Book Description

A selection of the best writing and photography published in the 25-year history of the most influential magazine devoted to country music. The great George Jones--so taciturn in conversation, so expressive in song--revealed in a no-holds-barred profile by Nick Tosches. Elvis Presley's explosive first year of stardom considered afresh by Peter Guralnick. The seminal 1927 Bristol, Tennessee, recording sessions (during which the Carter Family and Jimmie Rodgers were discovered) examined and explained by Charles K. Wolfe. The songwriting of Hank Williams appraised by novelist Lee Smith. These are among the highlights to be found in The Country Reader, an anthology of articles, reviews, and photographs originally published in the Journal of Country Music. Established in 1971, the Country Music Foundation's Journal has quietly acquired an unmatched reputation for publishing some of the most eloquent and thoroughly researched articles available on the subject of country music. Its contributors have included the most respected journalists and historians writing about American music. Among the other notables whose work appears in The Country Reader are Roy Blount, Jr., Greil Marcus, Robert K. Oermann and Mary A. Bufwack, and Douglas B. Green (a.k.a. Ranger Doug of the western group Riders in the Sky). In addition to collecting outstanding writing about the subject, this book functions as a kind of country primer. Taken together, the articles collected in The Country Reader offer a rough outline of country music history, stretching from the earliest recordings on up to the recent careers of Tanya Tucker and Alan Jackson. Along the way, articles touch on monumental figures (Bill Monroe, Patsy Montana, Hank Williams, Elvis Presley) and important sub-genres within country music, such as western swing and the singing cowboy phenomenon. Reviews of Bill C. Malone's revised version of Country Music U.S.A (reviewed by Bill Ivey) and a trio of recent star autobiographies (reviewed by Bob Allen) help provide an overarching framework for the various figures discussed. The Country Reader also includes several outstanding photographers whose work was originally published in the magazine. Their striking photos complement the lively text and tell their own eloquent stories. Finally, as an aid to researchers, librarians, and longtime subscribers, The Country Reader includes comprehensive subject and author listings for all articles published in the Journal of Country Music between 1971 and 1995. This is a book that belongs in the hands and libraries of every fan of country music.