If you are looking for a concise, comprehensive history of country music, look elsewhere: Nick Tosches is way too idiosyncratic & original to stick to any subject for too long. Basically he is a music lover who also happens to write and his writing is mostly delightfully random - he goes where his muse leads him, never mind the chronology, subjects or logic. While 1984 book "Unsung Heroes Of Rock 'n' Roll" is a genuine masterpiece, this one, published in 1977 is unfortunately not as brilliant - it feels as almost general rehearsal for things to come - but dear reader, even a unpolished Tosches is still towering above other, mediocre authors. Its just pity that this particular book is not quintessential as the other one.
While the title promises this will be a book about country music, this is merely an idea and from here Tosches goes on, musing about the earliest influences, Appalachian songs, Scottish murder ballads and so on - then he gets inspired and writes whole chapter about obscure vaudeville singers in a blackface or early rockers like Jerry Lee Lewis - mostly he rambles about lesser known musicians who have left almost no trace and never ever discusses Nashville, Grand Ole Opry or anything you would expect from this book - he mentions Jonny Cash only to laugh at his teetotalism and says "There are several offensively pious men in country music. Johnny Cash and his God are a particularly tedious act. The strongest drink Cash serves at his parties is nonalcoholic fruit punch." In other words, read if you are already familiar with the author but don't expect something that this book is not. It is a collection of random essays, connected with the IDEA of country music but not exclusively about it.
"Not long ago, in March of 1996, as I toiled without thanks or recompense on these many well-punctuated paragraphs to make for you, my friend, a reliquary finely wrought so to befit the rare remains of arcane knowledge held within, a most extraordinary letter came to me from the Midwestern land.
“Dear Mr. Tosches,” it began. “Hello my name is Paul Dandy and I am a 16 year old musicologist and historian with my studies focused on the great Emmett Miller. I have been researching Miller for about 6V2 years . . .” Of course, I responded to the young master posthaste, and in turn heard from him again. “Dear Mr. Nick,” he opened, more familiarly this time. “Its a thrill to know I have found someone (finally!) who understands how important Emmett really is, and its good to know that someone actually cares about trying to preserve and learn about his music and his life!”
I like to think that this young man speaks for his generation; and hearing the voice of this generation—oh, how it swells—I am gratified and I am humbled. Indeed, how dare I grumble of toil without thanks, toil without recompense! My hope is renewed, not only in the future of Miller studies, but in the future of America as well. Youth, I salute you. I place upon your shoulders the mantle of this mission, in your hands its fate. May your journey to Fort Hill Cemetery be golden-bowered and fruitful; may Lue Wanna and her Savage Dancers love you as they have loved no other; and may the ghost of Joe Tarto smile down upon you. Go now, and seek closure."
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