R. Crumb's Heroes of Blues, Jazz, & Country

Book Description

Anyone who knows R. Crumb's work as an illustrator knows of his passion for music. And all those who collect his work prize the Heroes of the Blues, Early Jazz Greats, and Pioneers of Country Music trading card sets he created in the early to- mid-1980s. Now they are packaged together for the first time in book form, along with an exclusive 21-track CD of music selected and compiled by Crumb himself (featuring original recordings by Charley Patton, “Dock” Boggs, “Jelly Roll” Morton, and others). A bio of each musician is provided, along with a full-color original illustration by the cartoonist. A characteristically idiosyncratic tribute by an underground icon to the musical innovators who helped inspire him, R. Crumb's Heroes of Blues, Jazz & Country is a must-have collection for Crumb aficionados, comics fans, and music lovers alike.

Customer Reviews:

Great artwork, great CD, and the roots of American Music. .......2007-03-21

A great book and a great CD at the price of one or the other. Book contains the comprehensive full-color artwork from Robert Crumb's three in and out of print collectors' card series: Jazz, Blues and Country featuring a few of the well-known artists and a lot of obscurities from the 20's and 30's. A great gift or a must have item for any fan of American Roots Music of the 20's and 30's.

Crumb's Heroes.......2007-03-19

Most Blues afficionado's will recognize the source of a lot of these illustrations but Crumbs personal take on the subjects brings new light and colour to some much loved portraits.The text is very light and could have been expanded, hence 4 stars . Buy Now

Trading cards for the music aficianado.......2007-03-07

It is worth it for the CD alone, but you get this glorious book as well, packed with wonderful color illustrations that Robert Crumb first put forward as trading cards of classic Blues, Jazz and Country musicians with the hope of stimulating interest in these musical legends. The cards were eventually packaged in sets, and sold through Shanachie Records. The number of cards increased over the years, to the point that a compilation like this had to come along at one point. The book has been lovingly packaged with an introduction by Terry Zwigoff, that is destined to become a collector's item, like so much of Crumb's work. The CD was selected and compiled by R. Crumb himself, drawn from his extensive collection of music. Unfortunately it is loosely attached to the inside of the backcover, with the contents listed on the end page. A more permanent slipcase would have been nice, but then one can hardly complain to finally have Crumb's glorious tribute contained in a handsome little volume.

Pictures plus music equals happiness.......2007-02-21

This is an excellent deal. The recordings are certainly esoteric, but I must be in the correct demographic (or something.) I like just about all of the music. I'm a kind of old-time music dilettante, so it's a great way for someone like me to check out some more obscure stuff.

As for the book... hard cover, heavy paper and just the right size to carry around (if so desired.)

Of course the main selling point of this book is the drawings. They are uniformly excellent. Someone with an obsessive personality may wish to collect the actual trading cards which are reproduced in this book, but this is a far more economical and practical means of collecting these drawings.

There is mention of Crumb's decision to use a different coloring technique for the jazz trading card set in the book's introduction. This means that some of Crumb's trademark cross-hatch shading is obscured by the overlay of color. Rather than being a detriment to the jazz drawings, it actually helps to give them a distinct character.

Anyway, buy this book. It's worth double the price.

this book is a must for any R.Crumb fan!.......2007-01-31

This book reprints all of the collector's cards series that were published close to 30 years ago by Nick Perls (Yazoo Records) as three different sets of cards(Heroes of the Blues, Early Jazz Greats, and Pioneers of Country Music). Originally, each set was priced at around $16, and they went out of print and disappeared much too quickly.
Now you can have them all in one book, with all the biographical sketches of the artists on each facing page, plus a great little CD of music by some of the artists - 21 songs are included on this CD.

This book is a must for Crumb fans, as well as for fans of the early forms of American music.

Louisiana Music: A Journey from R&B to Zydeco, Jazz to Country, Blues to Gospel, Cajun Music to Swamp Pop to Carnival Music and Beyond

Average customer rating:

Good Overview of Louisiana Music.
A ýmust' for avid fans of Louisiana music
Another hit for Koster!
Astounding Historical Value

Louisiana Music: A Journey from R&B to Zydeco, Jazz to Country, Blues to Gospel, Cajun Music to Swamp Pop to Carnival Music and Beyond
Rick Koster
Manufacturer: Da Capo
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0306810034
Release Date: 2002-02-19

Book Description

The first and only guide to all the music and musicians, young and old, of America's most raucous, rocking state.

