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Book on History of Chicago Blues?

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Sam hopkins

Book on History of Chicago Blues?

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Deepest Blue

Posts: 716

Nov 15 04 6:14 PM

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Recently there have been lots of good books on Muddy, Little Walter, Elmore, Earl Hooker, Wolf and Chess (there's been a Sonny Boy in the pipeline for 7 years) - these all add to our overall knowledge of the Chicago blues scene - but there's still nothing on the history itself.

It has been 30 years since Mike Rowe published his pioneering "Chicago Breakdown" (which I think is still in print under a slightly altered title) but, informative and factual as Rowe's book undoutedly is, things have moved on and I was wondering if anyone knows of anything currently being researched?

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rshurman

#1

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Deepest Blue

Posts: 3244

Nov 15 04 9:47 PM

QUOTE (Sam hopkins @ Nov 15 2004, 08:14 PM)

Recently there have been lots of good books on Muddy, Little Walter, Elmore, Earl Hooker, Wolf and Chess (there's been a Sonny Boy in the pipeline for 7 years) - these all add to our overall knowledge of the Chicago blues scene - but there's still nothing on the history itself.

It has been 30 years since Mike Rowe published his pioneering "Chicago Breakdown" (which I think is still in print under a slightly altered title) but, informative and factual as Rowe's book undoutedly is, things have moved on and I was wondering if anyone knows of anything currently being researched?

David Whiteis has a book on the Chicago blues scene to be published fairly soon by the U. of Illinois Press. I haven't seen the manuscript but suspect it's less of a pure history than a series of portraits like his feature articles which have run in Living Blues, Down Beat, etc. It still should be readable and informative.

I'd advise readers to steer clear of that Blue Chicago book. It's built on questionable premises (the author hung out in tourist bars and then was dismayed that tourists go to them), sloppy historical research, lazy dismissals of what went before, naivete (he thinks Chicago blues is the only music where the artists have a list of frequent audience requests they're tired of playing), most of his informants are hidden behind pseudonyms, etc. etc. Buy a better book or a good CD instead.

Chicagoland

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Sam hopkins

#2

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Deepest Blue

Posts: 716

Nov 16 04 6:56 PM

QUOTE (rshurman @ Nov 15 2004, 11:47 PM)

David Whiteis has a book on the Chicago blues scene to be published fairly soon by the U. of Illinois Press. I haven't seen the manuscript but suspect it's less of a pure history than a series of portraits like his feature articles which have run in Living Blues, Down Beat, etc. It still should be readable and informative.

Thanks Dick.

I was given to believe that the Whiteis book was built around interviews with contemporary Chicago Blues artists either still living or with those who passed during the gestation of the work.

Being the doyen of Chicago blues research have you never considered writing a history yourself.

Thanks for the tip concerning the other publication. Sounds truly horrendous.

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rshurman

#3

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Deepest Blue

Posts: 3244

Nov 16 04 7:49 PM

QUOTE (Sam hopkins @ Nov 16 2004, 08:56 PM)

QUOTE (rshurman @ Nov 15 2004, 11:47 PM)

David Whiteis has a book on the Chicago blues scene to be published fairly soon by the U. of Illinois Press. I haven't seen the manuscript but suspect it's less of a pure history than a series of portraits like his feature articles which have run in Living Blues, Down Beat, etc. It still should be readable and informative.

Thanks Dick.

I was given to believe that the Whiteis book was built around interviews with contemporary Chicago Blues artists either still living or with those who passed during the gestation of the work.

Being the doyen of Chicago blues research have you never considered writing a history yourself.

Thanks for the tip concerning the other publication. Sounds truly horrendous.

I'm honored that you ask, but if I do a book it will be a project for my hoped-for (but not soon) rocking chair days. Until then I'm happy helping other writers and trying to stay an active participant in the scene while it's still here; at least that way maybe I'll have more to write about later. Of course, I've always maintained that the best blues book is the one that can never be written (too personal and embarrassing).

Chicagoland

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Island Blues

#4

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Deepest Blue

Posts: 7831

Nov 16 04 9:39 PM

QUOTE (rshurman @ Nov 16 2004, 04:49 PM)

Of course, I've always maintained that the best blues book is the one that can never be written (too personal and embarrassing).

Exactly the kind of book I love reading! Let me know if you ever get around to writing it.

