Customer Reviews

Souled American: How Black Music Transformed White Culture

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

By far the best comprehensive read on music made in the United States that I've read. Phinney weaves a story line that takes us all the way back to the era of the African slave trade where an Englishman named Richard Jobson becomes the first European in recorded history to write about his observance of witnessing Africans involved in the making of music. He brings us through history right to today's doorstep where music makers as diverse as Eminem to Wynton Marsalis continue to tell the story not only of their music, but who we are as people living and contributing to an constantly evolving culture. The research is extensive and exhaustive. It reminds me of Ken Burn's Jazz series on steroids as it encompasses all genres of music through many centuries including slave work songs, minstrelsy, gospel, ragtime, blues, jazz, rock and roll, R & B, rock and todays hip-hop. There isn't enough attention made to the Latin tinge in American music but that ommission just as it was with the Burns series doesn't take away from all of the great research that defines this book. For music lovers and people who are interested in the underpinnings of American culture in general, it is a must read! It is a definitive statement of the addage that music is a mirror that reflects the people and times it was created in. Highly recommended!!

Bobby Jackson
Cleveland, OH

As with the majority of other reviewers of this book - the exception having apparently only a remote acquaintance with English, which would, indeed, make the book rough going - I found Mr. Phinney's work to be not just interesting, but delightful.

It is a rare feat to be able to touch the scholarly and analytical bases, as well as to entertain. I cannot imagine a university course on the cultural influences of African-American music - or on American popular culture or music - which would be complete without reference to this book.

Could be a college textbook on music history, and I mean that in a good way. I was watching a major music awards show and noting the teeny bopper/soccer mom pop that evolved from hip hop. True to the author's word about music patterns, and just as blues became palatable to the mainstream, so has hip hop. Unfortunately, to this reader's opinion, it's now a watered down, boring genre.

Phinney, though, is much kinder and objective than I, and doesn't put down anyone.

Phinney, like the musicians he writes about, is genius.

After a passing acquaintance with the author Kevin Phinney, I picked up his book, "Souled American". I thought the subject of how black music transformed white culture was intriguing, and was curious to see how Phinney made his argument.

While I began as a casual reader, I quickly became riveted by the scope and detail of the book. It's scholarly style, informative yet stimulating and accessible, managed to beckon the dormant music lover in me. To more fully understand the history of black music, I began to collecting songs from the many eras and genres Phinney chronicles, from gospel, ragtime, and jazz, to swing, blues, rock & roll, rap and hip-hop. I found that this combination made the book roar to life, and made the study of black music completely absorbing.

Phinney, a professional music critic and journalist, reports the history of black music in a concise style and provides impressive detail, yet manages to entertain with pertinent stories and fascinating interviews. Names, dates, and places are plentiful, but so are aspirations, emotions, and hard truths. Black artists, at times withstanding tremendous hardships, at times achieving awesome heights, are afforded great respect by the author. He waxes neither over-sentimental when relating sad stories, nor sycophantic when describing victories.

Phinney, deftly and bravely, dons many hats writing this book. In a country where relations between races is so often that dreaded third rail, he manages to ride that rail for the whole book. He includes distasteful, sometimes horrendous words and images when he must, never taking the easy way out. His reporting, truthful and sincere, tells of the theft of many black artists innovations and creations by a largely corporate, largely white, America. Phinney never dwells on disparities or justices, but illustrates these conditions with the book's most passionate, most fiery prose, and champions fair play.

Phinney also appears to take on roles as historian, sociologist, musicologist, tour-guide, and educator in "Souled American". While presenting an impressive overview of African-American music, of artists and their works, he provides context, tells of an ever-changing America through more than three turbulent centuries. Phinney is a master at setting a scene, introducing the players, and then telling an amazing, moving true story. Sharing center stage with the people is their music. The crafting and evolution of song is paramount in this book.

The songs are the heart of "Souled American", and the author introduces them by the hundreds. Crafted by experts with rare talent and passion, the profusion of black music in America is awe-inspiring, as is the breadth of Phinney's cross-sample. This is wherein the real magic of the book lies. Reading of the history of a musician, and the genesis of a particular song, makes listening to that song a powerful, extraordinary experience. I managed to collect several hundred songs while reading this incredible guide. Always with my ipod or laptop at hand (I heartily recommend Rhapsody`s comprehensive online music service), I would stop to listen to the most important songs. Many I'd nearly forgotten, many were old favorites, and many became new favorites. Some songs I didn't care for but I gave them a fair shot. This made the going slow, but oh so wonderful.

