It Came From Memphis

It Came From Memphis chronicles the underground music scene and cultural movements that emerged from Memphis, Tennessee in the 1950s through 1970s. The book focuses on key figures like producer Jim Dickinson, musicians Furry Lewis and Alex Chilton, and the diverse array of artists who helped shape the city's musical identity. The narrative follows multiple storylines across Memphis's music landscape, from blues and rock to wrestling culture and underground art. Through interviews and firsthand accounts, Robert Gordon documents the interconnected web of musicians, producers, and creative figures who operated outside the mainstream Memphis recording industry. The book maps the geography of Memphis music through its neighborhoods, clubs, and recording studios while examining racial dynamics and social change during this period. Gordon incorporates photographs, show flyers, and other artifacts that capture the visual culture of the era. This chronicle of Memphis subculture reveals how outsider artists and overlooked venues can generate profound cultural influence. The book presents Memphis as a crucible where diverse musical traditions and social forces combined to create new forms of artistic expression.

Readers value this book for documenting Memphis' overlooked music pioneers and scenes beyond Elvis and Sun Records. Many note Gordon's focus on lesser-known artists like Furry Lewis, Jim Dickinson, and Alex Chilton while capturing the city's cultural intersection of race, art, and rebellion. Readers appreciate the firsthand interviews and oral histories. Multiple reviews mention the book fills gaps in Memphis music history, particularly regarding blues, garage rock, and the 1950s-70s underground scene. Common criticisms: - Disorganized structure that jumps between time periods - Too many characters and side stories to follow - Writing style can be unfocused and meandering Ratings: Goodreads: 4.13/5 (226 ratings) Amazon: 4.4/5 (54 ratings) "Captures the chaos and creativity of Memphis perfectly" - Goodreads reviewer "Important history but needed better editing" - Amazon reviewer "The definitive account of Memphis' musical outsiders" - LibraryThing review

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🎵 The book's title was inspired by horror films of the 1950s, reflecting the "outsider" nature of Memphis's underground music scene that emerged during that era. 🎸 Author Robert Gordon has been chronicling Memphis music since 1978 and actually managed the influential punk band Tav Falco's Panther Burns, which appears in the book. 🎼 While most Memphis music histories focus on Elvis Presley and Sun Records, this book deliberately spotlights lesser-known figures like disc jockey Dewey Phillips and musician Jim Dickinson. 🎭 The book explores how Memphis's unusual mix of high art and low culture created unique artistic expressions, including professional wrestlers who became avant-garde performers. 📀 The 2007 revised edition includes an 80-minute CD featuring rare recordings of artists discussed in the book, including Mud Boy and the Neutrons and Furry Lewis.