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Jeremiah The Elder

Your Music Library

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Posts: 1539

Oct 7 07 1:20 AM

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One of the things that I value most about a site like this is that I'm often introduced to new books about the music I love, whether it's jazz, blues, folk, gospel or pop. There are some books that I assume everyone has, but that's a false premise to begin with. I'd be very intererested in sharing information on books that I turn to all the time, and hope that I might in turn discover books that I'm unaware of.

Let me start:

A favorite book of mine when I want to find out anything about vocal groups is:

The Da Capo Book of American Singing Groups by Jay Warner. The book comes to mind because it's right where it ends up being so often: in front of me on my desk It's a great book for backgrounds, personnel and discography of singing groups from 1940 to 1990. Like the best of reference books, it's either on my desk or in the bathroom.

My other office.

Anyone care to add another? (I have plenty to add, but I already know them.)

Jerry

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Jeremiah The Elder

#1

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Posts: 1539

Oct 7 07 2:44 PM

Hmm.. nobody else got any books they want to share? This morning, in responding to a question on the doo wop thread, I pulled out my Pop Memories, 1890-1954 by Joe Wilburn. I have several of his books, and I turn to them all the time. I wanted to look up The Gaylords as an influence in white doo wop.
Whitburn has done a number of books, which I use constantly. I've given them as Christmas presents to family members and friends, and once they open the books, they're lost in them for the rest of the day.

Jerry

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Blue Trane

#2

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Deepest Blue

Posts: 2056

Oct 8 07 10:06 AM

I use the Allmusic/ Rough Guide to Jazz and The New Grove Dictionary (or is it Encyclopedia ?) of Jazz when I'm hunting the obscure, attempting to cure my ignorance, etc.

Peace,

Jeff

St Louis, MO
" Jazz is the music of the freedom of collective improvisation."- Duke Ellington in Music Is My Mistress.

“I merely took the energy it takes to pout and wrote some blues.”
Duke Ellington quote

It is from the blues that all that may be called American music derives its most distinctive character.-James Weldon Johnson

"And what gift of America to the rest of the world is actually most appreciated by the rest of the world? It is African-American jazz and its offshoots. What is my definition of jazz? 'Safe sex of the highest order.'"-Kurt Vonnegut

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Jeremiah The Elder

#3

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Posts: 1539

Oct 8 07 11:49 AM

Hey, trane:

I use the Allmusic Guide to Jazz. Don't know about the "Rough" part. Am I missing something? Much less frequently, I use the Penguin Guide To Jazz on CD, LP & Cassette. Because the writers are from England, it has a different spin to it, and I'm totally unfamiliar with a lot of the artists, as they aren't well known in the United States. I'll have to check out the New Grove whatever it is. Not sure I've seen it. I've seen a large, coffee table book on jazz as a remainder in book stores, but never felt quite compelled (or financially flush enough) to buy it.

I picked up a small book: The Jazz CD Listener's Guide by Howard J. Blumenthal, that has introduced me to some new (for me) artists. It's an interesting read, unlike pure reference books, because it recommends what the author considers the best CDs by each artist, with a generously detailed description/review of each album. It's a great book for the bathroom... the true measure of greatness. There is a photograph at the top of each artist's section and an in-depth commentary on their background and importance followed by commentary on individual CDs. I was introduced to Benny Green, pianist, through the book. He's turned out to be one of my favorites, and I'd never heard anything by him. I just opened the book now and was immediately interested in a guitarist, Bill Frisell (who I also have never heard of.) I'll probably listen to samples of him on amazon.com to see if I like his material.

And so it goes.

There have to be other good books on jazz that people in here turn to.

Thanks for the post, Trane. I know that I can always count on you.

