Folk & Blues Book Suggestions

Subject: Folk & Blues Book Suggestions
From: Chris Amos
Date: 13 Jun 11 - 09:05 AM

I am looking for some good music related books to take on holiday this year.

Last year I took The Life and Legend of Leadbelly by Charles K. Wolfe and Kip Lornell, an excellent book that I felt really captured the essence of the man and the struggles he went through.

Electric Eden: Unearthing Britain's Visionary Music by Rob Young. A long rambling tome that recounts the history of, (among other things) the history of the folk revival and the development of folk rock.

and the wonderful Stagolee Shot Billy, by Cecil Brown which traces the development of the song and its place in African American culture.

For this year I have lined up Myra Friedman's biography of Janis Joplin, I have read the first couple of chapters and I am not a fan of the writing style, which is very 70's, but the subject matter should keep me persevering with it.

Any suggestions gratefully received
Chris

Subject: RE: Folk & Blues Book Suggestions
From: Fred McCormick
Date: 13 Jun 11 - 10:16 AM

Definitely cop a load of John Szwed's The Man Who Recorded the World, about the life of Alan Lomax. The best book on folk music I've read in a long time, and it's available through Amazon UK at some ridiculously low prices.

Subject: RE: Folk & Blues Book Suggestions
From: Anne Neilson
Date: 13 Jun 11 - 10:30 AM

What about Jean Ritchie's "Singing Family of the Cumberlands"? -- out a long time now, but a lovely read.
Or Shirley Collins' book about her collecting trip with Alan Lomax in the 60's -- "America - Over the Water".

Subject: RE: Folk & Blues Book Suggestions
From: Chris Amos
Date: 17 Jun 11 - 06:15 PM

Thanks for the suggestions, they are all going on the list.

Chris