What is it about Louisiana that breeds and attracts musicians? There are literally hundreds of them: Dr. John, the Meters, Harry Connick, Jr., Randy Newman, Trent Reznor (Nine Inch Nails), the Marsalis family, all part of a tradition going back to Louis Armstrong, Fats Domino, Professor Longhair, Jelly Roll Morton, Buddy Bolden, and Mahalia Jackson. Rick Koster, in tackling the monumental task of surveying the lush musical landscape of the state, examines all of the ingredients that went into creating this hotbed of talent -the social influences, the musical traditions, the food, the drink, the heat-and introduces us to the stars, both local and national, who have emerged. Discover the past and present of jazz, rock, zydeco, R&B, gospel, blues, country, and straight-up rock 'n' roll; learn too about the styles unique to Louisiana, like voodoo music, swamp pop, second-line brass bands, and Mardi Gras Indian tribes. With the laid-back charm and easy appeal that defines the state, Koster has created a survey as uniquely and teemingly rich with sound and story as the place itself.

Customer Reviews:

Good Overview of Louisiana Music........2004-09-27

Hey - it does what the title says. It is not the greatest book on the subject - but I appreciate the writing style, and the journey that the author leads us on. It is a very very broad subject - Louisiana Music - and the book could be 100 times bigger and not cover it all. This is an OK book for the beginner student on Louisiana Music.

A ýmust' for avid fans of Louisiana music.......2002-05-07

Rick Koster's Louisiana Music is the first and only guide to the variety of musicians in this southern American state: others have focused on specific styles (Creole, Cajun, Zydeco) but Louisiana Music considers the past and present of jazz, rock, gospel and other styles of both urban and lesser-known areas, including the Mardi Gras Indian tribes. Louisiana Music is a `must' for avid fans of Louisiana music.

Another hit for Koster!.......2002-02-28

Just finished this book. It is another great effort on the part of this very talented writer. This will make for a wonderful addition to my music collection as a fantastic reference book. This work is HIGHLY recommended! Rick Koster -- keep writing!

Astounding Historical Value.......2002-02-27

This book contains a plethora of very valuable histories
of many well known and (more importantly) lesser known Louisiana bands and artists. Mr. Koster, although from neighboring Texas, has really done his homework on this project. You can also find Mr. Koster's dry humor come into play throughout.

Book Description

This is the book for lovers of Motown! Author and Motown historian Bill Dahl has expertly compiled this comprehensive guide to the musical combination of pop and gospel, known as Motown.

This new compilation features an A-to-Z listing and biography of nearly every Motown group since its beginning in 1959. Also included are never-before-published photos from former Motown promotions guru Weldon A. McDougal III. Enthusiasts will now have a chance to own a complete encyclopedia of groups and artists, along with information about their music, including a discography and price guide.

Dahl has written liner notes for hundreds of recordings and is also a regular contributor to many record publications, including Goldmine.

-32-page color section containing many never-before-published photos

-Complete encyclopedia of groups, artists, plus discography and price guide for all Motown acts

Customer Reviews:

Not as professional as I expected.......2005-01-06

Finally a comprehensive book about the great Motoen artists from the "Golden Age." The A-Z format made it very easy to read, but the technical structure of the book seemed unprofessional and very computer generated. Sometimes graphics covered text completely. The photographs aren't exactly "unseen" as they are various. I expected less euphemisms and an accurate story. Some of it was very good, like info on David and Jimmy Ruffin's relationship with the Tempts and Motown, although you have to look around for it.

Excellent find!.......2003-07-02

I gave it four stars because I wish that there was more on some of the lesser known artists at Motown. But overall, this is a great book filled with great photos of artists in their heyday and full of facts that probably weren't known about them until now. And they weren't just still B&Ws, there were photos of artists on tour, off tour, on break, very candid!

I'll Second That Emotion..........2002-03-02

The previous reviewers are absolutely right about this book. This is a fun and fascinating look back at a golden age of American popular music and the groups, producers and songwriters who made it happen. Much more than a rehash of the Motown story from secondary sources; the author personally interviewed many of the stars and lesser-known lights who helped create the music we love. Good, crisp writing and a generous collection of photographs bring the Motown story to life. A must-have for anyone who loves Motown or is interested in American popular music.

