On The Road

26 Hitmakers of the Fifties and Sixties

 tell their own amazing stories

Dave Nicolson

The music industry often paints a glamorous picture of its stars' lives and achievements, but what is life really like behind the gloss? How does it feel to have a No.1 record, or to live on the road for over 300 days a year? And what happens after the hits stop? The answers to these and many other questions are contained within the pages of this book, as 26 major American hitmakers of the Fifties and Sixties reveal their own fascinating stories. Includes previously unpublished interviews with Gary 'US' Bonds, Pat Boone, Freddy Cannon, Crickets Jerry Allison, Sonny Curtis and Joe B. Mauldin, Bo Diddley, Dion, Fats Domino, Duane Eddy, Frankie Ford, Charlie Gracie, Brian Hyland, Marv Johnson, Ben E. King, Brenda Lee, Little Eva, Chris Montez, Johnny Moore (Drifters), Gene Pitney, Johnny Preston, Tommy Roe, Del Shannon, Edwin Starr, Johnny Tillotson and Bobby Vee. Over 150 illustrations including previously unpublished recent portraits as well as vintage ads, record sleeves, label shots, sheet music covers, etc.

REVIEWS

"Handsomely produced and well illustrated, books such as this are sometimes described as a labour of love."  Blues & Rhythm

"Dave Nicolson is no sensationalist. He gives the stars the time and space to tell their story in their own words. It makes for a good read."  Now Dig This

"On The Road is excellently produced with well-chosen pictures of memorabilia and printed on quality paper... Nicolson is to be commended for getting such good material... there are some intriguing opinions." Goldmine

"There is no better way of understanding the behind-the-scenes mechanics of the pop music industry as it was during the 1950s and 1960s than through first-hand accounts by the stars whose lives were affected by it. On The Road allows 26 hitmakers of the period to speak for themselves... Our deep fascination for so-called trivia is satisfied on every page of every story in On The Road. For instance, Freddy Cannon says that his first record, "Tallahassee Lassie", was a song originally called "Rock'n'Roll Baby", and that producer Bob Crewe achieved a thumping sound on the record by hitting a microphone with a mallet... If you're hooked on backstage stories, you'll love this well-illustrated, up-front book."  Record Collector

back

Published: 16 August 2002

ISBN: 978-0-9519888-4-8

Format: Paperback

Edition: First

Extent: 256 pages

Dimensions: 234 x 156 mm

RRP: £15.99

Our price: £14.99 + p&p

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