- Field recordings: Early blues recordings were often made in the field, by recordists who traveled to rural areas and recorded musicians in their natural environments. This resulted in a more authentic and raw sound, capturing the essence of the blues as it was played in the community.
- Anthologies: Another way early blues recordings were recodnized was through the release of anthologies or compilation albums. These albums featured a collection of songs from different blues musicians, often from various regions and eras. Anthologies helped to introduce a wider audience to the diversity and richness of the blues genre, and they also served as a historical record of early blues music.