Encyclopedia of Hitsville.......2002-01-09

I got this book during the Christmas season and I can honestly say it was my best gift. Although I have always liked Motown, the subject is not one I would have requested a book on. Thank you you-know-who for disregarding my list this year. There is so much information here that I'm sure the author, for sanity sake, decided it was best to put it in an encyclopedia-like format. So, "M" for example, under Superstars, would list Martha and the Vandellas, the Marvelettes, and Smokey Robinson and the Miracles. This is not to suggest that because it's in that format, it'a a cold, reference book. Mr. Dahl presents each artist, songwriter, or musician's bio in a very readable, story-like way. And on some major artists, like the writers Holland-Dozier- Holland, they have their few pages, but in addition are incorporated into others' stories. In my family I'm considered the musical trivia expert, but a page didn't go by that I didn't learn something new and fascinating about an artist or the history of Motown. And there's a large section covering I believe every single person who even walked through the doors of Motown! I'm exaggerating, but it's an amazing list along with their stories of course. I was especially impressed with how Mr. Dahl brought out Berry Gordy's story of imagining the impossible and then bringing it to fruition. Oh yes, I forgot to mention there's a ...-load of great photos.

Motown in it's full glory.......2001-12-30

great to see a Book that fully captures the Motown Sound&all it's glory here.a solid Overview on the History of Motown.I can't Help but get excited about a Book on Motown because nothing out nowadays has the spirit&energy of this Giant.the Many Great Minds that made this Label Flourish gets just due here.enjoy.

Proud to Be an Okie: Cultural Politics, Country Music, and Migration to Southern California (American Crossroads)

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Proud to Be an Okie: Cultural Politics, Country Music, and Migration to Southern California (American Crossroads)
Peter La Chapelle
Manufacturer: University of California Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0520248899

Book Description

Proud to Be an Okie brings to life the influential country music scene that flourished in and around Los Angeles from the Dust Bowl migration of the 1930s to the early 1970s. The first work to fully illuminate the political and cultural aspects of this intriguing story, the book takes us from Woody Guthrie's radical hillbilly show on Depression-era radio to Merle Haggard's "Okie from Muskogee" in the late 1960s. It explores how these migrant musicians and their audiences came to gain a sense of identity through music and mass media, to embrace the New Deal, and to celebrate African American and Mexican American musical influences before turning toward a more conservative outlook. What emerges is a clear picture of how important Southern California was to country music and how country music helped shape the politics and culture of Southern California and of the nation.

Fingerstyle Blues Songbook: Learn to Play Country Blues, Ragtime Blues, Boogie Blues and More

Average customer rating:

Simply the best intro to fingerstyle blues
More songs, more information
Expand your repertoire

Fingerstyle Blues Songbook: Learn to Play Country Blues, Ragtime Blues, Boogie Blues and More
Steve James
Manufacturer: String Letter Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0634067184

Book Description

Add to your repertoire and reinforce your technique with this collection of blues songs. Bring these songs to life by listening to the recordings on the companion CD, which features short versions of each piece, played slowly and up to tempo. Includes full guitar parts in standard notation with chords, accompanying parts, and tablature, as well as detailed notes on song origins and arrangements.

Customer Reviews:

Simply the best intro to fingerstyle blues.......2007-03-10

Unlike many such books, these are fairly easy (but plenty challenging for the intermediate fingerstyle player) and sound great. Hours of fun. You have to get this book.

More songs, more information.......2006-05-31

As S.Newman said, this book contains tabs for a range of musical styles - mostly in the country blues vein - at a range of difficulties. I'm a (very) rank beginner, and there's a couple of pieces at even my level. There's no real scale of difficulty for the pieces, so you have to check 'em out yourself. There are suggestions of techniques, but this isn't really a "teaching book" per se. As stated, the CD is a useful adjunct.
One feature I truly appreciate is the biographical and musicological information Mr. James includes with each song, along with suggested recordings. I frequently find myself reading these snippets even when the song is beyond my current skills.

