Photo: Rafael Rezende, CC BY-SA 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons
Our Top 10 Blues Traveler Songs list looks back at the songs of a band considered one of the all-time great jam bands. The term jam band, in this instance, defines a group capable of not just playing live extended jams but also delivering those jams fueled with great musicianship. The 1990s gave birth to great jam bands like Blues Traveler, The Dave Matthews Band, and even the reformed Allman Brothers Band. Often overlooked in the shadow of the excellent grunge movement, bands like Blues Traveler offered a great alternative sound to groups like Nirvana and Pearl Jam.
What separated Blues Traveler from all bands was the extreme talents of John Popper and his extraordinary ability to make the harmonica sound like it had never sounded before. Additionally, the man is a great singer and brilliant songwriter. Of course, there is also the smoking guitar playing of guitarist Chan Kinchla, who also contributed mightily as a songwriter in the band. On drums is Brendan Hill. Original bassist Billy Sheehan passed away in 1999. Tad Kinchla replaced him on bass. Keyboardist Ben Wilson also joined the band in 1999.
TOP 10 BLUES TRAVELER SONGS
# 10 – The Mountains Win Again
We open our Blues Traveler songs list with the great song “The Mountains Win Again.” The second the song starts, you feel good. That’s what’s unique about Blues Traveler songs. They make you want to dance, breathe clean air, and smile. That may sound a bit corny but isn’t that what we all want when listening to music…… to feel freaking good. The song “The Mountains Win Again” was released on the band’s 1995 album entitled Four. It was released as a single, but it failed to chart. Warren Haynes of the Allman Brothers Band and Gov’t Mule plays some fantastic slide guitar on the track
# 9 – Gina
Continuing with our top 10 Blues Traveler songs list we turn to the band’s debut album entitled Blues Traveler. The album was released in 1990. At number nine on this list, we present the tremendous grooving song “Gina.” Placed in the second slot on the record’s side, this one hits you hard with so much soul and so much groove that you just can’t help but love it. Listen to John Popper play the harmonica at the end of this track. If that didn’t turn heads, we don’t know what would.
# 8 – You Don’t Have To Love Me
“You Don’t Have To Love Me” is one of the band’s most recent releases to make this top 10 Blues Traveler songs list. This is a deep, emotional song released by Blues Traveler. The song was released on the album entitled Suzie Cracks the Whip. The album was released in 2012. The song “You Don’t Have To Love Me” was released as the album’s only single. The song was written by Aaron Beavers. The guitar and harmonica solo at the end are sick, as they blend together, defining years of jamming together.
# 7 – Most Precarious
The soft acoustic feel of this classic Blues Traveler song catches the listener’s attention instantly. You know this one is going to be unique, and you sure well know that it’s going to build in intensity pretty quickly. Which, of course, it does. This is a great one. The song “Most Precarious” was released on the album Straight On Till Morning. The album was released in 1997. “Most Precarious” was a top 30 hit on the U.S. Billboard Alternative and Mainstream Rock charts. The song also broke the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at number seventy-four. “Most Precarious” would be the last Blues Traveler song as of this writing in 2021 to break into any U.S. Billboard Charts.
# 6 – All In The Groove
At number six on our Blues Traveler songs list, we present the smoking song “All in the Groove.” The song opens with a great harmonica solo and a slick blues shuffle rhythm. The song was so good they released it as the album’s lead single. ” All in the Groove” was issued on the album Travelers and Thieves. The album was released in 1991. “All in the Groove” was written by John Popper.
# 5 – 100 Years
At the halfway point on our top 10 Blues Traveler songs list, we turn back once again to the band’s excellent debut album entitled Blues Traveler. There were so many standout tracks on the record. However, the song “100 Years” was one of our favorites. The musicians on the album and the band at the time included John Popper on lead vocals and harmonica, Chan Kinchla on guitar, Bobby Sheehan on bass, and Brendan Hill on drums. The great Joan Osborne sang backing vocals on the track.
# 4 – Carolina Blues
“Carolina Blues” is another top 10 Blues Traveler song, at least in our subjective view. The song was taken from the album Straight On Till Morning. The great Straight On Till Morning album was released in 1997. The song “Carolina Blues” was the opening track on the album. The song was also released as a single. It did well in the United States, hitting number four on the U.S. Billboard Modern Rock Tracks charts. The album also featured the band’s friend Warren Haynes on guitar. It was the last album to feature bassist Bobby Sheehan, who sadly passed away in 1999. It is also the last Blues Traveler album to go Gold and Platinum in sales.
# 3 – Hook
Everyone knows this one. The classic Blues Traveler song “Hook” was released in 1995. The song was placed on the band’s breakout album entitled Four. The song “Hook” was released as the follow-up single to the band’s smash hit “Runaround.” While not as successful commercially as “Runaround,” it still did well on the charts. The song “Hook” was a top 10 hit on the U.S. Billboard Pop Charts, peaking at number eight. The song also broke the top 30 on multiple U.S. Billboard music charts, including the Billboard Adult Contemporary, Adult Top 40, Mainstream Rock, Alternative Rock, and Hot 100 music charts. That’s a lot of charts.
# 2 – But Anyway
“But Anyway” is an exciting song in the history of Blues Traveler. The song stands as the band’s first single release of their career. The song was first released in 1990 on the band’s Blues Traveler debut album. The song was released in 1996 on the soundtrack to the motion picture Kingpin. The band also appeared in the film’s final scene. The song took on new life in 1996 and became a top 40 hit on the Billboard Hot 100.
# 1 – Run-Around
We close out our top 10 Blues Traveler songs list with the band’s biggest hit of their career. This is a legendary song with a riff, a melody, and a fantastic set of chord changes defining the word classic. The song “Run-Around” was released on the band’s brilliant album entitled Four. The song was released as the album’s lead single. It was a top 10 hit on five U.S. Billboard music charts. It is the band’s only song to break the top 10 of the hard-to-break into the U.S. Billboard Hot 100. It is the only Blues Traveler song to break into the UK charts.
dude… no crystal flame or alone? questionable credibility here. do you even blues travel bro?