Record Makers and Breakers: Voices of the Independent Rock 'n' Roll Pioneers (Music in American Life): Broven, John: 9780252077272: Amazon.com: Books

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Editorial Reviews

Review

Awarded a Certificate of Merit by the Association for Recorded Sound Collections (ARSC) for Best Research in Recorded Rock and Popular Music, 2010.

"Broven ... keeps the text moving right along, his fill-in facts and explanations welcome, his segues from interviewees' words to his own smooth and easy. The author clearly loves the music and holds the achievements of the record people in high regard, but he stays level-headed and avoids overpraising his heroes."--Downbeat

"A fascinating new book about the early independent labels of rock 'n' roll underscores again the central role that radio played in turning rock 'n' roll into the musical language of modern American popular culture. Record Makers and Breakers ... is a rich and engaging history of those early years, largely told through the words of the smart guys, hustlers and Runyonesque characters who shaped them". --New York Daily News

"Broven has put together a detailed and engrossing study of the independent record labels of the 1940s-70s. . . . An outstanding and important study that goes well beyond comparable predecessors; highly recommended."--Library Journal (starred review)

"4 stars. Welcome to a world filled with payola, the mob and jukebox sounds."--MOJO

"Covering the convoluted history of the recording industry from the 1940s to the 1960s, [Broven] combines in-depth archival research with fascinating anecdotes about chart-toppers, shady characters and label owners. . . . The impact of conniving entrepreneurs on the musicians and the layering of rich details and digressive detours as Broven traces the transition from R&B to rock make this equal to Roger D. Kinkle’s massive, four-volume Complete Encyclopedia of Popular Music and Jazz.--Publishers Weekly

"The depth of factual details is incredible, but it's presented in the style of a rich oral history . . . so as not to lose any of the flavour of their anecdotes. . . . It's a chronicle of the entrepreneurial American spirit, liberally punctuated by the creation of some of the most exciting and innovative music of all time."--Record Collector

“Broven is masterful, making Record Makers an essential book for anyone interested in not only American musical culture but American culture, period."--American Songwriter

"This is by far the most complete picture painted to date of the independent recording industry and it has the added advantage of illuminating many of the personalities who helped make that tick."--Blue Suede News

"A remarkable, carefully documented oral history written as an approachable narrative. . . . Recommended."--Choice

"An invaluable addition to understanding American music and indispensable for those into pop music history."--Jazz & Blues Report

"Record Makers and Breakers is a big train of a book that follows the rise of blues, R&B, soul and early rock 'n' roll through the lives behind the independent labels. Long though it is, the ride is rich for anyone curious about the business dynamics of popular culture."--New Orleans Magazine "A treasure. John Broven has given the academic world a good dose of old-fashioned shoe leather journalism. This book will be invaluable to scholars studying the music industry and particularly the rock 'n' roll era."--Don Cusic, author of Johnny Cash: The Songs

"Record Makers and Breakers is replete with groundbreaking research that more than any other single book explains how the popular music industry worked. A must read about the record industry."--Robert Pruter, author of Doowop: The Chicago Scene and Chicago Soul

About the Author

John Broven is a respected expert on the rock 'n' roll era and has served as a consultant at Ace Records in the United Kingdom. A one-time coeditor of Blues Unlimited and cofounder of Juke Blues Magazine, he is the author ofRhythm and Blues in New Orleans and South to Louisiana: The Music of the Cajun Bayous. He lives on Long Island, New York.

Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ University of Illinois Press
Publication date ‏ : ‎ January 13, 2010
Edition ‏ : ‎ First Edition
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Print length ‏ : ‎ 584 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 025207727X
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0252077272
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 2.4 pounds
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 7 x 1.6 x 10 inches
Part of series ‏ : ‎ Music in American Life
Best Sellers Rank: #1,650,184 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #452 in R&B & Soul Artist Biographies
- #581 in Music Recording & Sound (Books)
- #2,334 in Rock Band Biographies
Customer Reviews:
54 ratings

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Customer reviews

54 global ratings

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4 star
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3 star
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Customers say

Customers find the book well researched, with one noting its extensive footnotes, and they appreciate its comprehensive content, with one describing it as a 45 RPM collectors bible. The writing style receives positive feedback, with one customer highlighting the author's personal enthusiasm. Customers consider it one of the best books ever written on popular music history.

