I am pleased to announce the publication of The Steve James Songbook – Original Roots and Blues from a Fingerstyle and Slide Legend. I’m lucky to work with a team of talented, smart, kind people who are committed to bringing guitarists like you top-quality music and instruction—and I’m proud of every book we publish. But this latest project is particularly meaningful to me, because Steve James was my first-ever friend.
My earliest childhood memory is of a trip to the beach with Steve, where we stopped at a record store on the way home. Within minutes, he was surrounded by new friends, telling rollicking stories and making everyone laugh. I remember reaching up to pull on the hem of his jacket, to make sure he wouldn’t forget I was still there. Of course he didn’t, and he was there for me for decades after that.
If you’ve had the pleasure of meeting him at a show, learning from him at a blues camp, listening to one of his records, or reading his words in the pages of Acoustic Guitar magazine, then Steve James is already your friend. And if you don’t yet know Steve, after reading this book and playing these songs, you’ll surely call him friend, too.
Steve James (1950–2023) was a legendary roots and blues musician, masterful singer-songwriter, and endlessly entertaining storyteller. In this book, you’ll get to know Steve and his music—through his own words and those of longtime collaborators Del Rey and Elijah Wald (who also wrote Dylan Goes Electric! , the basis for the film A Complete Unknown). This songbook includes full guitar parts in standard notation and tablature, with lyrics, plus the stories behind 20 of Steve’s original songs:
This songbook includes full guitar parts in standard notation and tablature, with lyrics, plus the stories behind 20 of Steve’s original songs:
- Birmingham Steel
- Copeland’s Fancy
- County Line Road
- Farewell the Roses
- Fast Texas
- Fisherman’s Reel
- Folk Radio
- Freestone County Blues
- Galway Station Blues
- The Gina Reel
- Grain Alcohol
- I Love My Guitar
- The Right Thing to Do
- Saturday Night in Jail
- Seattle Blues
- Sonny Payne
- Stack Lee’s Blues (Parts 1 & 2)
- Talco Girl
- Why the Blues Don’t Worry Me (Parts 1 & 2)
- Willie’s Place
This book is available to order now in your choice of print or digital edition. Both editions are 144 pages and include a companion audio download, featuring original recordings performed by Steve James.
Thank you for reading and wishing you happy music-making this summer!
Lyzy Lusterman
Publisher, Acoustic Guitar
P.S. You can read more memories of Steve James (and share your own in the comments) here and here.
