Ed Ward (1) (1948–2021)

Any attempt to create a comprehensive chronology around the emergence of a new art form is fraught with potential traps, and unfortunately Ward falls into a few of them. There really is no clear path that led to the development of rock, its one of multiple influences, coincidence, happy accident, geography, social change, and (unfortunately) racism. I consider this “a” history of rock rather than “the” definitive take that the title suggests. Ward clearly knows the deep details around who recorded what and where, but his insistence on cramming all these facts into the story gets in the way of the narrative. This is a book that will remain on the shelf as a useful reference, but not one I’d recommend to the casual reader.… (meer)

I took a while reading this because I kept stopping to listen to bands and songs mentioned. Loved the musical journey!

Ward packs a whole lot of information into these pages. This period in rock history is tumultuous, with an explosion of new sounds, the ever-shifting band members, and music labels seeking the best way to capitalize on it all. While the approach is academic, the narrative is engaging and conversational.

For the most part, this is an unbiased look at the rise and fall of bands and music styles, though now and then Ward is a little dismissive of bands he clearly doesn't think much of. (I'm guessing he's not a Doors fan.) I chuckled at the brief glossing over of a few bands because, while I didn't always agree, I thought it humanized Ward as a listener beyond his position as an established music critic.

I haven't read Volume 1, but now I definitely want to, and I'm looking forward to Volume III!

*I received a review copy from the publisher.*… (meer)

Excellent. Ward takes the jumbled story of the birth of rock and roll, from its roots in blues, rockabilly and country until the arrival of The Beatles on an unsuspecting America, and makes sense of it. If he's missed anyone, or anything, out I can't find it. Its always the sign of a good music history when it finds two pages for Arthur Alexander. Often very funny - particularly in his diatribes against The Chipmunks and their voicer, Ross Bagdasarian - and only occasionally repetitive, this is both comprehensive and exhaustive. And who knew that Walden Robert Cassotto would one day become Bobby Darin? In the late 50s, anything could happen… (meer)