Elwood's Blues: Interviews with the Blues Legends and Stars [Paperback]

Dan Aykroyd (Author), Ben Manilla (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 1, 2004

Elwood's Blues is an entertaining and informative collection of conversations with the legends and rising stars of blues and rock music, drawn from the popular syndicated radio series, The House of Blues Radio Hour. Host Dan Aykroyd, in character as Elwood Blues of the legendary Blues Brothers, has interviewed over 900 blues and rock greats since 1993. This book compiles the best of those, including discussions with living legends B.B. King and Buddy Guy, past masters John Lee Hooker and Stevie Ray Vaughan, rising stars Keb' Mo' and Susan Tedeschi, and blues-rooted rock stars such as Robert Plant and Bill Wyman.

Product Details

• Paperback: 262 pages
• Publisher: Backbeat Books (September 1, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0879308095
• ISBN-13: 978-0879308094
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.1 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #675,828 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

19 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fine Tribute To Deserving Artists, November 23, 2004

By 

D. Sean Brickell (gorgeous Virginia Beach, VA United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Elwood's Blues: Interviews with the Blues Legends and Stars (Paperback)

I really love books like this. The formula was done by E-Street drummer Max Weinberg in The Big Beat, where he interviewed top percussionists. For years it's continued to call to me for yet another reading. I suspect this book will produce similar reactions. There's way too much to absorb all-at-once, even though the book reads so quickly you have to pace yourself down.

The lineup is stellar. Understandably, my particular favorite interviews are those on my favorite artists. R.L. Burnside is worth the price of the book alone. But the artist I most was pleasantly surprised by is Taj Mahal. He's far more articulate than I'd've imagined, causing me to retreat to his CD catalogue and re-explore his depth and scope of musical influences.

This is blues made accessible. But don't misinterpret that statement as "blues lite." This book's subjects are substantive and worthy. It's a mighty fine tribute to these deserving artists.

Perhaps the nicest aspect is how Elwood Blues stays out of the way of his subjects and lets them occupy center-stage, where they justly belong. In the hands of lesser authors, the book coulda easily become a "look at me interviewing a living legend" mess.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Blues Book For Everyone, April 1, 2005

By 

Gary Davis "Eye Read" - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Elwood's Blues: Interviews with the Blues Legends and Stars (Paperback)

I have seen at least a dozen of the artists interviewed in this book live and I have heard the music of almost all of them. I thought hearing them interact with Dan Aykroyd would be fun and really lighthearted. These interviews are so much more interesting, historical and enlightening than I expected. Anyone that would like to hear about some great musicians experiences, anyone that really wants some help getting into Blues music, anyone that wants some real clear and simple Blues history, anyone that wants to motivate themselves or a young person over the age of 12 to continue or clarify their musical interests would love this book.

This book is comfortable reading for anyone. You can read the interviews one at a time or in any order and it won't effect the experience. Aykroyd's knowledge of the Blues is much more significant than I would have expected. I can't remember one question in the whole book that was just for a joke or soley comical reaction. Every musician seemed very comfortable talking to him. Every musician seemed to enjoy this opportunity to tell some real and simple truths about the Blues or their lives. Blues history books can become tedious. In this book once you hear four or five different artists that are not associated with each other describe the same Blues history or musical perspectives you know this book is really something special. Also the Blues discography was a great bonus.

After reading the first four interviews I bought a copy as a gift for a friend. By the time I finished this book I had a list of six people that I want to buy copies for, each for a different reason. This book is now my Blues mini-encyclopedia.

5.0 out of 5 stars An amazing set of interviews, spanning generations of Blues legends, February 17, 2010

By 

W. Hein "Great Frozen Reader" (Fargo, ND USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Elwood's Blues: Interviews with the Blues Legends and Stars (Paperback)

I'm an avid fan of Akroyd's House of Blues radio show, but rarely catch it. This book takes the best of his in-character interviews, and puts them in your hands. Akroyd, as long-time character Elwood Blues, has a deft touch in finding out where his guests come from, and how that shapes their approach to the blues. The interviews are short, but filled with many moments of insight and history. And the span of blues performers, from major rock acts, to legends of the blues, to up-and-comers - this is a very ecclectic and wide-spanning mix. I can't recommend this book enough.

And, oddly, neither can the guests in my home, because the book has become a very popular bathroom-reader. The interviews are just short enough to appeal to a 'quick read on the throne', and I've had many friends come out talking excitedly about the bit they'd just read. Often they've asked to borrow the book, only to have other guests object to it leaving the bathroom for their own reading... Odd, I admit, but also high praise for the book.