Oh, Didn't They Ramble: Rounder Records and the Transformation of American Roots Music

by David Menconi

What is American roots music? Any definition must account for a kaleidoscope of genres from bluegrass to blues, western swing to jazz, soul and gospel to rock and reggae, Cajun to Celtic. It must encompass the work of artists as diverse as Alice Gerard and Alison Krauss, George Thorogood and Sun Ra, Bela Fleck and Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown, the Blake Babies and Billy Strings. What do all these artists and music styles have in common? The answer is a record label born in the wake of the American folk revival and 1960s movement politics, formed around the eclectic tastes and audacious ideals of three recent college grads who lived, listened, and worked together. The answer is Rounder Records.

For more than fifty years, Rounder has been the world's leading label for folk music of all kinds. David Menconi's book is the label's definitive history, drawing on previously untapped archives and extensive interviews with artists, Rounder staff, and founders Ken Irwin, Marian Leighton Levy, and Bill Nowlin. Rounder's founders blended ingenuity and independence with serendipity and an unfailing belief in the small- d democratic power of music to connect and inspire people, forging creative partnerships that resulted in one of the most eclectic and creative catalogs in the history of recorded music. Placing Rounder in the company of similarly influential labels like Stax, Motown, and Blue Note, this story is destined to delight anyone who cares about the place of music in American culture.

Genres: Music, Nonfiction, History

224 pages, Hardcover

Published October 17, 2023

Reviews

[Emma]

This helped me along on my music snob journey, also made me feel North Carolinian. Even though the book basically just takes you from the beginning of the Rounder record label's journey to the present, I still feel like I got the hot gossip on the entire music industry. Proud of myself for recognizing so many of the names (and I have seen/met so many of the artist they dropped call me a critic!!!). Go Americana go banjo go college radio!

[Michael Paquette · Rating 5 out of 5]

A truly fascinating and detailed account of a record label whose dedication to its artists brought an entire musical genre to an entirely different audience. The stories of their early struggles and the artists who grew to love the label are given a full appreciation and told with wonderful yarns. One of the finest books about the record industry and the artists who grew an independant label into an impassioned new arena known as Amercana music.

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fascinating! So much I didn’t know about music and about how Rounder made so much happen.

[Michael Reilly · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a young fan of roots music, I frequently bought albums because they looked interesting, and they were on the Rounder label.

Rounder Records was founded in 1970 out of a home in Somerville, MA. The three founders, Marian Leighton Levy, Ken Irwin and Bill Nowlin, were all fans of American roots music, folk, blues, blue grass and old-time music. None of them had any business background. They build the company into one of the largest independent record labels. They ended up issuing about 3000 albums.

Marconi traces the history. They started off releasing albums by little known performers like Snuffy Jenkins or Ted Lundy. They became a major presence in bluegrass music. Their first big hit album was "J. D. Crowe and the Big South", which is a classic of modern bluegrass. They released a huge number of albums from all kinds of musicians. In an odd move for them, they released George Thorogood's first several hard-core electric blues, rock and roll albums. They were all big sellers.

Most of their releases sold relatively few copies. The label was kept alive by the few rare big hits. Rounder albums have been awarded 54 Grammies in multiple categories. they also had an ambitious historical recording program.

The three founders were idealistic. They wanted to run the business as an "anti-profit collective". For the first several years they held more or less to that dream. As the business grew it became more and more difficult. The issues came to a head in 1979nwhen the Rounder workers voted in a contested election to form a union, much to the amusement of cynical competitors. The founders did make an honest attempt to run a business that had goals higher than solely maximizing profits.

Marconi does a solid job of telling this story. He doesn't really give a sense of the what the three founders were like to work for or be around and at times the book becomes just one record after another getting released but it is a good summary of an interesting business and an important record label.

