COWBOYS AND INDIES The Epic History of the Record Industry

Neither a tribute nor a stinging indictment, this audiobook attempts to tie together the history of the recording industry from vaudeville to Motown to the digital revolution. Ralph Lister, with his stiff British accent, seems an odd choice for such an ego-fueled narrative. He delivers the inevitable profanity and tales of drug debauchery with a tone of distaste. The author believes that, from the very beginning, it’s been the moguls behind the scenes who have fueled the grand ambitions of their talented but less business-savvy charges. Despite its breadth, the book drags after a while because of the simple fact that businessmen are never as interesting as the artists they shepherd—although, as Murphy continually reminds us, they’re every bit as depraved. J.S.H. © AudioFile 2014, Portland, Maine [Published: AUGUST 2014]