So, yeah, I am on a tear with these rock bio’s - there’s a lot out there right now.
- Thread on Sound Man by Glyn Johns: Rock Bio: Sound Man by Record Engineer/Producer Glyn Johns - Cafe Society - Straight Dope Message Board
- Thread on Elvis Costello autobiography: Elvis Costello memoir out - Cafe Society - Straight Dope Message Board
Well, before the Johns book, I read this book on Sam Phillips by Peter Guralnick, writer of the most-respected bio of Elvis Presley with his two volumes:
This is a great book. Sam Phillips is a unique American character, worthy of a big place in music history. Guralnick is no uninvested biographer; he befriended Phillips decades ago and tries to share a portrait of a complicated man whom he nonetheless respects and loves.
Sam Phillips comes across as a person who cut his own path. Non-racist and deeply respectful of the music and players, he was also narcissistically-misogynistic, living a bigamist lifestyle without regard on its impact on his family. He was a charismatic business leader who sought electro-shock therapy and real issues with drinking.
With all that, a strong case is made for his deeply important influence on the creation of rock and roll. His ability to: a) see talent; b) patiently keep pushing until new things happen; and c) know how to capture and record a track that sounded excellent is discussed and explored. And the talent he sees - just whoa. It is amazing how briefly he was a principal in Elvis’ life, but it was Phillips’ discovery and focusing of Elvis’ talent changed everything. But this book also clarifies that it was Phillips who heard the broken-amp fuzztone being used by Ike Turner/Jackie Brenston on their track Rocket 88 and kept it in because he liked how it sounded. Pivotal all over the place. The man had Ears, as they say.
Worth reading.