The Language of the Blues - Debra Devi

The Language of the Blues - now back in print! "One of the wittiest, bawdiest, most fascinating dictionaries ever." The Language of the Blues, by Debra Devi, explains more than 150 blues terms. From familiar words like "mojo" to more obscure ones like "buffet flat," this is one jammin' read. With a foreword by Dr. John, the author's interviews with the likes of Hubert Sumlin, Bonnie Raitt, and Jimmie Vaughn, and original research into African language, voodoo culture, and oral histories, there's a lot to learn-and to enjoy while doing it. "You can open it at random and fall into the world of your favorite blues songs," says former Muddy Waters guitarist Bob Margolin.

Paperback, 269 pages; 30 pages of photographs (17 in color)