Awopbopaloobop Alopbamboom: The Golden Age of Rock [Paperback]

Nik Cohn (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 4, 2001

Written in 1968 and revised in 1972, Awopbopaloobop Alopbamboom was the first book to celebrate the language and the primal essence of rock 'n' roll. But it was much more than that. It was a cogent history of an unruly era, from the rise of Bill Haley to the death of Jimi Hendrix. And while telling outrageous tales, vividly describing the music, and cutting through the hype, Nik Cohn would engender a new literary form: rock criticism. In his book's wake, rock criticism has turned into a veritable industry, and the world of music has never been the same. Now this seminal history of rock 'n' roll's evolution is available once more -- as riotous a spree as any in rock writing.

Product Details

• Paperback: 256 pages
• Publisher: Grove Press (November 4, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0802138306
• ISBN-13: 978-0802138309
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.5 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #113,481 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great insight from a young R&R critic, August 27, 2002

By 

Ron Ulrici (Brentwood, CA United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Awopbopaloobop Alopbamboom: The Golden Age of Rock (Paperback)

I just read a recent review of this book which was very negative. The critic didn't like the young Nik Cohn's opinions. Well, I am 60 years old and was there at the dawn of rock 'n roll and loved this book. I was pleasantly surprised that a 22 year old Brit back in 1968 could have captured the essence of the fifties music scene and also described in detail what happened soon thereafter. In fact, I agreed with most of his very descriptive analyses and even when I didn't, I understood his point of view. His knowledge on the topic and style of writing was superb.

5 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Brilliant, August 11, 2006

By 

No Damn Credit Card "NDCC" (Wellington NZ) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Awopbopaloobop Alopbamboom: The Golden Age of Rock (Paperback)

Not everything you need to know about rock 'n' roll, but the best nonintellectual critique of the period ever, and all the better for it. Cohn has the manic energy of period reflected in his writing. Clapton was indeed God. Hell, I was there!

3.0 out of 5 stars A quick overview but a decent read, January 24, 2012

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Shakey Jones - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Awopbopaloobop Alopbamboom: The Golden Age of Rock (Paperback)

Cohn is stuck in his ways, he admits it, and I'd agree with him on most things but he makes it hard to view the general consensus of his topic because it's all in his opinion. He's describing the history of rock n' roll, but he's also one sided. He has extensive noting on the fads in England, and while he attempts to equal his observations of America, he generally fails to do the states justice. He's good for a quick timeline and a brush up on the basics. He's good if you like high school, or teeny bopper sleeper jams from the forties and fifties, but he's jaded if you want the whole picture. The book was written in the early seventies, and it's almost comical how oblivious he was to the wave of American rock n' roll about to come up. There's a faint mention of The Velvet's, but no mention of the MC5 or The Stooges. The text and these bands might've never crossed paths but it would've shook up the experience a bit. Even if the MC5 and Stooges had yet to pop up, there was still a wave of Detroit rock n' roll before them and the blues rock that came before. Sun Ra, The Amboy Dukes and so on. I guess what it comes down too is that Cohn and I have different tastes, but that shouldn't get in the way of a decent historiography. He felt the need to write about everything and nothing at the same time, barely brushing by the bands he claimed himself to be most important to relish on the tid bits of forgotten boy groups just to get their name in.