The Land Where the Blues Began

A wonderful detailed travel in the heart of blue county with untold stories and unique insights into this utterly unique American music genre.

Historic journey throughout the Mississippi Delta by ethnomusicologist Alan Lomax during the mid-twentith century is illuminating as well as educational. We meet blues legends Son House, Fred McDowell, Muddy Waters, and Bill Broonzy, and hear them tell of their experiences in their own words. Lomax makes clear the social pressure and discrimination that impacted development of their music, and he skillfully relates blues and its musical antecedents to African origins. A vital contribution to our understanding of the development of American music.

The book is in great condition! I love it

I thought Alan Lomax was just a great recorder of songs and voices -- one lucky enough to be in the right place to capture an oral tradition just as the world changed. But this book brings a whole added dimension of significance to his work. Who knew he was also a great story teller? And the things he has seen -- from outrageous repression to the transporting ecstasy! The indomitable human spirit and the drive to express the joys and sorrows of daily life are in full evidence here. This book will blow you away.

Don't know of any book that covers this part of US history. The music of the times illuminates the conditions of slaves and Blacks in the South during the first half of the 1900's. Blues fans in particular and fans of the other forms of music that were birthed by the blues should consider this to be a primer of the genre. Mr. Lomax on occasion gets a little carried away with himself. He and his father explored this music in its contemporary state. They recorded music that no longer exists but was the precursor of much of American music (at least the best American music). A must read for any musician.

Excellent

THis is something every serious Blues listener or anyone interested in American music should read. Unlike most books about the Blues and Blues musicians, this tells a first hand account of the times and the dangers in trying to record or in some cases even associate with Bluesmen. Painful accounts of segregation and flat out ignorance. This is a view of the blues from the very ground they worked. Walking the dirt road to locate the musicians. Going to notorious prisons searching for roots music. Going to a Juke joint to be with Son House in his world. Experiencing that moment and those artists before they were well known and while they were still alive. If you want a glossy history of the Blues, this is not it. If you want the down and dirty truth about where and how the Blues began, then here you go. I loved it. I learned more about Levee camps and Muleskinners than I expected and came away richer for it. Very informative. First hand accounts of what I knew had happened, brought to life by the guy who found it and recorded it.

Alan Lomax was a music pioneer. He did not play music, but recorded it. He sought out a lot of the old bluesmen in the south - in the plantations and prisons and the backwater juke joints - to record the music that became rock & roll. I have read many books about how the humble blues men shaped the music and invented rock and this one is excellent. If you are interested in the history of American music, read this!

half way through the book and it is fascinating. quite a bit of religious stuff early on which i skipped cos i don't believe in fairy tales. now getting to the music. enjoyed the stuff explaining the background to the segregation going on and how it affected the black people in the delta. the music is the real reason i bought the book and now i'm getting into that part of the book. well worth getting and a bargain as it used to be very expensive for an old copy when it was hard to get in the UK. thank you amazon!

Buena idea para regalar a quien le interesa la musica y el asunto Excelente libro para aprender sobre el asunto en cuestion

Alan Lomax et son père John Lomax ont sillonné le sud et collecté les origines du blues, en véritables chercheurs et avec beaucoup d'humanité, à une époque où ce n'était pas facile de franchir les barrières imposées par le racisme. On peut trouver des enregistrements de leur collecte sur CD ou en visitant la Library of Congress américaine. On comprend mieux au travers de cette lecture et au fil de ces enregistrements d'où vient une grande partie de la musique qu'on écoute aujourd'hui. Passionnant.

Land Where the Blues Began by Alan Lomax is a captivating journey into the heart of the Mississippi Delta, where the raw and soulful sounds of the blues were born. As a pioneering folklorist and musicologist, Lomax provides an intimate, firsthand account of his travels through the American South in the 1930s and 1940s, documenting the lives and music of legendary blues artists like Muddy Waters, Son House, and Fred McDowell. This book is more than just a historical record—it’s a vivid narrative that immerses readers in the struggles, joys, and creative spirit of African American communities during a time of racial and economic hardship. Lomax’s deep respect for the musicians and their craft shines through in his lyrical prose and meticulous recordings, preserving the cultural roots of a genre that would go on to influence music worldwide. Why You Should Read It: - Authentic Insight: Lomax’s fieldwork offers unparalleled access to the origins of the blues. - Rich Storytelling: His writing blends history, anthropology, and personal anecdotes. - Cultural Legacy: A must-read for music lovers, historians, and anyone interested in America’s musical heritage. Land Where the Blues Began is a masterpiece of ethnomusicology, bringing to life the voices that shaped a musical revolution. Highly recommended for anyone who wants to understand where the blues truly came from.

ペーパーバックで同じ本を所有していたのですが、やはりKindleで読めたほうがわざわざ本を持ち歩かなくてもよく、電車の中等で手軽に読め、また洋書の場合の辞書引きもとても簡単なので、今回Kindleから購入してダウンロードしました。 すると、なんとこの本、データがテキストベースではなくて画像のようです。従って、辞書引きはできないし、目次のリンク機能もありません。気になるパラグラフのマーキングもできません。 購入する前に、試し読みをするとか書誌データをよく確認するとかすればよかったのかもしれませんが、この本は古書でもなく、なぜテキストデータなしなのか理解に苦しみます。 これだと、ペーパーバックの方がよほど読みやすいので返品したいところですが、kindle本の場合それもできないのですね。・・・残念です。