4 comments about Air Castle of the South: WSM and the Making of Music City (Music in American Life).

1. Just finished Craig Havighurst's magnificent history of WSM. It's a read that you hate to see come to an end.
   
   What a GREAT station WSM was in its golden age which extended into the TV era while other stations of its size threw in the towel and got rid of its live musicians and the stuff that made bigtime radio great.
   
   The book comes to a sad ending--the rash sacking of TNN and Opryland--and I kinda felt like I was finishing the final pages of "Gone With the Wind."
   
   Anybody with an interest in Bluegrass, Country, Nashville, big time radio, the Ryman and/or the roots of country music and broadcasting has to read this book.



2. I believe Air Castle of the South is an important book, in that it goes far beyond the history of a musical genre. It sheds light on the mindset of those who first dabbled in a revolutionary new medium. The innocence, curiosity, and zeal of some of radio's brilliantly naive pioneers is painstakingly recorded, as is their evolution from enthusiastic hobbyists to full time broadcasters. But this accessible read is not just a nostalgic indulgence. It's full of insights for the era-changing times we are in now, where the Internet is opening new doors of opportunity for those willing to rethink the why, the what, and the how. As a performing artist who came up through the ranks playing on country music radio shows, including the Opry, Air Castle rekindled my affection for the charm and simplicity of those shows. As someone who grew up listening to a transistor radio in bed late at night with an earphone, it renewed my love of the medium of sound; where the absence of force-fed visual images allows one's imagination to create them in the theater of the mind. Thank you, Craig Havighurst, for this invaluable work. It is clearly a labor of love.



3. Havighurst has compiled a tremendous amount of information on this subject into a story which comes to life. I can't imagine any one writing a more definitive work on WSM and that era. He has succeeded, for this reader, into making WSM a living, breathing character unto itself within this story. I'm not even a huge country music fan but no matter, Havighurst's storytelling style and obvious passion for telling this story won me over early on. Once I picked it up I couldn't put it down. He made me feel as if I was right there in the early days of radio, watching and listening as all the early pioneers of the industry shaped the airwaves. Great read for anyone interested in how radio began and evolved and it's impact on not only country music but the world as well.



4. This book is a fascinating, engaging read. It feels more like a great story than a history book, but is a really interesting insight into the beginnings of WSM, the early history of radio, country music, the Opry, the start of many a famous name in broadcasting, and Nashville itself. Thoroughly enjoyable, I would recommend this to every reader I know.

2 comments about Jumpin' Jim's Ukulele Country.

1. This is a great collection of songs you don't normally think of when you think ukulele: old country tunes you will imediately recognize, cowboy songs, even some Elvis.
   All the chord progressions are easy, and all written in easily accesible keys like C, G and D.
   More advanced players would probably find these arangements a little simplistic, but these are perfect for quick learning when you've got a campfire to sit around later tonight.
   I have other Jim Beloff books (and one of his Flukes) and he really knows how to arrange a song for the uke.
   I highly recomend this book!



2. All jumpin' jim's books are great I own three of them. They are instructive, full of songs and very easy to follow. I suggest you jump immediately on Jumpin' Jims books. Lots of fun between the covers.
   
   Jumpin' Joe

5 comments about Grievous Angel : An Intimate Biography of Gram Parsons.

1. The Ben Fong-Torres book is much more thoroughly researched, and doesn't rely on the ridiculous invented dialogue that Hundley imagines went on between Parsons and his friends.
   
   If GP was as shallow and moronic as he's portrayed in this book, he could never have written and recorded the beautiful, moving music that he left us.
   
   In addition, Hundley interviews anyone she can think of, including her own friends and people who never had anything to do with Parsons.
   
   WTF?



2. This book is definitely a must for Gram Parsons fans. The only downside is his life and thus the book are too short.



3. Being a bit older than some, I can say that I have seen the Byrds, Flying Burrito Brothers, and Gram Parsons/Emmylou harris. and best of all--Emmylou Harris with a variety of others--most recently; Mark Knopfler. I could care less about all the questionable history between GP & ELH. In reality they were awesome together. She remains the torch bearer of the original "Cosmic American Music" theme. She defines being pigeonholed into a specific type of genre. Just listen to all the music they have made, then come to understand "Cosmic American Music". The people they have played with boggles the mind. From Fred Neil, Neil Young, Steven Stills, Linda Ronstadt, John Denver, & so many more, it
   Grievous Angel : An Intimate Biography of Gram ParsonsHickory Wind: The Life and Times of Gram Parsonsreally does make you understand who they were and are. They are my musical heros.



