If your exposure to the blues comes via England (Stones, Clapton, etc. etc.) without listening to what turned THEM on, get this as a great overview. This has some of the great classic cuts in one CD: John Hurt ("Make me a pallet on your floor"), John Lee Hooker (Baby Don't Do Me Wrong), and Bobby Blue Bland's version of "St James Infirmary" are all fabulous.WARNING: If you don't already have most of these performers in your collection, you soon will. Many thanks to Putumayo World Music for putting this collection together.