Blues Essays

Here are some blues essays which may be of interest to you. They were written by enthusiasts of the blues as amateur writers. All essays are copyright of the authors. Please do not reproduce or distribute them without their prior knowledge and permission. They are provided here for educational use only.

NEW: Slave to the Blues - Coffles and the Auction Block - by Max Haymes

Poetry and The Blues - by Christine White
I Woke Up This Morning - Introduction to Blues for the Newcomer - by Max Haymes & Alan White
An Introduction to Bob Dylan's use of Pre-war Blues - by Michael Gray
"Gettin' a Handle on those Monickers" - by Alan White
Ghost Trains of Mississippi - by Michael Gray
'Things They Said' (by early blues singers) - by Max Haymes 
"I Heard The Voice of a Pork Chop" - by Max Haymes
The English Music Hall Connection - by Max Haymes
Jumpin' The Blues - by Steve Pilkington
Survey of Black Preachers in the South-before 1940 - by Max Haymes
Ghost Trains of Mississippi - by Michael Gray
Got the Blues for Chattanooga - by Max Haymes
Background of Recorded Blues: No. 6 - Big Ship Blues - by Max Haymes
Background of Recorded Blues: No. 5 - Nut Factory Blues - by Max Haymes
Background of Recorded Blues: No. 4 - P. C. Railroad Blues - by Max Haymes
Background of Recorded Blues: No. 3 - Beaver Slide Rag - by Max Haymes
Background of Recorded Blues: No. 2 - Mobile and Western Line - by Max Haymes
Background of Recorded Blues: No. 1 - Pea Vine Blues - by Max Haymes
Blues Singers & Their Instruments - by Dai Thomas
Catfish Blues (Origins of a Blues) - by Max Haymes
“Now Look-A Here, Blues. I Wanta Talk To You”* - by Max Haymes
        * “Conversation With The Blues” Big Bill. 1941.
T C I Blues - by Max Haymes
Back to the Land of California
        - Robert Johnson & "Sweet Home Chicago" - by Max Haymes
"Katy's at the Station, Santa Fe is in the Yard"
        (on the rail trail of Bessie Tucker - Queen of the Texas Moaners) - by Max Haymes
"This Cat's Got the Yellow Dog Blues" 
        - origins of the term Yellow Dog - by Max Haymes
"Worry Blues"- an in-depth study of Tom Dickson's recorded output - by Max Haymes
Baby Please Don't go (Origins of a Blues) - by Max Haymes
Spotlight on Lucille Bogan (Part 1) - by Max Haymes
Spotlight on Lucille Bogan (Part 2) - by Max Haymes
Spotlight on Lucille Bogan (Part 3) - by Max Haymes
Spotlight on Lucille Bogan (Part 4) - by Max Haymes
Spotlight on Lucille Bogan (Part 5 - Conclusion) - by Max Haymes
Blues Where You From? - by Max Haymes
Got The Blues For Mean Old Stack O' Lee - by Max Haymes
Lemon's Hoodoo Moan (Hoodooism and the Blues of Blind Lemon Jefferson) - by Max Haymes
Robert Johnson, His Life, His Music, His Legacy - by Alan White
Some Blues Roots of Rock 'N Roll Music - by Max Haymes
Hoboes and Their Constant Struggle with Railroad Workers - by Alan White
One Way / Country Rock Blues - by Max Haymes
Gulfport Island Road Blues - by Max Haymes

More to come soon.....
"I'm Gonna Hang This Mandolin Under My Shoulder" - Mandolins in the Blues

If you have an essay on the blues you would like publishing on this site or wish to ask permission to copy one, please email alan.white@earlyblues.com Thank you.