Jerry

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Jeremiah The Elder

#4

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Posts: 1539

Oct 8 07 3:36 PM

Been looking on amazon.com at jazz books. They recommend Musichound Jazz Guide as being almost as good as the Allmusic Guide. And there is a Rough Guide to Jazz, too, I see. There's a lot of overlap between the Musichound Jazz and the Allmusic Guides, with the Allmusic Guide getting a slight edge because it's more inclusive.

ANybody have the Musichound Jazz Guide? I also see that they have Jazz CD Listener's Guide by Howard J. Blumenthal. I picked mine up for a couple of books at a book close-out store.

Jerry

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Sherman

#5

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Deepest Blue

Posts: 9622

Oct 8 07 3:55 PM

Jerry,

Check out: "The Penguin Guide to Jazz"

Rebecca, Rebecca, get your big legs off of me,
Rebecca, Rebecca, get your big legs off of me,
It may be sending you baby, but it's worrying the hell out of me.

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Jeremiah The Elder

#6

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Posts: 1539

Oct 8 07 4:39 PM

Hey, Sherman: Thanks... I do have that one. I checked the New Grove Encyclopedia: three volumes. Man, Trane! Ignorance is a lot cheaper. It sells for something like $275.

Maybe if we have a question, we can just have you look up the answer?

Jerry

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jostber

#7

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Deepest Blue

Posts: 3427

Oct 8 07 5:29 PM

I have got a lot of reading pleasure and inspiration to seek out new artists through the Penguin Guide to Jazz. http://www.allaboutjazz.com/php/article.php?id=23610

A pretty expensive book could be an interesting read:

http://www.amazon.com/Free-Jazz-Improvisat...91863777&sr=8-1

and this one:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Richard-Cooks-Jazz...91864018&sr=8-1

I will check out some of your other suggestions Jerry.

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Jeremiah The Elder

#8

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Posts: 1539

Oct 8 07 6:02 PM

I just ordered the Rough Guide To Jazz, new for $4.95. Thanks for the suggestion blue trane. It fits my budget better..

Jerry

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bluesslave

#9

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Deepest Blue

Posts: 6552

Oct 8 07 6:44 PM

My real interest in jazz was back in the 60's and 70's. At that time I felt it was essential to have Leonard Feather's Encyclopedia of Jazz and Encyclopedia of Jazz in the 60's. I had them in hard back, of course and they weren't cheap back then.

Cascade Blues Association

Vancouver, Washington
Portland, Oregon

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Jeremiah The Elder

#10

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Posts: 1539

Oct 8 07 8:01 PM

I've considered Leonard Feather's encyclopedia, too, Bluesslave. Maybe when my ship comes in. If it doesn't sink. And of course, there's always Christmas..

Jerry

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ghost of miles

#11

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Posts: 166

Oct 9 07 12:18 AM

I just got the Warner book but haven't had a chance to read much of it yet. I use the Penguin quite a bit (most recent--the 8th edition)... THE OXFORD COMPANION TO JAZZ is also very useful.

Night Lights
WFIU-Bloomington, IN

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The Magnificent Goldberg

#12

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Deepest Blue

Posts: 872

Oct 9 07 9:58 AM

I have quite a few reference books on music - different types.

Discography
Cedric Hayes & John Laughton - Gospel 1943-1969
Michel Ruppli - The Prestige label
Michel Ruppli & Michael Cuscuna - The Blue Note label
Schwann catalogues for July 1967, April 1969 and July 1981

Joel Whitburn Chart books
Pop memories 1890-1954 (the early years of this are said by people I respect greatly to be mostly invented)
Top R&B singles 1942-1988
Top R&B albums 1965-1998
Top Pop albums 1955-2001

Record company material
Galen Gart - American record label directory & dating guide 1940-1959
Rick Kennedy & Randy McNutt - Little labels - big sound
Jerry Wexler & David Ritz - The rhythm and the blues
Dorothy Wade & Justine Picardie - Music man (Ahmet Ertegun bio)

General music guides
El Hadj Ndiaye - En avant la musique (Senegalese music)
The Blackwell guide to Soul recordings
Charles Fox, Peter Gammond, Alun Morgan & Alexis Korner - Jazz on record (UK guide from 1960, from which I learned quite a bit, back in the day)
Jim Dawson & Steve Propes - What was the first Rock & Roll record?

