Stephen Calt's biography of Skip James

Subject: RE: Stephen Calt's biography of Skip James
From: GUEST,matt milton
Date: 14 Sep 17 - 06:36 AM

So, Al, you don't find Calt's constant belittling of Skip James' music wearying?

Subject: RE: Stephen Calt's biography of Skip James
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 14 Sep 17 - 10:16 AM

i don't think he does belittle it. he tries to analyse the nuts and bolts that led to the magic that we all respond to. the pressures upon him in the studio and in the culture of the deep south.

I admit I don't understand enough of music theory to understand what he's saying. I don't know enough about folksong to know whether he's analysing the influences correctly

However I do know some of the songs. I know a lot about being an unsuccessful musician, which is the situation Skip lived most of his life. I know quite a lot about American folk style guitar playing.

I would say Calt in this book has paid the artist the supreme compliment of discussing his music as if it mattered. That's more than most of us get.

Subject: RE: Stephen Calt's biography of Skip James
From: GUEST,Joseph Scott
Date: 14 Sep 17 - 06:54 PM

Another dozen-plus opinions about this book

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/849894.I_d_Rather_Be_The_Devil

Subject: RE: Stephen Calt's biography of Skip James
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 14 Sep 17 - 09:44 PM

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/849894.I_d_Rather_Be_The_Devil

Subject: RE: Stephen Calt's biography of Skip James
From: meself
Date: 14 Sep 17 - 10:08 PM

Well - nice to see some co-operation here!

Subject: RE: Stephen Calt's biography of Skip James
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 17 Sep 17 - 08:10 AM

the only song i ever wrote in d minor tuning DADFAD, favoured by Skip


https://soundcloud.com/denise_whittle/a-song-for-john-dillinger