How Britain Got the Blues: The Transmission and Reception of American Blues Style in the United Kingdom

Nonfiction, Entertainment, Music
Cover of the book How Britain Got the Blues: The Transmission and Reception of American Blues Style in the United Kingdom by Roberta Freund Schwartz, Taylor and Francis
View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart
Author: Roberta Freund Schwartz ISBN: 9781317120933
Publisher: Taylor and Francis Publication: April 29, 2016
Imprint: Routledge Language: English
Author: Roberta Freund Schwartz
ISBN: 9781317120933
Publisher: Taylor and Francis
Publication: April 29, 2016
Imprint: Routledge
Language: English

This book explores how, and why, the blues became a central component of English popular music in the 1960s. It is commonly known that many 'British invasion' rock bands were heavily influenced by Chicago and Delta blues styles. But how, exactly, did Britain get the blues? Blues records by African American artists were released in the United States in substantial numbers between 1920 and the late 1930s, but were sold primarily to black consumers in large urban centres and the rural south. How, then, in an era before globalization, when multinational record releases were rare, did English teenagers in the early 1960s encounter the music of Robert Johnson, Blind Boy Fuller, Memphis Minnie, and Barbecue Bob? Roberta Schwartz analyses the transmission of blues records to England, from the first recordings to hit English shores to the end of the sixties. How did the blues, largely banned from the BBC until the mid 1960s, become popular enough to create a demand for re-released material by American artists? When did the British blues subculture begin, and how did it develop? Most significantly, how did the music become a part of the popular consciousness, and how did it change music and expectations? The way that the blues, and various blues styles, were received by critics is a central concern of the book, as their writings greatly affected which artists and recordings were distributed and reified, particularly in the early years of the revival. 'Hot' cultural issues such as authenticity, assimilation, appropriation, and cultural transgression were also part of the revival; these topics and more were interrogated in music periodicals by critics and fans alike, even as English musicians began incorporating elements of the blues into their common musical language. The vinyl record itself, under-represented in previous studies, plays a major part in the story of the blues in Britain. Not only did recordings shape perceptions and listening habits, but which artists were available at any given time also had an enormous impact on the British blues. Schwartz maps the influences on British blues and blues-rock performers and thereby illuminates the stylistic evolution of many genres of British popular music.

View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart

This book explores how, and why, the blues became a central component of English popular music in the 1960s. It is commonly known that many 'British invasion' rock bands were heavily influenced by Chicago and Delta blues styles. But how, exactly, did Britain get the blues? Blues records by African American artists were released in the United States in substantial numbers between 1920 and the late 1930s, but were sold primarily to black consumers in large urban centres and the rural south. How, then, in an era before globalization, when multinational record releases were rare, did English teenagers in the early 1960s encounter the music of Robert Johnson, Blind Boy Fuller, Memphis Minnie, and Barbecue Bob? Roberta Schwartz analyses the transmission of blues records to England, from the first recordings to hit English shores to the end of the sixties. How did the blues, largely banned from the BBC until the mid 1960s, become popular enough to create a demand for re-released material by American artists? When did the British blues subculture begin, and how did it develop? Most significantly, how did the music become a part of the popular consciousness, and how did it change music and expectations? The way that the blues, and various blues styles, were received by critics is a central concern of the book, as their writings greatly affected which artists and recordings were distributed and reified, particularly in the early years of the revival. 'Hot' cultural issues such as authenticity, assimilation, appropriation, and cultural transgression were also part of the revival; these topics and more were interrogated in music periodicals by critics and fans alike, even as English musicians began incorporating elements of the blues into their common musical language. The vinyl record itself, under-represented in previous studies, plays a major part in the story of the blues in Britain. Not only did recordings shape perceptions and listening habits, but which artists were available at any given time also had an enormous impact on the British blues. Schwartz maps the influences on British blues and blues-rock performers and thereby illuminates the stylistic evolution of many genres of British popular music.

More books from Taylor and Francis

Cover of the book The 1848 Revolutions by Roberta Freund Schwartz
Cover of the book Religion and Society in Roman Palestine by Roberta Freund Schwartz
Cover of the book Household Capital and the Agrarian Problem in Russia by Roberta Freund Schwartz
Cover of the book A Curriculum for the Pre-School Child by Roberta Freund Schwartz
Cover of the book Evidence-based Practice in Education by Roberta Freund Schwartz
Cover of the book Armed Groups and Contemporary Conflicts by Roberta Freund Schwartz
Cover of the book The War for Children's Minds by Roberta Freund Schwartz
Cover of the book Universities and Regional Development by Roberta Freund Schwartz
Cover of the book The Longman Companion to the French Revolution by Roberta Freund Schwartz
Cover of the book Troubled Youth, Troubled Families by Roberta Freund Schwartz
Cover of the book The Pilgrimage of Arnold von Harff, Knight, from Cologne by Roberta Freund Schwartz
Cover of the book Latina Lesbian Writers and Artists by Roberta Freund Schwartz
Cover of the book The Selected Writings of Andrew Lang by Roberta Freund Schwartz
Cover of the book Productive Engagement in Later Life by Roberta Freund Schwartz
Cover of the book Code-Switching in Conversation by Roberta Freund Schwartz
We use our own "cookies" and third party cookies to improve services and to see statistical information. By using this website, you agree to our Privacy Policy