Product Description

Combining a high-spirited history of country music's roots with vivid portraits of its primary performers, "Don't Get above Your Raisin'" examines the close relationship between "America's truest music" and the working-class culture that has constituted its principal source, nurtured its development, and provided its most dedicated supporters. Widely recognized as country music's ranking senior authority, Bill C. Malone explores how the music's defining themes (home and family, religion, rambling, frolic, humor, and politics) have emerged out of the particularities of working people's day-to-day lives. He traces the many contradictory voices and messages of a music that simultaneously extols the virtues of home and the joys of rambling, the assurances of the Christian life and the ecstasies of hedonism, the strength of working-class life and the material lure of middle-class aspirations. The resulting tensions, Malone argues, are a major reason for the music's enduring appeal.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #1997992 in Books
• Published on: 2005-11-14
• Original language: English
• Dimensions: 1.01" h x 6.32" w x 9.42" l, 1.29 pounds
• Binding: Paperback
• 432 pages

From Library Journal
The author of books like Singing Cowboys and Musical Mountaineers, Malone (history, emeritus, Tulane Univ.) here presents a lucid study of the relationship between country music and the Southern working class. Delving into the history and sociology of such topics as country humor, the relationships between country music and politics, the urbanization of the South, and the contradictory tendencies in country music toward religion and rambling, Malone covers much ground. He obviously loves the music and understands its relationship to the people who originally gave it life. The casual fan of country music, especially contemporary commercial country music, might not find much of interest present-day "hat acts" have relatively little to do with Malone's subject but readers looking to go beyond today's stars and into the very heart and soul of the music will not be disappointed. Essential for anyone interested in a well-grounded and -researched overview of the topic, this thoughtful book is highly recommended for all public and academic libraries, especially those with strong popular culture collections. James E. Perone, Mount Union Coll., Alliance, OH
Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.