The Blues Highway: New Orleans to Chicago, 2nd: A Travel and Music Guide [Paperback]

Richard Knight (Author)

Book Description

Series: Trailblazer | Publication Date: May 1, 2003

The Blues Highway is a classic road trip through the cradle of musical innovation in America. This definitive travel and music guide follows Highway 61 and the Mississippi River to explore the roots of jazz, blues, Cajun, zydeco, country, gospel, soul, and rock & roll music. Trace the story from Congo Square in New Orleans to down-home Delta blues joints then on to Memphis, Nashville, St. Louis, Davenport, and eventually to Chicago.

Written by award-winning author, Richard Knight, this fully updated second edition features:
*Comprehensive city guides with 55 maps--from New Orleans to Chicago
*What to see, where to stay, and where to eat--hotels and restaurants for a range of budgets
*The best music clubs and bars--shabby juke joints to smooth jazz clubs
*Music landmarks--visit Jerry Lee Lewis' ranch or Charley Patton's grave
*People, culture, and cuisine of the Blues Highway--Creole cooking to voodoo magic
*Who's who of Blues Highway music--from Louis Armstrong to Sonny Boy Williamson II
*Music festivals and events--Mardi Gras in New Orleans to the Chicago Blues Festival
*Exclusive interviews--with music legends "Honeyboy" Edwards, Little Milton, Wilson Pickett, Sam Phillips, Rufus Thomas, Ike Turner, and many more

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

British author Knight (Trekking in the Moroccan Atlas) has compiled a travel guide that focuses on the journey of blues and jazz music and musicians from New Orleans to Chicago via Highway 61. Besides providing a brief history of the music, landmarks, live music locations, record stores, and radio stations, the author also includes basic travel information for the cities and towns along the way, as well as short interviews with musicians. The five-page appendix contains brief biographies of the musicians mentioned in the text. The basic travel component is excellent, listing details on restaurants, lodging, transportation, and other services. The maps of the streets, cities, and regions are outstanding. Other similar titles include Christiane Bird's The Jazz and Blues Lover's Guide to the U.S. (LJ 3/15/91) and Steve Cheseborough's Blues Traveling (LJ 2/15/01), which covers the Mississippi Delta. At once a travel guide and a supplement to histories of the blues, this title is recommended for all libraries on the Highway 61 corridor and to larger public and academic libraries in the rest of the country. John McCormick, New Hampshire State Lib., Concord
Copyright 2001 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Review

"If you have even the remotest interest in the blues or are thinking of visiting any part of the country cut through by Route 61, then you would be mad, bad, or otherwise afflicted not to take this along."
--The Sunday Times (UK)

"Perfect...not only is this book stuffed with the kind of information you
could waste hours looking for on the spot but it breaks it up with mini
essays on blues, jazz, Cajun and zydeco and snappy interviews with
performers."
--Mojo

"A great book. The Blues Highway' passes the ultimate test of any travel guide - you read it and you instantly want to be there, whether it's the zydeco clubs of Lafayette or Sun Studios in memphis. Even if you can't make the trip, read the book and dream."
--Uncut

"For those intending to travel the Blues Highway, I envy you. For those who
are unable to make the trip, read this and weep."
--Jazz Journal International

"A fascinating read"
--Time Out

"Vital information for the stranger in a strange land which you won't find in more straightforward historical narratives concerning the blues. In depth information supported by useful maps."
--Blueprint

"The Blues Highway' is not only essential reading for those people wishing to undertake the journey but also for the many armchair travellers. A meticulously prepared, highly readable book."
--Just Jazz

"A guide to the soul. The book not only covers the usual topics but interweaves the history of the area's music. Everything from jazz to rock & roll is covered."
--The Daily Express (UK)

"A trail followed by fans of every musical discipline from zydeco to soul. A practical guide for anyone intent on a pilgrimage."
--The Daily Telegraph (UK)

"There's a spirit that goes all the way up Highway 61 and on into Chicago. Anyone that reads this book, I can tell them, there's a magic--there's a feel'.
--Sam Phillips, founder of Sun Records

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 320 pages
• Publisher: Trailblazer Publications; 2nd edition (May 1, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1873756666
• ISBN-13: 978-1873756669
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.4 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,134,886 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Awesome!, April 30, 2003

By 

Simon (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Blues Highway: New Orleans to Chicago, 2nd: A Travel and Music Guide (Paperback)

Amazing amount of research, beautiful writing, great pix and full of respect for the music and the area. Every blues lover should have one.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars If you love blues you'll love this!, September 29, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: The Blues Highway: New Orleans to Chicago: A Travel & Music Guide (Paperback)

Read this and you'll soon be packing your bags and heading for the Blues Highway. A great book, full of detail but entertaining too. Highly recommended to anyone who loves blues and jazz or just loves great American road trips!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Read this and you'll want to make the trip, September 24, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: The Blues Highway: New Orleans to Chicago, 2nd: A Travel and Music Guide (Paperback)

I bought this book after hearing a great review on NPR, thinking I had no real plans to travel the Blues Highway. But when you read it you can almost hear the music and you can practically see those juke joints and crossroads! Buy this book and you'll want to go!