I picked up "Souled American" as a casual reader, with only passing interest in the subject of African-American music. I was delighted to find myself transformed into a student of black music, with a new understanding and a new passion for the art, in it's myriad forms. I now am beginning to understand how much influence black music has had on American culture, and how much influence it has had on my own life. I can further state that this book, this odyssey, has renewed my love for music. For that reason, above all others, I can say that Kevin Phinney's "Souled American", is a truly fine book. I give it my highest recommendation.

If you are a music fan, a history fan, a pop-culture fan, or just someone who loves intelligent storytelling then you will love this book. I really was not exposed to the Blues or early Jazz prior to reading Souled American and now I find myself listening to music with different ears.

I read Souled American in a few sittings - it's that good. Here, for what I think must be the first time in a highly readable and very entertaining book, are the truths that some music historians have tried hard to keep in the dark. Writer Kevn Phinney has a pleasant writing style and this enhances the overriding theme of this fact-crammed journey through Black Blues and White Rock And Roll - that much of what we know or experience as the roots of "white rock" was really the result of the hard work and vast talent of earlier African-American musical artists and, in some cases, musical geniuses. The interviews with such greats as Ray Charles, David Byrne, Sly Stone, Willie Nelson, B.B. King, Bonnie Raitt, and others are worth the price of the book alone. Mr. Phinney really knows how to ask questions and draw out information.

The author's understanding of how musical worlds, tastes, styles, and talents blended or were at odds with each other enhances his thesis. He appreciates the historical roots of blues and rock. When did any writer of a book head for Kansas City to really dig into the subject of KC Blues and then make a sane link to specific styles of rock and roll. Sheer brilliance. And enthrallingly written. The author brings in refences to myriad bands, such as The Rolling Stones or Chaka Khan. The musical richness of this volume is superb.

Mr. Phinney details politics, sociology, and culture as it influences music from the horrid days of Jim Crow to the White Rap escapades of Eminem. The author knows full well that white culture has been mightily transformed by black music. There is no escaping this fact. Souled American is a great book that has long been needed. Mr. Phinney makes stunning links between slave chants and specific musical riffs being heard today. This entire project seems a staggering undertaking. But the book is not daunting at all. It works on every level. It informs, enlightens, entertains, and succeeds on every level and I'm glad I read it. The author has a keen awareness of culture, counter-culture, and cultural shifts. Not only should the book be read by every musician, it should be read by anyone who loves the blues or rap or hip hop or good old rock and roll.

Misleading title and misleading ideals on culture.

I don't know if one can ever really know everything about one culture. The writer wears many hats for this book; and sometimes it makes the book nothing other than an interesting look at history and music. Unfortunately, there are many historical and cultural aspects neglected (probably because that would make this the longest book in the world) and it leaves something to be desired.

I wouldn't call this book negligent if you are one who likes reading books on this topic. My guess is the writer is counting on this. Debates over who originated what, where, and for whom seems to be the secondary concern. Talking about the process of innovation seems to be the primary interest of the author. Collaborative forces at work to achieve separate goals.

I read this book and thoroughly enjoyed it. It really is a richly detailed book. The interviews were fascinating. This is a superior book to others I have read on the subject. I liked the photographs, too. Author Kevin Phinney lets the artists do the talking and keeps the mundane sociology to a minimum. His writing style is informative without being preachy. He explains so much of rock and roll in exact terms that make sense. I wish the publisher would go and give the book more publicity. I only found out about it while searching the name of a former black blues player who's in the book. Anyway, a good book, well worth your time. And, you get a lot for your money. This is a solid bit of musical research. Enjoyable and entertaining reading.

This book continously amazed me with its scope and depth of analysis. His descriptions of the music and musicians we all know or think we know were revealing and apt. Earlier tonight I visited another site forum and posted a comment on Van Morrison re-recording ASTRAL WEEKS at the Hollywood Bowl. I recalled this author's quoting an anonymous black musician who was asked to compare Van's soul with Michael Bolton's. He replied, 'Well, at least Michael Bolton has a voice. I've never been able to listen to Van Morrison.' This gets me thinking about the debate over natural talent and technique versus passion and sincerity and taste.

I have been listening to Kevin for years. Was sad when he went off to write this book. He was gone way too long but the book was worth the wait. Not only have I learned so much from listening to Kevin and Kevin every morning but now to read the book and all the work and research that went into it. It belongs with my C/D's so I can refer to it when those nagging questions arise. Great work of art and I loved the conversation with Bonnie R.