Blues Guitar, Communist China, SRV, and The Allman Brothers Band | Alan Paul

<p>Alan Paul is an author, a journalist, and a musician. </p><p><br></p><p>He was the founding member of the Beijing-based blues group, Woodie Alan, for which he served as the frontman. </p><p><br></p><p>Along with a delightful autobiography about his life as an expat living in China, Alan has written oral histories about Stevie Ray Vaughn and The Allman Brothers Band. </p><p><br></p><p>His latest work, <em>Brothers and Sisters</em>, covers the release of the Allman Brothers Band best-selling album and the ways in which it impacted American politics and culture in the 1970s. It’s available everywhere fine books are sold. </p><p><br></p><p>In this episode, Alan and I discuss: </p><p><br></p><p>Rock stars who died young; The greatest blues guitarists of all time; The essential blues songs you must listen to; How to appreciate music; Creativity; Life as an artist and a writer; Why the blues are universally loved; The state of China in 2008 v. 2023; Authoritarianism; Communism; Music as an expression of free speech; How music can reflect the “mood” of the nation; and MUCH more! </p><p><br></p><p>Links to Alan’s stuff: </p><p><br></p><p>Brothers and Sisters</p><p>(his latest book): </p><p><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Brothers-Sisters-Allman-Inside-Defined/dp/1250282691/ref=sr_1_1?crid=NZNWTHW5EU6A&amp;keywords=alan+paul&amp;qid=1694986436&amp;sprefix=alan+paul%2Caps%2C305&amp;sr=8-1">https://www.amazon.com/Brothers-Sisters-Allman-Inside-Defined/dp/1250282691/ref=sr_1_1?crid=NZNWTHW5EU6A&amp;keywords=alan+paul&amp;qid=1694986436&amp;sprefix=alan+paul%2Caps%2C305&amp;sr=8-1</a></p><p><br></p><p>One Way Out </p><p>(an oral history of the Allman Brothers Band)</p><p><a href="https://www.amazon.com/One-Way-Out-History-Brothers/dp/1250040507/ref=sr_1_2?crid=NZNWTHW5EU6A&amp;keywords=alan+paul&amp;qid=1694986466&amp;sprefix=alan+paul%2Caps%2C305&amp;sr=8-2">https://www.amazon.com/One-Way-Out-History-Brothers/dp/1250040507/ref=sr_1_2?crid=NZNWTHW5EU6A&amp;keywords=alan+paul&amp;qid=1694986466&amp;sprefix=alan+paul