Customer Reviews

Elwood's Blues: Interviews with the Blues Legends and Stars

5 star:		(6)
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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.

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.

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.

This neat little book has nothing to do with the Blues Brothers movies.
It has almost nothing to do with SNL or Dan Akroyd or the late and much missed John Belushi.

Dan Akroyd and John Belushi did a lot to support and re-popularize Blues music - and for that we are all forever in their debt. There are a lot of Blues fans today who would never have listened seriously to the Blues were it not for the Movies, SNL skits, and 'Briefcase full of Blues.' This book is part of Akroyd's ongoing love of the Blues.

If you've been listening to Blues music for a while, you probably need to start doing some reading. This is a great book, but it is not a 'first book' on the Blues. This book expects you to have some prior knowledge of the Blues music.

Dan Akroyd (in character as Elwood) interviews Bluesmen and musicians who 'take from the Blues.' and he lets them do the talking. His interview questions are those of a Blues Fan, which is neat. I found myself many times thinking 'he needs to ask this . . ' only to find him asking that very question on the next page.

The format is that these are interviews transcribed from radio show interviews. This is the only defect in the book - the interviews are far too short. Akroyd is a knowledgable and skilled interviewer, and I wish he could have done longer interviews. This book really needs to be about 500 pages long. Unfortunately, given the format of the radio show, this was not possible.

If you do not already know a little bit about the Blues, this book is a little bit inaccessible. The author expects that you have some prior knowledge. If you already know a little bit about it, this is a wonderful little book that belongs on the bookshelf of every Blues fan.

I loved the interviews with BB King, Koko Taylor, and John Lee Hooker alone justify buying this book. The Popa Chubby, Susan Tedeschi and Marcia Ball interviews are also really great.

By the way, if you're looking for a 'first Blues book,' I reccommend "Blues for Dummies" and "the Little Blues Book." They are both very easy and will give you a broad (if not deep) knowledge base on Blues music. Both are available on Amazon.

This is a fantastic primary history source for music afficianados who view music as a cross-generational tapestry, in addition to individual songs.

Dan Aykroyd and Ben Manilla organize this book into three groupings: Blues Legends who synthesized the gengre we now call the blues, Rock Royalty whose music has been inspired by it, and Keepers of the Flame who continue playing the blues closer to it's original style. The authors take a wide view of the blues, and present a tapestry of interviews that show precisely how deep the influence is. Connecting Muddy Waters to ZZ Top is not a huge stretch, but viewing Aerosmith as a 3rd generation recipient of the blues is more interesting.

One strength of the book is that Dan Aykroyd was able to capture many greats such as John Lee Hooker and Bo Diddley before they passed. Perhaps that adds another hint of blue to the book - it would have been great to read similar interiews of more legends now passed.

I got this book for her christmas she like crazy and I tought she was going jump up and hug me I am not a Blues Brothers fan that much but if this book didn't have any thing but blues music I would did dig it more I love blues music that is it plain and simple so I give this book 5 stars because my sister loves this book you should buy it she says it is great