I crave your indulgence for a few moments. This month marks 45 years since Mike Leadbitter and Simon Napier published the world's first English language blues magazine, Blues Unlimited.
The first issue was announced to the world by Derrick Stewart-Baxter in his Jazz Journal column thus:
"A new magazine has been published by the Blues Appreciation Society, entitled Blues Unlimited. It will be published every five weeks - the first issue contains a positive wealth of information and interesting articles such as a summary of the blues releases on Crown and many other features. It costs 1/6d per copy (9/- for six issues) and can be obtained from Simon A. Napier, 38a Sackville Road, Bexhill-on-Sea. Very highly recommended."
The magazines's editorial commenced:
"This the first of what we hope will be many issues of our magazine", commenced the editorial of the issue that covered Bull City Red (Paul Oliver), Jr Parker (John Broven), Crown LPs (Napier) and much more besides. The news of the time was that police disguised as a hillbilly act arrested Baby Face Lewis on drugs charges and an obituary for Mercy Dee Walton who died the previous December."
BU continued for 25 years and enjoyed many 'firsts' (some I've reprinted at Weenie) and I'm sure few would deny that without the work of this magazine, its astonishingly knowledgeable editors/contributors, blues appreciation wouldn't be what it is today.
I shall now step down from my soap-box.
