Me and Big Joe

by Michael Bloomfield

Foremost blues guitarist of the '60s and '70s Mike Bloomfield writes the tale of his early days in Chicago, where he befriends great blues legend Joe Lee Williams (AKA "Big Joe"). Together they embark on a journey to the dark, smoky blues clubs of the Midwest, encountering Lightnin' Hopkins, Sonny Boy Williamson, Tampa Red, Kokomo Arnold, and other blues musicians along the way. A classic American adventure story, a must read for any blues lover or musician.

Genres: Music

46 pages, Paperback

First published December 31, 1981

Reviews

[SeaOfSound · Rating 5 out of 5]

Simply epic.

"Because to know this man (Big Joe) was to know the story of black America, and to know the story of black America is to know America itself."

[patty · Rating 4 out of 5]

As another reader posted, and I will do the same . . . "Because to know this man (Big Joe) was to know the story of black America, and to know the story of black America is to know America itself.”

[Willy Boy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent, if very short, reminiscence concerning the author's earnest adventures in the company of Blues performer Big Joe Williams, writer of 'Baby, Please don't Go', among others, in the early sixties. It's unfortunate that this book commands such high prices on the collector's market, since it deserves a wide readership - but here's a tip - the text is included in it's entirety in The High Times Reader (ISBN 9781560256243, ed. Anne Nocenti and Ruth Baldwin), and, if the google gods are smiling, you might just locate a PDF version online. Happy Hunting!

[Patrick · Rating 4 out of 5]

"And he got madder and madder and reached into his pocket and brought out a pen knife with a blade no more than an inch long. I started to laugh - it looked like a toy. But he suddenly reached out and popped it right into the palm of my hand. I leaped out of the car, howling. 'Now you did it, you fat old sonofabitch!'"

Michael Bloomfield and Big Joe Williams

[John Darsey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great stories... only complaint- it's WAY too short!
Snoots!!!

[Allan · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's certainly a quick read--scarcely more than a magazine article. There are some photos too, stock pics of a half dozen of the blues artists who appear in the text. Bloomfield is a blues guitarist so this is written as a description of the time he hung around with another artist and what that was like. As brief as it is, Me and Big Joe is worth tracking down for a peek at some interesting blues characters in their natural habitat.

[croson · Rating 3 out of 5]

real short blues book, but still interesting. Bloomfield is not that great of a writer.