ddw,

Thanks for the tip on "Nothing but the Blues"; I'll look for it!

And, yes, I am into that sort of thing! Matter of fact, here are a few other books I've found fascinating and useful in delving into the blues:

"Conversation with the Blues", Paul Oliver, Horizon, NY, NY, 1965. Transcripts of conversations with luminaries ranging from Mance Lipscomb to Roosevelt Sikes and Will Shade to Muddy Waters, it's a 'must-read' classic. Well illustrated with photos by the author.

"The Blues Line: A Collection of Blues Lyrics from Leadbelly to Muddy Waters" edited by Eric Sackheim, Schirmer Books, NY, NY 1969. Just what it says, a compilation of the familiar and the obscure with superb line and wash drawings by Jonathan Shahn.

"The Devil's Music: A History of the Blues", Giles Oakley, NY, NY 1976 A fine narrative of the men and women who played the blues and the land that birthed them. Wonderful photos, too.

Finally, David Guralnick's "Feel Like Going Home" (copy not at my fingertips, so publication data isn't handy) has some excellent interviews with blues men and women (as well as some seminal rock'n'rollers). The piece on Robert Pete Williams is a great one, for instance.

I look forward to seeing recommendations from other blues-oriented Mudcatters, too!