Topic: New Paramount Book of Blues

[Pan]

New Paramount Book of Blues: Elusive Artists on Paramount Race Records
By Alex van der Tuuk

Description

Fifty-eight biographies of Paramount blues artists with sensational new information based on years of research.

http://www.agramblues.nl/new-paramount-book-of-blues.htm

"On the threshold of finishing "The New Paramount Book of Blues." Just in time to celebrate Paramount's Centennial. Today the Indexes arrived and we are halfway checking the final pdf (in full color). Thanks to editor Chris Smith this book has not only been juiced up in English, it also has new information on various blues singers. A surprise or two will be found in the 450 pages, hardback book with a great dustjacket (see the illustration). Expected to be available between March 15 and April 1, 2017, this book can be ordere via Agram Blues Books www.agramblues.nl.
Thanks also to Guido van Rijn for not only proofreading the manuscript at its various stages, but also for pushinging me to the limit and take the plunge in having this book publishing."

-Alex van der Tuuk, on facebook

Cheers,

Pan

[btasoundsradio]

I dont understand how to order this from the site. It is available isnt it? I dont see a link on the agram site, just the cover image.

[Stuart]

The site doesn't appear to have the usual buttons to click to order. I suggest that you send an e-mail to Guido van Rijn: guidovanrijn88 at gmail dot com

I have several email addresses for Alex van der Tuuk:

alexvandertuuk at online dot nl   (via Pre-War Blues Group)

alexvandertuuk at orange dot nl  (via ParamountsHome)

alexvandertuuk at wanadoo dot nl  (via Mainspring Press)

Let us know if you hear anything.

I did find the ISBN via Bookfinder.com: 9789082657005 / 9082657007

And it's listed on the Amazon Germany site:

https://www.amazon.de//gp/offer-listing/9082657007/

[jostber]

There is order information on this page:

http://www.agramblues.nl/order.htm

[Gilgamesh]

Has anybody picked up a copy of this yet? I haven't seen a review.

[Blues Vintage]

http://www.mainspringpress.com/book_paramount.html

[Stuart]

It's a different book, Harry. The one you posted the link to is a revised edition of Alex's original book by the same title.

Alex posted to the PWBG and on the ParamountsHome site  over the years while he was doing the research for the new book. At one point he said was trying to secure funding for its publication, something not unusual for books in all fields that do not have the potential for the wide readership needed to earn back the cost of publication. I guess the challenge now is for wider distribution.

[Blues Vintage]

You're right. It's also for sale at Frog Records;  https://www.frog-records.co.uk/products/the-new-paramount-book-of-blues

I heard Alex say in a radio interview that it was Kid Bailey's "Rowdy Blues" that got him hooked on pre-war blues. Since the book claims to contain new information on Willie Brown we should ask him if he thinks they are the same person (or maybe it's in the book).

[Gilgamesh]

I can't find a mention or review of this book anywhere online, but I think we can assume Van Der Tuuk did his usual thorough job. I went ahead and ordered a copy from Frog in the UK. I can't find anybody in the USA selling it.

[alyoung]

If you go to the Agram page at http://www.agramblues.nl/order.htm , the book is listed there. Order by emailing Guido van Rijn (who runs Agram) at the address provided; payment is done through Paypal.

[Gilgamesh]

I found a review Alex posted on his Facebook page.

Review from Paul Vernon aka Sailor Vernon from Real Blues Forum:
Well folks, don?t bip another bop, My copy of Alex van der Tuuk?s ?New Paramount Book Of The Blues? arrived at the weekend, and it is STUNNING. First, a few words about quality, which is absolutely top notch. The paper itself, every page, is a smooth glossy delight. Running you fingers over it is a pleasure in itself, but the content that it bears is, at times, simply astonishing. There?s a LOT of new information, photos and graphics ? and the familiar are of a quality you will need to see to appreciate- all labels are in full color as are other graphics when the carry them. I?m not going to run spoilers past you, but I guarantee you will gasp audibly as you work your way through the book, There are useful addenda, a bibliography and three indexes ?artist, song and general- and although the price isn?t cheap, neither are the production values you will cherish. It?s a pleasure just to have it in your hands, never mind what else it contains. I cannot recommend this book highly enough. Simply superb, and congratulations to Alex for producing it, with the knowledge and awareness that his readers will be like-minded folk who will understand all its nuances and attention to detail. And a shout out to Agram books for producing another quality tome. As my old Latin, Math and Corporal punishment master, Dr. Rayburn, might have said ?Don?t piss bout, just get it?

[Stuart]

Thanks for posting Paul's review Gilamesh. To say that Paul tends not to be overly generous in his praise is an understatement, so his good words speak volumes about his opinion regarding the quality of the book.

I just sent Guido an email asking about the details re: ordering from the U.S. I'll let you know what I hear back.

[Stuart]

Here's what I heard from Alex:

"Guido forwarded me your request on the cost of the book in USD plus postage and how to pay.

The book plus postage to USA is 68 USD and can be paid via PayPal account alexvandertuuk@gmail.com

Hope this helps,

You can also look at my Facebook page where I regularly update the status of the book, reviews etc.