[David Doel · Rating 5 out of 5]

My daughter gave me this book for Christmas; I'd have never picked it out on my own (I probably don't even visit this part of the bookstore). It was an inspired choice. I began reading it because I hadn't brought anything else to read for the trip. I was instantly captivated!

The book is about Ken Irwin, Bill Nowlin, Marian Leighton and Rounder Records, the record company they founded. They were meeting up and getting started in Boston just after I finished college there. They were serious about the music instead of making money and they were a great team. The book will generate a playlist for me for several weeks or months after being a wonderful read.

I don't want this review to be a spoiler -- my advice is buy it and read it!

[Peter Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

I didn't know anything about Rounder Records when I bought this book. I was just a fan of the author who was the music critic at my local paper for many years. So I was not surprised when this book turned out to be a great overview of one of the most successful independent music labels in American history. Rounder's best selling artists were well-known musicians like George Thorogood, Alison Krauss, and...Raffi?! But it was their dedication to putting out thousands of obscure releases that showcased the diversity of Americana music and beyond that differentiated them from all other labels not just major. The founders sold out long ago and the label exists now mostly in name only, but Menconi does a great job of conveying just how important and special this label really was.

[Dan · Rating 4 out of 5]

My thanks to both NetGalley and the publisher University of North Carolina Press for this history and biography of one if the great American record labels, the people who founded it, the acts involved, and who keeping to one's moral and ethics can help one be successful and true, even in the music business.

I worked in a music store for a time and while we didn't have a any High Fidelity or Empire Records stories or people, we were nerds who did defend the little fiefdoms we carved out with all the forces we could muster, like a medieval lord defending his lands, or a dragon defending its horde using all our skills to stay ahead of the people asking musical questions. Bill was the folk and blues guy. All that he knew, and boy he knew a lot, was from listening to records, dialing in to channels that played folk and blue, pre-Internet and going to every festival on the east coast for anything that had even a one folk act, blues act, or something Old and in the Way as his favorite T-shirt he always wore said. He could name drop record labels that Billboard would have to do a search on, music types that seemed made up. And he never ceased to be excited when he got the release sheets and he saw Rounder Records. Occasionally he'd be like, "Well that's a bill payer" meaning music that wasn't his kind, but helped them pay the bills. But he would buy them all, read the track listing and update his mental Rolodex just on the off chance someone would ask, or probably if he saw them playing. Reading this book reminded me of Bill, and being excited about music, something that seems far and away, and in old and in the way. David Menconi in Oh, Didn't They Ramble: Rounder Records and the Transformation of American Roots Music has written a history, and biography about a distinctly American label, that really could only have come about at a certain time, lasted as long as it did, with a success rate and influence that really can't be measured.

Rounder Records began as an idea between three people, Ken Irwin, Leighton Levy and Bill Nowlin who came from different background, New York, Boston, and a rural Maine that seemed out of a song by the people they loved so much. Bonded by ideals, the idea that music can change people, shared politics and communal life the group travelled together and separately hitchhiking around America, taking in sights, and especially the sounds. A chance meeting with a person offering a ride sparked an idea of making an album. Buying the rights to an older banjo player's George Pegram, gave them an artist, what they needed was a name. Rounder has a few connotations, records are round, rounders travel the countryside, and more and soon in addition to starting a label they had to start a distribution system for their label. And slowly a dream was born, releasing music that they enjoyed, and soon finding success with stand outs like George Thorogood and many others.

A story that explains not only the rise of music label that even when they sold, was still a company loyal to the ideas they set out with. One that hadn't changed even with changes in music, Menconi is a very good writer, discussing the early folk scene, hippie and communal life, and the business of working in music, the underhandedness, and the importance to sticking to one's guns. This is not a hagiography, Menconi is quick to point out dumb things, and things that in an ordinary business would be considered normal, but in a place like Rounder really sticks out. Also Menconi is really good at discussing the music, early folk blues rock, reggae and world music, Menconi can discuss it, and make one want to hear it. I found many gaps in my library of music, and probably will be on Disclogs quite a bit over the next couple of days.