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Research quality Content Writing style History

12 customers mention "Research quality"12 positive0 negative

Customers praise the research quality of the book, finding it well-documented and insightful, with one customer noting its extensive use of footnotes.

"...Talk about a labor of love! A painstakingly researched and insightful work...." Read more

"Meticulously researched and written with a welcome personal enthusiasm, this is an invaluable book...." Read more

"...A incredibly well researched and presented. A book that uses the voice of those who made it happen to tell the story...." Read more

"...Totally blown away. So well researched and presented. Learned so much I did not know. Very well documented with footnotes...." Read more

5 customers mention "Content"5 positive0 negative

Customers praise the book's comprehensive content, with one describing it as a must-have for music historians and another calling it a 45 RPM collectors bible.

"...love all the colorful independent label owners of the 1950s, this book has it all...." Read more

"The most complete book about the American record industry I have ever read...." Read more

"Wow so much great information!!A 45 RPM collectors bible giving background on all kindsa amazing early indie rock labels and the personalities..." Read more

"...In my view a book may have good original research and fine general content. But if the pages are hard to turn it loses something...." Read more

5 customers mention "Writing style"5 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the writing style of the book, finding it well-crafted, with one customer noting the author's personal enthusiasm and another highlighting its clarity.

"...I took copious notes while reading it. Beautifully written as well...." Read more

"Great stories from the Wild and wooly era of the indie labels. Well written." Read more

"...AND RESEARCH ABOUT THE PEOPLE WHO CREATED IT, THE AUTHOR CONVEYS A GREAT MEASURE OF CLARITY REGARDING AN INDUSTRY WHOSE DYNAMICS ARE ALMOST..." Read more

"Meticulously researched and written with a welcome personal enthusiasm, this is an invaluable book...." Read more

3 customers mention "History"3 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the book's historical content, with one describing it as one of the best books ever written on the history of popular music.

"This might be one of the best books ever written on the history of popular music (rock n' roll) If you care about the history of how rock n' roll,..." Read more

"...hours on interviews and research to author this great effort in America's Record Industry...." Read more

"OUTSTANDING. A SINGULAR WORK...." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

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Maria Ninguem
May be the best book I've ever read
Reviewed in the United States on November 24, 2022
Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

Until now, Charlie Gillett's Sound of the City (1970) was my all time favorite. This book is even better! If R&B and early rock and roll is your passion, and you love all the colorful independent label owners of the 1950s, this book has it all. One of the things I really liked was how the role of the jukebox operators was highlighted. Too often that's overlooked, and without that facet, any understanding of earlier R&B, country and the rockabilly and rock and roll that followed is misleading. Loved it.

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JONNY-1 NYC
Broven is a record maker himself!
Reviewed in the United States on November 13, 2009
Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase
Other than putting emphasis on his father-in-law, Clark Galehouse, Broven gets to the "nitty gritty" of the real independent record manufactuers in America. From the Renes and Mesners to the Chesses and Biharis to Art Rupe, (Arthur Goldberg), Lew Chudd, Herman Lubinsky, Syd Nathan, Ahmet Ertegun, Jerry Wexler and the long unheralded Bobby Robinson. Broven must have spent coutless hours on interviews and research to author this great effort in America's Record Industry. From Irving Green and Burle Adams at Mercury to Eli Oberstein and Joe Carlton at RCA; he goes into great detail quoting George Avakian on the battle of the 45 RPM vs. the 33 1/3 LP. This is a must in any music historian's library. He not only goes into manufactuers but distribution as well, thus the Milt Salistone's and Jerry Blaine's and Paul Glass's are not forgotten. A thorough researcher and to be commended for same.Expensive but worth the money, especially Ahmet Ertegun's tale of discouraging Bobby Robinson to release: "Kansas City".If you really want to learn the history of the now obsolete or defunct independent record business; start here!

