The noted blues scholar Paul Oliver here examines the many different skeins of the blues form, relating them to other black traditions - musical and religious - and tracing the origin of the blues through the dense, many-coloured warp and weft of influences and inspiration. He describes "the dozens," Christmas rituals, and the coded (as well as blatant) sexual imagery that has always been a vital element of every popular song tradition. With extensive source notes, photographs, a discography, and two indexes of song titles and singers, this book serves as a sound, serious, and entertaining guide to the blues heritage that has vitalized so much of the world's musical culture.
- ISBN10 0304931373
- ISBN13 9780304931378
- Publish Date August 1968
- Publish Status Out of Print
- Out of Print 17 October 2003
- Publish Country GB
- Imprint Littlehampton Book Services Ltd
- Format Hardcover
- Pages 208
- Language English