"Reality has a liberal bias." - Stephen Colbert

St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands
18.35 N, 64.9 W

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rshurman

#5

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Deepest Blue

Posts: 3244

Nov 16 04 10:04 PM

QUOTE (Island Blues @ Nov 16 2004, 11:39 PM)

QUOTE (rshurman @ Nov 16 2004, 04:49 PM)

Of course, I've always maintained that the best blues book is the one that can never be written (too personal and embarrassing).

Exactly the kind of book I love reading! Let me know if you ever get around to writing it.

I'd have to be dead already because someone would kill me if I did.

Chicagoland

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DBJ

#6

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Posts: 1135

Nov 18 04 3:09 PM

How about under a pseudonymous? I'm sure it would be a very interesting book. A lot of folks could use and learn from you.

"Wait Down On Da Corner; We'll Stop An' Pick Ya Up; You Don't Need No Ticket; Ta Ride On Da Blues Bus!!!!

http://www.soundclick.com/debrisus
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rshurman

#7

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Deepest Blue

Posts: 3244

Nov 18 04 10:09 PM

QUOTE (DBJ @ Nov 18 2004, 05:09 PM)

How about under a pseudonymous? I'm sure it would be a very interesting book. A lot of folks could use and learn from you.

Thanks, but no thanks!

Chicagoland

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MaskedMarvel

#8

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Deepest Blue

Posts: 6919

Nov 19 04 4:32 PM

QUOTE (Sam hopkins @ Nov 15 2004, 08:14 PM)

but there's still nothing on the history itself.

History of Chicago Blues ... does it mean history of Blues in Chicago (including pre war) or what is known as "Chicago Blues" that is Muddy Waters post war and similar artists ?

All the above written is in my opinion unless it is someone else's opinion, or a fact.

Location: Zur Moshe, Israel

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Sam hopkins

#9

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Deepest Blue

Posts: 716

Nov 19 04 7:44 PM

QUOTE (MaskedMarvel @ Nov 19 2004, 06:32 PM)

QUOTE (Sam hopkins @ Nov 15 2004, 08:14 PM)

but there's still nothing on the history itself.

History of Chicago Blues ... does it mean history of Blues in Chicago (including pre war) or what is known as "Chicago Blues" that is Muddy Waters post war and similar artists ?

Good question. I suppose I mean a book on the history of the blues in Chicago - performance, recording and culture. A work which would put into context and thoughfully comment upon of, say, the role of Big Bill Broonzy. Mike Rowe's book contained a fifteen page chapter on pre-war blues which acknowledged folk like Broonzy but the end result was little more than well intentioned name drop. For example, Chris Smith's 100 page booklet 'Hit The Right Lick; The Recordings to Big Bill Broonzy' brings into sharp focus the amazing caucus of artists who, during the period 1925-1949, all seemed to revolve around Lester Melrose with Broonzy being the common denominator. Melrose was undoutedly correct when he proclaimed that he "recorded at least 90 per cent of all rhythm-and-blues talent" for RCA Victor and Columbia but what about the individual talents themselves? I'm way out of my depth but, personally, this is the kind of book I'd like to read.

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Blueswriter

#10

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Deepest Blue

Posts: 6748

Nov 21 04 3:45 AM

QUOTE (Sam hopkins @ Nov 19 2004, 04:44 PM)

... I suppose I mean a book on the history of the blues in Chicago - performance, recording and culture. A work which would put into context and thoughfully comment upon of, say, the role of Big Bill Broonzy... the amazing caucus of artists who, during the period 1925-1949, all seemed to revolve around Lester Melrose with Broonzy being the common denominator. Melrose was undoutedly correct when he proclaimed that he "recorded at least 90 per cent of all rhythm-and-blues talent" for RCA Victor and Columbia but what about the individual talents themselves? I'm way out of my depth but, personally, this is the kind of book I'd like to read.

That'd be one I'd certainly enjoy as well, but biographies (

) of major names like Muddy and Howlin' Wolf are perhaps looked at as far better number-getters by publishing outfits. As sad as it is, a book on the true history of Chicago Blues might be looked as historical fodder.

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Sam hopkins

#11

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Deepest Blue

Posts: 716

Nov 21 04 9:40 AM

QUOTE (Blueswriter @ Nov 21 2004, 05:45 AM)

That'd be one I'd certainly enjoy as well, but biographies (

) of major names like Muddy and Howlin' Wolf are perhaps looked at as far better number-getters by publishing outfits. As sad as it is, a book on the true history of Chicago Blues might be looked as historical fodder.

