New book about Real Country !

Bob Hoffnar · Post by **Bob Hoffnar** » 18 Mar 2002 12:41 am

This book looks worth checking out. Any of you guys read it yet ?
www.press.uchicago.edu/Misc/Chicago/662845.html

Bob[This message was edited by Bob Hoffnar on 18 March 2002 at 12:48 AM.]

erik · Post by **erik** » 18 Mar 2002 2:45 am

I just read the cliff notes on that link. I'm done.

Jason Odd · Post by **Jason Odd** » 18 Mar 2002 3:12 am

Hey, that looks pretty cool, although I wanted to use the John Wayne thing as well, Marion indeed!

Atlanta was a hotbed of recording in the 1920s, but then if you look at Dallas in 1937 you had some amazing blues and Western Swing being recorded there. Nashville becoming a focal point of country music is pretty weird, but at the same time it so makes sense.
People ask me why I like Americana so much, holy crap.. how could I not?

The thing is, do they mention Roy Acuff's bawdy records as the 'Bang Boys'?.. oh brother where art thou indeed?

Jason Odd · Post by **Jason Odd** » 18 Mar 2002 3:13 am

Bob, uh.. I forgot to answer.
No, I haven't, but I'd sure love to get a copy of that one!

J W Hock · Post by **J W Hock** » 18 Mar 2002 6:15 am

I read this book a couple of years ago. Its a little bit on the academic side , but as the link shows its full of interesting revelations and insights . I did e-mail the author concerning one mistake. He makes the claim that Hank Williams never performed or recorded any cowboy songs! I know for a fact he recorded " Cool Water " . Also " Happy Roving Cowboy " was his theme song on the Health and Happiness radio shows .

Steve Feldman · Post by **Steve Feldman** » 18 Mar 2002 7:45 am

What I find amazing is the total (OK - common or frequent...) lack of appreciation for the earliest recordings of 'country music' in the 20's. The link indicates that much of what became commercial country music emerged in Atlanta in the early-mid '20s, but there was a helluva lot more going on than just Fiddlin John Carson. The 'roots' of country music, IMO, were embedded in the dozens of performers and acts that recorded music in the '20s and early '30s based largely on regional traditional fiddle styles - most notably from SW Texas to the Southeast US and mid-Ohio Valley. I could probably name a dozen 'famous' bands or performers of the era that lot of folks have never heard of.

Jimmie Rogers, the Carter Family, Hank Williams, Ernest Tubb, etc. didn't all just appear out of a vacuum! [This message was edited by Steve Feldman on 18 March 2002 at 08:04 AM.]

Michael Johnstone · Post by **Michael Johnstone** » 18 Mar 2002 12:39 pm

If you are inclined towards this line of journalism,check out a book titled "Country-the Twisted roots of Rock & Roll" by Nick Tosches.It's been out a while but a new edition was re-released a year or two ago.He traces country lyrics,melodies and story lines from Greek mythology down thru medieval European folklore to 18th century English sea chanties to American Civil War tunes to turn-of-the-century Southern blackface minstrelsy to modern blues and country and on to 1950s Rock & Roll.There's things in there that are downright startling re:the dark side of Nashville,etc.There's also a chapter about the roots of steel guitar and the early swing bands like Milton Brown w/Bob Dunn etc,etc.Great reading! -MJ-

Ricky Davis · Post by **Ricky Davis** » 18 Mar 2002 1:53 pm

Books? you want books? Ok the best books ever written on Country Music........
http://www.utexas.edu/utpress/books/malcrc.html

Bill C. Malone's newest book>"Don't get above your Raisin'" and his others by clickin' this LINK

To me Bill C. Malone is the major author of Country Music and it's history and it's going ons. This is one remarkable man....and if you don't know about him and his credentials......well do a Google.com search for the man and be ready to be blown away with the "Real Country Music" through the pen of this greatest asset we have to perserve and tell the history of Country Music.
Ricky[This message was edited by Ricky Davis on 18 March 2002 at 01:56 PM.]

Jason Odd · Post by **Jason Odd** » 18 Mar 2002 1:53 pm

MJ, I could not agree more, I just recently bought a collection of Tosches' work, but I've read the book you mentioned, his unsung heroes book and 'Killer' which is about Jerry Lee Lewis and a fantastic read.
Nick remains interesting, irreverant, and interested in the painfully obscure and wonderful, that cat has got his head screwed on just the wrong way!
Although I'd never ever write in his style, I really enjoy his books.