Tattooed on Their Tongues: A Journey Through the Backrooms of American Music

by Colin Escott

Book Overview

This work examines the history of 50 years of significant change in country music through the lives, eyes and careers of the independent record labels, producers, stars and sidemen who made this change possible. The author draws on years of research, personal interviews, documents and rare recordings to recover the stories of one-hit wonders, overnight successes and riches-to-rags tragedies from half a century of country and early rock music.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 002870679X
• ISBN13: 9780028706795
• Release Date: January 1996
• Publisher: Schirmer G Books
• Length: 243 Pages
• Weight: 1.45 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 7.4" x 9.6"

Customer Reviews

Groovy, down-to-earth look at early country history

Biographical essays of well-known as well as fairly obscure musicians and industry types. Escott has made a career out of telling outrageous, sometimes salacious, tales -- he gets to the rawer, visceral side of the story pretty quickly, which is relatively easy when you're talking to folks who worked in the scraggly, scruffy early years of country, rock and blues. He's an engaging, consersational writer, and this latest collection is a delight. Includes essays on artists such as Dale Hawkins, Don Everly, Johnny Horton, Tim Hardin and a particularly cruel skewering of Pat Boone. In one of the most fascinating sections, Escott profiles the founders of record labels such as Decca, King, Starday and Hi -- a fascinating and very illuminating appoach to presenting the history of popular music. Beautifully laid out, well written and highly recommended.

Fantastic

This Book was all that.Staxx is as Important as Motown.It's a Incredible Story.especially when A Black Label Blows up Down South in the 60's.you only ever here about Sun Records & Sam Phillips and his discovery of Elvis Presley.so this is Very Important on a Social Front.The Many Great Artists on Staxx.this Book is strong from start to Finish.

Outstanding!

This book is simply amazing. I was only marginally interested in Stax before reading the book, but you will be moved by this story.The passion shows through and I was unable to put it down.Out of the hundreds of books I've read, this is one of the finest.

Fascinating read for C & W or Rockabilly Fans

This book is as raw and soulful as the greatest country and rockabilly music gets. Great essays on contemporay stars Dwight Yoakum and Marty Stuart (two of the few "real" artists in today's Garth-in-the-park, yuppiefied, mall rat Urban Country scene). Also, a look at Pat Boone (how could such a soulless singer come from Tennessee!), the great, but sadly forgotten Johnny Horton and an ex-country wannabe who became a segragationist candidate for Govenor of Mississippi.

Excellent, and exhaustive, history of 1 of Soul's best.

Bowman's love for the music and personnel of the Stax label is plainly clear as he weaves its exciting, sometimes turbulent, history into a story that is as entertaining as it is informative. The interviews with the involved parties is what makes the book what it is, elevating the history from what could be a dry textbook, to a feel of a story told over dinner. The demise of Stax is truly a heartbreaking story that reflects America's, and specifically the South's, experience of the time. Fantastic work!