Product Description

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #424818 in Books
• Published on: 2008-04-02
• Released on: 2008-04-02
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 144 pages

Features

• ISBN13: 9780252075490
• Condition: NEW
• Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.
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From Publishers Weekly
Still churning out songs "that challenge the easy complacency and corporate arrogance of our time," influential Appalachian singer-songwriter Hazel Dickens has devoted her life to writing music not just about "the predictable themes of bluegrass-mama, the old home place, the distant but cherished past," but "questions of estrangement, survival, human dignity, and social and economic justice that concern us all." This slim biography, which includes many black and white photographs, lyrics and personal notes from Dickens, as well as a complete discography, chronicles her personal and professional life. Malone, an author and Tulane University history professor, illuminates the life of a "sensitive and discerning child of the poor" who overcame "a society that discouraged women from expressing themselves," and, over the decades, ended up speaking out for many. Dickens's stories, accompanying her song lyrics, provide additional insight into her heritage ( "Coal Miner's Grave," "West Virginia My Home"), personal experience and eccentric voice: "Scraps from Your Table," she says, is "one of those nasty smart-alecky songs that I like to write." This tribute to Dickens's life and work will interest bluegrass fans and activists.
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From Booklist
Hard on the heels of Foster Hirsch’s Otto Preminger: The Man Who Would Be King (2007) comes this somewhat complementary book. Fujiwara skims over Preminger’s early years directing for the Vienna stage and his later acting in movies (most memorably, Stalag 17) to emphasize his film direction, noting such stylistic markers as his fluid camera movements and long takes and drawing thematic connections between his early films and those shot three decades later. Fujiwara requisitely praises Laura and Preminger’s other lauded 1940s noirs, and the censor-defying The Moon Is Blue and The Man with the Golden Arm, but proceeds to be the contrarian about the large-scale early-1960s films, such as Exodus and Advise and Consent, that are commonly dismissed as bloated and inert. Fujiwara considers them radical and original, integral to Preminger’s self-definition as a filmmaker. A recent upswing in Preminger’s critical reputation justifies Hirsch’s and Fujiwara’s efforts, and libraries with strong film collections should consider both. Others will choose Hirsch for his emphasis on Preminger’s colorful life or Fujiwara for his informed and astute critique. --Gordon Flagg

Review

Customer Reviews

Working Girl Blues
This brief work is a helpful start, and readers should understand that it is a popular level work rather than the serious analysis and historical work that Hazel's life, tradition, and music really deserve. But until that appears, this is a good start. In fact, such short works done quickly, while memories are fresh, can be VERY helpful for later, more serious, academic works. There is a short biography, followed by the lyrics of many of Hazel's songs with brief comments from Hazel herself. The book reads like an extended series of conversations with Hazel Dickens herself. I enjoyed reading it, but was left wanting more background, analysis, and comparisons with other musicians similar to her, either historical or contemporary. I was especially interested in learning about Mountain Gospel music, but this work is very minimal on this subject. But all in all - a Good start.

A great book telling the story of a bluegrass icon
After attending a bluegrass festival, I realized that although I knew nothing about Hazel Dickens, other performers at the festival had great respect for her. After reading this book, I knew why. She started life very poor, shy, and very self-conscious about her lack of formal education. She did, however, live in a family that valued country and hill music. Through hard work, a little luck and taking advantage of any help offered, she became a musician in the Appalachian hill style, singing songs she wrote about current injustices as well as old standards. She gained the courage to speak out for oppressed coal miners, the homeless, child laborers, women in abusive relationships, and other downtrodden people. As one of the first women in the previously male-dominated field of bluegrass, she became a feminist before she knew what the word meant. She has worked hard and lived frugally by choice. This book is especially valuable because it contains lyrics to all the songs Hazel has written along with notes about why she wrote them.