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Rating: 
Summary: A great place to jump off from
Review: First thing is, this guide is well worth the price to keep you from buying those "sucker albums" that a label will put out every once in a while just to wrestle away some of your cash. As a general notion, they do a good job (judging from the artists I know) of giving relative ratings and choosing the best recordings from each artist.Second, the system they have suggests good recordings for someone buying their first album from a band or artist. This is a great idea. It makes me wonder how many artists I might have really enjoyed had I heard their best stuff first instead of getting slapped with their only stinker tracks right up front. Or visa versa. Third, the previous review (from Hawaii) had it dead on. The ratings ARE a little high for average artists. But as long as you're not trying to compare artists with each other and instead looking for the best stuff from a particular bluesman or woman, you can't go very wrong with this guide. Last, they are a little lacking in the REAL Delta Blues that's still coming out on the Fat Possum label. Yeah, they've got Burnside and Kimbrough, but there are a lot of other guys worth some ink who aren't mentioned. These guys don't have much time left on the ground, so it seems more urgent they get heard. Anyway, if you're looking for a Blues Guide, this is the one. Buy it, you'll like it.
Rating: 
Summary: Good guide for blue music!
Review: For the musicologist, or Blues afficionado, The 1999 edition of The Allmusic Guide To The Blues is an absolute must! Authored by Michael Erlewine, and Co-authored by the late Cub Coda, The book is not only a labor of love, but an accurate snapshot of the history of the blues with in depth details of the artists's music discography, and personal lives as well as the crossover influences,subgenres and labels from their beginnings up to the time of print. If you need one source of reference for The Blues, The Allmusic guide to the Blues is it
Rating:
Summary: Indespensible
Review: I reach for this book when I get a call to be a guest on radio shows to promote my book, "Forever Retro Blues." I've found the information in here easy to read and buff up on the blues. The essays are injoyable, and the history is the most complete on the blues I have found.
Rating:
Summary: Indespensible
Review: I reach for this book when I get a call to be a guest on radio shows to promote my book, "Forever Retro Blues." I've found the information in here easy to read and buff up on the blues. The essays are injoyable, and the history is the most complete on the blues I have found.
Rating:
Summary: Comprehensive, Concise Lexicon of the Blues
Review: This alphabetically arranged Lexicon helps readers to make sense of the dizzying list of blues artists who have contributed to thise body of music. The book is fairly broad and includes many crossover type bands (blues derivation of Rock, for example), with a brief history and list of essential recordings from each artist. I expected the book to be somewhat more "readable" rather than a catalogue of artists; however, it is useful as the latter. You will not be disappointed with the volume, and you will probably pull it out frequently when shopping for blues music, reviewing artists heard on public radio's blues shows, or when browsing the internet for non-copyrighted blues recordings (many of the oldest recordings are in public domain). The price also makes it worthwhile. If it guides you toward a single, more satisfying blues recording (or helps you avoid a single stinker), then it's paid for itself.
Rating:
Summary: Comprehensive, Concise Lexicon of the Blues
Review: This alphabetically arranged Lexicon helps readers to make sense of the dizzying list of blues artists who have contributed to thise body of music. The book is fairly broad and includes many crossover type bands (blues derivation of Rock, for example), with a brief history and list of essential recordings from each artist. I expected the book to be somewhat more "readable" rather than a catalogue of artists; however, it is useful as the latter. You will not be disappointed with the volume, and you will probably pull it out frequently when shopping for blues music, reviewing artists heard on public radio's blues shows, or when browsing the internet for non-copyrighted blues recordings (many of the oldest recordings are in public domain). The price also makes it worthwhile. If it guides you toward a single, more satisfying blues recording (or helps you avoid a single stinker), then it's paid for itself.
Rating:
Summary: A Valuable Tool
Review: This book (encyclopedia) gives a description of, and rates nearly every quality blues recording available. Contains detailed histories of the lives of thousands of blues artists. Contains detailed essays on the roots of the blues, the evolution, and different styles of blues, such as Delta, Chicago, Piedmont, West Coast.....And also has music maps showing the influences on different styles of blues, as well as describing the most influential artist in each respective style. I don't buy an album without consulting this, or the jazz edition. This blues edition is so comprehensive it even delves into gospel, jazz, and a bit of soul music. Full of great information. I am sure that this is the best blues encyclopedia available.
Rating:
Summary: Great/helpful/got everything
Review: this book it's very well written. Got lots of essays on every blues styles and sub-styles, very well written too. Got lots of music maps for almost all of the essays, very well traced. Got lots of helpful and factfiled info about each entry, and a very helpful and great reviews on each artist albums...nothing to tell more about it. Here you learn a little about blues history, you learn about the blues records and wich ones do you chose, and the artists bios...
Rating:
Summary: greatenecycopdeia for blues music
Review: this book was very helpful it listed those who i have never even heard of i listen to the blues show every weekend and am always using this book to look up those that i have never even heard of before i also just look up anyone who i can think of in this fields i have even found those who i never even knew that fit this catagory i also like the listings in the back which lists the various types of blues music and its time era it also has a list of the essays, recommended books, records companies and recourses and well as references i just cant put it sown i have trouble picking up a book that i have already started that doesnt even pertain to this catagory there is so much to learn here that i am learning something everyday i would recommend this book to those who are just getting into the blues and wish to know about certain performers and recommended recording by that person it is a good wasy to learn about the blues this book is a must
Rating:
Summary: Seminal
Review: This is a perfect starting point for anyone who wants to get immersed in blues music. The Blues volume (I bought Rock, Jazz and Blues) includes artists and listings for artists that cross over from Rock (Led Zeppelin) and Jazz as well as contemporary and classic blues artists. If you were going to quibble, you might complain there's too much filler here, that those who are primary known as rock artists (Cream, Zeppelin, ZZ Top, etc.) ought to appear only under that umbrella. Okay. But maintaining such a wide view is exactly what makes this volume useful. REQUIRED READING AND REFERENCE material.
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