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FRETS, FRIES
& SHINE
Roots of American Country Music
Robert D. Morritt
Availability
The
author introduces this book mentioning that he has accumulated “‘rural
recordings’ for many years. And
noticed from their lyrics and structure, that they betrayed an earlier ‘old
world’ provenance. In many cases these songs had evolved into American
ballads, their origin  long
forgotten. Many eighteenth century
ballads featured on early recordings originated from rural Appalachia. Where they had been preserved orally for
generations.
Other
recordings had a more urban provenance; these reached rural communities from
mail order catalogues and often were Victorian or tin Pan Alley era songs.
These also passed into folk tradition and emanated later as the repertoire of
country musicians.
The book
is a potpourri, a planned and disjointed view of early Country Music and
highlights. The sources of old
recordings and presents a nostalgic overview of early recorded country music,
Emphasis is placed on the mood of the era, rather than that of an academic
viewpoint of the era. And Includes highlights of the first fiddlers to record
country music and the earliest vocal sessions at Bristol, Tennessee and of
recordings made in other rural areas..
The author further states that it is a book not recommended for the reader who
demands strict order and co-ordination and hopes it may be adopted as a ‘good
read’.
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