Songs in the key of Z : the curious universe of outsider music

Outsider musicians can be the product of damaged DNA, alien abduction, drug fry, demonic possession, or simply sheer obliviousness. This book profiles dozens of outsider musicians, both prominent and obscure—figures such as The Shaggs, Syd Barrett, Tiny Tim, Jandek, Captain Beefheart, Daniel Johnston, Harry Partch, and The Legendary Stardust Cowboy—and presents their strange life stories along with photographs, interviews, cartoons, and discographies. About the only things these self-taught artists have in common are an utter lack of conventional tunefulness and an overabundance of earnestness and passion. But, believe it or not, they’re worth listening to, often outmatching all contenders for inventiveness and originality. A [CD](“http://www.keyofz.com/keyofz/index.htm”) featuring songs by artists profiled in the book is also available. Outsider Musicians Can Be The Product Of Damaged Dna, Alien Abduction, Drug Fry, Demonic Possession, Or Simply Sheer Obliviousness. This Book Profiles Dozens Of Outsider Musicians, Both Prominent And Obscure—figures Such As The Shaggs, Syd Barrett, Tiny Tim, Jandek, Captain Beefheart, Daniel Johnston, Harry Partch, And The Legendary Stardust Cowboy—and Presents Their Strange Life Stories Along With Photographs, Interviews, Cartoons, And Discographies. About The Only Things These Self-taught Artists Have In Common Are An Utter Lack Of Conventional Tunefulness And An Overabundance Of Earnestness And Passion. But, Believe It Or Not, They’re Worth Listening To, Often Outmatching All Contenders For Inventiveness And Originality. Groove Is In The Heart / The Shaggs -- I Get A Kick Out Of Uke / Tiny Tim -- Chatterbox Jukebox / Jack Mudurian -- Blast From The Past / Joe Meek -- Bus Fare To The Grammys / Song Poems -- The Fruits Of Clean Living / The Cherry Sisters -- The Great Disconnect / Jandek -- Casper 1, Satan 0 / Daniel Johnston -- Hallelujah! He's A Bum / Harry Partch -- Hell Ride / Wesley Willis -- Guitars And Dust / Syd Barrett -- The King Of Sweden / Eilert Pilarm -- Interstellar Overdrive / Lucia Pamela -- Inscrutable Dreamer / Captain Beefheart -- Scat Man Do / Shooby Taylor, The Human Horn -- Widow's Peak / Florence Foster Jenkins -- Wide Open Space Cadet / The Legendary Stardust Cowboy -- Sleep In The Grave / Robert Graettinger -- Mission To Venus / B.j. Snowden -- Ritual Of The Savage / Wild Man Fischer -- Elsewhere In The Curious Universe / Snapshots In Sound. Irwin Chusid. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 249-254), Discography (p. 237-248), And Index. Outsider musicians can be the product of damaged DNA, alien abduction, drug fry, demonic possession, or simply sheer obliviousness. This book profiles dozens of outsider musicians, both prominent and obscure—figures such as The Shaggs, Syd Barrett, Tiny Tim, Jandek, Captain Beefheart, Daniel Johnston, Harry Partch, and The Legendary Stardust Cowboy—and presents their strange life stories along with photographs, interviews, cartoons, and discographies. About the only things these self-taught artists have in common are an utter lack of conventional tunefulness and an overabundance of earnestness and passion. But, believe it or not, they're worth listening to, often outmatching all contenders for inventiveness and originality.A CD featuring songs by artists profiled in the book is also available. Groove is in the heart / The Shaggs - I get a kick out of Uke / Tiny Tim - Chatterbox jukebox / Jack Mudurian - Blast from the past / Joe Meek - Bus fare to the Grammys / Song Poems - The fruits of clean living / The Cherry Sisters - The great disconnect / Jandek - Casper 1, Satan 0 / Daniel Johnston - Hallelujah! He's a bum / Harry Partch - Hell ride / Wesley Willis - Guitars and dust / Syd Barrett - The King of Sweden / Eilert Pilarm - Interstellar overdrive / Lucia Pamela - Inscrutable dreamer / Captain Beefheart - Scat man do / Shooby Taylor, the human horn - Widow's peak / Florence Foster Jenkins - Wide open space cadet / The legendary stardust cowboy - Sleep in the grave / Robert Graettinger - Mission to Venus / B. J. Snowden - Ritual of the savage / Wild man Fischer - Elsewhere in the curious universe / Snapshots in Sound. fremont, New Hampshire, in the late 1960s was a remote, culturally disconnected backwater.