Rockin' Down the Highway: The Cars and People That Made Rock Roll 
asked by webster on November 21, 2006 11:09 AM
In the world of music, a car is a helluva lot more than a just another mode of transportation. Its inspiration, a symbol of freedom and style, and often a way to hit the road and get to the gig. From Robert Johnsons 1936 recording Terraplane Blues to rapper Xzibits hit MTV show, Pimp My Ride, from pink Cadillacs and Lil Deuce Coupes to T-birds and Roadrunners, cars have been a constant theme in rock-n-roll and the blues. Perhaps its because references to cars in American song are so pervasive that no one has ever attempted the daunting task of exploring the connection . . . until now. In this beautifully produced volume, best-selling music writer Paul Grushkin draws on private collections, renowned photographers, lauded poster artists, and top private archives to present a thematic illustrated examination of the remarkable 50-plus-year synergy between rock music and motoring, from early R&B to surf to metal to punk to hip-hop. The result is astounding. Hundreds of rare 78s, 45s, LPs, sheet music, and more were photographed for the book. Dozens of prominent photographers (including Steve Coonan, Jim Marshall, Henry Diltz, Glen E. Friedman, and Pamela Springsteen), illustrators (Stanley Mouse, Ed Big Daddy Roth, Darrell Mayabb, and Coop, among them), and prominent poster artists (Emek, Justin Hampton, and Mike Martin, to name just a few) participate. Rockers like Elvis Presley, Eric Clapton, the Grateful Dead, Bruce Springsteen, Snoop Dogg, and Billy F Gibbons are just a few of the hundreds of artists whose associations with automobiles are celebrated here. The book is replete with lyrics, anecdotes, and commentary from famous musicians, as well as ordinary rock-n-rollers whove loved rock and cars equally with a passion.
Reviews
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This book is AWESOME... Seriously, Not only is it a beautiful book but it
more than lives up to expectations once you dig into the heart of it.
The writing is fresh, relevant, and keeps your attention while the layout
is enough to make you forget what else you needed to do for the rest of the day. My first thoughts where, " I'll just flip through it and see what
I think..." well as you too will probably find, that doesn't work... it sucks you in and that's it... you are at it's mercy.
The size of the book is pretty impressive too, it looks and feels like a piece of history.
What really blew me away was the enormous amount of cool photos that I had never seen before... where did all of this stuff come from?
There are so many candid photos of stars that it's as if this book reveals a hidden treasure of historical images that needed to be seen...
and added to popular cultures view or many of these amazing people.
The author has a Great point of view... his writing is easy, fun, informative and most of all... interesting.
Over all, I would probably classify this book " It's about damn time someone got it right."
more than lives up to expectations once you dig into the heart of it.
The writing is fresh, relevant, and keeps your attention while the layout
is enough to make you forget what else you needed to do for the rest of the day. My first thoughts where, " I'll just flip through it and see what
I think..." well as you too will probably find, that doesn't work... it sucks you in and that's it... you are at it's mercy.
The size of the book is pretty impressive too, it looks and feels like a piece of history.
What really blew me away was the enormous amount of cool photos that I had never seen before... where did all of this stuff come from?
There are so many candid photos of stars that it's as if this book reveals a hidden treasure of historical images that needed to be seen...
and added to popular cultures view or many of these amazing people.
The author has a Great point of view... his writing is easy, fun, informative and most of all... interesting.
Over all, I would probably classify this book " It's about damn time someone got it right."
reviewed by webster on November 27, 2006 4:48 AM
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Rockin' Down the Highway by Paul Grushkin and Mike Ness on Voyageur Press is a superb book about cars. It's about rock & roll songs about cars, and rock & roll stars and their relationship to their cars.
Packed with fabulous photos of stars like Jerry Lee Lewis, Elvis Presley, The Rolling Stones, Bob Seger, Bruce Springsteen, Jackson Browne, Randy Newman, Joni Mitchell, Bob Dylan, Neil Young, Jimi Hendrix, Chuck Berry, The Jackson Five, The Four Tops, Janis Joplin, and so many more that there isn't enough room here to list, this book takes you on a fantastic back-stage tour of the stars and their cars.
If you are more motor-head than rock & roller you won't be disappointed. From the little deuce coup to Elvis' gold Cadillac to Springsteen's broken down GMC pickup truck to Cadzzilla, to the Dodge Demon this book displays some of the hottest and most creative vehicles that rock & rollers drove and sang about.
Paul Grushkin's book is a brilliant combination of the two most important icons of the rock & roll era, cars and stars. The brilliant photos, posters and memorabilia along with the stunning art work rates this book five stars in my book. It is a must have.
Richard D. Whiteford
Rock & roll talent agent at International Creative Management in the 70's.
reviewed by jerseymike on November 27, 2006 7:27 AM