Vanguard Records, founded in 1950 in New York City by brothers Maynard Solomon and Seymour Solomon, is best known as a leading folk and classical label of the mid-20th century. Yet the company also made substantial and lasting contributions to blues music, particularly during the 1960s revival. Through high-quality studio recordings, live festival captures, and ambitious multi-artist projects, Vanguard helped introduce rediscovered pre-war blues artists to new audiences while documenting the vibrant contemporary Chicago blues scene.
Founding and History
The Solomons launched Vanguard with a modest loan from their father, initially focusing on classical music under the Bach Guild subsidiary. The label quickly expanded into folk, signing the Weavers and other progressive artists during the McCarthy era. By securing recording rights to the Newport Folk Festival from its early years, Vanguard gained access to a wide range of performers, including many blues artists who appeared at the festival.
In the mid-1960s the label deepened its commitment to blues. Producer and writer Samuel Charters was brought in to help shape important projects, most notably the landmark three-volume series Chicago/The Blues/Today! (1966). Vanguard continued recording both acoustic rediscovery artists and electric Chicago players through the decade. The company was sold to the Welk Music Group in 1985 and later became part of Concord, which continues to maintain and reissue the catalog.
Ownership
- 1950–1985: Maynard and Seymour Solomon.
- 1985 onward: Welk Music Group, subsequently Concord.
Notable Blues Artists and Recordings
Vanguard’s blues output is distinguished by strong production values, respectful presentation of traditional styles, and a balance between rediscovered acoustic artists and the electric Chicago sound of the 1960s.
Mississippi John Hurt
One of the most beloved artists on the label and a central figure of the 1960s blues revival. After his rediscovery, Hurt recorded extensively for Vanguard.
Buy from Amazon Today! (Vanguard VRS-9220 / VSD-79220, 1966) – A warm, intimate set featuring Hurt’s intricate fingerpicking and gentle vocals on songs such as “Make Me a Pallet on Your Floor,” “Corrina, Corrina,” and “Candy Man.”
Buy from Amazon The Immortal Mississippi John Hurt – Further studio performances that expanded on the same graceful style.
Buy from Amazon Last Sessions – Final recordings that captured Hurt near the end of his life. These albums remain among the finest documents of Hurt’s late-career work and helped introduce his music to a broad folk and blues audience.
Skip James
The enigmatic Delta artist, rediscovered in the early 1960s, recorded a major statement for Vanguard.
Buy from Amazon Today! (1966) – James’s haunting falsetto, unique guitar tunings, and sparse piano work are presented in a clean modern studio setting. Tracks such as “Devil Got My Woman,” “Hard Time Killing Floor Blues,” and “I’m So Glad” showcase the intensity and otherworldliness of his style. The album stands as one of the essential rediscovery recordings of the era. For more in depth analysis of this album please see Today! by Skip James
The Chicago/The Blues/Today! Series (1966)
Produced with significant involvement from Samuel Charters, this three-volume series is one of Vanguard’s most important blues achievements. It captured the contemporary Chicago scene with authenticity and energy:
- Volume 1 featured Junior Wells with Buddy Guy, alongside other artists.
- Volume 2 and Volume 3 included Otis Rush, Homesick James, Johnny Shines, Big Walter Horton, Charlie Musselwhite, Otis Spann, James Cotton, and members of Muddy Waters’ circle. The series remains a classic snapshot of mid-1960s Chicago blues, balancing established figures with emerging talent and presenting both traditional and modern approaches.
Junior Wells and Buddy Guy
- Junior Wells’s It’s My Life, Baby! and related Vanguard sessions highlighted his powerful harmonica and vocals, often with Buddy Guy on guitar.
- Buddy Guy contributed significant early electric blues performances to the label, helping document his rising profile before his later major-label success.
Charlie Musselwhite
Buy from Amazon Stand Back! (1966) – An important early album by the young harmonica player, showcasing his emerging style within the Chicago tradition and helping establish him as a leading white blues artist of the period.
Other Blues Artists
Vanguard also recorded or released material by:
- Big Mama Thornton – Powerful vocal performances that connected pre-war and postwar styles.
- John Hammond Jr. – Albums such as Mirrors that presented his interpretations of classic blues.
- Additional Chicago and traditional artists who appeared through festival recordings or special projects.
Legacy of Vanguard’s Blues Catalog
Vanguard’s blues recordings occupy an important place between pure archival reissues and commercial contemporary production. The label treated rediscovered artists such as Mississippi John Hurt and Skip James with respect and high technical standards, while the Chicago/The Blues/Today! series provided one of the best contemporaneous documents of the city’s electric blues scene in the mid-1960s.
These albums introduced traditional and modern blues to the folk revival audience and influenced subsequent generations of musicians and listeners. Many of the titles remain in print through reissues and continue to be regarded as essential listening. Vanguard’s blues work, though only one part of a much broader catalog, stands as a significant contribution to the preservation and popularization of the music during a pivotal decade.
