Customer Reviews

What'd I Say: The Atlantic Story

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I had the supreme honor of working for Atlnatic Records as a promotions Manager in the '70s, so I saw first-hand a lot of what's in this book. I saw it through the label, the artists, radio and retail. And lemme tell you, the book is spot-on accurate. The two words that best describe Atlantic Records are sophisticated and engaged, and those characteristics come top-down from the founder, Mr. Ahmet Ertegun, and through all of his management.

While the book is an amazing account of Atlantic Records, what is more is the indispensable perspective on the music business at large. For anyone even remotely interested in the history of this industry and its artists, this book is vital.

The cost is a bit pricey, but the old saying you get what you pay for has never been more true. The oversized book features fantastic photography and superb quality. I just wish it would have had included a 30-song sampler of the history of Atlantic artists.

Ahmet Ertegun has to be one of the true legends of popular music in the 20th century. When I first heard that Ertegun had penned the story of Atlantic Records 2 to 3 years ago, I immediately searched it out. But for some reason publication was delayed over two years. Alas it's here. This huge book has everything. First hand oral historical accounts on the birth of R&B with Ray Charles, Jerry Wexler, Otis, the Drifters through the evolution of 60's Rock with Cream, the Stones and Zepplin. The photos are spectatcular and Ertegun's own accounts insightful.....A brilliant man with impeccable taste. He may be the hippest son of a Turkish ambassador to ever found a legendary record label. While I personally can do without the more recent sections dealing with 80's and 90's music (how can you include Jewel with the likes of Ray Charles and Ben E. King?), this book is so huge (almost 10 lbs.) that the majority of the book far exceeds all expectations. At a time when lightweight books by airheaded groupies who played abolutely no role in the creation of a musical revolution somehow make their way into publication, this book stands alone as a classic account of a time when the musicians really were artist who paid their dues, song writers were stylists, and goood taste and genuine talent not only mattered, but actually sold records. If you are a true music fan, this book is the next best thing to being present at the birth of the R&B. One more suggestion, get the Atlantic R&B box set. If I were allowed to keep but one body of work from my music collection, this would be the one. It is the Rosetta Stone of modern R&B.

First of all, this book is huge and weighs a ton. That is appropriate for the subject matter, because Atlantic Records is a huge presence in the history of rhythm & blues and rock. Chock full of pictures and commentary, this presents a totally fascinating portrait of Ahmet Ertegun and his record company, including all the great artists associated with Atlantic. From the early days with artists such as Ruth Brown and the Clovers, through the early career of Ray Charles, and on to Otis Redding, Solomon Burke, Wilson Pickett and the incomparable Aretha Franklin, Atlantic Records made its reputation in R&B. Less well known, but hardly less influential, is its presence in the jazz world, thanks to Ahmet's brother Nesuhi. In the late '60's Atlantic expanded into the field of rock with Cream, Led Zeppelin, and, later, the Rolling Stones, and was a major player in art/progressive rock by signing such bands as King Crimson, Yes, and Emerson, Lake & Palmer.

They could have ended the book in the early '70's, in my opinion, because after corporate buyouts and sellouts, Atlantic's imprint became less distinctive. Face it, Foreigner could have been on any label and it wouldn't have made much difference. Later forays into country music seem very un-Atlantic, to say the least. But during its heyday, there was no label putting out as high a level of quality music as Atlantic records, and this is its fascinating story.

Had it not been for Ahmet Ertegun and his family moving from Turkey to America, more than 75% of the music that would come out over the time afterward would never had come to be and the musical mainstream would dramatically have never been the same.
I consider Ertegun to be would one of the best musical geniuses of the 20th century for it was he that started the snowball rolling and it kept getting bigger and bigger. He had his own acetate-cutting machine when he was a kid (pretty neat) and wrote his own songs. Close with his brother, Nesuhi, the two were avid jazz fans. When Ahmet got the urge to make records and hire acts to record for him, he founded his own record company with partner Herb Abramson in 1947 from a $10,000 loan from Ertegun's dentist. The rest is history. Atlantic had a huge roster of stars from jazz and R&B greats of the '40s, '50s and '60s to hard rock bands of the '60s, '70s and '80s. It starts with background history on Ahmet and continues on with the start of Atlantic from the '40s to the present. This huge book chronicles it all loaded with quotes from artists and from Ahmet and the production team as well as tons of photographs. It is pricey but it is worth every penny. Thank you, Ahmet Ertegun. American music would never have thrived without Atlantic!

I interviewed Mr. Ertegun before he passed away for a biography I'm writing so when this came
out I jumped on it...and it was everything I hoped it would be. An insider's look
at the quintessential soul music label of it's time from one of the most
influential men of his era. A great read and even greater pictures, a must
have book!

I`m a record collector since 1958, with many, many ATLANTIC/ATCO-records in my collection ! The Atlantic-records seemed to me always as high quality recordings and with marvellous artists in your catalog !
So I was very happy to get this wonderful book "WHAT`D I SAY", for reminiscing all the fine days of Rock-Music !
But I`m a little astonished, that this book isn`t complete and some Atlantic/Atco-musicians and groups are missing(Index) ?
For example one of my favourite 60s/70s group: The New York Rock`n` Roll Ensemble. They had 3 LPs on ATCO ? By the way......one of the most underrated Rock-Groups in History !
Where are: "Cowboy", "Fotomaker" and "Danny O`Keefe" in this book ? I guess, you layed too much weight on the "Black-side"(soul) and the Super-Stars(Led Z., Rolling St., Yes, Genesis etc.....) of the Atlantic catalogue ?
I`d understand your big interests for the great Soul-Department of Atlantic, although it`s not origin Atlantic staff(STAX) ! The Super-Star-department is "only" the big business part of the label: often costs much money, but sometimes
brought some money in ? Not to hurt the honour of Mr.Ertegun, but I guess, in the late days of his activities, Mr.Ertegun cared too much for the Super-Stars at Atlantic, maybe he was too much fascinated by Mick Jagger. and Robert Plant. ?
But I`ll never forget his great ambitions for the increasement of fundamental Soul and Rock-Music in the early days !!
That`s why I love Mr.Ahmet .Ertegun,not for the big stars, he hired !
Not to forget to mention: My very first 2 records, I ever owned in my life were, "Splish Splash"(Bobby Darin) and "Yackety Yack"(Coasters).......both Atlantic-records(1958)....in Germany on LONDON-AMERICAN Label !
I wonder, if you`ll care about this ?
Al my best wishes !
Siegfried Michalsky

Fabulous history of not just Atlantic records-but of American music history. Every serious student of music should own this.

Ahmet Ertegun what a Important figure in the Music Business? the Guy truly knew His stuff at making a label Important.just His Association with Ray Charles&Aretha Franklin alone speaks volumes to me.He had a strong Idea of what He wanted&He got it.in it's Hey Day Atlantic Records was as Important as Any Other Label then or Now.the one thing you get after reading this Book&Hearing the Atlantic Box Set is that Ahmet Ertegun could vibe with anyone.a Must Have.