The 30 best British blues-rock albums of all time, according to Classic Rock

From the roots of the Mississippi Delta to Dartford, England, and beyond: blues revolutionized British rock music before returning to the United States in a completely new guise. Classic Rock magazine has selected the 30 albums that contributed most to this transformation, in a list curated by Paul Henderson, Hugh Fielder, Geoff Barton, Scott Rowley and Siân Llewellyn.
"The British blues boom," the magazine recalls, "reached its peak in the late Sixties, thanks to bands such as Yardbirds, Cream and Rolling Stones. The blues-fueled energy that had powered the mod clubs at the start of the decade had gradually given way to a more relaxed, psychedelic atmosphere, in which all-night dance marathons were replaced by new habits and sensibilities. Key figures such as John Mayall, Eric Clapton and Peter Green found themselves at a crossroads, as the blues scene split between purists loyal to tradition and those who preferred to push toward decidedly more rock-oriented sounds. Meanwhile, bands like Free, Led Zeppelin and Jethro Tull were taking their first steps toward the glory of the Seventies, in turn influencing a new generation of American musicians. From Spooky Tooth to Chicken Shack, by way of Ten Years After and many others, the list traces the records and artists who left a fundamental mark on the history of British blues-rock."

So here is the ranking of the 30 greatest British blues-rock albums, according to Classic Rock/Louder (full feature here)

30. Frankie Miller – The Rock (1975)
29. Humble Pie – Safe As Yesterday Is (1969)
28. Taste – On The Boards (1970)
27. Spooky Tooth – Spooky Two (1969)
26. Juicy Lucy – Juicy Lucy (1969)
25. Chicken Shack – 40 Blue Fingers Freshly Packed And Ready To Serve (1968)
24. Manfred Mann – The Five Faces Of Manfred Mann (1964)
23. Blind Faith – Blind Faith (1969)
22. Graham Bond Organisation – There’s A Bond Between Us (1965)
21. Blodwyn Pig – Ahead Rings Out (1969)
20. Robin Trower – Bridge Of Sighs (1974)
19. Climax Blues Band – Plays On (1969)
18. Savoy Brown – Blue Matter (1969)
17. The Groundhogs – Thank Christ For The Bomb (1970)
16. Rory Gallagher – Tattoo (1973)
15. Them – Them (1965)
14. John Mayall & The Bluesbreakers – A Hard Road (1967)
13. Bad Company – Bad Company (1974)
12. The Animals – The Animals (1964)
11. Alexis Korner’s Blues Incorporated – R&B From The Marquee (1962)
10. Fleetwood Mac – Mr Wonderful (1968)
9. Free – Tons Of Sobs (1968)
8. Jeff Beck – Truth (1968)
7. Ten Years After – Undead (1968)
6. Yardbirds – Five Live Yardbirds (1964)
5. The Jimi Hendrix Experience – Are You Experienced? (1967)
4. Cream – Fresh Cream (1966)
3. Rolling Stones – Rolling Stones No.2 (1965)
2. Led Zeppelin – Led Zeppelin (1969)
1. John Mayall & The Bluesbreakers With Eric Clapton – Bluesbreakers (1966)

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