Expand your repertoire.......2006-02-01

I'm an intermediate finger picker and I bought this book to learn a few more songs. There are 15 arangemets ranging from country, piedmont, Texas, delta and slide in standard and open tunings.It contains some easy songs that I could play almost immediately and some more challenging ones that I'm still working on. The CD was very helpful as it has each song played twice: once full speed with sung lyrics and once slowed down so you can work out what's happening.
If your thumb can already do its own thing without you having to tell it, then this book is a bargain at only 10 bucks. If your thumb is still connected to your brain, then buy beginning fingerstyle blues by Arnie Bearle and Mark Galbo first.

Mississippi Musicians Hall of Fame: Legendary Musicians Whose Art Has Changed the World

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Mississippi Musicians Hall of Fame: Legendary Musicians Whose Art Has Changed the World

Manufacturer: Quail Ridge Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1893062201

The Billboard Illustrated Encyclopedia of Music: From Rock, Pop, Jazz, Blues and Hip Hop to Classical, Country, Folk, World and More

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The Billboard Illustrated Encyclopedia of Music: From Rock, Pop, Jazz, Blues and Hip Hop to Classical, Country, Folk, World and More
Paul du Noyer
Manufacturer: Watson-Guptill
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0823078698

Book Description

Music touches us all, from the dancing and rebellion of youth to the quiet contemplation of the older listener. Music provides the beat to the rhythm of our lives, introducing TV programs, selling advertisements, blasting out from market stalls or along the aisles of superstores.

The Billboard Illustrated Encyclopedia of Music is the ultimate guide for anyone with a passing or a passionate interest in music. Authoritative, informative, accessible, and entertaining, the book conveys the spirit and substance of practically every type of music one might listen to, from rock, pop, jazz, folk, blues, hip-hop, reggae, and dance, to classical music, country, gospel, R&B, soul, soundtracks, musical theater, and world music.

Organized by genre, the book presents a concise introduction to each music form, listing its major exponents, offering a four-bar sample of its style, and provides information on major musicians, performers, composers, and songwriters - over 12,000 names in all - highlighting their main period of activity and cross-references to the relevant music style section.

Also included are three useful appendices. A short "Instruments" glossary covers all key instruments mentioned in the narrative, showing the reader which type of music each instrument is normally used in, with examples of its best or most rewarding use. "How to Read Music, the Basics" instructs the reader on how to read music, providing a simply understanding of the four bar examples of music offered with each major genre. The appendices contain a comprehensive bibliography as well.

Bringing the world of music to life are 800 colorful illustrations of musicians, instruments, album covers, music engravings, and more.

Whether passionate or casual listener, anyone interested in music will find The Billboard Illustrated Encyclopedia of Music a must-have for both enjoyable reading as well as for reference.

Book Description

Bobby Womack is a legend—a phenomenally gifted singer, songwriter, and guitarist with 40 albums and 30 million record sales to his name. A protégé of Sam Cooke, Womack wrote classics that include "Lookin' for a Love" and "It's All Over Now" (a smash-hit for the Rolling Stones). Their success helped make him a star, but ongoing battles with drugs and the record industry nearly destroyed him. Behind his music lies a life scorched by tragedy, beginning with his impoverished childhood in Cleveland, to his years touring and recording with the greats—including James Brown, Jimi Hendrix, Sam Cooke, Aretha Franklin, Wilson Pickett, Eric Clapton, and Elvis Presley—and through the years of drugs, partying, and riotous abuse, this is the authentic voice of a major soul artist.

Customer Reviews:

spotlighting the man.......2007-05-14

This is an autobiography, and seeing as Bobby Womack is a musician and not a writer, one has to cut him some slack when it comes to his writing skills. This being said, the story he weaves is interesting and at times very moving. There is no doubt Womack is a tremendously gifted musician-self taught, plays the guitar upside down without inverting the strings(like Hendrix did) and furthermore he is a dynamite vocalist. Before reading this book I was unaware of the extreme poverty of his upbringing, which makes his achievements all the more amazing. His life has had many up and downs, tragedies and hardships but he survived it all and created a solid musical legacy for himself. Bobby may not be as well known as James Brown or Otis Redding, but anyone who taps into the Womack vibe will surely discover an artist of true greatness.

