white bicycles and Chris Albertson

[AllenLowe]

so I'm reading the book White Bicylces by Joe Boyd, a very interesting chronicle of the 60's music scene and his own transition from old music to new - when who is cited on practically the first page as having a radio show (in Philly) which changed Boyd's life by introducing him to some good old American music? Why, Chris Albertson, of course. I not only recommend the book but want to point out that Chris, somewhat neglected these days in the larger scheme of things, is such a major figure in the jazz/blues recording world of the last 50 years, and sometimes we may forget this as, unlike a lot of other important people, he is accessible and friendly. I myself have been reminded of this as I research my blues book; I must have found 50 LPs with some connection to Chris as I peruse my much-neglected collection (and I am sure that is only the tip of the iceberg) - will also, as I get into the blues spirit, be re-reading Bessie any day now (also happened to have found a reference to Chris in a book on old black show people, in an interview with Demas Dean) -

Edited January 5, 2009 by AllenLowe

[jostber]

I just got the book on Bessie Smith too, and looking forward to read it! Why is that Boyd book called "White Bicycles"?

[AllenLowe]

after the song title, I believe -

[Niko]

after the song title, I believe -

like that album quite a bit

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tomorrow_(band)

[papsrus]

so I'm reading the book White Bicylces by Joe Boyd, a very interesting chronicle of the 60's music scene and his own transition from old music to new - when who is cited on practically the first page as having a radio show (in Philly) which changed Boyd's life by introducing him to some good old American music? Why, Chris Albertson, of course. I not only recommend the book but want to point out that Chris, somewhat neglected these days in the larger scheme of things, is such a major figure in the jazz/blues recording world of the last 50 years, and sometimes we may forget this as, unlike a lot of other important people, he is accessible and friendly. I myself have been reminded of this as I research my blues book; I must have found 50 LPs with some connection to Chris as I peruse my much-neglected collection (and I am sure that is only the tip of the iceberg) - will also, as I get into the blues spirit, be re-reading Bessie any day now (also happened to have found a reference to Chris in a book on old black show people, in an interview with Demas Dean) -

Thanks for these comments. I can only imagine how gratifying/frustrating/rewarding/exhausting/enriching it must be for folks like Chris, yourself, Larry Kart, and others here, both musicians and writers, to have contributed in such meaningful ways to the music. As a listener, thank you to all of you.

[Christiern]

Thank you.