Tony RussellCountry Music Originals: The Legends and the Lost

I have enjoyed reading through this book. It contains a lively mix of colorful tales and anecdotes, priceless contemporary accounts of performances, illuminating social and historical context, and well-grounded critical judgment. The illustrations include artist photographs, record labels, song sheets, newspaper clippings, cartoons, and magazine covers, recreating the look and feel of the entire culture of country music. Each essay includes as well a playlist of recommended and currently available recordings for each artist. Finally, the paperback edition now features an extensive index. I have never heard of some of these songs or artists but have enjoyed reading about all of them.

An excellent work for hard core fans of old time and pre-Nashville Country music. Russell's research is comprehensive and he has a very accessible writing style. The book, as others have noted, is really not designed for a cover-to-cover read but makes a great night stand book where you can read a biography or two before bed. I also recommend two JSP box sets, Mountain Blues and Serenade in the Mountains, where works by many of the covered artisits can be heard. Now if only I could find a comparable work for pre-war blues artists...

Very well researched book. Provided interesting, detailed information about the origination of today's Country music. It's a great read for those who think they know how it all began and/or those who would like to learn about the birth of Country music.) It highlights some long forgotten and little known forebears who unknowingly started it all.

Coverage of the early country recording artists is excellent, with chapters on the ones you would expect (Jimmie Rodgers, The Carter Family, Gid Tanner, Riley Pucket). What lifts this book over others with the same approach is the coverage of ones that are definitely not remembered names (Henry Whitter, Kelly Harrell, Lowe Stokes). Rather than making the reading ponderous with all the unfamiliar names, it really fleshes out the foundation of not only country music recording, but early recording in general. While the chapters are short, there is enough information to get some feeling of the importance of each artist, what they contributed, how popular they were in their time (comments on Vernon Dalhart are especially interesting, perhaps the most popular country recording artist of his time, now mostly forgotten) and what influence they may have had on later artists. The discography's at the end of each chapter is an excellent launching point in tracking down music of these artists--a surprising number or available on Rhapsody and other music services.

WE HAVE A RELATIVE IN THIS BOOK

A must have for music enthusiasts. Tony Russell is known as one of the leading experts in the field. This book is great for anyone who is interested in learning where our American music was rooted.

This book has more information and background into the beginnings of Country Music and the people who make it America's music. It is a wonderful read for anyone who would like to indulge in the reality of Country Music. I would highly recommend this book for the interest and composition of the book and it's knowledge.

Great introduction to well known and obscure country artists. The writing provides a good glimpse of each artist or group. I immediately went to Youtube to listen to the music.,

Layouts and pics are really good, except for one glaring omission, no pics of Uncle Dave !

great book

GREAT

Recently I completed a review of another reference book about Country Music. I criticisized that book for being far less than it claimed to be. This can not be said about Tony Russell's masterwork.In so far as it deals with artists many of whom are not that well known, it neatly plugs the gaps left by other works of reference, and gives a great deal of insight into early country music.If I have any reservations it is because of the inclusion of some artists like Jimmie Rodgers, Governor Davis, Roy Acuff & Bob Wills, who are all well documented elsewhere. This apart the only other quibble I have is the lack of a proper index.Anybody interested in the history of Country Music should seriously consider obtaining this excellent book.

If you like Country Music and Americana, I really recommend this book. It's an indication of the book's quality that it inspired me to buy at least 50 albums by the musicians featured in this study of early Country Music.