ABOUT

1996

Edited by Paul Kingsbury

CMF Press/Vanderbilt University Press

This book serves as an excellent introduction to the in-depth writing on country music available through the Journal of Country Music. Begun in 1971 by the Country Music Foundation, the journal is the place to go for those hungry for writing of more substance than the shallow sketches found in most fan magazines. Samples from the past 25 years are showcased through topics ranging from Bristol, Tennessee, recording sessions to Patsy Montana to Elvis Presley to Alan Jackson. Interspersed throughout are shots from some of the top country music photographers. Detailed book reviews follow, but the prize for researchers is the inclusion of the subject and author indexes to all 25 years of the journal. Perhaps indicating that serious country music writing has finally arrived, the Country Music Foundation and Vanderbilt University Press are now cooperating in various publishing endeavors. This particular collaboration is well recommended for most music collections. [For more on country music, see "Fiddling with your Country Music Collection," p, 39-42.?Ed.]?Kathleen Sparkman, Baylor Univ., Waco, Tex.
-?Kathleen Sparkman, Baylor Univ., Waco, Tex.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.

The Journal of Country Music remains the best-written and best-edited journal about any form of popular music.
--Dave Marsh, former contributing editor of Rolling Stone, editor of the original Rolling Stone Record Guide, author of Elvis and Bruce Springsteen: Born to Run

The JCM is top-shelf country music journalism with an academic's attention to accuracy.
--Jack Bernhardt, Raleigh News and Observer

Certainly the classiest publication in popular music, the Journal of Country Music has exceptional writers and reviewers.
--John Lomax III, author of Nashville: Music City USA