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5 people found this helpful

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Spike
Record Makers and Breakers: Voices of the Independent Rock 'n' Roll... John Broven
Reviewed in the United States on March 8, 2014
Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase
GREAT READ. I have read this twice already. great stories of how the music industry was built. Before there was Amazon, Before there was aomeba Records, Before there was TV and malls, Before Dick Clark ... There was Friday nights going down to the Juke joint for a good time.
Music spread by word of mouth, and by agents selling Boxes of 78's out of thier trunk. by Railroad porters taking handfulls of 78's on the train and selling them in far away cities. The whole industry was built this way, and this is the story of the pioneers who filled the void by making records - Getting them out to the Juke boxes - and greasin' the DJ palms to ride the discs giving them a little extra "air time" - Just a fascinating read.

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Michael L. Slavin
Just About Everything You Need To Know About The Beginning of Rock 'N' Roll
Reviewed in the United States on May 29, 2009
Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase
The author obviously has been minutely familiar withn the subject for years. He has meticulously and exhaustively put together an almost encyclopedic book, with appendices, coming to almost 600 pages. Therein lies my slight problem with awarding the work 5 stars as have the other reviewers. It's, for me, almost overwhelmingly too much to absorb. There are so many people described and so many anecdotes related it can almost cause brain shutdown. That's not to suggest that the book should have been condensed or edited down. But, I consider readability to be an important factor. And,to me, at least I found this not too particularly reader friendly, from the perspective of getting to the finish line. In my view a book may have good original research and fine general content. But if the pages are hard to turn it loses something. Further, let me say this, that the topic very much interests me. Particularly going back to the late 40's-mid 50's r&b. But getting thru this book was almost like plowing thru a mathematics text. Nevertheless, I willed myself to keep reading till I was finished. The author traces the business from the early days of 78rpm records to the 45rpm breakthru and introduction of the long playing record. It tells how early on the juke box operators very much controlled things. Then the small independent labels and record pressers came into play. Many of them started and run by entrepreneurial eastern european Jews. Those were the days when there were small record stores on almost every corner many of them having much influence with their customers. Some even had live dj's playing on the air from the premises. Some had recording studios in back rooms on site. We even learn that Jesse Jackson was trying to stir up the racial pot against Chess Records. Saying that since they sold to black people black people should be running the company. The Disc Jockeys and Distributors became key players in breaking out the hit records. Pay to play payola reared it's head. And it wasn't just cash. They often wanted publishing rights, part ownership of record companies and had financial interest in some artists, touring shows and even nightclubs. Today, the record pioneers are pretty much gone. As are the ma 'n pop record stores and even the megastores like Tower and Virgin as we move into the digital age. Most of the small companies that survived have been sold to mega conglomerate corporations. This book well documents an important period in the evolution of popular music. So if you're up for the undertaking. Get it. But, be prepared at the onset that it may take a major committment to get to the end.

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14 people found this helpful

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Donald B. Eager
One Great Book!
Reviewed in the United States on July 6, 2012
Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
This might be one of the best books ever written on the history of popular music (rock n' roll) If you care about the history of how rock n' roll, the blues, R&B got to be so popular this is the book for you. A incredibly well researched and presented. A book that uses the voice of those who made it happen to tell the story. As a collector of music by the record label I found this to be a great read! That it is written by a Englishman makes it even better. A honest, straight forward history that anyone who thinks they know music must read.

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Daddy Dowah
Answers the Question - Where Did All Those Early Rock Record Companies Come From?
Reviewed in the United States on May 15, 2015
Format: KindleVerified Purchase
This book is a MUST READ for anyone who has ever wanted to know about all the independent record labels of the early rock era and their origins. Mr. Broven's interviews with the pioneers of the independent record companies and some of the artists who appeared on their discs gets you "in the know" straight from the power horses' mouths who made this emerging market happen. The appendices are also a wealth of interesting information. This well researched, meticulously put-together volume shows the love this author had for his subject matter and for the men and women who were the independent record makers and breakers.

