B.B. King, Live at the Regal (1965). A live set from Chicago that many guitarists rate as the best blues live album ever made.
New blues vinyl under £25
New pressings of classic blues albums and compilations. Prices update automatically.
![Vinyl The Best of Blues - MUDDY WATERS, HOWLIN’ WOLF, JOHN LEE HOOKER [VINYL]](https://www.cheapvinylrecords.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/vinyl-the-best-of-blues-muddy-waters-howlin-wolf-john-lee-hooker-vinyl-1.jpg "Blues Vinyl Records UK 1")
![Essential Chicago Blues [VINYL]](https://www.cheapvinylrecords.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/essential-chicago-blues-vinyl-1.jpg "Blues Vinyl Records UK 2")
![House Of The Blues [VINYL]](https://www.cheapvinylrecords.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/house-of-the-blues-vinyl-1.jpg "Blues Vinyl Records UK 3")
![King Of The Delta Blues Singers [VINYL]](https://www.cheapvinylrecords.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/king-of-the-delta-blues-singers-vinyl-2.jpg "Blues Vinyl Records UK 4")
![The 'King' Of The Blues [Vinyl LP] [VINYL]](https://www.cheapvinylrecords.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/the-king-of-the-blues-vinyl-lp-vinyl-1.jpg "Blues Vinyl Records UK 5")
![Raw Delta Blues [VINYL]](https://www.cheapvinylrecords.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/raw-delta-blues-vinyl-1.jpg "Blues Vinyl Records UK 6")
![Folk Festival Of The Blues [VINYL]](https://www.cheapvinylrecords.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/folk-festival-of-the-blues-vinyl-2.jpg "Blues Vinyl Records UK 7")
![At Newport 1960 [VINYL]](https://www.cheapvinylrecords.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/at-newport-1960-vinyl-1.jpg "Blues Vinyl Records UK 8")
![Big Bill's Blues [VINYL]](https://www.cheapvinylrecords.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/big-bills-blues-vinyl-1.jpg "Blues Vinyl Records UK 9")
![Big City Blues [VINYL]](https://www.cheapvinylrecords.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/big-city-blues-vinyl.jpg "Blues Vinyl Records UK 10")
![Rockin Chair [COLORED VINYL] [VINYL]](https://www.cheapvinylrecords.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/rockin-chair-colored-vinyl-vinyl-2.jpg "Blues Vinyl Records UK 11")
![King Of The Delta Blues Singers [VINYL]](https://www.cheapvinylrecords.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/king-of-the-delta-blues-singers-vinyl-3.jpg "Blues Vinyl Records UK 12")
Why British fans love the blues
The blues reached Britain on imported records in the 1950s and shaped the music that followed. The Rolling Stones took their name from a Muddy Waters song, Rollin' Stone, in 1962 (Far Out), and bands like Fleetwood Mac and Cream started out playing blues covers. Even Elvis Presley’s first single, That’s All Right, was a cover of a 1946 blues song by Arthur Crudup. Our guide to Elvis Presley vinyl covers his early UK records. If you came to the blues through those bands, our Rolling Stones vinyl shop is a natural next step.
Britain is still home to one of the best blues reissue labels. Ace Records, based in London, started out reissuing 1950s blues, R&B and rock'n'roll, and later licensed catalogues such as Modern, where B.B. King made many of his best recordings (Ace Records).
Reissues worth knowing about
Most cheap blues LPs are compilations or budget reissues pressed from digital copies. They play well and cost little. For the best sound, look for reissues cut from the original analogue tapes. The Chess Records Acoustic Sounds series, for example, includes Muddy Waters and Howlin' Wolf albums remastered from the original tapes and pressed on 180-gram vinyl (uDiscover Music). These cost more, but they are the versions to buy for a favourite album.
Original blues LPs for collectors
Early pressings of blues albums are collectable, especially 1960s UK releases. Chess albums came out in Britain on the Pye International label, and those first UK pressings sell for well above the price of a reissue. These are current listings of original and older blues LPs:
Check the label details and the condition in the photos before you buy. Our rare vinyl guide explains how to tell an original pressing from a later copy, and our guide to second hand vinyl covers grading.
Cheap blues vinyl
For new blues records at £20 or less, see our blues vinyl shop. It lists cheap new pressings with prices that update daily.
Blues vinyl questions
What is the best blues album to buy on vinyl first?
Muddy Waters’ Folk Singer and Robert Johnson’s King of the Delta Blues Singers are both good places to start. They are easy to find on cheap reissues and show two sides of the music.
Are cheap blues reissues worth buying?
Yes, for most listeners. Budget reissues play well and cost little. For favourite albums, reissues cut from the original analogue tapes sound better and are worth the extra.
What is the difference between Delta blues and Chicago blues?
Delta blues comes from the Mississippi Delta and is usually one singer with an acoustic guitar. Chicago blues grew from it after musicians moved north, adding electric guitar, bass, drums and harmonica.
How much are original blues records worth?
It depends on the pressing and its condition. Common later pressings sell for £10 to £20, while early UK and US first pressings by major artists can sell for hundreds of pounds.