Book Review
Rhino’s Cruise Through The Blues
By Barry Hansen
(Miller Freeman Books, paper, 208 pgs, $19.95)
Reviewed by Tony Glover
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1999 KBA Award Winner
Achievement for Blues on the Internet
Presented by the Blues Foundation
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The title is apt--this is a breezy ride through blues history from its earliest day beginnings as field hollers, up to the modern black revivalists, who now do acoustic blues from the twenties and thirties. The author, Barry Hansen, is knowledgeable and has an easy to read style, before he became known as Dr Demento on West Coast radio, he was a Mpls native with a helluva blues collection (the label and old LP cover shots most likely come from his archives). Hansen does an overview of the development of the various strata such as Vaudeville Blues (Bessie Smith, Ma Rainey etc), Urban Blues (Big Bill Broonzy, Tampa Red etc), West Coast Jump, Chicago Blues, Soul Blues and a number of other branches, spending a few pages on the histories of each before delving into individual artists.
The 9X9 book is plentifully illustrated with performers photos, each of whom gets a couple paragraphs and a recommended CD listing. Not ALL of those are Rhino label releases--though the book was released in conjunction with their NEW MILLENNIUM BLUES PARTY comp CD set. Obviously some choices will be subjective and though some will wonder why a favorite of theirs was omitted, all in all Hansen does a pretty good job of making a comprehensive overview of the field. This book would make a good introduction to someone who wants to turn a niece on to what the blues was like before Johnny Lang.
This review is copyright © 2001 by Tony Glover, and Blues On Stage, all rights reserved. Copy, duplication or download prohibited without written permission. For permission to use this review please send an E-mail to Ray Stiles.
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