Deep blues (original 1981; edition 1982)

The best book on the blues I have read. I would like to know how something like this can be done better. Palmer uses Muddy Waters as the pivotal figure on which to base his history of the blues. It is because this device is utterly plausible that a seamless narrative account immediately takes shape and flows easily through at least a century's worth of American history and beyond. Filled with insight, research, historical and cultural information, extrapolation into folklore and African forms, anecdotes with the author's discographical and bibliographical sources all fully referenced. Yet the narrative style is laid-back, conversational and (given the breadth of the subject) utterly UNintimidating. A joy to read for anyone at all interested in the blues and other popular musics at any level. ( )