There were several centers or music scenes in the late ’50s and early ’60s Britain, but it was mostly London happenings that were more or less extensively documented – to an extent where photographic testaments of what was going down didn’t get limited to local press at the time. This is why “Boom Boom Boom Boom: American Rhythm & Blues In England 1962-1966” – a forthcoming volume focusing primarily on Manchester as captured by lenses of one Brian Smith – feels so alluring. Published a few days ago, it’s a unique collection of rare images, finely restored and well research, which caught many a familiar face in their natural habitat.
American Rhythm & Blues
In England 1962-1966
There are more than 200 visual documents in this volume, allowing the reader to see Big Joe Turner, Chuck Berry, Screaming Jay Hawkins, Little Richard, Bo Diddley, Jimmy Reed, Howlin’ Wolf, Carl Perkins, Reverend Gary Davis, Sleepy John Estes, Larry Williams, Millie Small, Big Mamma Thornton and many other legends both in front of audience and off-stage. Yes, readers – because there are in-depth stories about all of these as told by Smith, who might have left his hobby behind decades ago yet saw interest in his work increase in the ’80s which led to some of the pictures included in the book appear in CD booklets and magazines and making it to exhibitions. However, that’s the first-ever published collection of Brian’s oeuvre. Deserving of poring over, “Boom Boom Boom Boom” is quite a thing to dig into.
