"Becoming Elektra" is an account of Elektra Records in the Jac Holzman years, from 1950 to 1973. It tells the story of Elektra's growth from a small independent folk label to a major, multi-faceted, hit making concern. Jac Holzman's role in founding and running the company is central to the story, and his capacity for lateral thinking - that led to innovations such as the first-ever sampler album, and a million-selling series of sound effects records - is a recurring theme. But the book is not just a story of one man's business success. It is also about the label's artists and the great music they produced, and other key people who gave the company its identity. "Becoming Elektra" places the label in a broad context. A gripping narrative drawing in elements of musical and cultural history, and biographies of the main participants in the story, the book opens with a pivotal moment in Elektra's history, when Holzman discovered The Doors. It then goes back to the previously untold story of Elektra in the 50s, when the label brought folk music to a wide audience through artists such as Jean Ritchie, Josh White, Theodore Bikel and Bob Gibson. Moving into the 60s the story takes in artists that have had an extraordinary resonance down the years including some, such as Tim Buckley, who are far more popular today than in their lifetime. His story is told, along with those of artists that read like an inventory of 60s and 70s musical innovation: The Doors, Love, Judy Collins, The Paul Butterfield Band (with Michael Bloomfield), Tom Paxton, Tim Buckley, Fred Neil, David Ackles, Phil Ochs, Bread, Queen, Mickey Newbury, The Incredible String Band, Carly Simon, The Stooges and The MC5.
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...colourful chronicle...Houghton weaves fresh interviews into an upbeat narrative of frontline tales which trump critical analysis...Excellent on charting Elektra's development...Above all, Becoming Elektra abounds in anecdotes about some of the most gifted, troubled musicians in folk, rock and "that bastard thing" folk-rock...this page turner is the ideal guide to a catalogue brimming in madcap genius and the occasionally well-adjusted success story.
--MOJO, July 2010
--MOJO, July 2010
About the Author
Mick Houghton is a music publicist and journalist. Since 1979 he has looked after the Ramones, Talking Heads, Undertones, Echo & The Bunnymen, Julian Cope, Sonic Youth, The Jesus & Mary Chain, The KLF, Spiritualized, XTC, Bert Jansch and Richard Thompson, among many others. His writing has appeared in Let it Rock, Circus, Zigzag, Sounds, Time Out, Mojo and Uncut, and he wrote the book that formed part of the Grammy nominated Forever Changing: The Golden Age of Elektra 1963-1973 CD box set. He first bought an Elektra LP in 1966.
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13 of 13 people found the following review helpful
By Robert Carey
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
As someone who has a large collection of Elektra albums, I looked forward to this book with great anticipation, and I was not disappointed. Beautifully presented, well written, and with a graphic content out of this world. Wonderful!
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Jack Holzman WAS Elektra Records and this is a brilliant addition to his own book "Follow The Music"
Elektra was about the best you could buy way back in the 60's (I was lucky doing records reviews and getting them all for FREE) music as well as packaging. The wonderful covers under supervision of designer William Harvey who was in my eyes almost as important as Jack Holzman.
Where would we have been without The Incredible String Band, Love, Clear Light, Ars Nova. Earth Opera and Eclection to name a few known and not so known bands on the label.
Elektra was about the best you could buy way back in the 60's (I was lucky doing records reviews and getting them all for FREE) music as well as packaging. The wonderful covers under supervision of designer William Harvey who was in my eyes almost as important as Jack Holzman.
Where would we have been without The Incredible String Band, Love, Clear Light, Ars Nova. Earth Opera and Eclection to name a few known and not so known bands on the label.
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Very good book charting the history of Elektra records. Bit odd though amongst all the iconic bands like The Doors, Love & individuals like Judy Collins & Tim Buckley to see The New Seekers. very good book.
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Jac Holzman's Adventures in Recordland
"Becoming Elektra" covers the years from when Elektra records was founded by Jac Holzman in his college dorm room to when he sold Elektra to Warner Communications. Read more
Published on 14 Dec 2010 by Jym Cherry
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Faultless
Possibly the finest book on Urban Folk Music and its beginnings which stretch back to Woody Guthrie,the Weavers,Pete Seeger. Read more
Published on 30 Nov 2010 by Richard
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