Bill Wyman's Blues Odyssey

by Bill Wyman

Book Overview

In this evocative and intensely personal history of the blues, Bill Wyman pays tribute to the musicians who inspired him and whose music he took around the world as a member of the Rolling Stones. The... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0789480468
• ISBN13: 9780789480460
• Release Date: September 2001
• Publisher: DK Publishing (Dorling Kindersley)
• Length: 400 Pages
• Weight: 8.85 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.3" x 8.8" x 11.2"

Customer Reviews

Blues

Great book with pictures and portrayals of the great blues players throughout the ages.

Roots of the Blues and African American History

Sure this book is like an encyclopedia, but you won't find a better guide for finding obscure blues artists that otherwise would be forgotten. Most books go into familiar territory and rehash the same old information, but Bill Wyman is a serious collector who wants to share his love of the blues. This book is loaded with enough information to get you started on your own eclectic blues collection.

A Major Masterpiece on the Mojo Music of America!

Bill Wyman - of The Rolling Stones, and The Rhythm Kings - has written a major masterpiece on the mojo music of America. This is The Blues. ... There is no other music as deeply authentic and as emotionally gutsy as the blues. It is a music based on a feeling whose archetypal root is grounded in the solitary pain of the existential core of realty: LONELINESS - and the joyous TRANSCENDENCE of that loneliness. ... We all feel pain, and because of this we can all relate to the blues - the loneliness, the pain, the anger, the freedom to rebel from it, and the joy of the thrill and excitement of escaping from this loneliness. ... Only the blues, in its powerful simplicity of delivery, can sincerely convey these emotions to and from the human soul. It is these same emotions which many musicians, including Bill Wyman, have been inspired by to play the blues - and which cause us to RESONATE with the blues we hear being played by our fellow musicians. Non-musicians in touch with these same basic feelings deep in their soul feel the same way when they hear the blues being played. It's like someone is saying, with musical words: "Man, that's EXACTLY how I feel, and how it is!" ... It is THIS spirit of EMPATHY for the blues that is captured in this excellent book by Bill Wyman. ... If you have ever been moved by the blues and want to learn more about it, but don't know where to start, then start with this book! It is well written, has glorious photographs, pays true homage and respect to the musicians who created this musical artform, and contains many personal stories about Bill Wyman's musical journey through life as a blues musician as well. ... I admit: I am an ENTHUSIAST - and I am very enthused about this book because I KNOW that it will inspire ENTHUSIASM for the blues in everyone who reads it. ... BRAHVO, Bill Wyman, on a work well done! ... - The Aeolian Kid

Essential for the blues collector

This book falls somewhere between the in depth tomes of Paul Oliver and the "Blues for Dummies" book. It has greater depth than the "Dummies" book, covering such history as the slave trade and American Abolition movement to a greater extent than found in a casual survey. Wyman & Havers also provide a decent intro for ragtime, spirituals and jazz before they get into the meat of the subject. The book covers the usual subject matter with a little greater depth than usual. Excellent features include profiles of essential artists (including suggestions on what to purchase for great listening), recording histories of the great songs (Stack O'Lee, Rollin' and Tumblin', etc.) and a recurring map featuring blues highlights. As a blues fan and collector, I found it fascinating reading which I plan to pass on to other fans and nonfans alike.

A rich personal history of the world of blues music

This rich personal history of the world of blues music blends a history of the movements of blues from Africa to the US with a personal exploration of the society and places which fostered the rise of blues music. From location shots of juke joints to biographical sketches of big names in blues music, this is packed with color images which bring a far more personal touch to the subject than most.