BluesWay Records was a short-lived but significant American blues label, operating primarily as a subsidiary of ABC-Paramount Records (later ABC Records). Founded in 1966 by jazz producer Bob Thiele, it aimed to capture and market authentic blues talent during a period when blues was gaining broader commercial appeal amid the folk-blues revival and the British Invasion's influence.
History and Ownership
Bob Thiele, a prominent jazz producer known for his work at Impulse! Records (where he produced artists like John Coltrane), established BluesWay under the direction of ABC Records president Larry Newton. The goal was to expand ABC's footprint into blues music. The label launched with releases in 1967, leveraging Thiele's industry connections and ABC's resources.
Thiele provided high-level oversight, but day-to-day operations and production involved others, including Bill Szymczyk (early sessions), Ed Michel, and notably Al Smith. Smith, Jimmy Reed’s manager and bandleader, secured a significant production deal in 1973 for around 25 LPs, many of which were released.
BluesWay released over 70 albums, plus singles, from 1967 to 1974. It initially ceased operations around 1970, with key artists like B.B. King, John Lee Hooker, and the James Gang transferred to the parent ABC label. A brief revival occurred in 1973–74, with final new releases in early 1974. The catalog, along with other ABC assets, was acquired by MCA Records in 1978 and later became part of Universal Music Group.
The label's output had a mixed reputation. It captured strong performances from legends but faced criticism for rushed sessions, inconsistent production (especially under Al Smith), poor liner notes, and variable sound quality. Despite this, many releases hold value for fans and collectors.
Key Artists and Recordings
BluesWay signed or recorded many established blues artists, giving the imprint credibility from the start. B.B. King’s Blues Is King (BL/BLS 6001, 1967) was the inaugural release—a strong live album recorded in Chicago that ranks among his best.
B.B. King was central to the label. His BluesWay albums include:
- Blues on Top of Blues (1967)
- Lucille (1968)
- Live & Well (1969)
- Completely Well (1969) — featuring his landmark hit “The Thrill Is Gone.”
Compilations like His Best – The Electric B.B. King and Back in the Alley drew from ABC and BluesWay material.
John Lee Hooker delivered several notable albums, including:
- Live at Cafe Au-Go-Go (1967)
- Urban Blues (1967)
- Simply the Truth (1969)
- Kabuki Wuki (later)
- If You Miss ’Im...I Got ’Im (1969, featuring his cousin Earl Hooker on guitar).
Jimmy Reed, post-Vee-Jay, recorded multiple albums with Al Smith’s involvement, such as The New Jimmy Reed Album, Soulin’, Big Boss Man, and Down in Virginia. These often revisited his classics with guitar-heavy arrangements.
Other prominent artists and releases:
- Otis Spann: The Blues Is Where It’s At (1966/67), The Bottom of the Blues, Heart Loaded with Trouble.
- T-Bone Walker: Stormy Monday Blues (1967), Funky Town (1968).
- Earl Hooker: Don’t Have to Worry (1969), plus session work and the posthumous Do You Remember the Great Earl Hooker (1973).
- Jimmy Witherspoon, Joe Turner, Jimmy Rushing, Eddie "Cleanhead" Vinson, Roy Brown, Charles Brown, Brownie McGhee & Sonny Terry, and others like Sunnyland Slim, Carey Bell, Snooky Pryor, and Homesick James.
The label also ventured into supporting acts and debuts, such as the Dirty Blues Band (with Rod Piazza), the Outlaw Blues Band, Andrew “Voice” Odom’s Farther On Down the Road, Johnny “Big Moose” Walker’s Rambling Woman, and Lucille Spann’s Cry Before I Go. It even released the James Gang’s debut Yer’ Album (1969).
Production often featured sympathetic backing, including jazz veterans in some sessions (e.g., for Andrew Odom). However, critiques highlighted rushed “ninety-minute album sessions,” inconsistent mixing, and lack of curation.
Legacy and Reissues
BluesWay captured a transitional era in blues—bridging traditional artists with 1960s–70s production and audiences influenced by rock. While not as revered as Chess or Alligator, it documented key figures and produced enduring tracks like B.B. King’s “The Thrill Is Gone.”
Reissues have been spotty. Some titles appeared on Charly, BGO (which reissued several strong ones), One Way, and others, but the full catalog has not seen comprehensive treatment by MCA/Universal. Vinyl originals and select CDs remain sought after by collectors.
In summary, BluesWay Records was a dedicated effort by a major label to platform blues in the late 1960s and early 1970s. Under Bob Thiele’s founding vision and with a roster of legends, it produced a substantial body of work that, despite production flaws, preserves vital performances from blues icons and deserves greater recognition and reissue attention today.
Suggested Listening
A Taste of BluesWay Buy from Amazon
