It Ain't Easy: Long John Baldry and the Birth of the British Blues

I've been a fan of Long John Baldry's music since the 1970's and have always wanted to know more about him. The small amount of information available from CD inserts only made him more intriguing. Baldry had a posh accent but could growl the blues with the passion of Leadbelly, and seemed to be at the epicenter of the British Blues movement. He was not only one of the most versatile singers ever, but he gave Rod Stewart and Elton John their start, and they returned the favor by producing and performing on several Baldry albums. The author, Paul Myers, obviously understands and has a great love for music and a deep knowledge of how it all connects. He captures Baldry's fascinating story in an engaging and compelling way with an economy of words--no sycophantic slobbering or speculation--and a very visual sense. I would love to see the documentary by Nick Orchard which is mentioned in the book (Myers wrote the documentary too, obviously a perfect choice!) because growing up in the states, I was never able to see Baldry's amazing tv performances other than via Youtube clips. I hope the documentary will be released at some point, but until then, this book more than fits the bill. You don't even need to know Long John Baldry's music to enjoy this book, although after you read it you will be seeking out his songs. People are still discovering what a great artist he was!