4. besides the cool pics in this book.... the author has seemed to have forgotten that u can not make up things in a biography... she puts her own thoughts into the book as if they were grams... the book is very inaccurate... the author doesnt even have a bibliography its like wikapedia u can not trust it... do not buy it... twenty thousand roads by david n meyer is the best and most accurate bio on gram and it comes with a very detailed bibliography so u know its real and not some dumb opinion from a moronic author... shame on jessica hundley for wirtting this book..



5. Gram didn't like his music referred to as country rock, but that's what it was, and came to be known. Like so many artists who passed on long before their prime, we are left to ponder what could have been.
   This biography sheds even more light on his self-destructive behavior, which is one reason why Gram never seemed to settle into "his nitch" and appeared continually restless. Yet the fruits of his wanderings was a small treasure chest of music and influence.
   This is a personal relfection on his life with the help of his daughter Polly, who seems comfortable telling all she knew.
   A sad but enlightening account of his brief yet prolific career.
   Good reading for the relative inexspensive price!

No comments about Yes! (Album Version).

5 comments about Willie: An Autobiography.

1. This was very informative on the life of the man. Chapters from members of his band, family and ex-wives was fantastic. A look deep inside the man and his music, and worth the purchase by any true fan of country music and the "outlaw movement". Really shows his deep spirtual feelings about life. Worth every penny of the cost, and I'm glad I purchased it.



2. Just Like his other book i read The Facts Of Life & Other Dirty Jokes, this book was totally boring. Do not read this book.
   
   
   If you liked this book check out all of Willie nelson's books, Movies & Music



3. This was even better than I thought it would be, and Willie's my favorite singer/songwriter. Not only did I discover how spiritual Willie is, but he treats people with sincere compassion,loves his audience even more than I think most people realize. Also, he doesn't make excuses for himself, and it takes someone with heart like Willie to admit his mistakes, and he keeps on bringing people back for more great music and he loves to make his audience happy. Right on, Willie



4. WE is such a character, entertainer or not! I love him! He is such a rare talent to us all. Ya gotta love him! I certainly do! This book says it all about the man, the singer, the entertainer... A book you don't want to miss!!!



5. This autobiography is told in Willie Nelson's unmistakable voice, but Bud Shrake must have helped shape and edit it. Maybe Bud just let a tape roll while Willie spoke, and then shaped it into a coherent narrative. Whatever the process, the result is a very good book about songwriter, singer, and unsuccessful hog farmer Willie Nelson. Here is a sample:
   
   "A long time ago when I walked onto a stage to do a show, I would search the room with my eyes. I was looking for somebody who was looking at me, who appeared interested in learning what I was doing in front of the microphone with a guitar in my hands. Once I found that friendly face, I would sing to that person all night long. I would zero in and make heavy contact with their spirit. And it would grow. The flash of energy between me and the one friendly face would reflect into others, and it would keep growing.
   
   "But it all had to start with one friendly face."
   
   Nowadays, he does big shows where all that is impossible. Crowds of 100,000 at night where all he can see is "nothing but a wide deep-purple canyon blinking with the fire of thousands of cigarettes....
   
   "I can't say I never dreamed such a thing would happen to me, I knew it would...."
   
   Willie is a dreamer, a visionary, a trail blazer, and in country music he is, to quote Allan Jackson, "a new-note finder, not a walk-behinder."
   
   The story of his life is here, from his humble beginnings in Abbott, Texas, to his early struggles to make it as a song writer and performer in Nashville, to his huge success with the so-called Outlaws, and then more struggles with taxes and the law, through the present, where he is revered as an elder statesman of country music. The story is told in Willie's own voice, but the "chorus" like the chorus in a Greek tragedy or epic, chimes in. His loves, and friends and relations, are also heard from.
   
   Willie Nelson is a COUNTRY singer, but what interests me is that he really pushes the envelope, and mixes it with jazz. According to his book, his true allegiance is to country music--all the improv in jazz sometimes strikes him as rehearsal noise--but he has added just a little bit of jazz to some of his best songs, and he had a great cross-over success with Stardust. He really likes "Moonlight in Vermont," and "Stardust." He didn't really feel qualified to do it musically, but while staying in Malibu his neighbor, Booker T. Jones came up with some good arrangements for him, and they ended up doing an album of jazz standards in 1978 that went triple platinum.
   
   Willie wrote "Crazy," and it was recorded by Patsy Cline. He had to fight the producers, because it had more than the standard 3 chords per song. It didn't have as many chords as "Stardust" but it had more than three, like "Crazy Arms." Willie respects a great song like that where the writer can say it all and only has to use three chords to do it, but he doesn't want to be restricted.
   
