Talking Guitar: Conversations with Musicians Who Shaped Twentieth-Century American Music

by Jas Obrecht

Overview

In this lively collection of interviews, storied music writer Jas Obrecht presents a celebration of the world's most popular instrument as seen through the words, lives, and artistry of some of its most beloved players. Readers will read—and hear—accounts of the first guitarists on record, pioneering bluesmen, gospel greats, jazz innovators, country pickers, rocking rebels, psychedelic shape-shifters, singer-songwriters, and other movers and shakers. In their own words, these guitar players reveal how they found their inspirations, mastered their instruments, crafted classic songs, and created enduring solos.

Highlights include Nick Lucas's recollections of waxing the first noteworthy guitar records; Ry Cooder's exploration of prewar blues musicians; Carole Kaye and Ricky Nelson on the early years of rock and roll; Stevie Ray Vaughan on Jimi Hendrix; Gregg Allman on his brother, Duane Allman; Carlos Santana, Eric Johnson, and Pops Staples on spirituality in music; Jerry Garcia, Neil Young, and Tom Petty on songwriting and creativity; and early interviews with Eddie Van Halen, Joe Satriani, and Ben Harper.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781469669373
Publisher:	The University of North Carolina Press
Publication date:	02/01/2022
Pages:	320
Product dimensions:	7.00(w) x 9.50(h) x 0.67(d)

About the Author

Jas Obrecht is an award-winning music journalist and former editor of Guitar Player magazine. He has written for Rolling Stone, Living Blues, and many other publications. His books include Rollin' and Tumblin': The Postwar Blues Guitarists and Early Blues: The First Stars of Blues Guitar. He lives in Ann Arbor, Michigan.

What People are Saying About This

From the Publisher

Over the course of his esteemed career, Jas Obrecht has amassed a unique collection of interviews with seminal guitarists pivotal to the study of popular music. Talking Guitar shows, in its subjects' own vibrant words, how both the artists and their work fit into the big picture of American culture. A must-read for those interested in the behind-the-scenes of some of our greatest music.—Holly George-Warren, author of A Man Called Destruction: The Life and Music of Alex Chilton



Based on extensive first-person interviews and exhaustive research, Jas Obrecht's Talking Guitar transcends guitar playing, uncovering the lives of the guitarists themselves. Obrecht once again shows that he is one of our leading contemporary music writers.—Brett J. Bonner, editor of Living Blues magazine



The electric guitar has become such a staple of every genre of modern music that we take it for granted—like running water, refrigerators, or, indeed, electricity itself. Jas Obrecht gives us a new appreciation for the instrument's history and development, and even more so for the way it's been used and taken in new directions by some of the greats, both those who are well known and others who should be. This book is a joy to read.—Jim DeRogatis, cohost of Sound Opinions and author of Let It Blurt: The Life and Times of Lester Bangs, America's Greatest Rock Critic



This book offers rare depth in its insights, both from the author and from his interviewees. Every piece evinces a carefully cultivated focus: Stevie Ray Vaughan on Jimi Hendrix, Barney Kessel's take on Charlie Christian, Ry Cooder's analysis of the techniques and styles of Blind Willie Johnson and Tampa Red. Some of the conversations (with Gatemouth Brown, Nick Lucas, and others) enrich our appreciation for the instrument's history so much that they are simply priceless. Jas Obrecht combines a scholar's rigorous research with a natural-born storyteller's sense of narrative arc and understated drama. His passion for the subject matter is restrained, yet palpable on every page. No matter how many guitar history books you've read, you want this one.—Tom Wheeler, University of Oregon, editor and author of seven guitar books.



Talking Guitar: Conversations with Musicians Who Shaped Twentieth-Century American Music clearly shows why the guitar is the instrumental spine of blues, rock and roll, and rock music. Jas Obrecht's brilliant interviews with musicians who crafted the guitar's voice in these traditions are a treasure beyond words. Talking Guitar is a classic that every music lover will cherish.—William Ferris, author of Give My Poor Heart Ease: Voices of the Mississippi Blues

Editorial Reviews

An absorbing collection of conversations with guitarists from a wide swath of the musical map, these chronicles will appeal to a broad readership, not only to those who strum.—Library Journal



For music fans, especially those with an affection for the guitar, it's essential reading.—Booklist



Compelling and insightful.—Vintage Guitar

From the Publisher

02/01/2017
Guitar players have so often been the driving force in a broad spectrum of pop music over the last 60 years. Throughout this fine selection of interviews, Obrecht (Rollin' and Tumblin': The Postwar Blues Guitarists) demonstrates a penchant for performing background research and asking insightful questions that merit interesting, detailed responses. Some of the most entertaining discussions, however, seemed to transpire by simply being in the right place at the right time. This is certainly the case in his serendipitous encounter with Eddie Van Halen, an unplanned backstage tête-à-tête at a 1978 rock concert, and one of the earliest published interviews with the now-famous showman. Obrecht is a music aficionado, not just a journalist looking for a scoop, and his passion for the subject is palpable, whether inquiring about cultural influences, exploring song structures, or delving into the minutiae of vintage equipment. For those who prefer to listen, a compact disc of rare conversations is also included. VERDICT An absorbing collection of conversations with guitarists from a wide swath of the musical map, these chronicles will appeal to a broad readership, not only to those who strum.—Dan McClure, Seattle, WA

Library Journal