[ebooks] Firebrands: Portraits of the Americas (Real World) by Shaun Slifer; Becca Young in Arts-Photography

Review

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. Essential Reading for Country Music FansBy Ted LehmannIn the Country of Country by Nicholas Dawidoff (Random House; 1997; 365 pp.; $18.95/14.99) explores country music from its earliest recognized and recorded luminaries (The Carter Family Jimmy Rodgers) through the great periods of classic and outlaw country to the newest musicians on tour at the time of the books writing in the late 1990s. The book is filled with anecdotes that surprise and enlighten. For instance; Dawidoff recounts a story heard from Charlie Louvin about a boy near a show in Dyess Arkansas who showed him to the nearest bathroom. On the way back; Charlie ate a soda cracker. When the boy asked him why; he said; ldquo;To keep from starving.rdquo; The kicker: thats why Johnny Cash ate crackers before every performance. Such connections between the early practitioners who emerged in the 1940s and great stars of the last decades of the twentieth century appear everywhere. While I read the book; I listened to recordings of the subjects of each chapter; thereby enriching my experience and deepening my understanding.Individual chapters focus on major figures in the development of country music; including bluegrass. Dawidoff interviewed all of his subjects; including Bill Monroe; Earle Scruggs; George Jones; Kitty Wells; Doc Watson; Buck Owens; EmmyLou Harris; and more) except Jimmie Rodgers; Sara Carter; and Patsy Cline; all of whom were deceased at the time of the writing. One other luminary is strangely not included; although his name crops up in almost every chapter: Hank Williams. Perhaps Williams; who died in 1953) was simply too big and dominating a character to be adequately covered in simply a chapter.Its a joy to read a book about music by a writer whos taking on a subject rather than a fan who decided to write. The use of lively imagery; thoughtful narrative; careful structure and apt description raise Dawidoffs writing above the pedestrian; bringing life to the characters whove enriched country music for nearly a hundred years. Published in 1998; the book uses living artists and extensive interviews with those who knew the subjects; bringing them to life in a way no other book Ive read has managed.In the chapter on Doc Watson; the actual voices of Tom Ashley and Ralph Rinzler give the descriptive passages a greater reality that brings Watsons background and development as a performer to life. Insights; such as the fact that Doc grew up with music he heard on an old gramophone and the radio differentiated his music from that of others who learned theirs in church or on the front porch; giving it the distinctive precision that other country and bluegrass musicians of the time lacked. Such connections; found in each chapter distinguish Dawidoffs pellucid writing as they permeate Watsons playing.The Johnny Cash chapter examines the role of celebrity on productive song writing along with his image; life; and the road with comments from Bob Dylan and Bruce Springsteen. In the George Jones chapter; I learned more about the reality of Jones in one short chapter than I did in the entire Grand Tour bio by Rich Kienzle. Part of this comes from the quality of Dawidoffs writing; and I think also from the distance he achieves by not being fully tied to the music community. While the book is often admiring; it never falls into hero worship as it keeps a clear; though sympathetic but never sycophantical eye on the character and development of each person in every profile.Dawidoff gives attention to the social and geographical mass movements of the mid- and late-twentieth century. Often; this is a book of displacement and connection. Most of the singers profiled came to stardom in music when they brought their music to honky tonks; theaters; and recording studios far removed from the southern poverty so many of them were born into during the depression. Even performers; like Rose Maddox and Buck Owens; who were from California; are the of product of southern migrations to places where they or their parents could find more lucrative employment or escape the rigors of depression era farming conditions. His insights punctuate and extend the insight that todays country musicians dont share that experience; leading their music to go into other directions; because it has often come from less challenging circumstances. EmmyLou Harris represents a changing voice and sensibility in country music. Discussing her view of countrys past and future; she says; ldquo;Were bringing a different experience to it; and thats right. Mimicking the past because the past is a safe bet is the worst thing to do.rdquo;Nicholas Dawidoff is the author of six books. One of them; The Fly Swatter; was a Pulitzer Prize finalist; and another; In the Country of Country; was named one of the greatest all-time works of travel literature by Conde Nast Traveller. His first book; The Catcher Was A Spy: The Mysterious Life Of Moe Berg was a national bestseller and appeared on many 1994 best book lists. His latest book; Collision Low Crossers: Inside the Turbulent World of NFL Football was published in 2014. A graduate of Harvard University; he has been a Guggenheim; Civitella Ranieri and Berlin Prize Fellow; and is a contributor to The New Yorker; The New York Times Magazine and the American Scholar. The fact that he chooses a wide range of topics; including sports; family history; and country music suggests that Dawidoff brings broad experience to his writing; allowing unusual; piercing insights to emerge.In the Country of Country by Nicholas Dawidoff (Random House; 1997; 365 pp.; $18.95/14.99) was written after all the people he interviewed were well past their prime. Fortunately; he was able to interview them in their own contemporary setting before they left us. He portrays a time when what so many people today call ldquo;realrdquo; country was still a close memory; even while it had been replaced in popular music by rock and roll; contemporary pop; and hip hop. His vivid profiles; along with my listening contemporaneously to the performers themselves; helped clarify their place in music history for me and to realize why the music so many people seem to yearn for lies in our past rather than our present. I consider this book to be essential reading for anyone interested in the growth and development of country music. I read In the Country of Country in a used trade paperback version I bought through Thriftbooks.Note: All books mentioned in my reviews are linked to the book through my .com account. If you wish to purchase the title in any format; you can do so thorough my link. This will result in a small commission to me with no increase in the price for you. It helps maintain our travels; writing; and photography while assuring your complete privacy4 of 4 people found the following review helpful. The best book on real country music in a long; long time.By Michael KennedyWhat this book does is bring country music -real country music- into the 21st century. It does so by going back to the roots and examining the beginnings of this musical genre with detail and love. Going from Jimmie Rodgers; the Carter family; onto Bill Monroe and the Louvin Bothers; Dock Watson; Johnny Cash; George Jones; Patsy Cline; Kitty Wells; and onto the current torch carriers of country; Iris DeMent; The Flatlanders; and Emmylou Harris; the writer Nicholas Dawidoff shows how this music is genuine. The book includes a wonderful discography; and extensive notes. For those of you who cant stand the current crop of Nashville country posers; this book gives heart to the true music of America.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Fun ReadBy UrbanMoniqueA bit thin in parts; but frankly; if it gets you digging deeper on your own; its a good book; and this is. Refreshing look at the roots of real country; especially at a time like this; when once again; country music has become little more than pop tunes with a little fiddle...