Yep, World's Greatest Soul Singer!.......2006-12-29

You know... he ain't lyin'. This is an awesome, entertaining, insightful, fact-filled read. All you want to know (sometimes more than you want to know -hehehe!) about James Brown, Jimi Hendrix, Sam Cooke, Aretha Franklin, Janis Joplin, Wilson Pickett, Sly Stone, and Elvis Presley, Solomon Burke, Ike Turner, The Rolling Stones & more. Hey, there's cocaine, murder and suicide too. My only gripe is he didn't really discuss his work on Ronnie Wood's "Now Look" album (Womack is credited as a co-producer on the album).
Great musician, interesting man, fascinating read. Worth the $. Buy this book!

uncut Book.......2006-08-07

Bobby Womack is a heck of a Cat. dude Musically is scary versatile&has always been straight to the point on a variety of subjects. in this Book He talks about his music career&the various Politics in&Around the Business. he doesn't hold back about Sam Cooke&His Marriage to His Widow 6 months after Cooke was Killed. Bobby Talks about working&playing with a whose who of the music business. He pulls no punches&puts it all out there. Bobby Womack is a very Underrated Artist. this Book sets the record straight on different topics.

The Heart of Rock & Soul: The 1001 Greatest Singles Ever Made

Average customer rating:

Fun read, a little reckless with the facts, however
Dave Marsh's observations are music to my ears.
Kissing Marsh's Ring
concerning the lack of 60's folk music
The Heart of Rock and Soul

The Heart of Rock & Soul: The 1001 Greatest Singles Ever Made
Dave Marsh
Manufacturer: Da Capo
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 030680901X

Customer Reviews:

Fun read, a little reckless with the facts, however.......2007-04-20

Marsh is a fine writer, this book will start and continue arguments. It's a lot of fun. Not sure how "I Heard It Through the Grapevine" tops the list, it's not even Motown's best, and frankly Gladys Knight did a better version. But that's Marsh's opinion.

The Beatles don't come in until No. 29 -- a clear oversight, in my opinion.

The worst part is the lack of attention to detail. Marsh notes that Spinners' lead singer Phillipe Wynne nails the lyrics in "I'll Be Around" and "Could It Be I'm Falling In Love." Uh, no, that would be Bobbie Smith leading both of those songs.

Marsh also assumes Eddie Levert lead sings all O'Jays songs, when anyone with a decently tuned ear can tell on about 80 percent of their songs, they rotate leads with Levert and Walter Williams. Marsh quotes a line in "Backstabbers" that Levert sings well, when in reality it is Walter Williams. I'm wondering how many other errors I didn't find.

That said, this book is still worth getting. No one will every agree with anyone's song rankings, but for the most part Marsh does an excellent job. He should've paid more attention to the facts, however.

Dave Marsh's observations are music to my ears........2006-06-30

Having worn out the 1st & 2nd editions of The Heart of Rock & Soul: The 1001 Greatest Singles Ever Made by Dave Marsh, I reordered the 2nd edition, as about 15 pages were missing from the copy I owned. From big sellers ("I Heard It Through The Grapevine", Marvin Gaye) to obscure (apparently to Dave Marsh) songs ("Please Say You Want Me", The Schoolboys) each review/confession/tribute is lovingly and accurately discribed, with from-the-gut comments ("...Prepare to meet the dawn.": "Lead Me On", Bobby Bland). Whenever I hear one of these songs for the first time, I eagerly see what Dave has to say about it. Or, if it's one of my favorites that I haven't heard for awhile, I do the same.

I have spent many years enjoying and appreciating this great book.

Kissing Marsh's Ring.......2005-07-09

Flipping through this book can be kind of fun in very, very small doses. You get to read about some well known classic songs, some lesser known ones, and get reminded of some you might not have though of in years and be introduced to some you may have never heard. But boy, what an ego Marsh has, and what arrogance! I mean think about it. Do you really think that anybody would buy and read a book by you about YOUR favorite songs?

concerning the lack of 60's folk music.......2005-02-23

Concerning folk music of the early to late sixties Mr. Marsh states: ......in musical style and class orientation it was very much a reaction against the dominance of rock and roll and r & b in the fifties. He also states: "Folk pop of the sort that hit the charts tailored itself to appeal primarily to white middle class collegiates, particularly ones who found the music of contemporary blacks and working-class whites too vulgar." It's amazing to me how people who just don't like folk music in the first place, makes such statements.
For me though, there was an earthiness, a sincerity to the folk music of that time. Mr. Marsh may not have liked the music but he shouldn't blame it on some sort of conspiracy against R&B and Rock and Roll.

