The Steel Guitar Forum

There's a nice article about "Sacred Steel" in Peter Guralnick's new book: Da Capo Best Music Writing 2000. You are mentioned several times! Every musician who can read really should check out this book...it's a collection of the best articles on music by some of the worlds best music writers of the past year. My favorite article is by Susan Orlean: Meet the Shaggs. The other one that is really something is by Arthur Kempton: The Lost Tycoons: Fall of the Black Empires. This article compares the rise of Berry Gordy and Motown to Elijah Muhammad and the Nation of Islam! Just tremendous writing IMO. There's also a great story about Merle Haggard. My favorite quote is from Merle: "Son...the only place I don't smoke Marijuana is Muskogee". Take care, Lew

Thanks, Lew--I haven't seen PG's new book, but it sure sounds interesting. My guess is the Sacred Steel article is by Geoffrey Hymes, who wrote a very nice long feature for No Depression mag.

Guralnick had been by the Arhoolie offices in El Cerrito, CA just a few days before I visited the week of 10/17. Too bad we didn't connect. I admire his work.

Anyhow, thanks again for the "heads up."<FONT SIZE=1 COLOR="#8e236b"><p align=CENTER>[This message was edited by Bob Stone on 02 November 2000 at 08:46 AM.]</p></FONT>

<SMALL>Every musician who can read really should check out this book</SMALL>

Lew, did you mean every musician who can read music, or just who can read at all?? Just wonderin'!

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www.jimcohen.com

I was just kidding but I meant "read" in general. I love Peter Guralnick's writing.
"Sweet Soul Music" & "Lost Highway" are tremendous books about the founders of C&W, Blues, Soul and Rock. He writes about Roots music and Roots musicians better than anyone I know of. Highly recommended.

What's the deal with the Shaggs? How did they get so good?

The Shaggs are one of those bands that are 100% honest and innocent...no secrets. I read an article on some aborigines in Australia who are all telepathic. How do they do it? They keep no secrets from each other! Most of us are hiding things inside.