Soulsville, U.S.A.: The Story of Stax Records [Paperback]

Robert M J Bowman (Author), Rob Bowman (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 1, 2003

Walk the halls of the famous studio that produced hits for Otis Redding, Sam and Dave, and Booker T. and the MGs. Provides the first history of the groundbreaking label.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Rob Bowman is professor of ethnomusicology and popular music at York University in Toronto. His liner notes to the Stax Records 10-CD set won him a Grammy in 1996.

Product Details

• Paperback: 402 pages
• Publisher: Schirmer Trade Books (April 1, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0825672848
• ISBN-13: 978-0825672842
• Product Dimensions: 9.4 x 6.1 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (20 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #262,123 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

21 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The problem with this book is..., January 3, 2003

By 

Eddie Landsberg "My 10th year as a reviewer !... (Tokyo, Japan) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Soulsville, U.S.A.: The Story of Stax Records (Hardcover)

The problem with this darn book is that once you pick it up, you're going to find yourself going on a CD buying binge well before you're half way through the book. - - Let's face it... Stax and Memphis Shoals = memories... and this is definitely a pretty funky strut down memory lane... the whole story, from the label's humble beginings in the mid '50s, an old movie theatre and record store, the golden era of Otis Redding, The Bar -Kays and M.G.s, to the superstar meglomaniacical rise of Hot Buttered Soul - - the Wattstax movie... and eventually, the infighting and financial woes that left the great soul machine screwed and in bankruptcy('circa '75). This isn't just a cute tabletop book with pictures of your favorite stars and cute trivial snippets (come to think of it, there's no big discography in the back !)- - its a well researched book that tells a great American/Afro-American story... (think of it, a racially integrated record label in the South circa the early '60s and moving on into the militant '70s that managed to turn the Northern recording establishment on its side !) It really gives you a glimpse of what was going on behind the scenes, how the sound evolved and the various personalities entered into the sphere and did their thing... the conflicts, the struggles, the accomplishments and the whole scene, bottom up... very tough to put down. Heck, they ought to turn it into a movie. - - If you consider yourself a STAX nut now... trust me, by the time you finish this book, you'll be a madman... spare yourself the wait... you might as well get the box sets while you still have the cash... this book is going to set you on a Stax jones... and well written enough that its definitely a keeper !

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Authoritative, Informative, Interesting Book, June 22, 2001

By 

Scott McFarland (Manassas, VA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Soulsville, U.S.A.: The Story of Stax Records (Hardcover)

The Stax story is an interesting one. They made some of the greatest music and art of the century, that's one reason that it's an interesting story. It's an interesting example of black and white people working together to create something powerful, too. The label's demise is a sad story but a thought provoking one - was it attributable to irresponsible management? Or institutional racism? Or both?

The fact that Rob Bowman knows his material and has investigated it thoroughly is evident by the flattering quotes on the book's back cover, by people such as Al Bell, Isaac Hayes, Mavis Staples, and Booker T. Jones, among others.

Having set a high standard with his liner notes to the "Complete Stax/Volt Singles" box sets, Mr. Bowman writes this book and tells us even more detail on this important, infinitely creative and beautiful phenomenon. It's a great book that he's written, worthy of its subject matter.

13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Informative, but..., November 28, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Soulsville, U.S.A.: The Story of Stax Records (Paperback)

Rob Bowman does a good job of recreating the historical arc of Stax Records. He states in the preface that the book was 12 years in the making, and the breadth of his interviews reflects that work. However, I have some serious caveats about recommending the book for anyone who has only a casual knowledge or appreciation of Memphis music.

The first, and most important one, is the writing style. It is a curious mixture of the labyrinthine sentences of the academic and the golly-gee-whiz of the avid fan. Bowman seems unsure of which voice he should present, and maybe with a stricter editor he could have pulled both off. But he doesn't, and the result is annoying and exasperating.

The second is what several other reviewers have mentioned: the lack of a discography. A work of this length and ambition makes including one a necessity, and its omission does nothing to lead a reader toward listening to the music itself.

The third ties to the second: the scanty bibliography. For a book of this size and scope to have only a two page bibliography and no bibliographical essay does a disservice to readers who might want to read further.

On the other hand, the photos in the book are terrific and it is apparent to this reader that investigating Stax was a labor of love for the author.

But if you want a readable and well-documented story of Memphis music in general and Stax in particular, Peter Guralnick's Sweet Soul Music is the one you should pick up.