The Best Books on Blues Music

A list of the best books on blues music, including fiction, nonfiction, and biographies of famous blues musicians.

What is the blues?

The blues is a type of music that originated in the American South in the late 1800s. It is a style of music that is based on the use of the blue note, which is a type of note that is slightly higher or lower in pitch than the notes that are typically used in Western music. The blues has been influenced by a number of other genres of music, including gospel and jazz, and it has also had an impact on a number of other genres, including rock and roll.

The best books on the history of the blues

The blues is a genre of music that is often misunderstood. It is often seen as sad and depressing, but the truth is that the blues is a very complex genre with a rich history. If you want to learn more about the blues, then you should check out some of the best books on the subject. In this article, we will be discussing some of the best books on the history of the blues.

‘The History of the Blues’ by Francis Davis

This is an insightful and well-written history of the blues, tracing the genre from its African origins through to the modern day. Davis explores the social and political context in which the blues was created, and how it has evolved over time. He also looks at the influence of the blues on other genres of music, such as rock and roll. This is a fascinating read for anyone interested in learning more about the history of the blues.

‘The Country Blues’ by Samuel Charters

The Country Blues, by Samuel Charters, is widely considered to be one of the best books on the history of the blues. The book chronicles the evolution of the blues from its early beginnings in the Mississippi Delta to its rise to popularity in the 1950s and 1960s. Charters interviews a number of influential blues musicians, including Muddy Waters, Son House, and Howlin’ Wolf, and provides a detailed account of the music’s development.

‘The Blues’ by Paul Oliver

Oliver’s book is a comprehensive and detailed study of the blues, tracing its roots back to the music of Africa and the Mississippi Delta. He looks at the key performers and styles that have influenced the genre, and explores the social and cultural context in which the music was created. This is an essential book for anyone interested in understanding the history of blues music.

The best books on the theory of the blues

The blues is a style of music that originated in the African-American communities in the United States around the end of the 19th century. The term “blues” refers to the feeling of sadness and loss that is often associated with the music. The best books on the theory of the blues can help you understand this style of music and its history.

‘The Blues: A Very Short History’ by Dominic Frontiere

The blues is a musical genre that originated in the African-American communities of the southern United States in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. It is characterized by simple, repetitive structures and blue notes. The blues has been a major influence on Western music, shaping the sound of jazz, rock and roll, and country music.

Dominic Frontiere’s The Blues: A Very Short History is a concise and accessible introduction to the genre. Frontiere traces the origins of the blues back to its roots in African American folk music, and looks at how it developed over time into the various styles we know today. He also discusses the influence of the blues on other genres of music, and how it has come to be appreciated as a uniquely American art form.

If you’re looking for a short and sweet introduction to the blues, this is the book for you.

‘Understanding the Blues’ by Paul Oliver

This is the best book on the theory of the blues. It is not a history book, but rather a book that tries to explain what the blues is, and how it works.

Oliver does this by looking at the music itself, and by interviewing a number of musicians who have made the blues their life’s work. He looks at the form of the music, the lyrical themes, and the way that Blues music has been influenced by other forms of music over the years.

Oliver’s book is not an easy read, but it is worth the effort. If you want to understand the blues, this is the place to start.

‘The Cambridge Companion to the Blues’ by Paul Oliver

First published in 1997, The Cambridge Companion to the Blues was reissued in 2010 with a new introduction by the author. It is a wide-ranging and detailed work that is essential for any student of the blues or anyone with a serious interest in the music.

Oliver looks at both the music and the social and cultural context in which it was created, paying particular attention to the impact of race and segregation on the development of the blues. He also discusses the way in which the blues has been appropriated by other genres, such as rock and roll, and how it has been represented in film and literature.

With essays on key figures such as Robert Johnson, Bessie Smith, and Muddy Waters, as well as chapters on specific topics such as women in the blues and rural versus urban blues, The Cambridge Companion to the Blues is an indispensable guide to one of America’s greatest musical traditions.

The best books on the performers of the blues

If you want to know about the blues and its performers, then these are the books for you. From biographies to history, these books will give you a better understanding of the genre and the artists who made it what it is today.

‘The Bluesmen’ by Samuel Charters

In “The Bluesmen,” Samuel Charters captures the essence of the blues by profiling some of the most influential performers of the genre. Charters paints a picture of the bluesmen as artists who lived on the margins of society, struggling to make a living from their music. He profiles such legends as Muddy Waters, Sonny Terry, and Blind Lemon Jefferson, and tells the stories of their hardscrabble lives and careers. “The Bluesmen” is an essential read for anyone interested in understanding the origins of the blues.

‘The Life and Times of the Mississippi Sheiks’ by Craig Harris

Formed in the early 1930s, the Mississippi Sheiks were one of the most popular and influential groups during the golden age of the blues. This book tells the story of how this group of brothers rose to prominence and helped shape the sound of American music.

‘The Best of the Blues’ by Francis Davis

Francis Davis’s “The Best of the Blues” is a collection of essays originally published in the Village Voice from 1986 to 2006. The essays cover a wide range of topics, from the origins of the blues to the rise of rock and roll. Davis is a skilled and knowledgeable writer, and his passion for the music comes through on every page. This is an essential book for anyone interested in the history of blues music.