Nothing But the Blues : The Music and the Musicians [Paperback]

Lawrence Cohn (Editor)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 1, 1999

During 2003, the Year of the Blues, there will be diverse events throughout the country, including Martin Scorsese's seven-part film series that will travel to many museums. A lively history, "Nothing But the Blues is richly illustrated with rare photographs of the musicians, promoters, and venues, as well as record labels, posters and ads. The kind of insider knowledge found in this book offers unprecedented insights about this rich musical tradition that includes genres from jug-band to soul and rock 'n roll.

Editorial Reviews

Review

..".a gorgeous object, packed full of rare photographs and written by a virtual who's who of blues experts ... the most balanced and broad-reaching coverage the blues has received to date."

Product Details

• Paperback: 432 pages
• Publisher: Abbeville Press (September 1, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0789206072
• ISBN-13: 978-0789206077
• Product Dimensions: 10.9 x 8.5 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #383,335 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

32 of 32 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Without doubt a "definitive reference", May 13, 1997

By A Customer

This review is from: Nothing but the Blues: The Music and the Musicians (Hardcover)

Every once in awhile a book comes along that can virtually answer all your questions and at the same time incorporate stories on artists both obscure and well-known...that keeps you from putting it down [very difficult for a book that can be considered a reference work]. The pictures included alone are well worth the price of the book. Many of them rare and never seen before by many of the blues fans who would be interested in this work. If you are going to have one book in your home library on Blues....this is the one to have. Tom [e-mail]

16 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An excellent but readable reference book, March 13, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Nothing but the Blues: The Music and the Musicians (Hardcover)

This substantial book is filled with rare, many never before seen black and white photos of decades of blues players, accompanied with an entertaining and informative text.

A great book for the blues fan, but readable enough for a newcomer to the genre. A must buy at an not unreasonable price, considering some slighter, less well researched and informative volumes.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Sweeping and Readable, February 23, 2009

By 

New England Yankee (Northern New England) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Nothing But the Blues : The Music and the Musicians (Paperback)

This is a very enjoyable read. While fundamentally a blues history book, the chapters are organized topically along lines that will make sense to any blues enthusiast, and there are lots of pictures that (for me, anyway) help to cement the content in memory. Shots of musicians and albums pepper almost every last page. Comments on individual albums and songs, short anecdotes, and quotes keep the text moving at a brisk pace.

Chapters cover the topics of roots, Texas and Deep South blues, women in the blues, gospel influences, urban blues, East Coast and Piedmont blues, a chapter on the various "field trips" taken by several people to record early blues, the roots of R&B, and blues today. The individual chapters were written by different authors, variously ranging from academics to blues publication writers. The material hangs together extraordinarily well, though - to the point where the differing authorship is hardly noticible, in the best intended sense. Unusual for most blues titles is also in-depth coverage of white blues, including commentary of the cross-overs between country music, particularly early country music, and the blues.

The book includes a discography and bibliography. I would have really liked to have had some commentary with both, however, as they are pretty simplistic listings. For perspective on individual recordings, you'll have to go elsewhere. I use the "All Music Guide to the Blues" - All Music Guide to the Blues: The Definitive Guide to the Blues.

As B.B. King says in his short introduction - this is a "loving presentation" of the blues. This is not a deep dive into controversies or academic arguments over roots and development. Rather, it focuses on sub-genres, artists themselves, labels, and recording and entertainment history. I'd recommend it anyone looking for perspective across the entire genre.