Road to Rembetika: music of a greek sub-culture, songs of love, sorrow and hashish

THE BOOK IS THE RESULT OF A LENGTHY RESEARCH BY THE AUTHOR THAT RESULTED IN GOOD KNOWELEDGE OF THE SUUBJECT. IT IS EASY TO READ AND ALWAYS FOCUSSED ON THE SUBJECT MATTER, ACCOMPANIED BY A GOOD SELECTION OF PHOTOGRAPHS AND SUPPORTING MATERIAL. hIGHLY RECOMMENDED FOR READERS INTERESTED.

Sometime in the late 70's I heard , in concert at a club, the great Sotiria Bellou. It was a life changing moment.I felt as if I was hearing Music and Song for the first time.Raw passion,the deepest feeling expressed without ...um... self conscious 'art'. I wanted to know more and eventually found this book ,by an Australian I'm proud to say,which says if not all then plenty to be going on with. I 've bought a few copies over the years.Lent books that aren't returned are sure indicators of quality...the book that is not the friends.

Very good historical and personal presentation. The author gave a factual narrative about the people and places that make up the history of the Greek bouzouki.

This volume has actual lyrics in Greek and English...very very swift.

I bought the book from Amazon Germany while I was staying in Greece and it's more than I expected it to be. It’s a perfect beginners' book about Rembetika, a starting point, not too overwhelming but rather whetting the appetite for more. The author, Gail Holst writes, “ . . . it’s always more interesting to get to know one man a little than to be presented with a lot of names to which there is not enough space to attach faces."Originally, I’d bought this book because of the 60+ pages at the end with lyrics and translation of the songs. I’d had a somewhat authentic taste of Rembetika, or maybe it was more of an historic reenactment at a Greek tavern in Epirus, Greece called Piperi Tavern.While there, a friend had recommended using Rembetika as another tool for learning the Greek language. But as one begins to understand the lyrics, it’s hard not to wonder about the people who wrote them and the time period. This book offers a bit of information on both but it is also somewhat of a memoir as the author also describes her time in the 1960s in Greece. This book was recommended by author, Jim Potts, who was also kind enough to lend his opinion to the cover of the book, THE NIFI, so naturally I trusted his judgment. I also wholeheartedly recommend it, not only to fellow Rembetika lovers but also to my fellow Greek-language-learners!

Should be read by anyone who is interested in Rembetika, Rebetes, Mages, Bouzouki, Baglama, music, Izmir and Greek modern history.

Good.

This is one of those classic books on a relatively little-known (in the UK) area of music that should be preserved and treasured. If you like Greece, the blues and the raw power of simple singing from the heart of a vanishing culture, then this first-hand account of the history and personalities of rembetika is for you. Get yourself a copy while it is still available.

Gail Holst captivated me with this amazing rendition of Rembetkia and the rich history that it sports as well as a huge collection of songs at the back of the book, a great read.

Für mich ist dieses Buch mit eines der besten dieses Genres. Neben den Büchern zum REBETIKO von Ioannis Zelepos und Elias Petropoulos gehört es für mich zur wichtigsten Informationsquelle über diese Musikrichtung, auch ohne tiefgehende Kenntnisse des Griechischen. Gut recherchiert und kurzweilig zu lesen gehört es für mich Rebetiko-Begeisterten zur Pflichtlektüre.

Il est dommage que ce livre ne contienne pas un CD sur la musique rebetiko, le livre en français en contient un.