Swamp Blues - Various

I really enjoy listening to American Roots on National Public Radio. As the names suggest they explore the origins of American music, from rock and roll to Blues to Jazz. Almost every show I hear an artist I have never heard of and end up buying one of their CDs. One of those artists was Moses "Whispering" Smith who played a style of music they called Swamp Blues. I looked it up and this is the definition I found:

Swamp Blues, the looser, more rhythmic variation of the standard Louisiana sound, also brings more contemporary elements of New Orleans, zydeco, soul music, and Cajun to bear on its style. The guitar work is simple but effective, and is heavily influenced by the boogie patterns used on Jimmy Reed records, with liberal doses of Lightnin' Hopkins and Muddy Waters. Unlike the heavy backbeat of the more popular urban styles, its rhythm can be best described as laid-back, making even its most uptempo offerings share the same mood and ambience of the most desultory of slow blues.

If you would like to hear 24 amazing examples of this genre check out the aptly named Swamp Blues from Ace records. It was recorded in 1970 and released in 1996. Prepare to be sad and want to dance at the same time.