This band rocketed to fame after the Woodstock movie hit theaters in 1970. Their historic performance was the culmination of three years hard work rising up through the British blues scene and into Classic Rock history. Any Zeppelin fan should go out and experience the “Cricklewood Green” or “Ssssh” albums. Then, properly weaned, go experience the blues chops on the “Undead” CD. This book, with lots of photos, explains it all. Well-researched by a man who loved Alvin Lee and Ten Years After as much as anyone. Herb gave away some of these books on Sunday Morning Blues and I loved meeting him. Sadly, he passed away recently, and we lost one of the most enthusiastic music fans I’ve ever known. This book is hard to get in stores, but can be found at amazon.com

The acclaimed PBS series in seven parts also produced this wonderful collection of essays about the Blues.  Especially awesome is our own Peter Wolf’s lengthy dissertation called “Muddy, Wolf and Me.”  The former J.Geils Band lead singer has an amazing memory and a quick wit with the pen (or keyboard, if you will).  You can read how Peter hung out and volunteered to carry Muddy’s equipment when he played in Cambridge back in the day. Simply priceless!

Ronnie Wood’s recent battle with the bottle has been played out in the press, but this addiction has been a challenge for the Rolling Stones’ guitarist for years. Ron tells all, but it’s not all gloom and hangovers – most of this account tells of a genuinely funny and warm person who used his talent to connect with dozens of musical friends. Of special note – his tremendous association with Bo Diddley.

This short 96-page book by noted music writer and historian Peter Guralnick is essential in understanding the vast talent of the shadowy figure Robert Johnson – who wrote two dozen classics including “Love in Vain,” “Crossroads Blues” and “Traveling Riverside Blues” back in the 30’s.  The singer and guitarist has three grave sites – so sorting through the myth is quite a task that Guralnick accomplishes masterfully. Eric Clapton even recommended this book when his tribute CD to Robert Johnson was released and had copies sent to radio stations.

Eric Clapton’s book is a wonderful look inside his brilliant career and life. As a boy, Eric was unaware that he had been given up by his mother and raised by his grandparents. As his family’s dirty secret, the guitarist didn’t discover this for years and was then painfully shy as a result. Eric’s account spares no details of his battles with heroin and alcohol – the latter causing him to lose the one woman he had yearned for – his “Layla” – Patti Boyd Harrison, whom he married and divorced. Great inside info about Cream, the Yardbirds and the blues!

The former bassist for the Rolling Stones, who was a member of that band for 35 years, is a Blues music enthusiast and a fine writer.  This colorful account of Blues history features many photos and an insightful, well-researched account from a man lucky to have met many of the legends he writes about.  This is a good book whether you’re a novice or well-versed in the genre.