christianb
7 posts
Oct 16, 2013
4:36 AM
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Hi Everyone,
Call me old-fashioned but I still like to read a book now and again. On my harmonica learning challenge, I want to read a little more about the history of the Blues including the big influencers, harmonica-related or other instruments.
Can anyone recommend a good book that covers this?
Thanks,
Christian
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Old Hickory
87 posts
Oct 16, 2013
8:02 AM
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Check out "Deep Blues: A Musical and Cultural History of the Mississippi Delta" by Robert Palmer. Get this book, I promise you will not be disappointed! I've read a lot of books on the blues but they all pale in comparison to this one. Its not only a very informative read but its also a fun read. Palmer makes you feel like you were there, from the fields of Mississippi to the streets of Chicago and everywhere in between. Don't take my word on it, read the reviews on Amazon. He also has a DVD out called "Deep Blues: A Musical Pilgrimage to the Crossroads". I haven't seen it but if its anything like the book its gotta be good.
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Baker
339 posts
Oct 16, 2013
8:19 AM
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You should check Adam's book:
Seems Like Murder Here: Southern Violence and the Blues Tradition.
http://www.amazon.com/Seems-Like-Murder-Here-Tradition/dp/0226310981/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1381936710&sr=8-4&keywords=Adam+gussow
Last Edited by Baker on Oct 16, 2013 8:19 AM
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christianb
8 posts
Oct 16, 2013
8:51 AM
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Old Hickory, Baker,
Thanks both. Looks like between the two of you, you have nailed my question. Doesn't look like I need to search any further.
Thanks and regards,
Christian
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Goldbrick
273 posts
Oct 16, 2013
8:59 AM
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+ 1 on deep blues--dvd is great too
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Kingley
3211 posts
Oct 16, 2013
9:38 AM
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For a history of the heyday of Chicago blues the book to read is Willie Dixon's "I am the Blues".
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JInx
586 posts
Oct 16, 2013
9:59 AM
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straight from the horse's mouth
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Sun, sun, sun
Burn, burn, burn
Soon, soon, soon
Moon, moon, moon
Last Edited by JInx on Oct 16, 2013 9:59 AM
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kudzurunner
4310 posts
Oct 16, 2013
12:55 PM
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There's no one ideal book-length history of the blues, in part because the blues keep on morphing.
Here are some good books
Paul Oliver, BLUES FELL THIS MORNING
Elijah Wald, ESCAPING THE DELTA: ROBERT JOHNSON AND THE INVENTION OF THE BLUES
David Honeyboy Edwards, THE WORLD DON'T OWE ME NOTHING
John Milward, CROSSROADS: HOW BLUES SHAPED ROCK N' ROLL (AND ROCK SAVED THE BLUES)
The last book is very recent and it does a great job of telling the part of the story that takes place after 1960, when white folks begin listening to and playing the blues in serious numbers. It fills in lots of the blanks
William Barlow, LOOKING UP AT DOWN: THE EMERGENCE OF BLUES CULTURE
Giles Oakley, THE DEVIL'S MUSIC
Francis Davis, THE HISTORY OF THE BLUES
Davis's book is in some ways the most readable of all these and it ranges much more broadly than Palmer's DEEP BLUES.
Jinx is right about B. B. King's BLUES ALL AROUND ME. Very quick read, and you'll learn a lot about him that you may not have known.
Last Edited by kudzurunner on Oct 16, 2013 12:55 PM
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sonny3
55 posts
Oct 16, 2013
2:49 PM
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+1 for history of the blues by Francis Davi.s.Very wide ranging history.This was the book that started me on my path.
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wolfkristiansen
214 posts
Oct 16, 2013
9:52 PM
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Hi christianb-- my favorite book on blues is as Old Hickory said-- "Deep Blues: A Musical and Cultural History of the Mississippi Delta" by Robert Palmer. It focuses on exactly what it says-- deep blues; the blues that comes from deep in the soul, as far away from light entertainment as you can imagine. My favorite kind of blues. The book is full of passion, but also full of knowledge.
Another good book, about the uptown version of the Mississippi Blues, is "Urban Blues", by Charles Keil. It focuses on B.B. King and Bobby "Blue" Bland, but has a great analysis of the various kinds of blues that existed at the time of its publication (mid '60s).
The first book you can buy on Amazon; the second you will probably have to find in a library (if you are in North America).
Cheers,
wolf kristiansen
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christianb
9 posts
Oct 17, 2013
2:21 AM
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Crikey - thanks for all the responses! My reading list is now somewhat more extended!
I'm in the UK and some of these books are on amazon, others look more tricky to source. But this is a great starting point - thank you to all.
Christian
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MarioMS
97 posts
Oct 17, 2013
8:32 AM
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This collection of Books are part of my small library. Since a few years I get more into books about the blues. This guide helps to begin or complet your own collection :-)
BTW: this list is incomplete and will ever be, but I try my best to give you a overview. You miss a book? Let me know...
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10202059656754285.1073741880.1272836071&type=1&l=acd347c27b
Greetings from Münster,germany
Mario Hemken
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PropMan
10 posts
Oct 17, 2013
9:30 AM
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Joe_L
2358 posts
Oct 17, 2013
10:15 AM
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Chicago Blues: the city and the music by Mike Rowe
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The Blues Photo Gallery
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LSC
518 posts
Oct 17, 2013
1:52 PM
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"I Can't Be Satisfied" - Robert Gordon. A Muddy Waters biography.
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LSC
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Pistolcat
552 posts
Oct 17, 2013
2:01 PM
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If you do get tired of reading and watching DVD:s you can always listen to Dave Barretts and Joe Filiskos History of the blues harmonica concert. That is a nice piece!
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Pistolkatt - Pistolkatts youtube
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Frank
3024 posts
Oct 17, 2013
4:59 PM
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The Bible may be the best selling book on the blues of all times, a very compelling read - King David was wrought with the blues, as were a host of other characters...It realy is an interesting way to read it, as a memior of ancient blues :)
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MagicPauley57
125 posts
Oct 21, 2013
12:36 PM
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If you can find it, Bill Wyman's blues oddysy, covers all the greats, classic songs , history, artists , basically a really good guide to what's what and who 's who
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JTThirty
224 posts
Oct 22, 2013
3:17 PM
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I've read most of what has been mentioned here (including Adam's books). I agree with Adam about Francis Davis' THE HISTORY OF THE BLUES in regards to readability. Great starting point...then hit DEEP BLUES and grasp what it's all about, then what I'd consider a companion piece; URBAN BLUES. Then, everything else that everyone has mentioned here, cause you be hooked.
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Ricky B
http://www.bushdogblues.blogspot.com
RIVER BOTTOM BLUES--crime novel for blues fans available at Amazon/B&N and my blog
THE DEVIL'S BLUES--ditto
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