Between Midnight and Day: The Last Unpublished Blues Archive [Paperback]

Dick Waterman (Photographer), Bonnie Raitt (Preface), Peter Guralnick (Introduction)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 30, 2003

Between Midnight and Day: The Last Unpublished Blues Archive celebrates the rich heritage of one of America’s greatest cultural legacies, the blues. Dick Waterman has been representing and photographing blues artists for over fifty years and in Between Midnight and Day, he collects these rare images, many previously unseen, and illuminates them with his own first-hand commentary offering his unique perspective as an agent, representative, photographer, and friend to some of the most influential figures in American music. Waterman includes personal recollections and 120 color photographs of blues legends like Buddy Guy, John Lee Hooker, Lightnin’ Hopkins, Chuck Berry, Ray Charles, Bob Dylan, Son House, “Mississippi” John Hurt, Skip James, Janis Joplin, B.B. King, Fred McDowell, Bonnie Raitt, Otis Rush, Roosevelt Sykes, Big Mama Thornton, Sippie Wallace, Muddy Waters, Junior Wells, Bukka White, and Howlin’ Wolf. Contributors include critically acclaimed music biographer Peter Guralnick, Grammy award-winning musician Bonnie Raitt, and author Chris Murray.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Spend time with the 120 b&w photos; they reveal the complex, pressing emotions that drove the music." -- Frank-John Hadley, Downbeat Magazine, April 2004

Product Details

• Paperback: 176 pages
• Publisher: Thunder's Mouth Press; First Edition edition (October 30, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1560255471
• ISBN-13: 978-1560255475
• Product Dimensions: 12 x 8.3 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,431,272 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars a great read not just for the blues geeks, December 29, 2003

By 

dreschrode - See all my reviews

This review is from: Between Midnight and Day: The Last Unpublished Blues Archive (Paperback)

An extraordinary read! I feared that this book was receiving so much praise because blues geeks felt that they had to eulogize the talents of this famed sixties blues promoter. No, it's not hype, this book really does hit new highs in great closeup shots and portraits, woven together with rich and personal tales that describe the crossing of Waterman's path with that of many of the greatest blues musicians ever. Some chapters are touched with sadness, such as the exploitation of Arthur Crudup's royalties (only for Waterman to help secure a rich reward for the family estate shortly after Crudup's death). Others are hilarious, such as the exposure of Robert Lockwood as being perhaps the sweariest bluesman ever. I could go on, but readers deserve to discover these stories for themselves. Albeit to say that the human sides of many famous musicians are exposed here, be they glorious or grim or bizarre. The only other blues read that I know of that gets so close up and personal in text and pictures is perhaps Tim Duffy's from the Musicmaker Foundation, entitled: "Musicmakers: portraits and songs from the roots of america". In fact the two books are complementary because whilst Waterman's subjects are by and large towering figures of the blues who have mostly died by now, Tim Duffy's subjects remain somewhat obscure and undiscovered by the main stream but many are still alive and kicking the blues in a neighbourhood near you.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Windows on the Blues, January 23, 2004

By 

Ray Varner (Gresham, OR USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Between Midnight and Day: The Last Unpublished Blues Archive (Paperback)

Dick Waterman's photographs are a stunning chronicle of the art and music that are most important to me. Dick calls his photographs products of opportunity and access, but they are far more. I would submit that Dick's "Son House at the Liberty Bell" ranks with the top echelon of 20th century American photographs.

If you have a passing interest in blues or fine photography; you need this book. If you are a fan of the music or the art, you absolutely must have this book.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Indescribably Wonderful, January 20, 2004

By 

James Giles Cassels "personman" (San Mateo, CA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Between Midnight and Day: The Last Unpublished Blues Archive (Paperback)

There really are no words to fully describe what a treasure this book is--which is entirely appropriate given that Mr. Waterman himself is an American treasure. Whether you are a hardcore blues fan or a casual listener, the photographs in this book will take your breath away. The stories that accompany them strip away the mythology to reveal the humanity beneath, and leave you looking at these legendary artists through fresh and more honest eyes.

I simply can't recommend this book highly enough. Buy a copy for yourself, and then buy as many as you can for your family and friends. You will not be sorry.