A couple of cover bands I sit in with don't know many blues songs..or should I say they think they don't. Ask them if they know Pride n Joy or Move It On Over and they say "yes, but that is rock"....well, we all know it is blues structure anyway.
I'm trying to make a list of songs that were popular hits in rock/country/pop that are 12 bar and cover bands probably know.. Maybe help some of us get to jam another song or two.
Dust My Broom How about: Sweet Home Chicago 32-20 Blues Viola Lee Blues Further On Up the Road Johnny B. Goode Stormy Monday 32-20 life by the drop crossroads Bumblebee Blues Blue Suede Shoes Hound Dog I Got You In the Mood Jailhouse Rock Jump, Jive an' Wail Night Train Shake, Rattle and Roll Tutti Frutti The Thrill Is Gone...BB King Johnny B. Goode...Chuck Berry misery in my heart - ray charles Layla Elmore James: Pickin' The Blues & Bobby's Rock 12 Bar Blues Boogie- Sugar Blue Kansas City Move Across the River Still Haven't found What I'm Lookin' For (U2)
Some duplicates in there. I searched Google real quick and cut and pasted some lists. My guitar player and I were just trying to make a list the other day. I also seem to remember that there was a much longer list in the archives somewhere, but I'm not sure how to find it quickly. 12 Bar Blues Song List maybe in the search. I think there were probably 50 of them. Another progression worth knowing to be able to play a ton of songs is this one-
Move it on Over is Hank Williams - Senior Who Do You Love - another Thorogood cover and perfect for this category was written and first done by Bo Diddly Tell them to slow down Chuck Berry's 'Johnee B Goode' and learn the lyrics to his 'LET it Rock' - a really fun one to rock out to.
Also, although not very mainstream, Devendra Banhart writes a a number of his songs in the 12 bar format; Check out 'I Feel Just Like a Child', the lyrics make me smile everytime.
Last Edited by on Mar 29, 2011 1:51 AM
A lot of the songs listed are blues standards but I did find a few 12 bar songs that have been in the top 40 and your average classic cover band might know.
"Shanty" by Jonathan Edwards is 8 bar but still very close to the blues structure... and a great party song. I call it my own personal national anthem. :)
