I don't spend as much time as I should reading about blues on the Web. There are a lot of interesting blogs and news articles, and many fine blues sites. But as BeerNotes oftens says, "So much beer, so little time."

Anyway, here are a few things I found in a recent Web journey that make some worthwhile reading, depending on your definition of "blues."

This lengthy piece from Sundayblues.org looks at a volume of field recordings by George Mitchell made in the 1960s and '70s, in which he chronicled many blues artists.

It's a long article, but men like Mitchell who worked so hard to preserve this deserve a little notice. The music he found was pretty darned good too -- much of it from musicians we've never heard of.

The CDs mentioned here look like they would be very appealing to fans of this old blues. And I've really heard more than few samples.

Another side of the blues

An article on Popdose.com talk about the blues of the late singer/songwriter Chris Whitley. Whitley wasn't exactly your father's bluesman, but he used the blues a guide, a metaphor, an inspiration for his unique style.

I wrote a while back about his last album, "Dislocation Blues," which I enjoyed immensely.

The Popdose discussion looks at how someone like Whitley takes on a traditional music and bends it to his own talented will.

Another blues marker

Malaco Records has been making great Southern R&B, soul and gospel records for about 30 years, and have earned themselves a historic marker on the Mississippi Blues Trail.

Here's a description of the project from the Web site:

"The primary project of The Mississippi Blues Commission is The Mississippi State Blues Trail which honors a variety of institutions, individuals and locations rooted in the history of making blues music, not the least of which is Malaco Records. The trail is noted by special markers placed by each chosen location. The marker placed in front of the Malaco Music Group, home of Malaco Records, will be unveiled on April 8, 2008."