'What'd I Say' an expensive book but worth the price
Monday, June 6, 2011 at 11:08 PM "What'd I Say: The Atlantic Story"
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At 9.6 pounds, this oversized hardbound is a beast, but you'll appreciate the high-quality paper and crisp reproduction as you savor every inch of every page. Many of the photos come from the Atlantic archives and were previously unpublished.
Outside of a half-dozen longer chapters written by famed music journalists like Greil Marcus, Robert Christgau and Robert Gordon, most of the text is presented as quotes and vignettes from label execs, musicians, producers and engineers. And it works, making the immersion into Atlantic's rich history of jazz, R&B, soul, rock and disco -- and perhaps equally important, key roles in promoting civil rights from day one -- more of an adventure than a lecture.
The Coasters, Ornette Coleman, Solomon Burke, Otis Redding, Aretha Franklin, Cream, Led Zeppelin, CSN&Y, Foreigner, Abba, Matchbox 20, the list goes on and on and on. And on and on.
Over five decades this was an independent label that kept its oversized personality and feistiness even after being sold and absorbed into the behemoth WEA conglomerate.
Be forewarned, however: This is not an impartial look at Atlantic. It was commissioned by Atlantic founder Ahmet Ertegun and his recollections on acts ranging from Ray Charles to Yes to Jewel run throughout. But Ertegun and the book's contributors are smart enough to present more than a few warts amid the highlights that made Atlantic the record label of the last half-century, perhaps for all time.
I know I'm slobbering at this point, but I can't recommend this book enough. If you're lucky, someone who really loves you will save away for a rainy day and surprise you when you least expect it. It's a gift I'll treasure forever.
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