The Starday Records Story - New Book!

Greg Cutshaw · Post by **Greg Cutshaw** » 14 Aug 2012 11:09 am

This was pointed out in another forum area:

http://bb.steelguitarforum.com/viewtopi ... 3&start=25

but I think it deserves it's own topic.

I got my copy at Amazon.com Read the Amazon reviews for it.

http://www.amazon.com/The-Starday-Story ... 1604738308

Greg

Jussi Huhtakangas · Post by **Jussi Huhtakangas** » 14 Aug 2012 11:32 pm

This is a great book and Nate is a super guy! He's done a terrific research job! We did some recordings together here about a year ago ( in Starday rockabilly style of course ). He's actually moving to Finland in a few weeks, hopefully we'll get to do some shows together also!

Walter Stettner · Post by **Walter Stettner** » 14 Aug 2012 11:41 pm

Sounds great to me! I will for sure get a copy.

Kind Regards, Walter

Joey Ace · Post by **Joey Ace** » 15 Aug 2012 7:14 am

The Amazon reviews are very interesting, especially the one negative review, among the the other high praises.

The negative reviewer (Hemingway) does not appear to be a typical "Internet Troll" . He provides a lot of insider info.

hmmmm...

I still plan to read this book.

Diane Diekman · Post by **Diane Diekman** » 15 Aug 2012 5:14 pm

Note the link in the negative review; that offers a clue as to who wrote the review.

Todd Brown · Post by **Todd Brown** » 15 Aug 2012 6:27 pm

Diane's implication is that Larry Jordan, the author of the Jim Reeves book, is the critical reviewer. He seems to know what he's talking about. Also, he doesn't seem too fond of or have any respect for the Starday author, Nathan Gibson, personally or professionally. Very interesting. Now I have another book on my list.

Anyone have any comments on him calling Tommy Hill out as an engineering hack? Do his accounts of Don Pierce seem accurate? Reading bio's on the two author's, I seem to think Mr. Jordan(The Jim Reeves Story) has the upper hand on research and knowledge.

Thoughts?

BTW, Diane, I thoroughly enjoyed "Live Fast, Love Hard".

Jussi Huhtakangas · Post by **Jussi Huhtakangas** » 15 Aug 2012 10:03 pm

Well, this made me laugh:
"Yes, the author has records listed in the back of the book but this should not convince even the casual reader that he knows what he's talking about".

Let me tell you, that Nate may not know all the back stories to the yadda-yadda Nashville gossips ( for us music fans, Starday is not so much about Nashville, but its' Texas roots ) that seem so important to Mr "Hemmingway", but as far as Starday music, Nate really has all his Moomins in the valley. Bashing other author's book and advertising his own work at the same time with "I know better" is just lame.

Joey Ace · Post by **Joey Ace** » 16 Aug 2012 4:10 am

Don't jump to the conclusion that "Hemingway" is the author of a book, just because he referenced it.

Although possible, that thought never occurred to me.

I've referenced many books in my on-line posts, and never written any.

Diane Diekman · Post by **Diane Diekman** » 16 Aug 2012 5:03 am

These two notes may have begun the controversy between the two books--

Internet post: "On February 8, 2012 DON CUSIC, the founding member and Chair of the Belmont Book Award wrote Lisa Brown (Larry Jordan's publicist) to inform her that Jordan's Reeves biography was a 2012 Belmont Book Award finalist. (The $1,000 annual award is presented by Belmont University's MIKE CURB Entertainment and Music Program in May, during the International Country Music Conference, to the 'best' country music book published during the eligibility period.)"

And the winner? "NATE GIBSON's hardcover, The Starday Story: The House That Country Music Built (written in cooperation with Starday's late label president and co-founder DON PIERCE) was selected as the winner of the 13th annual (2012) Belmont Book Award."

I haven't yet read either book and can't offer an opinion on their quality or accuracy. But I definitely have an opinion of anonymous reviews. If you have something worth saying, you should want to support your words with your name.

P.S. Thanks, Todd--I'm glad you enjoyed Faron's biography.

Greg Cutshaw · Post by **Greg Cutshaw** » 16 Aug 2012 5:57 am

Awesome, I love controversy and maybe this will drive up book sales. Plenty of room for another Starday book with a lot more pictures and studio details.

Actually we don't need another book, just a BLOG where everyone under the sun can post Starday photos, stories, bootleg recordings etc. There's cool stuff you can post in a blog that you'd never get published in a book.

Biggest positive for me is that Starday is getting more press. At one time my dad owned every single Starday release. We got them through Tommy Edward's Record Shop in Cleveland. Sold them all on ebay and the George Jones SLP sold for more than all the rest put together. Recording everyone who came through the door is a cool concept. That means there are still tons of unreleased demo tapes somewhere. For me this translates to a lot of Pete Drake and other great musicians riffs that no one has ever heard. Maybe lots of cool banter between takes too. Four Star also had tons of great 45's with similar dynamic off the wall arrangements. Dean Manual on piano, I would take up piano and leave the steel behind if I could play like that!

Greg

Franklin · Post by **Franklin** » 16 Aug 2012 8:54 am

Jussi hit the nail on the head.......This book is actually researched very well and it is not a book about a specific artist........This book is receiving accolades from the Country Music community because of its accuracy and insightful back stories.

This Starday Story is a book about a label and its business practice. Jim Reeves is mentioned multiple times in the book. There are great stories about musicians, and songwriters........Also those I have spoken with who were around in the day said it is pretty darn accurate....No book can tell "every" Starday story. Too many have died and too much history to cover in a dozen books.

Paul

Greg Cutshaw · Post by **Greg Cutshaw** » 16 Aug 2012 10:49 am

You can click "NO" on the "was this review helpful" link under Hemmingway's review and help bury it. So far only 3 of 13 people have found his review helpful. You can also comment on his review. To see more comedy, look at all 2 of Hemmingway's reviews and you will see a negative trend in his responses.

Greg

Greg Cutshaw · Post by **Greg Cutshaw** » 31 Aug 2012 11:05 am

Received the book and finished reading it. In some areas it was excellent and in others it was very lacking. It did a great job of covering the business side of Starday and pretty much all of Don Pierce's business dealings. It was extremely lacking in color pictures and almost no pictures of musicians in the studio doing their thing. There weren't a lot of insider stories from perspectives other than Don's. Some of the book reads like a research project and not like a good story. Not sorry I bought it and I did enjoy it. For $25 though, I was expecting a lot more pictures, stories and input from other's who were there.

The author did mention that many Starday LP's and 45's are hard to impossible to find anymore. At one time my family had the complete set of Starday LP's. The author failed to mention that almost all of the Starday catalog including many of the rarest releases are easily availalbe for download from European internet blogs.

Greg