Road to Rembetika: Music of a Greek Sub-Culture - Songs of Love, Sorrow and Hashish

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.

I bought this 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 recently, or maybe it was more of an historic reenactment at a Greek tavern in Epirus, Greece: as told on Truestorythenifi BlogWhile 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 NIFI, ( https://www.amazon.com/Nifi-Linda-Fagioli-Katsiotas/dp/0989219410 ) 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!

A really incredible book that gets to the heart of what rembetika is about without the intellectualising which so often spoils books of this type. Well written and with an obvious passion for the subject, Gail seems to maintain a closeness with the people she talks to. I actually met Thannassis from Aegina a few times who is mentioned in the book, and can verify what a truly unique character he is.. mind you... I never did properly learn the baglama which I bought from him... READ THIS BOOK....