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Rating: 
Summary: Groovy, down-to-earth look at early country history
Review: 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.
Rating:
Summary: Groovy, down-to-earth look at early country history
Review: 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.
Rating: 
Summary: Excellent, and exhaustive, history of 1 of Soul's best.
Review: 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!
Rating:
Summary: Fantastic
Review: This Book was all that.Staxx is as Important as Motown.It's a Incredible Story.especially when A Black Label Blows up Down South in the 60's.you only ever here about Sun Records &Sam Phillips and his discovery of Elvis Presley.so this is Very Important on a Social Front.The Many Great Artists on Staxx.this Book is strong from start to Finish.
Rating:
Summary: Fantastic
Review: This Book was all that.Staxx is as Important as Motown.It's a Incredible Story.especially when A Black Label Blows up Down South in the 60's.you only ever here about Sun Records &Sam Phillips and his discovery of Elvis Presley.so this is Very Important on a Social Front.The Many Great Artists on Staxx.this Book is strong from start to Finish.
Rating:
Summary: The seminal history of American Soul Music
Review: This groundbreaking work offers the reader insight to the world of Stax in the sixties and seventies. It allows the reader to understand the forces behind the ascension and eventual decline of one of the greatest recording labels in the history of modern music. In the course of absorbing this wonderful book, the humble reader is able to gain an understanding of the societal, cultural, and racial catalysts for the music produced. In the latter part of the book, the reader sees the painful decline of Stax from their pinnacle to their nadir in the course of only a few short years.Extremely highly recommended -- the best musical history book I have read. Also recommended: The Complete Stax/Volt Singles, Volumes I, II, and III (box sets with excellent liner notes by Rob Bowman) Also -- It Came from Memphis' for a good background on the lesser known, but nonetheless important musicians who originated in Memphis.
Rating:
Summary: Outstanding!
Review: This well-researched document celebrates the fact that overrated Motown wasn't the only "God" of 60s soul music.
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