   Another interesting thing about Willie Nelson is that he has perfect pitch, and even hears things like a fly buzzing in "F." There is some great stuff in this book where he discusses his song writing process. The song, "On the Road Again" was written for the movie Honeysuckle Rose. The producers said they needed a song about musicians traveling around and singing, so he just whipped out a napkin or an air sickness bag and said "You mean like this?" and wrote the famous lyrics. He didn't even worry about the melody until he was about to record it because he feels like there are always melodies floating through the air like radio waves, and one only has to tune in. He used an example of Muhammad Ali's trainer who came up with "float like a butterfly, sting like a bee" and claimed it came from the same sort of radio waves Willie describes.
   
   Mr. Nelson breaks it all down, and even discusses his unusual approach to rhythm and phrasing. As he gets older, his timing gets more and more eccentric--last time I saw him on Letterman he sounded like he was singing to a whole different band then the one who shared his stage. His father was also a musician, but one who felt you should always be strictly in time. Perhaps it is his way of rebelling, but he discusses it in this book, and though I might beg to differ with him--especially of late--he claims he doesn't "break meter" and though he might get a little behind or ahead, it all comes out right in the end. He marches to the beat of his own drum.
   
   Of his own songs, his favorite three so far are "On the Road Again," Angel Flying Too Close to the Ground," and "Healing Hands of Time."
   
   Willie Nelson tells many interesting stories and expounds on his ideas and philosophies--all the while being endlessly fascinating. And the pictures--let me tell you, everything from his second grade yearbook where he is a spitting image of Alfalfa to his later look--a weirded beard-o with his gray hair in braids. There is even a picture of the cover and some pages of the song book he wrote at the age of 11--in crayon. This book is chock full of good stuff.
   
   One nugget worth digging out is where film producer Sydney Pollack describes casting him in "The Electric Horseman" with Robert Redford. There wasn't a part for him, but they gave him the part of the manager, and just let him say whatever he felt was right for his character. I'll leave it to you to find it for yourself, but it does involve chrome and tequila.
   
   10 RECORDS OR FILMS THAT FEATURE THE TALENTS OF MR. NELSON:
   
   Red Headed Stranger: A breakthrough album and the title kind of sums him up.
   
   Stardust: A surprise cross-over hit, with songs by Hoagy Carmichael, Irving Berlin, and other writers of the Great American Songbook.
   
   Pancho & Lefty: Title track by Townes Van Zandt was tailor made for Willie and Merle Haggard.
   
   54 Songs: The Songwriter Sessions: This will give you an idea of what Willie was capable of in a "song pull" where a bunch of songwriters get together and play their best stuff until dawn--kind of a shoot at the OK Corral with guitars instead of guns.
   
   Honeysuckle Rose: Music From The Original Soundtrack: Might as well get this rather than a greatest hits, because it has hits galore. "On the Road Again" is here, and was written for the film.
   
   Patsy Cline - The Definitive Collection: Dig that "Crazy" sound, Patsy.
   
   The Electric Horseman: Willie's first movie role, with Robert Redford, and he has the best line, which just came out of his head.
   
   Pure Country/Honeysuckle Rose: 2 movies packaged together. Pure Country features George Strait. Honeysuckle Rose is Willie's film, and for this one he wrote "On the Road Again"
   
   Songwriter: Take Willie Nelson and something he is really great at: writing songs. Does that = a great movie? How could it not?
   
   Last of the Breed: Willie, Merle Haggard, and Ray Price. According to the book, Ray never spoke to him after Willie was forced to shoot one of Ray's fighting roosters. Lucky for us, they finally patched things up and went "On the Road Again." You gotta hear "Lost Highway" done by a trio of troubadours who have sure been down that road before.

No comments about Born Country: How Faith, Family, and Music Brought Me Home.

5 comments about Bluegrass Mandolin.

1. When I started playing mandolin 15 years ago this was the only book I could find. It turned out to be a great investment. Easy to read, easy to follow. The music is timeless and jack has a very unique style. For beginners or experts alike theres a lot here I'd highlt recommend it



2. I like this book and it helps me play the mandolin.

   A Bluegrass Mandolin book is a cool one by the author named Jack Tottle!

   This is published by Oak publications.

   I got this book from my grade 6 teacher Mr. Dan LeBlanc last year and he gave it to me becuase I liked mandolins.

