Customer Reviews

Working Girl Blues: The Life and Music of Hazel Dickens (Music in American Life)

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This brief work is a helpful start, and readers should understand that it is a popular level work rather than the serious analysis and historical work that Hazel's life, tradition, and music really deserve. But until that appears, this is a good start. In fact, such short works done quickly, while memories are fresh, can be VERY helpful for later, more serious, academic works. There is a short biography, followed by the lyrics of many of Hazel's songs with brief comments from Hazel herself. The book reads like an extended series of conversations with Hazel Dickens herself. I enjoyed reading it, but was left wanting more background, analysis, and comparisons with other musicians similar to her, either historical or contemporary. I was especially interested in learning about Mountain Gospel music, but this work is very minimal on this subject. But all in all - a Good start.

After attending a bluegrass festival, I realized that although I knew nothing about Hazel Dickens, other performers at the festival had great respect for her. After reading this book, I knew why. She started life very poor, shy, and very self-conscious about her lack of formal education. She did, however, live in a family that valued country and hill music. Through hard work, a little luck and taking advantage of any help offered, she became a musician in the Appalachian hill style, singing songs she wrote about current injustices as well as old standards. She gained the courage to speak out for oppressed coal miners, the homeless, child laborers, women in abusive relationships, and other downtrodden people. As one of the first women in the previously male-dominated field of bluegrass, she became a feminist before she knew what the word meant. She has worked hard and lived frugally by choice. This book is especially valuable because it contains lyrics to all the songs Hazel has written along with notes about why she wrote them.