LiveOne
Shinchon Blues is a legendary blues and rock band in Korea, formed in 1986. The band aimed to fuse pop, blues, and rock into a sophisticated musical style, and was established in a live club in Sinchon by Ohm In Ho, Lee Jeong-seon, Kim Hyun-sik, Han Young Ae, and Jeong Seo-yong. Their debut album Shinchon Blues in 1988 received widespread acclaim for its high-quality production, praised for blending a bluesy feel comparable to foreign music with a warm Korean sensibility. The opening track "The Street Without You" and the closing "Is It The Wind?" showcase Han Young Ae’s soulful charisma, leaving a strong impression. The album ranked 23rd in Korea’s 100 Great Albums of Popular Music in 1998, 42nd in 2007, and 72nd in 2018. The second album, Shinchon Blues II (1989), is notable for Kim Hyun-sik’s soulful singing; his rendition of "Alley" is considered one of both Shinchon Blues’ and Kim Hyun-sik’s classics, capturing his powerful vocals before his throat injury. This song also ranked 83rd (1998), 45th (2007), and 27th (2018) in Korea’s 100 Great Albums of Popular Music. After Lee Jeong-seon left, the third album Last Station of Farewell was produced mainly by Ohm In Ho, reflecting his preference for “Korean blues,” distinct from the more traditional approach of Lee Jeong-seon. It is regarded as a masterpiece that maintains the blues weight while incorporating a pop sensibility. Since then, only Ohm In Ho remains from the original members, and he performs regularly with guest musicians at the cafe Bluebird. The track "Regret" from The Street Without You, released on January 14, 1988, ranked 92 on Melon’s Top 100 Folk/Blues chart in Korea during the last week of August 2025.
Please enable Javascript to view this page competely.
