this is a good book, and interesting, but not accurate in every respect. Case in point: Campbell Graham Kensinger. Kensinger (that is how we knew him in Hickory, NC in the 1960's, and not by Campbell)is not quite the Clint Eastwood meets Steven Segal that the author would have us believe, and I say this from some knowledge of this glorified punk.
For whatever reason, he appeared and hung out in Hickory in 66-68 when I and a number of my friends were high school kids. He was a man in his early twenties, who had a reputation as being tough, but was usually careful in picking his fights. On one occasion, a guy I know stomped a mud hole in his back because he was in the wrong place at the wrong time.
The author talks about how the Marine Corp used him in Hawaii to train troops to kill. I never understood that, as Pendleton was generally the jumping place for Nam.
If I am supposed to be impressed with the fact that he was high on drugs when he was shot to death, I am not. That he would take shots at his wife in Hawaii, beat up a car when disappointed by a girlfriend, and be brave enough to beat up a man asleep in his bed, are not qualifications for becoming a legend in Memphis or anywhere else. Kensinger was a miserable punk and was lucky that he lived as long as he did. Gordon tries to make him some kind of hero. Gordon needs to stick to the music and leave the lost causes alone. Kensinger was a jerk-that's all. Leave it alone.

This is the kind of book I dream about. When I look for my next read, I look for a book that is 1) passionate 2) not pretentious and not totally mainstream, and 3) about quirky (in a trashy and at least slightly out of control way) people and things. Sounds simple enough, but lord knows it ain't as easy to find a book with those characteristics as you might think. But Robert Gordon has torn it up and come through for us. Really, it's amazing that this book is still in print because it's "target audience" must consist of about thirty people. And therein lies its beauty. Imagine something as idiosyncratic as a zine, but, unlike a zine, not poorly written! Also, it doesn't hurt that a nice sized portion of the book is devoted to the godhead, Alex Chilton, which means a lot to us Chilton-ites since no real definitive bio exists. Of course, there's tons else besides Alex--take for example pro wrestlers, hippie bluesmen, and a cool-as-hell photographer--but if you don't dig Alex, maybe you should pass on this anyway and go and see if Will and Grace is available on DVD yet. Your type sickens me.

Gordon's It Came from Memphis helps to unravel the rich heritage of a city whose musical heritage is largely overlooked save for BB King and Elvis Presley. He succesfullly attempts to expose the politics, racism, and situations of circumstance that fueled Memphis to become what it is today both musically and socially. A young gifted author whose style is both easily readable and profound, Gordon offers a book that is a must read for any fan of modern music. I recommend this one highly.