I couldn't agree more, but I wonder how many of the current batch of biographies will still be in print say five years hence?

Looking at a catalogue of last year from the jazz and blues publisher/reprint specialist, Da Capo, I note that Paul Garon's Memphis Minnie book is still listed (12 years after publication) as is the Skip James of 1984 as well as their reprint of Rowe's book (almost 25 years ). Minnie was an influential Chicago singer but not a "major name" so "number getting" publishing outfits wouldn't even entertain such a venture, let alone devote a couple decades of storage space to the stock.

Somebody must be buying the Da Capo books, albeit not in one-off hit massive sales as required by the major houses, so perhaps "historical fodder" is probably best left to those publishers who know the market?

This is just gut reaction hot air on my part, I feel confident there must be somebody with a more informed view who can shed light on this.

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MaskedMarvel

#12

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Deepest Blue

Posts: 6919

Nov 21 04 11:16 AM

IMO, the success of book ,general book, happen when there are people who would like to read such book, and they must be aware of it, as well. It seem like I didn't say much, thats because I think it's simple. What I think the secret is the combination of these two. The writer must know what audience he is aiming. He should also think while writing about why the aimed audience will want to read it and how they'll be aware about it. This should be natural thing for him to be aware of it if he is a writer with audience feel.

Other two elements are knowledge and talent as a writer , thats what will make the implementation of the first two appealing or not. And how far and how low the writer want to go of course.

So IMO book can be a best seller, no matter what it's all about.

All the above written is in my opinion unless it is someone else's opinion, or a fact.

Location: Zur Moshe, Israel

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checker758

#13

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Posts: 962

Nov 22 04 7:29 PM

QUOTE (Sam hopkins @ Nov 21 2004, 09:40 AM)

Minnie was an influential Chicago singer but not a "major name"...

Wow, you really DO need a book about Chicago blues!

Memphis Minnie, NOT a major name? It's my understanding that Memphis Minnie put out more records in the pre-war era than ANY orther blues artist. (I can't check this statistic right now because I'm at work, but if I'm off, it's not by musch.) That would seem to indicate that not only was she A major blues artist, she was THE major blues artist of her time. I would also argue that she was one of the most influential blues artists of the pre-war era; her guitar playing, singing, and songwriting provided a blueprint for what later developed into post-war Chicago blues.

But back to the original subject. Routledge Publishing has been working on an Encyclopedia of The Blues for the past 5 years or so. It will contain essays on every major blues artist as well as hundreds of minor names, as well as pieces on all the major schools of blues such as West Coast, Texas, Chicago, Piedmont, etc. Last I heard, it was scheduled for publication in 2005. So it's not specifically dedicated to Chicago blues, but it will contain much of what is known about the subject. More info can be found here: http://www.routledge-ny.com/enc/blues/.

Scott

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MaskedMarvel

#14

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Deepest Blue

Posts: 6919

Nov 22 04 7:43 PM

Eddie Mapp, I love this guy's music and I know little output that he record, but he should be listed IMO as much as any one as the others.
http://www.routledge-ny.com/enc/blues/bioentries.html

All the above written is in my opinion unless it is someone else's opinion, or a fact.

Location: Zur Moshe, Israel

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Sam hopkins

#15

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Deepest Blue

Posts: 716

Nov 23 04 7:30 PM

QUOTE (checker758 @ Nov 22 2004, 07:29 PM)

QUOTE (Sam hopkins @ Nov 21 2004, 09:40 AM)

Minnie was an influential Chicago singer but not a "major name"...

Wow, you really DO need a book about Chicago blues!

Memphis Minnie, NOT a major name? It's my understanding that Memphis Minnie put out more records in the pre-war era than ANY orther blues artist. (I can't check this statistic right now because I'm at work, but if I'm off, it's not by musch.) That would seem to indicate that not only was she A major blues artist, she was THE major blues artist of her time. I would also argue that she was one of the most influential blues artists of the pre-war era; her guitar playing, singing, and songwriting provided a blueprint for what later developed into post-war Chicago blues.

My obtuseness is obviously causing me to make myself misunderstood.

I wholeheartedly concur with every sentiment of your assessment of Memphis Minnie. However, the point I was trying to make was that Garon had to find a specialist publisher for Memphis Minnie because she was not enough of a "major name" to interest the mainstream publishing houses he initially approached. I'm sure if he'd submitted a synopsis for, say, Muddy, they would have been falling over themselves to get him to sign on the dotted line.

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Book on History of Chicago Blues?

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