Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #2406821 in Books
• Published on: 2001-09
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 584 pages

Customer Reviews

Fascinating but flawed study of Country-rock and its origins
An interestingly structured and well-researched tome about country rock and its origins, this is a fascinating read but is somewhat undermined by oversimplification. Doggett, in common with many critics, over-emphasises Gram Parsons' role in the sub-genre's origins, and underplays important innovators like Gene Clark. He also uses words like "mellow" as insults, and occasionally forsakes critical objectivity and wears his prejudices (against such villains as the Eagles and the whole LA scene) on his sleeve. The index is a mess. But on the whole the book is well-researched and Doggett's knowledge is broad. If you enjoy this kind of music, it's a good read.

Well written but flawed
Peter Doggett's book on the relationship between country and rock is well written but flawed. Like so many more, he overrates the wrong artists and underrates the right artists. For example, he is rather dismissive of a god like Moon Mullican [who recorded some of the greatest country and hillbilly blues of all time - that was a precursor of blues based countryfied rock 'n' roll] and overrates, as another review states, artists like Gram Parsons.

"Are you ready for the country" could have been a lot better. Moon Mullican's contributions are to all intents and purposes ignored in favour of giving his protege, Jerry Lee Lewis, 100% credit. JLL deserves his dues as well, and he gets them. But, Moon's contributions are equally important and shouldn't be dismissed in favour of Jerry Lee or any other artist for that matter.