Louie Bluie now available on DVD!!!

[Glassweb]

Finally... FINALLY! It's been a long time coming, but this amazing documentary about the unbelievable musician/artist/raconteur Howard Armstrong (RIP) has finally been transferred to DVD and released by Criterion. Created and directed by Terry Zwigoff (Crumb, Ghost World, American Splendor), if you've never seen or heard of this film or of Howard Armstrong, you MUST buy or rent... and if you're a mandolin player it's a double-bonus as Yank Rachell is featured throughout. Among the extra features are a bunch of songs where Armstrong, Rachell, Ted Bogan and Banjo Ike perform live... essential viewing for those mandolinists who really want to belly-up their blues playing. Guitarists, fiddlers, mandolinists... get a copy asap... you won't regret. Howard Armstrong's amazing musicianship, artistic talents and life-force are a thing to behold... there'll never be another like him, that for sure!

[Smiley Pockets]

It's one of my all time favorite movies. People just don't or can't seem to play with the same feeling and intensity that that generation was capable of when it came to the blues, rags and old pop tunes. I was hoping they'd be some extras, and it sounds like they included some good ones. I'm going to order mine NOW! Now if only Zwigoff would come out with volume 2 of his Early Mandolin Classics cd. He's quite a 78 collector and I'm sure could put something together.

[TheMandoKit]

Need to find a copy. I had the privilege of doing a week long workshop with Howard back in the mid-80s during Blues Week at the Augusta Heritage Workshop. A fun guy to learn from, trade licks with, and just talk with. Ted Bogan was there one year, too. And Rich Del Grosso. Good times.

[mandroid]

wonder what extras goodies were put into the DVD,

since film already up through you tube in a few sections a couple years ago.

[SternART]

I've learned so much each year about Armstrong, from Rich DelGrosso and his presentations at the Mandolin Symposium. Rich is a link to Howard.....and has shown portions of this film.......I'll have to look for the DVD.

[mandopops]

I'd like to get a copy of Louie Bluie. The odd thing is I've never seen it, yet I attended one of the tapings at a Lincoln Ave. club Holstein's( I think that is what it was called at the time).

It was so historic to see Howard Armstrong, Bogan,Yank, & Banjo Ike on stage at the same time. The music was great,but it was one of those things where setting up for the filming took priority over the audience. In fact I showed up early and was told I had to change seats several times for what ever reason. I was a little annoyed, but I'm glad I went.

I had met Martin,Bogan & Armstrong a few years earlier. At the time I was doing an act w/ my partner and we were billed with Martin, Bogan & the Armstrongs at a club Sylvester's. So I was able to sit in the back room and talk with the guys. Carl let me play his A4. At the time I was just staring to play. They were great guys. I did not know of the Louie Bluie name until much later.

I did have an afternoon w/ Yank once. He was in town doing a gig. I found out where he was staying at this guys apartment, and sat & played and talked with him. Homesick James came by to visit. All great guys.

Anyway I digress. I want a copy Of Louie Bluie , when does it come out?

[Glassweb]

It's out brother! Just go to Amazon and get ya one.

[Ed Goist]

Louie Bluie: Something Old, New, Borrowed, and Bluie (http://www.criterion.com/current/posts/1548-louie-bluie-something-old-new-borrowed-and-bluie)

Glassweb: This artist is new to me. Thanks so much!

[Glassweb]

Ed, you're really in for a treat! And thanks much for that link... great review of this DVD...

[bmac]

Great!!! After it disappeared from Youtube I was afraid it wasn't coming back, in my lifetime anyway... I have the Louie Bluie music album, but this video will be a great document for anyone interested in mandolin blues history..

[mandopops]

It's ordered.
Now I wait.

[BradKlein]

Available on Netflix starting next week, for those who do that.

[mandopops]

Got it.
It's great to see "That old gang again."

It seems most of the Holstein footage was left on the cutting room floor, as they say. Although in the closing credits under Special Thanks there is a mention of Holsteins. In the Supplimental features, Yank's 38 Pistol Blues appears to be at Holsteins. It's awfully dark, maybe that's why it didn't make the cut.
I like the bonus tunes a lot. Maybe my favorite parts.

[MandoSquirrel]

Ed, you're really in for a treat! And thanks much for that link... great review of this DVD...

But the picture is backwards! That review is included in the booklet. Some of the best playing is in the extras, without the interruptions & talk-overs in the movie.

[mandopops]

I agree with MandoSquirrel, about the extras. In my last post I said the bonus tunes were "maybe my favorite parts", I've re-watched it, they Are my favorite parts. Just watching Armstrong & Yank w/ Bogan doing some Blues is Historic. Yank is playing his electric un-amped, but I don't care it's great. I wish Yank's '38 Pistol' had not been cut off. I think there is way too much of Armstrong talking away. The segment w/ Bogan and his clothes for example. They would not get my vote for the Academy Award for Film Editing. Not to be a downer, I still like the DVD.

[Amandalyn]

I got it from Netflix and just watched- it's pretty entertaining, the extras is where the most music is.

[chasgrav]

Yup, just returned my Netflix copy. It's good to see them carrying things like this.

[BradKlein]

What a treat. Fell in love with MB&A when I worked at Rounder, way back around 1980. I knew of the movie, but never got to a screening. So happy to have rented the DVD. Good job Zwigoff!