A book that reminds people of why they liked music. Not for just background noise, or something while making dinner, but sitting and listening and enjoying, dancing and making noises. For music fans, this will be a great read, and music historians will get quite a bit out of this also. I hope somewhere Bill is still listening to music, enjoying life and getting ready to read this, while carefully putting away his copy of Hollerin' (Rounder Records 0071) that's he listened to for the 1,000th time.

[Jeri Rowe · Rating 4 out of 5]

I always saw David Menconi as one of the best music writers in the country. When he wrote for the News & Observer in Raleigh, NC, I always made sure to read everything he wrote. He possessed an ocean-deep knowledge of music, particularly music that sprang from the Old North State, and he didn't pull punches. Did love that. See, he never wrote like a fan boy. He wrote like a journalist, and that's why his book on Rounder Records is such a joy to read.

It's full of telling details, warts-and-all details about a quirky little indie record label that grew into something ginormous. Started by three friends, Rounder prided itself as being an "anti-profit collective" that produced music endemic of who we are in America. That included black country blues and string band music to protest music, past and present.

Rounder broke big when it produced George Thorogood and Alison Krauss. But what got me about David's book was its nod to the passion that music sparks in all of us. Rounder was all about that. \ For years, Rounder's headquarters sounds more like a Baja jacket than briefcase business. When Garry West, the founder of Compass Records, here's what he saw. Or at least this is what he told David he saw.

"I would soak in the vibe, a warehouse and the three founders' desks in the same room, stacks of CDs and records everywhere. And I remember thinking, 'Well, this is it.' -- what it's supposed to be like, a community impassioned about music, putting it out there. Sometimes the smallest releases say more about a company's purpose than the large ones do. Some of Rounder's records that are most revered today would never have seen the light of day if they had not been willing to reach into corners. Those are bricks in the wall that play a part of your mission."

Bricks in the wall. Love that. What record companies used to be. Not any longer, it seems. But David brings us back to a time when music was not a commodity. It was more like a movement fueled by what caught our ear. Take company's founders. They called themselves the Rounders. They hitchhiked, traveled to festivals and sold their records out of the trunk of their car. Meanwhile, they kept their antennas tuned to music, any kind of music, that moved them in the best of ways. And they did that for nearly a half century. How much fun is that?

David Menconi captures the why and the how behind all that, and he delivers a make-a-difference book about one of the most influential indie record labels in the world. A must read for any die-hard music fan who sees music festivals as a rite of passage where passion lives.

[Dan Downing · Rating 5 out of 5]

One year, at Newport Folk, I slept in a graveyard. Another year, at Wind Gap Bluegrass Festival, the rain washed away the soil under my tent, which was leaking as if it were not there. Once, I spent 9 hours in the summer sun trying to hitch-hike home; I finally found a bus terminal and paid for a ticket---had to work the next morning. These and other adventures convinced me that roughing it at music festivals would mean cheap motels, buying gasoline and bringing enough money for food. But the founders of Rounder Records endured annoyances, like those mentioned, for years, even when funds were readily available. Why? Well, as Mr. Meconi so wonderfully describes in "Oh, Didn't They Ramble", the three Rounder founders sort of fell into making records because they loved the music, which was why they were at the festivals to begin with. Later they traveled in order to find musicians who deserved to be recorded or to hand-sell records from a decrepit Volkswagen bus.
After starting the record company, they decided they needed a distributorship, and so on until they were doing just about everything one can do to spread the good news. I am ever so grateful. As the pages of the book flipped by I jumped up to flick through my record collection to find if I had Rounder recordings by this artist or that. Right off I knew I had the iconic Rounder 0044, the bluegrass album described to me as 'the finger cover' by J.D. Crowe himself, who lent his name to the album: 'J.D. Crowe and the New South'. That has been my favorite bluegrass album for decades, almost a half-century, in fact. Meeting him and many, many other musicians in these pages was a great treat, as was learning the remarkable story of those intrepid three folks who founded and ran Rounder Records for 4 decades. I give many thanks to them and to the artists and to Mr. Menconi for bringing this book into existence by creating a unique company, making wonderful music, and writing the story of it all.
Highly Recommended.

