For almost four decades, the name 'Bill Millar' has been synonymous with the very best in British music writing - from his pioneering books on the Drifters and the Coasters, to his long-running 'Echoes' column in Record Mirror, Let It Rock and Melody Maker, to the authoritative sleevenotes he has penned for dozens of albums. This fabulous new book collects together 49 of his best pieces - some previously unpublished - in a thematic compilation covering hillbilly, rockabilly, R&B, rock' n' roll, doo-wop, swamp pop and soul. Includes essays on the early Sixties doo-wop renaissance, acapella, the swamp pop phenomenon and blue-eyed soul, as well as detailed profiles of some of the most fascinating and influential personalities of each era: Johnnie Allan, Rod Bernard, Bob Bertram, Clarence 'Gatemouth' Brown, Roy Buchanan, Roy C, Ray Campi, Johnny Carroll, Roy Clark, Albert Collins, Mac Curtis, Big Al Downing, Charlie Gracie, Herb Hardesty, Dale Hawkins, Screamin' Jay Hawkins, Cecil Holmes, Ivory Joe Hunter, Bull Moose Jackson, Etta James, Jerry Jaye, Young Jessie, Johnny & The Hurricanes, Benny Joy, Baker Knight, Sonny Knight, Jerry Lee Lewis, Lonnie Mack, Stick McGhee, Big Jay McNeely, Bob Montgomery, Lattie Moore, Jimmy Murphy, Eddie Noack, Tony Orlando, Mike Pedicin, Carl Perkins, the Platters, Marvin Rainwater, John Richbourg, Tommy Sands, Major Bill Smith, the Velvets, Link Wray and Big Jim Wynn. Passionate and knowledgable, music journalism rarely comes much better than this.
