Topic: Blue Smoke - The Recorded Journey of Big Bill Broonzy

[Stuart]

Via the PWBG:

http://www.lsu.edu/lsupress/bookPages/9780807137208.html

http://www.amazon.com/Blue-Smoke-Recorded-Journey-Broonzy/dp/0807137200/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1285684943&sr=1-1

[Bunker Hill]

In all probability it is a rework of this:

House, Roger. 'Keys to the Highway': William ‘Big Bill’ Broonzy and the Chicago Blues in the Era of the Great Migration. Ph.D. Dissertation, Boston University, 1999. 247 pp.

Poor old Bob Reisman, who is soon to see publication of his years of BBB research, is no doubt spitting blood.

Such is life.

[TonyGilroy]

I ordered it from Amazon assuming it was the anticipated new biography.

Oh well.

[Bunker Hill]

I ordered it from Amazon assuming it was the anticipated new biography.

I wonder how many others may make the same assumption? Is it too late to cancel the order or are you going to let it stand and give us the lowdown on it at some later time? 

[dj]

I've ordered it too.  One can never have enough books!  I'll certainly post my thoughts after reading it.

[Bunker Hill]

I've ordered it too.  One can never have enough books!  I'll certainly post my thoughts after reading it.

Good man.

The "other" biography is entitled "I Feel So Good: The Life and Times of Big Bill Broonzy"

[TonyGilroy]

I ordered it from Amazon assuming it was the anticipated new biography.

I wonder how many others may make the same assumption? Is it too late to cancel the order or are you going to let it stand and give us the lowdown on it at some later time? 

I'm with DJ. It'll join the 100+ books waiting to be read.

My wife will have a word when it arrives.

[dj]

I got my copy today.  155 pages of text, plus index, unannotated bibliography, discography/sessionography, and a list of "recordings consulted".  Lightly illustrated.

At first glance, it looks like a short biography of Broonzy amplified by appropriate quotes from his and others' lyrics.  It doesn't look bad, but it's not the deep, critical biography that I hope Reisman's book to be.  More to follow once I've had time to read.

In all probability it is a rework of this:

House, Roger. 'Keys to the Highway': William ‘Big Bill’ Broonzy and the Chicago Blues in the Era of the Great Migration. Ph.D. Dissertation, Boston University, 1999. 247 pp.

You're exactly right about that:  "This book began many years ago as part of my doctoral research..." 

   

[Bunker Hill]

For those unaware of the discussion three years back concerning the Bob Riesman biography see

http://weeniecampbell.com/yabbse/index.php?amp;Itemid=60&topic=3212.0

[Bunker Hill]

The "other" biography is entitled "I Feel So Good: The Life and Times of Big Bill Broonzy"

It seems to have a publication date of May next year see http://www.press.uchicago.edu/presssite/metadata.epl?mode=bio&isbn=9780226717456

[Slack]

Just received this email from Roger House.

--------------------
Dear Sir or Madam,

I’m pleased to announce the publication of my book on the legendary Chicago bluesman Big Bill Broonzy.

Blue Smoke: the Recorded Journey of Big Bill Broonzy was released by Louisiana State University Press in October. It is a short biography that uses song and story to place Broonzy in the context of African American history.

I’d like to share my website with you and your readers for more information. The address is www.bluesmokestory.com.

Please pass the word.

Yours truly,

Roger House

[Stuart]

I ordered a copy from Amazon and finished it a couple of weeks ago. It's definitely worth reading. I'll echo what DJ said about it not being a deep, critical biography. However, it certainly brings out the social and historical context in which Big Bill lived his life and places him within that context. And it serves as an important reminder that as a whole person--not just the name on a record label--Big Bill live his life beyond the limited context of the recording studio.

[RobBob]

I am slogging through it each evening at the end of the day.  Mr. House does much, so far, to detail the plight of the Black American.  Some of us may be acutely aware of this situation all ready.  I am only part way in and he says nothing about the plight that has not all ready been said in other places.  Although things have changed a great deal they still have a ways to go.   He does layout several instances where the truth about Big Bill is still shaded in ambiguity but takes the time to look at it from a couple angles.  He does not really settle something things, just states that there are contradictory statements out there.

I will update after more slogging. 

[jharris]

I interviewed the author on my show about a month ago. Here's a link to the playlist/show notes: http://sundayblues.org/archives/2765

At the bottom of the post is a link to listen to the interview segment.

[RobBob]

I have to say after finishing this book that it is a worthwhile read but is not really about Big Bill as much as it chronicles his times.  Details of his life are scant while insights into the machinations of his world are rich.  It seems nothing has changed much since then.