Blues with a Feeling

by Tony Glover, Scott Dirks, Ward Gaines

Whenever you hear the prevalent wailing blues harmonica in commercials, film soundtracks or at a blues club, you are experiencing the legacy of the master harmonica player, Little Walter. Immensely popular in his lifetime, Little Walter had fourteen Top 10 hits on the R&B charts, and he was also the first Chicago blues musician to play at the Apollo. Ray Charles and B.B. King, great blues artists in their own right, were honored to sit in with his band. However, at the age of 37, he lay in a pauper's grave in Chicago. This book will tell the story of a man whose music, life and struggles continue to resonate to this day.

Genres: Music, Biography

344 pages, Paperback

First published June 28, 2002

Reviews

[Eric · Rating 2 out of 5]

Can a biography be too detailed? Yes. The writers obviously did their research, but left a bloated account, with a written description of every recorded take, every musician on those takes, performances, every performance, and every performer on the bill with him. You have to slog through unnecessary information to get to the story.

[Dave · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is another story of a talented, complicated soul with a biographical arc that begins in hardship and poverty moves through hard won success and then ends tragically with dissolution.

This book was written by three people who talk and write about the blues a lot and frankly, parts of the biography suffers from it. It is dense with arcane analysis of techniques used during studio sessions. Sometimes it seemed as if the authors were trying to draw a conclusion from some minutia found on a master tape from 50 years ago and fit it into a thing of broader significance in Little Walter's life.

That said, this bio is an insightful look into an incredibly talented, influential musician. Some interesting nuggets that stuck with me that show this man was full of incongruity: Little Walter was a tough, hard drinking, rough smoking blues musician and a pimp (like, literally) who also enjoyed playing chess and Lawrence Welk.

[Ted · Rating 5 out of 5]

Perhaps the best biography of a blues musician, ever.

[Harold · Rating 5 out of 5]

Little Walter was the genius of his instrument. He was without a doubt the most innovative and influential of all blues harpists. He lived a blues life to be sure - drinking, fighting and generally carousing. It all caught up to him at age 37 when he died after a severe beating in Chicago. Tony Glover does a great job of conveying the story of the music and the atmosphere. Recommended highly.

[Paul · Rating 3 out of 5]

Workmanlike and earnest, but somewhat of a slog at times. The authors are hampered by their inability to interview the key players, leaving them to rely on often vague and self-interested anecdotes by less pivotal figures and dry recording session logs. Still, some worthwhile insights into one of the most talented and influential of blues musicians.

[Scott Murphy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is loaded with great information, but the writing leaves a lot to be desired at times. The writers almost seem to have gathered too many anecdotes and details, and are seemingly reticent to leave any out, which makes it a grind for the reader.

[Johnny · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book, I was glad to get to read about one of the greatest Harp players!