The life of blues legend Robert Johnson becomes the centerpiece for this innovative look at what many consider to be America's deepest and most ... read full description
reviews
Nov 22, 2011
Benjamin
rated it: 
This was painful. Like I need some hippy blues nerd to tell me that black people listen to all kinds of music and that white audiences bring their racist baggage to how they hear the music... All his points are valid, but they are so belabored. If you are after "truth" and "authenticity" then this dude is fighting the good fight in the culture wars. If you just dig the blues, and you know it's phony, then this is going to hurt. He should of just written a biography of Leroy C
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Jun 23, 2009
Bill
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The premise of this book is blues history as we know it is all wrong. What we take for blues history is a string of musicians picked by a handful of English blues enthusiasts, notably the Rolling Stones and rolled into a the myth of the poor outsider. Real Blues history is far richer and diverse than what we think of when we think of the classical cannon of blues musicians today. Whether you buy into that or not (I do) the book is a must read for any one interested in today's popular music or
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Feb 20, 2008
Darren
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Nice analysis of early blues and our misperceptions of what the early blues musicians were listening to, what they were trying to be, and the target audiences' own account of the history of the blues being so different from the mythology mostly perpetuated by white blues fans 30/40 years after the fact.
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Jan 24, 2010
Chris
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Very thorough and well researched history of the blues. The author's primary aim is to separate myth from fact, specifically in regard to Delta blues and Robert Johnson. Mr Wald emphasizes the differences in perspective between black and white blues audiences and recounts the formation of the white blues revivalists' romanticized view of the Mississippi Delta blues. For me, it was a fascinating approach and after reading the book, I've come to question my view of the blues and what I perceive as
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Jun 07, 2010
Joe
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This is the best book on Robert Johnson and the Delta blues tradition that I've read. Wald's major thesis is that Johnson was heavily influenced by the popular music of his day and would have found classification as a "country blues" artist confining and ridiculous. Wald is also excellent on the historical development of the blues, Johnson's biography, and the establishment of the Johnson cult after Johnson died. Highly recommended for those interested in Johnson, the blues, or t More...
Oct 02, 2011
David Glenn
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Washington City Paper
Arts & Entertainment : Book Review
Highway 61 Revisited
By Glenn Dixon • January 23, 2004
The blues was invented by white people: Although that’s the incendiary thesis behind Elijah Wald’s provocative new book, "Escaping the Delta: Robert Johnson and the Invention of the Blues," it’s unlikely to anger many African-Americans. Because Wald isn’t talking about the music per se; he’s challenging the way the nostalgic modern idea of the blues More...
Arts & Entertainment : Book Review
Highway 61 Revisited
By Glenn Dixon • January 23, 2004
The blues was invented by white people: Although that’s the incendiary thesis behind Elijah Wald’s provocative new book, "Escaping the Delta: Robert Johnson and the Invention of the Blues," it’s unlikely to anger many African-Americans. Because Wald isn’t talking about the music per se; he’s challenging the way the nostalgic modern idea of the blues More...
Sep 26, 2007
Justin
rated it:
This is easily the best book on Robert Johnson I’ve ever read. Much like Jon Savage did with the Sex Pistols in England’s Dreaming, Elijah Wald examines the life and legend of Robert Johnson by examining in detail the origins, circumstances and environment of Johnson as a musician and performer. The result is, without a doubt, the clearest, most complete and honest look at Robert Johnson to date. Wald does a fantastic job of getting inside Johnson’s head and making educated guesses as to his mot
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Dec 29, 2008
Nick
rated it:
This history of the blues places Robert Johnson in the context of his time and the music of his time and place. Therefore, it corrects the widely held impression that Johnson in particular and the Delta bluesmen in general were recognized as tortured geniuses and were popularly acclaimed. At the same time, Wald respects and loves the Delta blues recordings and his chapters on Johnson's sessions are a sensitive track by track appreciation and evaluation.
May 24, 2010
Mike
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Started reading at my daughter's in Philly. This book is not so much about Robert Johnson as the construct of rural blues. The book was not great prose, but I learned a lot about the blues from 20s to 40s. Great stuff that is! You must get a hold of Rhapsody (I do the $12 month subscription) as you read this book. Reading about Bukka White, Sonny Boy Williamson, or Dinah Washington is a bit pointless without listening to the songs.
He says the most underrated blues artist are Bessie More...
He says the most underrated blues artist are Bessie More...
Jul 08, 2009
King Dinösaur
rated it:
I found this book in the biography section at the library, thinking it was a bio of Robert Johnson. What it actually is, is a re-thinking of the blues - placing it in a more realistic historical context and exploding the myths of those early performers that have been built up over the years, mainly by white critics and fans. Very interesting and well-researched (and written). Made me see this music I love in a different light. Not a bad light - just different. Worth a look if you're a fan o
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Feb 02, 2010
Steven
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Fascinating alternative history of blues with a detailed analysis of Robert Johnson's influences and a deconstruction of the mythology surrounding him.
Nov 29, 2010
Now This Sound
rated it:
Less a biography of Johnson than a dissertation on how white blues aficionados shaped how we view the early blues scene, Escaping the Delta is a well-thought-out and personable study into the making of a myth. Wald's love and passion for blues music shines through as he puts Johnson's life and music in context, creating a different portrait of the blues legend than has been painted before, but with no less love for Johnson's talent and craft than has been heaped on the singer/guitarist's short-l
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Nov 06, 2010
Mariel
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Bought this as a prezzie for my mom and ended up reading it myself.
p.s. I bought Justin Bieber's soul.
p.s. I bought Justin Bieber's soul.
Jun 28, 2010
Michael
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Great. I love books that dispels mythology and hagiography. This is a great introduction to the history and uniqueness of the blues.
Aug 16, 2010
Megan
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So - for a book that I had to read for a class, it was pretty good. I didn't read this book from front cover to back cover, but it became an unbelievably wonderful resource when I had to write my papers. It was easy to read and understand and helped me wrap my head around the whole RJ/Delta Blues story in a way that my other class books couldn't.
Mar 30, 2008
Rodney
rated it:
Outstanding revisionist history of the early blues. Fascinatingly informative throughout. Helps appreciate Robert Johnson, Skip James, Son House, and other icons no less--but also see how Lonnie Johnson and others were much more popular in their day and time, and how the white cult of the blues created the images of early blues and blues musicians . . .
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Dec 16, 2009
Eric
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This is a well-written and brave book. It dares to strip away decades of myth-making and misplaced (even harmful) reverence to look at the blues as a form of popular music- not simply a crusty artifact of a time that many of its original artists just as soon would not have been born in.
Sep 12, 2011
Excellent revisionist work that situates the blues in context and examines the ways artists deployed the blues as part of their stagecraft. Found the argument persuasive and enjoyed the deconstruction of some of the mythology surrounding the music and the musicians. Great read.
Oct 29, 2008
Joe
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Anyone with a remote interest in the blues or music in general will find something in this bbok. It does an excellent job of taking a close look at musical inspiration and invention without the distortion of myth getting in the way.
Feb 07, 2008
Like Romancing the Folk, this book deserves a more careful reading than a week's preparation for a grad-school class allows. I shall return, Robert Johnson!
Sep 09, 2010
Jen3n
rated it:
A very nice little histroy of early blues. I liked it very much, but then again I'm biased: having been a fan of Robert Johnson for ages.
Recommended.
Recommended.
Feb 20, 2012
Feb 20, 2012
Feb 18, 2012