[J Earl · Rating 5 out of 5]

As I've gotten older a big part of my enjoyment in reading about music and film and other popular culture topics is the nostalgia it often evokes. Oh, Didn't They Ramble by David Menconi satisfied this desire while providing so much more.

I owned a number of Rounder records, though admittedly not a lot. This history of the independent label brought back the memories of the ones I did have as well as the times a lot of the music they published represent. For me, that includes festivals and fairs as well as some concerts, but particularly the feeling of community I always felt, even when I knew almost no one there.

Read this book for the music, and music industry, history. You will learn a lot. But also read it to learn about new (to you) music. Maybe artists you've never heard of or have heard of but never actually (that you remember) heard. Maybe songs you don't know from artists you do. Maybe even discover a whole new genre or subgenre that speaks to you. Or, if you are already familiar with most of the music and artists, relive the times when you discovered or shared the music with friends. There are just so many ways to get into this book.

I enjoy music history and found a lot of interesting information here. Not just about this label but about the industry and those struggling within or against it. Because I heavily utilize the internet with any book I read, I also enjoyed a lot of very good music. I would suggest you do the same.

Unfortunately my review copy doesn't include the foreword by Robert Plant, which I would have loved to read. When you get your copy, and if you love music you should get a copy, you will be able to read it and can tell me about it.

Reviewed from a copy made available by the publisher via NetGalley.

[Patty · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fascinating and well-researched look into the history of Rounder Records and its place in the world of Americana, folk, roots, and all associated genres. I know I have a fair number of Rounder titles in my collection--Jonathan Richman, Béla Fleck, Sarah Jarosz, TMBG, and others--and it was great to learn more about the Rounder founders, the origins and developments of the label, the unexpected turns and occasional famous recording artists. And there's lots of Boston in here for those with Boston connections.

A book (or article, or blog post, or podcast) by David Menconi is always a pleasure. Look forward to the next one!

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fittingly, I read an advance copy of this book while at Grey Fox Bluegrass Festival. I finished it in the morning while at my campsite and saw Ken Irwin himself later that day at one of the stages enjoying a great new band. I've always been a huge Rounder fan, and this book was a readable and informative history of how the company started and the impact it's had on the music business. Highly recommended for fans of roots music and music history.

[Annarella · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book made me learn about things I never heard before, artists and musics that were new to me and I learned a lot.
If you love music and want to learn about something new read it.
Well written and easy to follow
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

[Jeff Thomas · Rating 3 out of 5]

A bit dry sometimes, but still a good summary of an important music label.

I'd love more personable stories about the personalities involved (especially among the musicians), but it felt that was just a slight aside to the history of releases, moving warehouses and labor issues.

Still interesting, tho.

[Gregory J Davis · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fascinating account of the people and industry behind the music we love. Meticulously researched and beautifully told. David is able to drill down into the inner workings of the industry and provide a level of detail that could risk becoming dry, except for his accessible writing style.

I learned about the evolution of the music business and I was inspired by the Rounder team who stuck to their vision and made their passion their business. What a cast of characters! Without them, I fear we would have lost so much of our musical history.

Thanks David and thanks Rounders!

[Joel Grossman · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a pleasure to read if you have any interest in Americana (Roots) music. It also is informative about the record business, and about the transformation of music taste, and the general culture, of the 50's-70's. It is well researched and quite readable.

[Matt Mesa · Rating 4 out of 5]

A concise and detailed history of perhaps the most important independent record company ever. Old folk, bluegrass, Cajun, country, Americana, roots, blues--keep going. This small hard working label did it the old fashioned way. A good read for music lovers!