I’m looking for books on the early days of rock music, especially from 1950-1965
Any book that covers this period would be great. I can be books that cover the development of the genre, the business side of things, biographies on specific artists. Anything really in that area.
For a biography–one that goes into various public reactions to early rock, whites’ appropriation of blacks’ songs & styles, high-handed treatment of musician by manager, incidentally–Albert Goldman’s *Elvis* seems to have been thoroughly researched and god know it’s enormously entertaining.
randomberlinchick on
*Just Around Midnight: Rock and Roll and the Racial Imagination* by Jack Hamilton
spoor_loos on
Last Train to Memphis: The Rise of Elvis Presley by Peter Guralnick
davidsuxelrod on
This book addresses a bigger period than you specify, but Dave weigel’s “the show that never ends” about progressive rock is well worth reading for any fan of that kind of music.
4 Comments
For a biography–one that goes into various public reactions to early rock, whites’ appropriation of blacks’ songs & styles, high-handed treatment of musician by manager, incidentally–Albert Goldman’s *Elvis* seems to have been thoroughly researched and god know it’s enormously entertaining.
*Just Around Midnight: Rock and Roll and the Racial Imagination* by Jack Hamilton
Last Train to Memphis: The Rise of Elvis Presley by Peter Guralnick
This book addresses a bigger period than you specify, but Dave weigel’s “the show that never ends” about progressive rock is well worth reading for any fan of that kind of music.