Joe Bonamassa Songs Ranked
Joe Bonamassa (born May 8, 1977) is an American blues-rock guitarist, singer, and songwriter. He started his career at age 12 when he opened for B.B. King. In the last 13 years, Bonamassa has put out 15 solo albums through his independent record label J&R Adventures, of which 11 have reached number 1 on the Billboard Blues charts. Bonamassa has played alongside many notable blues and rock artists and earned a Grammy Award nomination in 2013. Among guitarists, he is known for his extensive collection of vintage guitars and amplifiers.
Bonamassa’s album Different Shades of Blue is his first solo studio album since So, It’s Like That to showcase only original songs (with the exception of a brief instrumental Jimi Hendrix cover.) Bonamassa wrote the album in Nashville with three songwriters: Jonathan Cain of Journey; James House, known for his work with Diamond Rio, Dwight Yoakam, and Martina McBride; and Jerry Flowers, who has written for Keith Urban. Bonamassa sought to create serious blues rock in the project instead of three-minute radio hits. The album was recorded at a music studio in the Palms Hotel in Las Vegas. The album charted at number 8 on the Billboard 200, number 1 on the Blues Chart, and number 1 on the Indie Chart. Here are all of Joe Bonamassa songs ranked.
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20. Meaning of the Blues (Dust Bowl, 2011)
“Joe just keeps turning out great music, his blues guitar with rock overtones just keep me coming back for more. The drumming done by noted session musician Anton Fig is the most noteworthy as he manages to give “The Meaning of the Blues”
19. Different Shades of Blue (Different Shades of Blue, 2014)
“There are many talented blues/ rock guitarists around, and what sets them apart from each other is their individual “feel” and “tone” which gives them that personal signature.”
18. Happier Times (The Ballad of John Henry, 2009)
“The Albert Hall live version is fantastic, particularly with Anton Figg and Skinnmeister Bowles. ‘Happier Times’ is another Bonamassa epic that starts off slowly with some nice spanish sounding acoustic guitar over the electric backing. Bonamassa’s almost whispered vocal gives it a nice atmosphere.”
17. A Place In My Heart (Driving Towards The Daylight, 2012)
“The hype is justified, however, as this album is actually pretty solid. A few too many covers, but overall decent blues-rock. Anyone who likes that genre should enjoy this.”
See more: Joe Bonamassa Albums Ranked
16. Story of a Quarryman (The Ballad of John Henry, 2009)
“Story of a Quarryman” one of the most rock songs on the album, nod to hard-rock, with a very Hendrixian air, with a dirty guitar sound, with a guitar solo that always leaves me mesmerized.”
15. Blue and Evil (Black Rock, 2010)
“For some reason i’m always hoping for a little more from Joe. Either more variety or Soul or danger. It seems his happy songs seem the same as his sad or angry songs.”
14. I Got All You Need (Driving Towards the Daylight, 2012)
“A little slip in quality but the guitar rocks as usual. He is a master of blues hard rock guitar. He also doesn’t do himself any favors adding Jimmy Barnes to the last track.”
13. Bird On a Wire (Black Rock, 2010)
“his one seems a little sterile. His great guitar riffing is still there but all in all the material is a little flat. Although something a little flat for Mr. Bonamassa is still a decent listen for we mere mortals.”
12. Stones In My Passway (Driving Towards the Daylight, 2012)
“The inspiration for this complete artist seems to be endless! Not even a weak song, fabulous guitar work and fantastic vocals!”
11. Reconsider Baby (Had to Cry Today, 2004)
“This was the first of his that struck my temple with raw blues energy, as well as melting my skin off with gentle blues crooning. He’s astounding live.”
10. Ball Peen Hammer (Sloe Gin, 2007)
“”Sloe Gin” opens with ‘Ball Peen Hammer’ a song from the pen of the late American contemporary bluesman Chris Whitley which features some good heavy acoustic guitar as well as some good heavy blues playing as well.”
9. Stop! (The Ballad of John Henry, 2009)
“Stop”, a version of the famous song by Sam Brown, where he is able to make a more than acceptable version, putting a guitar that seems to be crying between the lines, with a lot of feeling.”
8. Blues Deluxe (Blues Deluxe, 2003)
” Up to this point Bonamassa has impressed with his restraint. His solos have been breathtaking but never gratuitous, bending and reshaping the structure of a song but never breaking it. Blues Deluxe feels slightly different. The overall formula is the same but in planting his own stamp on proceedings Bonamassa occasionally oversteps”
7. Dislocated Boy (Driving Towards the Daylight, 2012)
“This is a great upbeat blues song (with a strange name. 🙂 I’m surprised I had never heard of this person before but head this song on my Sirius radio while driving. Came home and downloaded it right away.”
See more: Tracy Chapman Albums Ranked
6. Love Ain’t a Love Song (Different Shades of Blue, 2014)
“The dirty sounding solo is a nice touch and Bonamassa also does a great job on the vocal holding together what is a very delicate melody as well as any more lauded singer could. This may even be my favourite track on the album. It is certainly my favourite melody.”
5. Driving Towards the Daylight (Driving Towards the Daylight, 2012)
“The title song is fantastic. I love every song. Great beat. Some serious shredding going on. Best of his songs, deserves to be honored more, just have a listen to it.”
4. The Ballad of John Henry (The Ballad of John Henry, 2009)
“Another solid blues rock recording by this terrific blues rock guitarist. He is not a particularly good writer of great tunes but what he has is good enough. He also does a few covers and they are very cool. He might be, after Mr. Trower, the best blues rock guitarist in the business.”
3. Dust Bowl (Dust Bowl, 2011)
“It happens again, another the strongest album from a guitar wiz Joe Bonamassa means that he is the obvious best modern bluesman nowadays. Cannot stop listening.”
2. Slow Train (Dust Bowl, 2011)
“Joe Bonamassa is a guitar player in a league by himself and his musical skills and facility with his instrument of choice are superbly displayed in this piece. The whole of slow train is a wonderful musical journey and the other instrumentalists provide just the right musical support to Joe B’s incredible artistry.”
1. Sloe Gin (Sloe Gin, 2007)
“Another surprising aspect of Sloe Gin is the prominence given to the acoustic guitar. In the liner notes Bonamassa acknowledges the move was deliberate, an attempt to broaden his musical palette and shift the focus away from his reliance on the expected electric guitar licks.”