You can order directly from me or via Guido's agramblues.nl

Hope to hear from you,

Best

Alex van der Tuuk"

[alyoung]

I've ordered it from Guido; it's on the way. Payment thru Paypal. Book cost was 40 euros, plus 19 euros postage; my currency converter program tells me that's fairly close to the $68 quoted for shipment to the US. It's also available from Frog Records in the UK for $US46.40; dunno what the postage is.

[Stuart]

Given how much work that Alex put into the book--and publishing costs, it would be cheap at twice the price. Postage / shipping is dictated by what's available. Many of the inexpensive options have disappeared depending on where you live. $19 sounds about right for a book by air carrier. I remember when there was an inexpensive international book rate surface mail option with insurance and tracking, but those days are long gone--in the U.S. at least.

[Gilgamesh]

I guess nobody in the USA is going to carry this, which is the only conceivable way to pay cheap postage. I say bite the bullet and get it now because I don't see something like this ever going for anything less than 60 euros.

[Stuart]

I sent Elderly an email suggesting they carry it. Even if the overall price isn't lower than buying it direct from Alex or Guido, it might generate a few more sales for Alex.

[alyoung]

That was 19 euros, not 19 dollars (but there's not a lot in it -- it equals a bit over $21). But you are right about US postage -- eye-watering. I just bought a book from Amazon (on bluegrass, but we all have our weaknesses) and the postage is more than the cost of the book. Ridiculous. A few places can/will do cheaper postage; one is Elderly Instruments. 

[Stuart]

Thanks for the correction, Al. International postage rates are crazy. I don't know what the thinking behind doing away with the surface option was--or even if there was any thinking behind it. There are several UK booksellers  that have reasonable rates to the U.S., but my guess is that they either have or contract with a U.S. fulfillment center or they are of a scale that allows them to contract with a freight company and ship en masse, and when it gets to the U.S. individual orders are then handed off to the U.S. Postal Service. In the U.S., USPS provides the "last mile" delivery service for UPS, FedEx, and DHL. But I digress...(as usual)

Given Amazon's scale and volume, I'm surprised that they don't do the same for their international customers. But it's all about money--and what do I know, anyway?

Good on you for doing the editing work on the various volumes. No shame in pointing out your excellent work and the excellent quality of the volumes.

[Rivers]

Postage within the US is often totally variable and therefore more or less eye watering depending on the seller. The fact is each seller can say anything they want to improve their own margins. Running a creamery way out in the NY sticks we have to buy a lot on line or via email, think Sears & Rebuck catalog, 1928. It's sort of cute, but expensive.

It's either that or drive 30 miles to pick up a ream of inkjet paper!

[waxwing]

Correction: That's not "postage", that's "shipping and handling".

US Postal Service has relatively inexpensive flat rate boxes. if it fit in the box it ships, regardless of weight. Ebay companies and others charge high rates for just putting it in the box to pad their profit on inexpensive items.

Wax

[jostber]

Just ordered this book from Frog Records together with the "Blues for Francis" book and a couple of CDs: Bessie Smith and Deep South Piano. All at a fine postage rate. Looking forward to get this.

[Gilgamesh]

"On the threshold of finishing "The New Paramount Book of Blues." Just in time to celebrate Paramount's Centennial.

It was a hundred years ago today
Maurice Supper taught the bund to play
The early singles have gone out of style
But the 12000 Series is still worth a pile

[TenBrook]

Just stumbled on the Big Road Blues post of a review of 'New Paramount Book of Blues' along with a few others here:
http://sundayblues.org/?p=12889

[Gilgamesh]

I've received my copy from Frog.

The book is 6.5" x 9.5" (16 x 24 cm) and 1.25" thick, clothbound with dust wrapper. 418 pages on heavy, smooth coated (not glossy) paper.

There are 58 mini-biographies, mostly the obscurities but also Patton, Charlie Jackson, Son House, and Tommy Johnson. I assume these are here because of some new tidbits of information, but I wasn't sure what that was.

Alex states unequivocally that "Geeshie" Wiley is the same person as Lillie Mae Wiley/Scott who died age 41 in Brazos County, Texas, on July 29, 1950. The author of the 2014 NYT piece left this as speculation. It's unclear to me why Alex is so confident with this ID. There is a photo of a couple of women from the 1930s, found at an antique store, that "may" be Geeshie Wiley and LV Thomas. I have a strong feeling that this ID may be from the Robert Johnson School of Photographic Research.

I think some of these pieces have been published here and there, but it's nice to have them all collected together under one cover.

There are photos, label shots, and ads, some printed in color. I didn't see anything that seemed previously unknown or unpublished, but I'm probably wrong.

Recommended for Paramount fans. I assume this is a limited printing and will go pretty fast, so get it now or pay $200 later.

[Blues Vintage]

This book is now for sale at 35 euro (was 50 euro). All the books on the site are for sale.

A volume 2 is in the making with a 70 page piece on King Solomon Hill.  Also a chapter on Bert Mays, Six Cilinder Smith, Red Mike Bailey, Ruby Paul, George "Bullet" Williams and additional info on Charlie Spand.

Agram Blues
https://agramblues.com/

[Thomas8]

Great, thanks for the heads up harry! I'm hoping Deep South Piano is available as well!

[Blues Vintage]

It probably is. Looks like only a couple of LP's are sold out.
I got the "New Paramount Book of Blues" book and it's stunning.
It's a real steal at this price point and like Gilgamesh noted it will be worth 6 times more when it goes out of print.