History (most used)
Anthony Heilbut - The Gospel sound
Viv Broughton - Black Gospel
Amiri Baraka (Leroi Jones) - Blues people
Nelson George - The death of Rhythm & Blues
Arnold Shaw - Honkers and shouters

MG

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Jeremiah The Elder

#13

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Posts: 1539

Oct 9 07 11:21 AM

What a great list, MG! Thanks so much for posting it. I'm going to cut and paste it so that I can print it up. You may bankrupt me, but I thank you for it...

Jerry

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The Magnificent Goldberg

#14

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Deepest Blue

Posts: 872

Oct 9 07 1:09 PM

I suspect you'll find most of this is no longer available. But the Nelson George is probably not too hard to find and not too expensive. I think that's the single most important book that's ever been written on black music (and black politics).

MG

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Jeremiah The Elder

#15

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Posts: 1539

Oct 9 07 1:22 PM

Thanks again, MG: Yes, the Nelson George book is available on amazon.com. I've noticed it and wondered about it. It was either that or The Early Yeasrs Of Rhythm And Blues. Looks like I'd better pick up both of them. Some of the books that are out of print might also show up on ebay. It's just good to have the list and be aware of what is worth looking for.

Jerry

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Sherman

#16

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Deepest Blue

Posts: 9622

Oct 9 07 7:26 PM

QUOTE (The Magnificent Goldberg @ Oct 9 2007, 09:09 AM)

I suspect you'll find most of this is no longer available. But the Nelson George is probably not too hard to find and not too expensive. I think that's the single most important book that's ever been written on black music (and black politics).

MG

While Nelson George�s �The death of Rhythm & Blues� is one of the more important books on Black Music, and indeed one of my favorites, in terms of Black politics, that�s quite a stretch.

As we don�t discuss political affairs here (a policy I agree with), if your interested in African American politics, PM me and I�ll put you on to the real deal.

Peace,
Sherman

Rebecca, Rebecca, get your big legs off of me,
Rebecca, Rebecca, get your big legs off of me,
It may be sending you baby, but it's worrying the hell out of me.

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The Magnificent Goldberg

#17

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Deepest Blue

Posts: 872

Oct 9 07 9:22 PM

QUOTE (Sherman @ Oct 9 2007, 07:26 PM)

QUOTE (The Magnificent Goldberg @ Oct 9 2007, 09:09 AM)

I suspect you'll find most of this is no longer available. But the Nelson George is probably not too hard to find and not too expensive. I think that's the single most important book that's ever been written on black music (and black politics).

MG

While Nelson George�s �The death of Rhythm & Blues� is one of the more important books on Black Music, and indeed one of my favorites, in terms of Black politics, that�s quite a stretch.

As we don�t discuss political affairs here (a policy I agree with), if your interested in African American politics, PM me and I�ll put you on to the real deal.

Peace,
Sherman

OK - always want putting in the way of sound info.

MG

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lowell X

#18

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Posts: 866

Oct 9 07 9:53 PM

I wanna know anything about Jazz, I just read the liner notes on Coltrane Live at Birdland (Leroi Jones.)

Or Blues People...

Even though the Moon is smaller than the Earth, it is farther away-- Ernie Kovaks

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mississippijohnhurt1928

#19

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Deepest Blue

Posts: 3638

Oct 9 07 10:00 PM

All I can say is I wish I had the (pre-war) Blues (& Gospel) Bible from Dixon, Godrich, & Rye.

Calvin, The Hoy Hoy Boy

Currently The Proud Owner Of 230 Different Piano Red Recordings (Plus Over 1.5 Hours Of Unreleased Live Recordings Made In 1978).

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