Product Description

Takes the reader on a journey across the seamy underbelly of country music and early rock and roll alongside a cast of hillbillies, rockabillies and wannabillies who never grabbed the spotlight but nonetheless gave their lives and talent to the music they loved.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #5708064 in Books
• Published on: 1996-12
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 243 pages

Customer Reviews

Groovy, down-to-earth look at early country history
Biographical essays of well-known as well as fairly obscure musicians and industry types. Escott has made a career out of telling outrageous, sometimes salacious, tales -- he gets to the rawer, visceral side of the story pretty quickly, which is relatively easy when you're talking to folks who worked in the scraggly, scruffy early years of country, rock and blues. He's an engaging, consersational writer, and this latest collection is a delight. Includes essays on artists such as Dale Hawkins, Don Everly, Johnny Horton, Tim Hardin and a particularly cruel skewering of Pat Boone. In one of the most fascinating sections, Escott profiles the founders of record labels such as Decca, King, Starday and Hi -- a fascinating and very illuminating appoach to presenting the history of popular music. Beautifully laid out, well written and highly recommended.

Excellent, and exhaustive, history of 1 of Soul's best.
Bowman's love for the music and personnel of the Stax label is plainly clear as he weaves its exciting, sometimes turbulent, history into a story that is as entertaining as it is informative. The interviews with the involved parties is what makes the book what it is, elevating the history from what could be a dry textbook, to a feel of a story told over dinner. The demise of Stax is truly a heartbreaking story that reflects America's, and specifically the South's, experience of the time. Fantastic work!

Fascinating read for C & W or Rockabilly Fans
This book is as raw and soulful as the greatest country and rockabilly music gets. Great essays on contemporay stars Dwight Yoakum and Marty Stuart (two of the few "real" artists in today's Garth-in-the-park, yuppiefied, mall rat Urban Country scene). Also, a look at Pat Boone (how could such a soulless singer come from Tennessee!), the great, but sadly forgotten Johnny Horton and an ex-country wannabe who became a segragationist candidate for Govenor of Mississippi.