The Heart of Rock and Soul.......2003-12-21

Before this book was published I didn't know much about doowop or Fortune Records.
This book really opened my ears to "black music". For which I am really thankful. Together with a friend I collected all songs and made a nice tape-collection out of it. Most of all the search for these songs brought a lot of great adventures.
An online version of this book can be found at http://www.lexjansen.com/marsh.
Enjoy!

Average customer rating:

A Great, original inspiring little reference book
I was a blues neophyte, before I found this book.

Little Blues Book
Brian Robertson
Manufacturer: Algonquin Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1565121376

Amazon.com

Almost small enough to fit into a hip pocket, this is a kind of guidebook to the blues, featuring quotations from blues songs, mini-biographies of bluesmen and blueswomen, and illustrations by R. Crumb. The quotes (on topics ranging from "Getting the Blues" to "The Thrill is Gone") are little gems, pithy aphorisms like this one from Rabbit Brown: "I done seen better days, but I'm putting up with these." Author Brian Robertson, himself a musician, includes a bibliography and a list of Internet resources in this great little introduction to the blues and the men and women who made the music.

Book Description

Illustrations by R. Crumb. A collection of lyrics and lore that captures the very heart and soul of the blues. From Blind Lemon Jefferson to Alberta Hunter, dozens of blues masters offer words of wisdom on subjects including luck (both good and bad), love, loss, and the raw material of life.

Customer Reviews:

A Great, original inspiring little reference book.......2007-09-10

I really love this little book and just purchased another copy for a musician friend of mine.
This book is an original.
It is the kind of book that you can open anywhere and start reading.

Filled with great clips of some fantastic lyrics created the Best of the Best of the Blues (and rock) innovators.
I play (badly) the harmonica (blues harp) and what I like to do is take one of the lyrics/tag lines from the book that I like, then start singing them, then start wailing on my harp and making up making up the rest of a song. That is if I am not familiar with the some that the lyrics are referring to.

The selection of lyrics I find to be always creative, sometimes hilarious, gut honesty, sometimes with great wisdom, sometimes filled with pain, and always inspiring.

A REAL bonus are the great illustrations by the legendary comic book illustrator R. Crumb.

To go with those great illustration of the Blues legends are some short biographies, stories and legendary tales about the great innovators of Blues.
These are the people who invented that Blues form and were the original "Singer/Songwriters", invented using the guitar as a lead instrument, using electric instruments and taking them to a level never heard before, created Rock, American folk, Country, Boogie, Rockabilly and really for all of popular music, you can trace that Blues form to it.

Great and fun book to have. I am grateful to the author to capture the wisdom and talent of people of were American originals who wrote and played with their hearts and souls. These people should never be forgotten for their contribution to our culture.

Buy it. I guarantee you will enjoy it.

Jon T.

I was a blues neophyte, before I found this book........1997-03-21

Brian Robertson's way of telling stories about the men and women of the earliest blues is an insight into what it must have been like to be a black woman in the 20's expressing herself through music sans the riches and fame of today's stars. Since reading some of the lines of old blues songs, I have HAD to buy several re-released recordings from people like Ida Cox and Bessie Smith. Before I read this Little Blues Book I thought you had to be some kind of connosieur to understand the blues. I've always liked the blues, just didn't know what to look for or where to start. Having learned a few of the "secrets" about the blues, I've begun a new obsession. Besides being informative, this Little Blues Book is always cool to flip through and find gems like "she's a tailor-made woman, she ain't no hand-me-down" from Blind Lemon Jefferson - whose name I thought was first the name of a newer group, Blind Lemon. Uh. Gee. I grew up listening to rockers like Edgar & Johnny Winter, the Allman Brothers. Imagine my surprise when I read the lyrics to some of my favorite rock songs credited to some guy who lived 50 or 70 years ago. This book is highly recommended for anyone who needs a gift to give a teenager (specially one who is really into rock & alternative music). Or just for yourself because you always wanted to know, but didn't want to read volumes about a particular blues man or woman. This book will give you an idea of the individuals who made up the first wave of true American music. Thank you Brian Robertson.

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