   This is a good book and the songs I like to play on my mandolin is:

   Oh Suzanna,
   John Hardy,
   Cripple Creek &
   Banks of the Ohio.

   The song I love to play on my mandolin is Banks of the Ohio.

   There is a record inside the book and you have to put it on tape.

   I like this book because of the F Style Mandolin on the cover.

   Bill Monroe is in this book.

   This is a great book, A Bluegrass Mandolin book and I love it!

   Have fun,
   And I hope everybody likes it.




3. Tottle starts with some musical fundamentals -- general points like reading TAB and musical notation, time signatures, rhythm, etc., as well as mandolin-specific issues like tuning. If you have another instrument under your belt, this makes quick reading and then Tottle immediately starts you on learning simple pieces. Since I already play the guitar, for instance, I opened this book and almost immediately learned my first rag.

   After you have half a dozen dance numbers under your belt, Tottle breaks out a small chord dictionary and introduces the idea of the structured bluegrass song, with instrumental breaks in between verses. Starting with "The Banks of the Ohio", he then demonstrates how to construct a mandolin break around a song's melody. As he adds numbers, Tottle increases in complexity, and it pretty quickly adds up to an impressive repertoire.

   Tottle's writing is clear and straightforward. All music is presented in standard notation and in tablature. Occasional charming photographs of mandolin greats add a nice touch.

   The book I have does not have the CD, but the CD can only add to what is a great instructional book.




4. I was searching for a really comprehensive instruction book for mando, and I have found one: "Bluegrass Mandolin" by Jack Tottle. While I realize there are many styles for playing, I think this is a really good way to get started. The lessons are presented in both standard notation and tablature, and they graduate in complexity as you get farther along.
   
   My only complaint is that this doesn't come with a CD. But this is a slam more towards myself than towards the author. I am ashamed to say that, with the exception of a few songs, I am woefully unfamiliar with most of these beloved folk and bluegrass standards; and the majority of my learning procedure in the past has been by ear. But I am looking at this as a challenge and a way to exercise my ability to read and play along with sheet music. Still, hearing the actual song would help me play more fluid-ish. A check of the copyright page tells me that it first went to press in the late 70s, so CDs were far into the future.



5. Well written, good tunes, and well organized. Much better than other "how to play..." types of texts. Having a bit of familiarity with the tunes helps, but that is always the case when learning music.

No comments about Parade of popular hits (Reader's Digest Songbook).

5 comments about Constructing a 5-String Banjo: A Complete Technical Guide.

1. Every prospective banjo builder should have this book. It is thorough and exhaustive. If you have the proper tools and are willing to take your time, you can build a perfectly good banjo with the information in this book.

   Roger shows the prospective builder how to construct almost every major part of the instrument, from the rim to the neck to the resonator. Fortunately for the tyro, it is not necessary to go quite this far in the building process. It is now very easy to obtain semi-finished parts from many sources, so you don't have to slot your own fretboard or bend your own rim, unless you really like to get down to the most basic type of building.

   This book has been out for fifteen years now, and some of the suppliers in his list have gone out of business. So the list should probably be updated.

   If you do an internet search for banjo parts, you will be able to buy almost everything you need in semi finished form to construct a great banjo, using this book as a guide along the way.




2. I am an advanced woodworker and know what I am looking at in regard to how-to wood working books. This book is so definitive and complete that it is the standard I will use for other books of its kind. Although it is a technical book there is also bits of supporting theory about the "why" of the "how-to". Although there were some things I know little about, such as inlaying work, I found myself inspired to get into areas that before I would avoid. Great book, Roger.



3. While this is a good book and will teach you many things about wood selection and how to cut, what materials to select, how to stain and with what-basically it takes you from the lumbar yard for selection of raw materials to the back porch and pickin your newly constructed banjo there are some well known errors in the book-particularly with the proper length of the fretboard for correct intonation. overall this is a very good book and if you keep a keen eye open for the inconsistancies you will build a killer banjo (or at least a killer kit banjo)



4. This guide is aimed at people with a fair degree of woodworking skills. It covers the high points and provides very good pictures and advice. Although plans for building a banjo are included, none of the more useful jigs are drawn up - consistent with the aim of the book, but holding it back from be excellent and most thorough. Bottom line? Worth every penny.



5. Very detailed instructions for each part in a chapter for each part. Full size plans in a fold-out section. Mr Siminoff knows his stuff and suggests various approaches depending upon your skills or facilities.
   
   If you're even just a little bit handy then you should be able to make a worthwhile instrument from this book.

No comments about Taylor Swift: Country's Sweetheart: An Unauthorized Biography.