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Raffaello
Fantastico libro per chi ama la storia del rock'n'roll
Reviewed in Italy on June 5, 2020
Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

Purtroppo disponibile solo in lingua inglese, questo volume è un recipiente di informazioni storiche ineguagliabile. Da avere nella propria biblioteca, e studiare!

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Mark Anderson
Very Worthwhile History Of The American Independent Record Labels Which Promoted R&B and Rock and Roll
Reviewed in Canada on April 1, 2015
Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
This is an excellent history of the American independent record labels of the 1940s, 1950s and 1960s which played a major role in the development of rock and R&B. It's well written and well researched, with many first hand interviews with the people actually involved with these independent labels.

It covers everything from the major independents like Atlantic and Chess to small, little known independent labels in regional markets. It also goes into interesting detail on the business side of the music business, which often gets glossed over in many music histories.

Overall, a very worthwhile book for anyone interested in the history of the music business and the development of rock and roll and R&B.

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k gotheridge
Another great book from John B
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 26, 2018
Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
Another great book from John B. I've read the others but this one surpasses those in the sheer scale. All are very good though. Highly recommended.

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Dr. Boogie
Die "Bibel" ...
Reviewed in Germany on April 1, 2011
Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
Uff, was für ein Brocken! Wow, was für ein spannendes Buch! Fast 600 eng bedruckte Seiten mit buchstäblich allem, was du zum Thema wissen möchtest. Pflichtlektüre für alle, die sich ein bisschen mehr für Popmusik interessieren. Sie kommen alle hierdrin zu Wort: Art Rupe, die Bihari-Brüder, die Erteguns, Jerry Wexler und und und - die legendären Typen, die uns R&B, Rock'n'Roll (und auch Kinderplatten ;-)) auf den Plattenteller brachten. Hier erzählen Sie uns ihr Insiderwissen über das Business von improviserten Studios, selbst gebauten Plattenpressen, Umgang mit den Künstlern und und und. Tolle Storys, von John Broven klasse aufbereitet.

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Amazon Customer
my son is over the moon with the book really good kind regards linda
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 15, 2016
Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
thank you so much for the service i received, my son is over the moon with the book
really good
kind regards
linda june

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Top reviews from the United States

There was a problem filtering reviews. Please reload the page.

5.0 out of 5 stars May be the best book I've ever read

5.0 out of 5 stars Broven is a record maker himself!

5.0 out of 5 stars Record Makers and Breakers: Voices of the Independent Rock 'n' Roll... John Broven

4.0 out of 5 stars Just About Everything You Need To Know About The Beginning of Rock 'N' Roll

5.0 out of 5 stars One Great Book!

5.0 out of 5 stars Answers the Question - Where Did All Those Early Rock Record Companies Come From?

Top reviews from other countries

5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastico libro per chi ama la storia del rock'n'roll

5.0 out of 5 stars Very Worthwhile History Of The American Independent Record Labels Which Promoted R&B and Rock and Roll

5.0 out of 5 stars Another great book from John B

5.0 out of 5 stars Die "Bibel" ...

5.0 out of 5 stars my son is over the moon with the book really good kind regards linda

May be the best book I've ever read

Broven is a record maker himself!

Record Makers and Breakers: Voices of the Independent Rock 'n' Roll... John Broven

Just About Everything You Need To Know About The Beginning of Rock 'N' Roll

One Great Book!

Answers the Question - Where Did All Those Early Rock Record Companies Come From?

Fantastico libro per chi ama la storia del rock'n'roll

Very Worthwhile History Of The American Independent Record Labels Which Promoted R&B and Rock and Roll

Another great book from John B

Die "Bibel" ...

my son is over the moon with the book really good kind regards linda