Will the Circle Be Unbroken reviewed on AmericanaRoots.com

Eric Banister, Friday, 10 November 2006

Christmas came early to my house this year when I came home, not to find St. Nick warming by a fire, which would truly be odd considering I don't have a fireplace, but when I came home to find Will The Circle Be Unbroken: Country Music in America sitting on my doorstep.

The coffee-table sized book from The Country Music Hall of Fame (and published by DK) is a treasure trove of trivia and history filled with rare photos and essays from some of the most preeminent Country Music scholars out there.

Beginning with Country's pre-1900s roots, the book traces it's lineage to the present day and introduces the artists and businessmen who populate its colorful history. The book is laid-out in a chronological order, but chapters cover periods rather than a specific time span, for example "Commercial Beginnings: 1922-1930" as opposed to covering 1920-1930. Covering particular periods allows for a little overlap between chapters and, since a different author contributes each chapter, this allows a few instances to see things from a different perspective. Esteemed Country Music historians and authors such as Bill C. Malone, Charles K. Wolfe, Chet Flippo and Rich Kienzle contribute chapters to the book and their insights and expertise make this book a fantastic read.

Two chapters are devoted more to sub-genres in Country rather than periods and give a great look at Cowboy music and Bluegrass. Separating them into their own sections gives both of them room to breath and more room to explore both their roots and their impact.

One of my favorite things are the three categories of sidebars in each chapter. Starting each chapter is a timeline that gives an overview of historic events in World History as well as significant events in Country music during the period covered in the chapter. The other two sidebars, "Profiles in Country" which introduces an artist with some biographical info, and "Classic Country Recording" which gives a behind-the-scenes look at some of Country's best recordings, pop up sporadically throughout the text and give a little more history to something being discussed.

Many of the pictures included in the book have never been published and give a glimpse at moments in time many of us have missed. There are discussions about clothing and instruments that use items that can be found in the Country Music Hall of Fame.

If you don't know this about me, I love Hatch Show Prints, so much so that I used one (or a few) to propose to my beautiful fiancée. (If you don't know about Hatch Show Prints you are missing a fun piece of Country Music history, so go read about it now, I'll wait). The chapters all begin with a double page spread designed by Hatch manager and designer Jim Sherraden exclusively for the book.

To their credit, editors Alanna Nash and Paul Kingsbury, do not try to make this a definitive History, but an overview that encompasses the whole of the tradition. It is a big task to be sure, but they have done a fantastic job of presenting the artists and music; The flow of information is smooth and easy to read.

If you have someone in your life that loves Country music and its history, or has a blank spot on their coffee table, I cannot recommend loud enough that you get them this book.