Songs in the Key of Z : The Curious Universe of Outsider Music

From Publishers Weekly Sincerity and lack of self-awareness rarely earn musicians platinum status or a spot on MTV. Thankfully, for every manufactured boy band and lip-synching pin-up there are 10 "outsiders"--the earnest, often psychotic and not necessarily ingenious stars in Chusid's enchanting universe. For those who've been bemoaning the shortage of ingenuity on the airwaves, Chusid, a radio personality on WFMU in Hoboken, N.J., profiles 20 darlings of dissonance. Several of them--including Tiny Tim, Captain Beefheart and Pink Floyd's former acid troubadour Syd Barrett--have made a few bangs, but the great majority have enjoyed mere whimpers of success. Take Eilert Pilarm, the Swedish Elvis; Joe Meek, who produced the 1962 instrumental hit "Telstar" before committing suicide; and the Shaggs, three sheltered sisters from Fremont, N.H., who recorded the "aboriginal rock" masterpiece Philosophy of the World. Careful not to ridicule his more eccentrically volatile subjects (e.g., Wesley Willis and Daniel Johnston), Chusid narrates each musician's vital statistics and career with rhythm and respectful wit. Even if readers do not rush out to buy Larry "Wild Man" Fischer's recordings, they will remember his musical achievements (he inspired Frank Zappa's record An Evening with Wild Man Fischer), thanks to Chusid's encyclopedic tags. History, as the director Tony Philputt points out in the introduction, is also made by losers; Chusid has given them a microphone and cranked the amp to 11. 60 b&w photos, 15 line drawings, discography. Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc. From Library Journal If VH1's Behind the Music were as interesting as Chusid's first, and reportedly last, book, this reviewer would never leave his apartment. A record producer, music historian, and host of WFMU's (Hoboken, NJ) Incorrect Music Hour, Chusid has written a valentine to "outsider" artists, musicians whoDunlike frayed pop icons Phil Spector and Brian WilsonDlack total self-awareness but overflow with earnestness. Among others, Chicago-based schizophrenic troubadour Wesley Willis, former Pink Floyd songwriter Syd Barrett, and street musician Larry "Wild Man" FischerDa man even weirdo Frank Zappa found captivatingDare profiled in a voice many rock writers dream about mastering. The "outsider" genre was in desperate need of a biographer, and luckily Chusid was there to tell each musicians's tale as if he were writing about the next "big thing." He possesses a knowledge of music culture that most contemporary rock critics think they have. Guaranteed: this book will take readers to record stores searching for Chusid's list of musical miscreants. Good luck finding all of them. Recommended for all libraries.DRobert Morast, Pro Rodeo Sports News, Colorado Springs Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc. 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. 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. 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.