In the Country of Country: A Journey to the Roots of American Music

I've had a copy of this book for several years. It is an onion of many layers. Factual and fun and quirky in what the author chose to include. The information about Iris Dement is especially interesting and rare. The Johnny Cash tidbits are refreshing and honest, and were so before he died and everyone came running with there stories for sale. NO matter. I have Three hundred bios and encyclopedic type works about the roots of country and americana music. It is my passion. If there was a housefire or a gun to my head and I could grab one book, I would grab this one. And I often do. Thats all I have to say. Standing Ovation.

Nicholas Dawidoff's IN THE COUNTRY OF COUNTRY is another of the more engrossing bits of cultural writing to surface within the last decade or two. Traveling around the US, Dawidoff profiles and often interviews a number of the seminal figures in country music: Johnny Cash, Chet Atkins, the Louvin Brothers, Doc Watson, Bill Monroe, Flatt & Scruggs, George Jones, Harlan Howard, Buck Owens, Rose Maddox, Patsy Cline, Emmylou Harris and others. There are many great and subtle discoveries to be made here - first, the sharpness of the varied creative personalities that emerges here. Dawidoff is about half-and-half a chronicler and interviewer, and a cultural critic with an interest in artistic biography and process, and despite the brevity of these essays, he does a consistently great job at getting into the minds of the people he writes about. His attention to region and roots is expected, but it is nonetheless wonderful to also note his attention to non-Southerners like Buck Owens, Merle Haggard (the cornerstones of 'Nashville West' - Bakersfield, CA), and the Texas contingent, represented by the Flatlanders and their Lubbock associates. Current figures of note: Emmylou Harris, Steve Earle and Iris Dement are also noted. The South does loom large, and many of the figures present are eloquently aware of the cultural importance of the South. In the commercially conservative world of country music, it's also notable how often the idea and reality of creative miscegenation crops up here (commented upon elsewhere by the Allman Brothers, Ray Charles, James Brown, Randy Newman, the Muscle Shoals crew and many others). It makes one long for a follow up book that would follow this strand of influence farther through the African-American musicians referenced by Atkins, Monroe, Watson, Cash and several others. Dawidoff hits the perfect balance between scholarly and accessible here. A great piece of cultural history that neither condescends or mythologizes, but simply digs deep into the intelligence found in diverse sources. -David Alston

In the Country of Country strikes a compelling balance between first-person testimonial and straight history text. In a series of chapters focusing on early "country" artists & groups, Nicholas Dawidoff travels to meet musicians in their own environment, often travelling with them to the towns they grew up in. The book records the surroundings both through the eyes of Dawidoff, seeing the place for the first time, as well as through the eyes of his subject and their memories of the place. Through this mix of perspectives, the book gives a great sense of the effect of history in the present day, as well as the enduring power of the music described. His careful choice of subjects also helps define and articulate what many hold valuable in both country music, and music in general. One gets the impression he takes the role of author as through he is the curator a historical exhibit, showing a common thread among country artists of the last 80 years. This is of course with the notable exception of Hank Williams, which at first I wondered about, but later accepted, seeing as plenty had been written about him already as well as the fact that the invocation of his legend might well overshadow the other artists featured. He is though, like Elvis, a constant presence in the book, whether explicit or unspoken. In the Country of Country can serve as a great introduction to many who know they like country music, but get lost in boot-scootin' commercialism or monochromatic alt-country. The companion compliation CD sounds like a great start towards further investigation.

I can't believe no one has reviewed this book yet! It is really a fascinating series of encounters with the greatest developers and innovators of country music. Dawidoff writes extremely well, and manages to engross you, whether you are a fan of country music or not. (In all fairness, however, I think that having a familiarity with country would make the book somewhat more enjoyable.) After receiving this book as a gift, I was not sure how interesting I would find it, but I was truly not able to put it down. Dawidoff has picked excellent exemplars for country music, and to hear their stories and their words is a real treat. Add in insightful and precise commentary from Dawidoff, and you have the recipe for an excellent book. Get yourself a copy!