Blues music grew out of the plantations.It was born out of hard work, hard luck and reared in the rural South. Blues songs echoed the feelings of these musicians.The guitar played a prominent part together with other instruments such as the harmonica, or slide-guitar. Blues and Gospel records sold well, a point not un-noticed by record companies. This attracted recording units to the south. Alan Lomax was prolific in recording this music as he toured the region with his own portable recording equipment in rural areas and penal camps.Within these pages, we follow the progression from the acoustic Blues of the Delta, to its advent in the northern cities as 'Urban Blues'.

Included is a discography of sorts, to assist identify the progress of this music together with a few obscure items from the author's own record collection.