Beyond the Glitz: ‘Vintage Country’ is the Definitive, Richly Illustrated Pre-Nashville History
By Christian Lamitschka for Country Music News International Magazine
Title: Vintage Country: The Essential Artists and Songs, from Old-Time to Honky-Tonk, 1920–1970 Author: Tony Russell ISBN: 9780764369681
Tony Russell’s Vintage Country is an indispensable guide and visual feast for anyone interested in the foundational decades of American country music. This volume is a powerful historical corrective, serving as the first illustrated book to comprehensively explore the rural and urban roots of country music, tracing its evolution from early recordings and radio days to its post-war rise, crucially, before Nashville’s dominance solidified. It’s a compelling argument that the genre’s history is best understood not through industry narratives, but by experiencing its original sounds and evocative visual culture between 1920 and 1970.
Overview and Structure: Charting the Roots of a Genre
The book’s strength lies in its masterfully designed structure, which organizes over five decades of musical evolution into six logical, stylistic, and chronological chapters. This approach avoids the static nature of a simple artist directory, instead providing a clear, dynamic understanding of how one style directly influenced the next, revealing country music as a rich tapestry woven from regional sounds and shifting economic realities:
- Pre-Depression “Old Time” Music: This opening section explores the earliest recorded sounds of the South, capturing the raw, pre-commercial spirit of the Appalachians and beyond. It highlights the work of performers like Doc Boggs and Taylor’s Kentucky Boys, showcasing the authentic folk traditions that predate mass media.
- Radio Years Stars (1930s–WWII): Highlighting the artists who used the burgeoning medium of radio to bring the music to a mass audience. This era cemented the genre’s popularity, led by influential figures like Jimmie Rodgers and the highly popular Red Foley.
- Cowboy & Western Music: Detailing the genre’s connection to the romanticized American West, featuring artists like Carl T. Sprague who built an identity around cinematic themes and stylized western attire, shaping the image of the country singer for decades.
- Western Swing: Examining the sophisticated fusion of country, jazz, and big-band sounds pioneered by groups like the Hackberry Ramblers. This innovative chapter shows how the genre challenged traditional boundaries and created a sound perfect for the growing dance hall culture.
- Honky-Tonk: Diving into the raw, electrified, and often sorrowful style of post-war clubs. This section meticulously covers the rise of figures like Hank Williams and Merle Travis, whose music defined the sound of drinking, hardship, and heartbreak that would become country music’s emotional core.
- Bluegrass: Covering the distinctive, high-energy acoustic sound pioneered by Bill Monroe and others. Russell focuses on the virtuosic instrumentation and tightly arranged harmonies that continue to define this subgenre, profiling legendary groups like the Louvin Brothers and the devout Molly O’Day.
Content and Presentation: A Historian’s Eye, a Collector’s Dream
Russell, a renowned historian, brings an authoritative voice to the project, profiling over 100 essential figures. The selection is broad and deep, ensuring each entry highlights their unique history, musical influences, and career-defining moments. The book excels by not only focusing on giants like The Carter Family and Hank Williams, but also on crucial, distinct voices like the vocal harmonizing of the DeZurik Sisters and lesser-known but foundational contributors.
Each profile is thoughtfully paired with an “essential recordings” list for quick reference, guiding both novice and veteran listeners on how to deepen their musical collection and experience the sounds described.
What truly elevates Vintage Country to a must-have resource is its stunning visual presentation. Schiffer Publishing has utilized its expertise in producing richly illustrated reference books, transforming the historical data into a visceral experience. The book is dense with evocative visuals: rare black-and-white photographs, original sheet music covers, vintage album art, and period posters. This abundance of primary source material ensures the book is more than just a reference; it’s a beautiful object that captures the texture and nostalgic atmosphere of the era it describes, bringing the genre’s origins to life through evocative visuals and expert storytelling.
Final Verdict: Essential for Music Lovers and Historians Alike
Vintage Country is a compelling and definitive resource for both casual fans and serious music historians. It expertly balances historical rigor with an engaging, accessible narrative, making complex musical lineages easy to follow. By focusing on the era before commercial uniformity, Russell provides a crucial context often lost in modern discussions of country music. By combining Russell’s expert narrative with gorgeous, artifact-rich illustrations, the book serves as both a detailed map of country music’s diverse roots and a vibrant, long-overdue celebration of the artists who truly defined them. It is highly recommended for anyone looking to understand the essential artists and evolution of American country music.