30 review for Rhythm And The Blues: A Life In American Music

1. 

   4 out of 5

   Philly Aesthete Brown – Sep 10, 2008

   Jerry Wexler has the oddest, most abstruse vocabulary of anyone I've ever encountered in print. This book is worth reading just for his conflation of the erudite and the profane through language alone. Read it, too, though, because this is the man (along with Ahmet & Nesuhi Ertegun) who built the house (Atlantic Records) in which Aretha Franklin, Issac Hayes, Aerosmith, Ray Charles, Dusty Springfield, Otis Reading, Eric Clapton, Neil Young, The Rolling Stones... (and the list goes on for miles) Jerry Wexler has the oddest, most abstruse vocabulary of anyone I've ever encountered in print. This book is worth reading just for his conflation of the erudite and the profane through language alone. Read it, too, though, because this is the man (along with Ahmet & Nesuhi Ertegun) who built the house (Atlantic Records) in which Aretha Franklin, Issac Hayes, Aerosmith, Ray Charles, Dusty Springfield, Otis Reading, Eric Clapton, Neil Young, The Rolling Stones... (and the list goes on for miles) turned out some of the best music ever produced. I re-read this book every few years. It's currently out of print. I hope they re-issue it. Read this book in conversation with the 2007 DVD, "Atlantic Records: The House that Ahmet Built." Jerry can tell some stories, man! God bless him and may he and Ahmet rest in peace.

2. 

   4 out of 5

   Mahlon – Sep 09, 2018

   Jerry Wexler was surely one of the last of a sadly vanishing breed… The great record men. Wexler is best known for his time with Atlantic records which he helped build into a powerhouse by signing or producing Ray Charles, Aretha Franklin, the Allman Brothers, Led Zeppelin, Dire Straits, Dusty Springfield, and Bob Dylan among others. In addition, he coined the term rhythm and blues so it’s appropriate that this should be the title of his autobiography. Jerry was a great storyteller and seems lik Jerry Wexler was surely one of the last of a sadly vanishing breed… The great record men. Wexler is best known for his time with Atlantic records which he helped build into a powerhouse by signing or producing Ray Charles, Aretha Franklin, the Allman Brothers, Led Zeppelin, Dire Straits, Dusty Springfield, and Bob Dylan among others. In addition, he coined the term rhythm and blues so it’s appropriate that this should be the title of his autobiography. Jerry was a great storyteller and seems like a real character, his unique voice comes through loud and clear on every page of this narrative. Certainly one of the best Music Business biographies I've read.

3. 

   5 out of 5

   Naomi Krokowski – Jan 03, 2017

   Jerry Wexler gets my respect for so many reasons. To start, he coined the term Rhythm and Blues as a writer at Billboard magazine to replace the previous term in use: Race Records. The music he was involved in at Atlantic has always been some of my favorite. Aretha's masterpiece I Never Loved a Man (the Way that I Love You) blew me away as a kid and I still love to crank it up. The list of incredible music he was part of is too long for a review, but reading about it was fascinating and riveting Jerry Wexler gets my respect for so many reasons. To start, he coined the term Rhythm and Blues as a writer at Billboard magazine to replace the previous term in use: Race Records. The music he was involved in at Atlantic has always been some of my favorite. Aretha's masterpiece I Never Loved a Man (the Way that I Love You) blew me away as a kid and I still love to crank it up. The list of incredible music he was part of is too long for a review, but reading about it was fascinating and riveting. I was surprised how many times I had to look words up. I also enjoyed his ability to look back at his flaws, tantrums, and mistakes with genuine regret. He could have easily bragged about his amazing track record, but I found he gave plenty of credit to all the fabulous talents he worked with. I truly enjoyed this book!

4. 

   4 out of 5

   Fred Seibert – Aug 20, 2008

   I'm re-reading this autobiography 15 years after it was first published, coincidentally, sadly, the week Jerry Wexler passed away at 91. The great record producer of everyone from Aretha Franklin to Ray Charles to Bob Dylan to Wilson Pickett (and hundreds more) Jerry is one of my prime professional role models and I'm inspired to hear his stories as often as I can. He follows the credo of "Does it have heart? Make it!" If you work with talented people, read this book. It'll help. I'm re-reading this autobiography 15 years after it was first published, coincidentally, sadly, the week Jerry Wexler passed away at 91. The great record producer of everyone from Aretha Franklin to Ray Charles to Bob Dylan to Wilson Pickett (and hundreds more) Jerry is one of my prime professional role models and I'm inspired to hear his stories as often as I can. He follows the credo of "Does it have heart? Make it!" If you work with talented people, read this book. It'll help.

5. 

   4 out of 5

   Diane Dunham – Oct 02, 2012

   Very well written. Easy to Read. If you like music this is a good book to read about Jerry Wexler and the start of Atlantic Records, plus the star of many singers and musicians including Ray Charles, Aretha Franklin and many more.

6. 

   5 out of 5

   Deborah Cleaves – Nov 13, 2017

   Author is a very erudite autodidact who lived an interesting life.

7. 

   4 out of 5

   Melissa Jean – Oct 31, 2017

   absolutely essential read for any rhythm & blues fan

8. 

   5 out of 5

   Michael Awotwi – Jun 01, 2020

   One of the greatest record men Loved reading this autobiography of one of the greatest record men alongside producers like Ahmet Ertegun and Berry Gordy. If you love r&b history read this book.

9. 

   5 out of 5

   Donald – Jan 07, 2021

   Weller was major figure in the music I loved from the 50s and 60s .A good interesting book, with insights of artists and songs .

10. 

    4 out of 5

    D. Jonathan Matthews –

11. 

    5 out of 5

    Stan Bobbitt –

12. 

    4 out of 5

    Jeremiah Dollins –

13. 

    4 out of 5

    Steve Leach –

14. 

    4 out of 5

    Peter Geyer –

15. 

    4 out of 5

    Eliza –

16. 

    4 out of 5

    Jesse Lundy –

17. 

    5 out of 5

    Malcolm Pellettier –

18. 

    5 out of 5

    Janet –

19. 

    4 out of 5

    Mary T Foxgrover –

20. 

    4 out of 5

    Billy –

21. 

    5 out of 5

    Ralf –

22. 

    4 out of 5

    Kelsie –

23. 

    5 out of 5

    Ethan –

24. 

    4 out of 5

    Diane Hunkeler –

25. 

    5 out of 5

    Enochraine –

26. 

    4 out of 5

    Mariann Watt –

27. 

    4 out of 5

    Phil Wilkins –

28. 

    5 out of 5

    Seth Avant –

29. 

    4 out of 5

    Brad –

30. 

    4 out of 5

    Nan –