Feel Like Going Home: Portraits in Blues and Rock 'n' Roll

Feel Like Going Home presents portraits of blues and rock musicians through a series of essays and interviews from music journalist Peter Guralnick. The book focuses on foundational figures like Howlin' Wolf, Jerry Lee Lewis, Charlie Rich, and Muddy Waters. Guralnick spent years conducting firsthand interviews and observing performances to construct these intimate musical profiles. His direct access to the artists provides raw material for examining their creative processes, personal histories, and relationship to American musical traditions. The narrative moves between detailed accounts of specific encounters and broader historical context about each musician's impact and era. The writing style maintains focus on the artists' own words and experiences rather than imposing external analysis. The book serves as both a cultural document of a pivotal period in American music and an exploration of artistic authenticity across genres and generations. Through these collected portraits, larger questions emerge about musical inheritance, creative drive, and the tension between commercial success and artistic vision.

Readers appreciate Guralnick's in-depth interviews and firsthand accounts of blues and early rock musicians, particularly his portraits of Muddy Waters and Howlin' Wolf. Many note his ability to capture the personalities and lifestyles of these artists without romanticizing them. Likes: - Personal, intimate writing style - Historical context of the blues scene - Direct quotes from the musicians - Details about recording sessions and performances Dislikes: - Some readers found the writing dense and academic - Limited coverage of certain influential artists - Focus mainly on Chicago blues scene Ratings: Goodreads: 4.19/5 (151 ratings) Amazon: 4.7/5 (15 reviews) One Goodreads reviewer wrote: "Guralnick gets out of the way and lets the musicians tell their stories." An Amazon reviewer noted: "The author's respect for these artists comes through without hero worship."

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🎵 Peter Guralnick spent over 25 years researching and writing about American roots music before publishing this book in 1971, establishing himself as one of the most respected music historians of the era. 🎸 The book features intimate portraits of blues legends Howlin' Wolf and Muddy Waters, including rare personal interviews conducted during their final years performing. 🎼 Several chapters explore the early days of Sun Records and Sam Phillips, years before Guralnick would write his definitive two-volume biography of Elvis Presley. 📖 The book's title comes from a Charlie Patton song, "Feel Like Going Home," which has been covered by numerous artists including Muddy Waters and The Band. 🎤 Many of the interviews and portraits in the book were conducted at Chicago's Maxwell Street Market, a historic open-air market where blues musicians would regularly perform on Sunday mornings during the 1960s.