Are You Ready for the Country: Elvis, Dylan, Parsons and the Roots of Country Rock by Peter Doggett

Are You Ready for the Country: Elvis, Dylan, Parsons and the Roots of Country Rock Reviews

• 
  Pat

  Peter Doggett's Are You Ready for the Country takes its title from a Neil Young song, but focuses more on the influence of Bob Dylan, Gram Parsons and various members of The Byrds on the genre that became known as country rock. The lengthy book is divided into three parts of differing quality. The most interesting is the first part which focuses on the decade starting in 1966 and particularly the country influence that Chris Hillman, Gene Clark and, later, Gram Parsons brought to the sound of The Byrds. This complicated musical family tree is traced both backwards and forwards throughout the 1960s and takes in the influence of The Hillmen and The International Submarine Band on what would become known as "country rock" and how Sweethearts of the Rodeo by The Byrds would go on to influence many rock musicians to try the country sound.
  
  Part Two goes back to country pioneers such as Hank Williams, Sr. and traces the huge influence that country music and rural musicians had on the formation of rock 'n' roll in the late 1950s. In particular, this section shows the importance of Sam Phillips and his Sun Studios in Memphis in bringing country music to a younger, wider audience with the likes of Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash and even Jerry Lee Lewis. One of the book's dominant themes is present in almost every chapter in this part: the tension between the conservative, restricted world of country headquarters in Nashville and its distrust of rock music versus its attempts to embrace the arms (and wallets) of rock musicians who wanted to record in the city with its highly sought after musicians.
  
  The final part is less engaging as it looks at each fall and rise of country rock from 1975-2000. The first two parts had looked at the musicians and their music in more depth, but this section, perhaps necessarily, focuses on dozens and dozens of artists from many different genres. Overall, Are You Ready for the Country is a well-written overview of country music, rock music and the hybrid they became. Doggett is a good writer and is obviously a fan of both country and rock. Each chapter includes relevant quotes from musicians, writers and producers and there's also an excellent list of 100 important country rock albums at the end. Are You Ready for the Country is both a worthwhile introduction to country rock for newcomers and an even better read for those already familiar with this music.
• 
  Mark K.Astley

  Not entirely sure what this book was trying to achieve. Some decent one off essays within but overall it was a disappointing read!
• 
  Neal

  Fairly informative. In the late 60s the electric folk music of the Byrds met the Grand Ole Opry. As a genre, music criticism usually degenerates rather quickly into a monotonous repetition of names and studio sessions. I swear Hank Williams is mentioned every other paragraph. Pretty enjoyable read if you're a fan of country/rock music. A lot on Gram Parsons, whom I'm not really a fan. Wished there had been more on the early 50s blues and rockabilly pioneered by Buddy Holly, Carl Perkins, Ike Turner, and Sam Phillips. Also gave country music in the 50s/60s short thrift. But he covered a lot of ground, so I can't complain too much. And this book is specifically country rock, not rock, not country, but that strange mixture of Americana.
• 
  Justin

  As if I needed any more info in my crusade to burn The Eagles at the stake. Treated to wondrous stories and insight into many of alt-country's forgotten troubadours, it also slaps the Eagles and their brand across the face for the out-and-out copying of a sound and genre they neglected and now re-embrace for capitalism's sake.
• 
  Jonathan

  Encyclopedic with regard to the information presented, this history of alt.county and/or country rock is a staggering read of who's who, who did what and when, as well as how and to what effect. Not for the faint of heart and only for those obsessed with details the rest of us would otherwise ignore.
• 
  Jenny Stracener

  I don't think I will ever finish this interesting book. I keep picking it up randomly but have been working on it since late July 2008. We'll get there eventually...
• 
  Simon

  Yeah I mean you know
• 
  Glen Russell Slater

  Fascinating and informative. A must for lovers of country, rock and roll, Southern rock, and, of course, country-rock. For lovers of this genre, this book is awfully hard to put down.