Mini-Books?

Some might consider this a bit of a sidetrack off of the stated focus of this blog - book about music and musicians, but I don't think it truly is. Last night, being between books, I decided I wanted to catch up on something of a favorite of mine, that being liner notes.

Ever since I stumbled upon that stack of records in my Grandma's closet in the second grade, I have been enamored with liner notes. Granted, the majority of those that I found at the time were probably well under 500 words and had to fit on the back of an album cover. And most of them were probably more of a promotionaly blurb than anything else. But, nonetheless, I loved, and still love, running across a name and realizing that he also played drums on these other albums. It is a lamentable lose of the digital movement. (Honestly, the only lamentable part in my opinion)

Over the past few weeks I have come to acquire a few great boxed sets and deluxe edition re-issues, each holding a well-written mini-book within. Last night I made my way eagerly through the Rich Kienzle-penned notes to the new re-issue of Bob Wills & the Texas Playboys' Tiffany Transcriptions. After that, Colin Escotts' notes to the new Unreleased Hank Williams set. Both great and informative reads.

Liner notes, especially those found in boxed sets of good re-issues, are the unsung hero of music writing. These are essays mostly written by an expert in the artist (as exemplified by Escott and Kienzle) and give the author an opportunity to expand on a specific moment in the time of the artists career. They aren't often of great length, but, the good ones, can provide great info on the artist and the selected recording.

Going beyond the standard liner note booklet are the fantastic books (real books, albe they short) that Bear Family often includes in their boxed set. These often fill a gap in the information that is out there, as is the case with the book included in the Red Foley set released a couple of years ago. With all of the influence Red Foley had on country music and the country music industry, there is no full-length biography written about him or his impact. This small book (less than 100 pages, but hardcover) is all that exists of a collected history of one of country musics' greats.

So I raise my Vanilla Diet Pepsi in a toast to the writers of liner notes and the record companies that still include the well thoughout, well-researched information within their jewel cases.