History of the Blues : The Roots, the Music, the People from Charley Patton to Robert Cray Francis Davis

Rating:
Summary: Truth is Not Cynical
Review: A strong theme throughout this book is that our knowledge of blues history has been tainted by popularization and hastily drawn conclusions that have been repeated but never challenged. The author sets about telling the history of the blues by examining the "known" information within the historical context of other social events, and critically examines the conclusions that can be drawn. If you don't like hearing that there is no Santa Claus then you may be happier with another book. Since the author is examining blues history within the broader context of social history, it reads like a textbook, and is not a light and easy read. Here, again, some readers may prefer a book with more pictures. Personally, I bought a second copy to give to my brother-in-law for Christmas (he doesn't believe in Santa either).

Rating:
Summary: Truth is Not Cynical
Review: A strong theme throughout this book is that our knowledge of blues history has been tainted by popularization and hastily drawn conclusions that have been repeated but never challenged. The author sets about telling the history of the blues by examining the "known" information within the historical context of other social events, and critically examines the conclusions that can be drawn. If you don't like hearing that there is no Santa Claus then you may be happier with another book. Since the author is examining blues history within the broader context of social history, it reads like a textbook, and is not a light and easy read. Here, again, some readers may prefer a book with more pictures. Personally, I bought a second copy to give to my brother-in-law for Christmas (he doesn't believe in Santa either).

Rating:
Summary: No Pretence!
Review: Finally, an "historian" who doesn't pretend to be an objective, impartial documenter of facts. This is Davis' version of the blues, and he lets you know it. Thankfully, he has the skill of a consummate wordsmith, an encyclopedic knowledge of the subject matter and a fan's love and appreciation for the music. This reads like a conversation with an old, knowledgeable friend and I, for one, find that refreshing. Definitely worth the time for anyone who's interested in something more than simple facts, dates and names

Rating:
Summary: Excellent study and a needed corrective
Review: History of the Blues is criticized for the author's "cynicism," but the author is justified in seeking to modify or correct much of the last century's "blues scholarship." The book is more valuable because Davis doesn't accept the suppositions and theories of earlier writers, and in the first chapters the author establishes that "the blues" are far more complex, socially and musically, than we've been led to believe. He writes with wit and plenty of feeling - but the feeling expressed is one of annoyance with blues and folk "scholars" who have either not researched very thoroughly, or who have deliberately ignored facts that subvert their simplistic theories. What are the blues? Where did they come from? What's happened to the blues since mid-century? Davis examines all of these questions and comes up with some reasonable and provocative answers. The book isn't meant to be a study of individual blues musicians; such works have already been written (by Samuel Charters, Peter Guralnick, Pete Oliver) and they were well-done. The History of the Blues is a very readable account of a century of confusion, best approached with an open and attentive mind.

Rating:
Summary: Excellent study and a needed corrective
Review: History of the Blues is criticized for the author's "cynicism," but the author is justified in seeking to modify or correct much of the last century's "blues scholarship." The book is more valuable because Davis doesn't accept the suppositions and theories of earlier writers, and in the first chapters the author establishes that "the blues" are far more complex, socially and musically, than we've been led to believe. He writes with wit and plenty of feeling - but the feeling expressed is one of annoyance with blues and folk "scholars" who have either not researched very thoroughly, or who have deliberately ignored facts that subvert their simplistic theories. What are the blues? Where did they come from? What's happened to the blues since mid-century? Davis examines all of these questions and comes up with some reasonable and provocative answers. The book isn't meant to be a study of individual blues musicians; such works have already been written (by Samuel Charters, Peter Guralnick, Pete Oliver) and they were well-done. The History of the Blues is a very readable account of a century of confusion, best approached with an open and attentive mind.