• Blind Owl Blues

  • The Mysterious Life and Death of Blues Legend Alan Wilson
  • By: Rebecca Davis
  • Narrated by: Nick Marinovich
  • Length: 6 hrs and 54 mins
  • 4.7 out of 5 stars (6 ratings)

Prime logo Prime members: New to Audible?
Get 2 free audiobooks during trial.
Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, and podcasts.
Access exclusive sales and deals.
Premium Plus auto-renews for $14.95/mo after 30 days. Cancel anytime.
Blind Owl Blues  By  cover art

Blind Owl Blues

By: Rebecca Davis
Narrated by: Nick Marinovich
Try for $0.00

$14.95/month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy for $19.95

Buy for $19.95

Pay using card ending in
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and Amazon's Privacy Notice. Taxes where applicable.

Publisher's summary

This is the long-awaited story of Alan Wilson, musical genius and co-founder of Canned Heat. Biographer Rebecca Davis journeys through his artistic innovations, tormented personal life, obsessive love of nature, and mysterious death. A key figure in the 1960s "blues revival", Wilson participated in the rediscovery of Son House, and wrote scholarly analyses of House and Robert Pete Williams. He went on to co-found pioneering blues-rock band Canned Heat, becoming an unlikely rock star. Known as "Blind Owl", he was responsible for the hit songs "Going Up the Country" and "On the Road Again".

©2013 Rebecca Davis (P)2022 Rebecca Davis

What listeners say about Blind Owl Blues

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    4
  • 4 Stars
    2
  • 3 Stars
    0
  • 2 Stars
    0
  • 1 Stars
    0
Performance
  • 4 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    4
  • 4 Stars
    1
  • 3 Stars
    0
  • 2 Stars
    0
  • 1 Stars
    1
Story
  • 5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    5
  • 4 Stars
    1
  • 3 Stars
    0
  • 2 Stars
    0
  • 1 Stars
    0

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Ain’t nothin’ but the blues

Being a big Canned Heat fan from ‘back in the day’ (I hate that phrase, but there you are), I was so excited to discover this book. So much good information though really poorly edited. My immediate struggle with it was because of the awful narration. If you’re telling a story about a blues man, it should be told by someone who sounds like they’ve experienced, or played, the blues themselves. A touch roadworn and weary. This guy no lie sounds like a 1960’s AM top-forty disc jockey. Practically sounds like Casey Kasem. The only way I could make it through was setting the speed at x.8 to slow the guy down and lower the pitch at least a bit so I wasn’t constantly expecting him to break into a commercial.
But it’s worth it. A must read for Heat and blues fans, and especially fans of the great Alan Wilson.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Canned Heat: Goin up the Country

a well researched must listen for any Canned Heat Fan, and broadly late 60's blues revival/woodstock-era enthusiasts. most people only know of one song, now ubiquitous, but beyond distinctive vox, Blind Owl was blues man, and savant on both guitar and blues harp. narrator was annoying and spoke like robot and book obviously wasn't written by a skilled academic, but once you get past that, definitely some cool info. about a very unique American treasure.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Alan Wilson was a beautiful, sensitive soul

An absolutely marvelous look at one of music's most extraordinary and soulful talents. Highly recommended!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!