Nothing but the Blues: The Music and the Musicians - Hardcover

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1558592717 ISBN 13: 9781558592711

Publisher: Abbeville Press, 1993

Synopsis

An illustrated history of the blues captures the great variety of this uniquely American music form through vintage photographs and a lively text. National ad/promo.

About this title

About the Author:

Blues historian Lawrence Cohn is the producer of a massive blues reissue project undertaken by Sony Music/Legacy Recordings. The premiere two-CD set in the series, featuring the music of blues giant Robert Johnson, not only earned Cohn a Grammy award, but has sold some half-million copies in the U.S. alone--an unprecedented number for a historical reissue.

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.:

Foreword by B. B. King

I first met Larry Cohn in 1969, after having read a most favorable article he wrote about me and my career as it was at that time. It wasnt too hard to see that not only was he interested in my music, he was interested in the blues, period. Well, lots of time has passed since that meeting. Many nights have been spent on the road touring. Ive made lots and lots of records, had--like everyone else--high points and low points, but what has always stayed the same has been the blues. The thrill may be gone for other things, but not for the blues.

It has been a long haul. From Blind Lemon Jefferson and Charley Patton to Son House and Robert Johnson, from Lightnin Hopkins and Muddy Waters to Eric Clapton and Johnny Winter, to Robert Cray and the many other blues players and singers. Some recorded, some never did. Some traveled and performed, some stayed at home. But whatever the way, the tradition has carried on. In many cases, it had to take a European detour before some Americans would recognize their own music, but I feel that it is now firmly entrenched in the consciousness not only of Americans, but of music lovers throughout the world.

This book will take the reader on an adventure--an adventure through the "houses of the blues," where many different individuals will be encountered. Some are colorful, some are mysterious, all are interesting.

So, read on, knowing full well that the blues is alive and well and will be so when you finish this lovingly presented portrait of the music and the musicians.

About this edition

• Publisher: Abbeville Press
• Publication date: 1993
• ISBN 10: 1558592717
• ISBN 13: 9781558592711
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 432
• Editor: Lawrence Cohn