So, you think you know all there is to know about rock and roll. Nope, not even close. Let Larry Birnbaum set you straight. His 400-page plus book Before Elvis: The Prehistory of Rock ‘N’ Roll is the definitive word on where our beloved rock music came from, who made it, and how many of those rumors we thought were true aren’t.
Some of the myths exposed include: Elvis was by far not “the first white man to sing like a black.” Here’s another one: “Rocket ’88” was not the first rock and rock song recorded. And jazz, swing and even Caribbean music influenced early rock as much as the blues, country and gosepl. Plus, we get insights into all the wonderful musicians whose names have been lost to history.
Speaking of which…Ever hear of the names Ammons, Lewis and Johnson? How about the song “Saxa-Woogie?” Want to know about the many “Mystery Women”? How about the origins of “Train Kept A Rollin’”? And how do all the western swing bands fit into the mix?
Birnbaum presents Before Elvis: The Prehistory of Rock ‘N’ Roll less like a tired, old history book and more like a living breathing jumpin’ and jivin’ story. Yes, there are lots of facts, but in general, this book is a fun read. In other words, nobody’s going to test you on what you learn here, so just sit back and enjoy the lesson.
Learn about Lloyd Price’s career. Read about how specific techniques like the walking bass line became so popular. Discover those under-the-radar guitar slingers. There really isn’t any part of the rock and roll story that Birnbaum doesn’t get to and that’s really what I like most about this book. The author feels his readers need to know it all, and he’s researched it well.
Before Elvis: The Prehistory of Rock ‘N’ Roll will take you some time to get through, but it’s well worth the effort if you want to dig deeper and learn more about the history of the music we all love and worship.
~ Ralph Greco, Jr.
