Escaping the Delta

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View books by Elijah Wald.

A Serious Work Which Challenges the Stereotypes - Rated
The American reviews inside the cover make it clear that this caused quite a stir in the States. This is a terrific book - and one which, for once, challenges the blues fan a little, rather than providing familiar stereotypes of lonesome Delta bluesmen developing their genius in rural isolation. For anyone who loves Robert Johnson, Son House, Skip James et al, this will be a treat - but a treat which will possibly change the way you regard their music. (It even comes with a CD!)

an alternative but laborious take on the blues - Rated
A great concept for a book - take a subject which we all take for granted and turn it on its head then support it by a myriad soundbites and anecdotes.

I had high expectations for this book after reading the other reviewers' comments. However, the author's main thrust is that we have misinterpreted the place of the blues in American history and essentially over-romanticized what was popular music at the time.

Unfortunately he makes this point over and over and over again and its gets extremely tedious believe me.

Its not much of a Johnson biograhy either in terms of substantive facts. The book takes an 'evidence based approach' and where there isn't much evidence it prefers not to pass judgment. A sound principle perhaps but ultimatley a flawed concept for a book that needs some fleshy facts to it.

Overall too much dour, waffly, pontification not enough insightful facts.

Fascinatingly different take on the story of the blues - Rated
Chuck away your romantic notions (if you had any). The blues wasn't the heart-aching voice of the opressed, but the down-home pop music of its time. The 'names' were professionally slick, and lived a good(-ish) life.

One could probably quibble with some of the interpretations of the music's history, but this is fascinating and valuable re-consideration of the story of the blues as we thought we knew it.

It's a shame in a way, because I always rather liked the more traditional take, but it's probably about time I grew up anyway.

Superb - nothing but the blues - Rated
This book looked interesting to me. It turned out to be compelling.

Like many others, I have always thought of the blues as a traditional, black musical style rooted in rural poverty, slavery, violence and dark bargains with the devil.

Escaping the Delta gently debunks these myths, and replaces them with an explanation that is both more interesting and more convincing. The book is intelligently structured, with an introductory section, a song-by-song treatment of Johnson's recordings (listen as you read!) and a rather understated wrap-up.

This is not a biography, and it leaves much of Johnson's life, relationships and death untouched. But Wald's point is that Johnson has been hijacked and turned into a modern phenomenon that would be unrecognizable to him and his peers, so he rightly focuses on the legend rather than the life.

If you are new to the blues, buy a copy of Escaping the Delta and a CD of the complete recordings of Robert Johnson, settle down with your favourite beverage and enjoy this book. If you are already into the blues, do all of the above, dig deeper into your record collection....and be ready for some surprises.

I have nothing but praise for this book, which is immaculately researched, fresh in its thinking, and always entertaining. I recommend it unreservedly.