Mr. Harwood's book occupies such a special literary space---a history, ostensibly, of a single song, yet which opens up its scope to a much wider world, tracking texts, legal documents, letters, newspapers, etc.; but also including short biographies, human stories, vignettes, and so much more. The author's own personal interactions with "St. James Infirmary" grounds the entire book in an all too relatable desire to get to the bottom of something which, once it hooks you, won't let you go. Highly recommended.
So Bob Harwood has woven a few new threads into his rich and complex tapestry? I'm all in. As he always said would be the case, "there are no restraints," no end to the angles and stories to be discovered about this most enigmatic and iconic song. Here he has added two brief chapters, taking us back (again) to the nineteenth century and, to trace the possible source of the song's melody, to Norway. The book continues to be one of the most entertaining, as well as informative, ones I have ever read about an American popular song and about Americana itself, and I am absorbed once again reading it front to back.
Who wrote "(I Went Down to) St. James Infirmary," which Jack Teagarden called the oldest blues he ever heard? Easy enough, just check out the song's copyright, right? Well, it turns out the answer is a whole lot more complicated than that. And Robert Harwood, pursuing an association he made years ago between a Lou Rawls performance of this song and Bob Dylan's "Blind Willie McTell," has been chipping away at it for some twenty years, culminating, so far, in this third edition of his song biography. Harwood leaves no stone unturned, and besides blackface & minstrelsy (about which there is a fascinating excursion), vaudeville, and the blues, we learn about centuries-old English ballads, cowboy songs, and early American hillbilly music. We get to know A.L. Lloyd, John and Alan Lomax, Dorothy Scarborough, Carl Sandburg, and other pioneering music folklorists. We learn about pivotal changes to the technology of recording and to the music business itself in the early twentieth century. There is courtroom drama, a central protagonist being the Tin Pan Alley music publisher Irving Mills, and Harwood's largely sympathetic treatment of Mills is said to be the most extensive yet written. Harwood weaves this incredibly complex and fascinating tapestry in a refreshingly non-academic manner. In the genre of song biography, this is tops in its class.
This is a very exhaustive book about the song “St. James Infirmary”. Multiple people have claimed to have written it. The author gives EXTENSIVE backgrounds on all of them. I dont dislike the book but it is becoming as bit of a slog getting the life story of everyone who brushed up against this tune.
Well, written, well researched, not a bad book, but I may not be able to finish. But, give it a try, you may love it.
What I run into when ordering from this company is I place my order, then another screen pops up with the same title but for about $2 less, and I think Im getting a deal so I hit order and I have ordered two of the same book and cant find out where to delete. This time the credited me back the cost because they had shipped and I told them I only wanted one.
I've been playing this song for many years and it's one of my favorites songs. This lovely book answered most of the questions I've had about this song. As it turns out, I thought I knew the history of St. James Infirmary, but I didn't, until now.
This is not what it was portrayed to be. It is redundant and could have been reduced to 10 pages of well written information. Very disappointing and shall not return the book since it is in the trash bin.
The story of a song, one that’s been recorded many times with many versions, many authors and many sources. The dedication of the author in exploring “the shadowy world of early jazz-blues” (to quote the description on the cover) is impressive. Mini-biographies of some of the major players, a list of some of the recorded variants, and a bibliography. I appreciate the song a lot more after finding out so much about it.
Just started it, so I can't give it a better review. So far, though, so interesting. It's a fascinating tale and he tells it pretty well. I would recommend it to anybody interested in this kind of music and American popular music history.
I got the St. James Infirmary book for my wife; she says it's great. I also ordered What was the first rock 'n roll record, and though I got a notice that it had been shipped, I never received it. Do you know the status?
Thanks.
Tom Remes
tremes@sbcglobal.net
Book arrived quickly and in perfect condition. I haven't read it yet, but a quick glance through its pages looks like it's pretty thorough discussion of the song and its history.
I thoroughly enjoyed and admired the many phases of the song that were traced: from "Gambler's Blues" and "Dying Crapshooter's Blues," through centuries and various genres of music. I also appreciated the section on A.L. Lloyd, of whom I did not know much. I will be sure to search out more music books from this author and publisher in the future.
Great bookseller. This book is thorough to say the least! A deep dive on a narrow subject with interesting cultural and historical insights and offshoots. Physically, it’s a quality production with substantial stock and good printing with a comfortable, readable sized text. Recommended for deep enthusiasts of the subject.
This book may not be for everybody, but if you're like me and find music history fascinating, it's for you! As the author takes us down the tangled path of the origins and history of St James Infirmary Blues (aka Gambler's Blues), you'll learn about long-forgotten performers and composers and publishers from the early 20th century. And be prepared for some surprises: a lot of what you though you knew about St James Infirmary is flat out wrong! (Likewise as to Blind Willie McTell's Crapshooter Blues, which the book also covers).
Meticulously researched and full of fascinating detail, the story of the song we know today as ST JAMES INFIRMARY will appeal to music fans and those interested in cultural history.
Absolutely fascinating research exploring the many streams, from different cultural sources, that fed into the versions we hear today. Characters inhabit and shape the song over time. Harwood is nimble with details that might have become dry on the page through fine writing, tone, and enthusiasm. Rigid adherents to the concept of 'authenticity' may have their relations with the song broaden and deepen.
Read even if you don't like jazz. This is an American history. Harwood's original research and style stands with Susan Orlean and Mary Roach.
My husband is enjoying this book and I'm just getting into it, so don't have much to say about the content yet. My husband did use the word thrilling, like a mystery. I was really impressed with the quick filling and shipping of the order. I'll try Genius Books again.
I wasn't sure what to expect from this book. Still, I'd known and played the song countless times over a lot of years. What was fascinating were the connections: between songs, between musicians and bands, and all interwoven into what was going on in the country at various times. It's an academic rather than inspirational work but it seems thoroughly researched and covers some surprising territory. St James will never seem quite the same again.
Robert Harwood’s depiction of the blues and jazz world of the 1920’s and 1930’s America, moving forward throughout the 20th Century is a fascinating portrayal of the lives of those involved. Creating, producing, surviving and thriving in this newly emerging environment of copyright, performing, recording, and distribution was no small feat for those involved. Harwood’s stories of how people accomplished what they did in this particular time period and musical genre is an informative and extremely interesting read, and one in which you will not want to miss.
Robert Harwood's I Went Down to St James Infirmary provides fascinating detail woven into an enlightened narrative. I learned lots reading this, and enjoyed it. Appreciated the informative footnotes, the appendices, and the graphics (eg, sheet music, contemporaneous dance promo fliers, photos) and two indexes. Harwood sets the bar nice and high for future musical-historical researchers.
This book is the Bible on St James Infirmary from myriad perspectives. It is a vital inspiring resource for my many musical performances and arrangements of this classic song, including my recording with Yo-Yo Ma and The Silk Road Ensemble and Rhiannon Giddens.
This deep dive into "St. James Infirmary" has more twists and turns than a mystery story. And Harwood has mastered the material in a way that leads the reader on a revelatory journey through music, culture, and history. It's a goldmine of information with a fascinating cast of characters. The definitive statement on the subject — and a very entertaining read to boot.
