Soulsville, U.S.A.: The Story of Stax Records
by Robert M J Bowman, Rob Bowman
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Book Summary Information
Author: Rob Bowman, Robert M J BowmanEdition: Paperback
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); English (Published)
Published: 2000-12-22
ISBN: 0825672848
Number of pages: 402
Publisher: Schirmer Trade Books
Product features:
- ISBN13: 9780825672842
- Condition: New
- Notes: BRAND NEW FROM PUBLISHER! 100% Satisfaction Guarantee. Tracking provided on most orders. Buy with Confidence! Millions of books sold!
Book Reviews of Soulsville, U.S.A.: The Story of Stax Records
Book Review: A chronicle of Deep South soul
Summary: 5 Stars
There are a gazillion books about "The Motown Sound" out there, but this is the only book that I know of about the company that briefly usurped crown of being the Crown Jewel of Black Music in the early 1970s.
As I see it this book is actually several different books in one: a history and chronology of Stax records; a biography of Al Bell and Jim Stewart; a comparison Northerners and Southerners (black AND white); and a case study of the nature of race relations in the South that may actually be a bit different from the stories most of us are accustomed to hearing... Regarding my final point, I believe that the Stax's racial composition is what made it so different from other companies. Here was a company in the heart of the deep/rural South, founded by whites and eventually controlled by blacks; a company in which the similarities of poor blacks and poor whites brought them closer to each other; a company in which whites were just as instrumental (pun intended) in the financial and musical success as blacks; a company who had one of its first major successes with a band that was half-black and half-white...in the early 1960s no less. These are all unlikely elements for any kind of success story, particularly one beginning in the context of the post-World War II Deep South. To partially--but by no means TOTALLY--describe the rise and fall of Stax, one might recall a common saying among blacks who participated in the Great Migration: "In the South, white folks to care how close you get, as long as you don't get too high; in the North, white folks don't care how high you get, as long as you don't get too close."
Speaking from the perspective of someone who is a fan, a musician, AND a social scientist, this is a great book. The musicians out there will appreciate the details of achieving the "Stax" sound from Steve Croppers dirty guitar strings to Al Jackson billfold-on-the-snare. Fans will appreciate knowing about the inspiration behind the songs and the details about some of their favorite musicians.
Summary of Soulsville, U.S.A.: The Story of Stax Records
Walk the halls of the famous studio that produced hits for Otis Redding, Sam and Dave, and Booker T. and the MGs. Provides the first history of the groundbreaking label.History & Criticism Books
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