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Ten Telecaster Tales: Liner Notes for a Guitar and Its Music
Ten Telecaster Tales remakes the idea of the “concept album.” It is music that arrives inside a book. It’s also, arguably, the most comprehensive attempt at liner notes in the history of electric instrumental fingerstyle guitar albums.
In his latest offering, Rik Emmett delves into the creative process — the roots, influences, philosophy, and spirituality involved in writing and recording. Even the story behind these stories explores creativity. (Emmett dreamed of then commissioned a guitar — a one-of-a-kind Telecaster-style guitar — then wrote and recorded with and for it.)
Playfully, beautifully, Ten Telecaster Tales lays bare an artistic journey in an act of discovery — that the storytelling inherent in writing good musical compositions translates into good storytelling about the process behind the songs, and how compositions turn into recordings. A generous amount of fairy-tale mythology is sprinkled throughout — despite the whole process being assimilated by digital technology. The notion of a “telecaster tale” implies something “vintage” at its heart, and it is humanity that glues the layers together.
Principally, though, Ten Telecaster Tales is the next logical step for Emmett after publishing his memoir, Lay It On The Line. It represents the evolution of his life story into a combination of musical composition, guitar playing, and prose. After all, writing has always been the solid backbone and lifeline of his multi-faceted journey.
In his latest offering, Rik Emmett delves into the creative process — the roots, influences, philosophy, and spirituality involved in writing and recording. Even the story behind these stories explores creativity. (Emmett dreamed of then commissioned a guitar — a one-of-a-kind Telecaster-style guitar — then wrote and recorded with and for it.)
Playfully, beautifully, Ten Telecaster Tales lays bare an artistic journey in an act of discovery — that the storytelling inherent in writing good musical compositions translates into good storytelling about the process behind the songs, and how compositions turn into recordings. A generous amount of fairy-tale mythology is sprinkled throughout — despite the whole process being assimilated by digital technology. The notion of a “telecaster tale” implies something “vintage” at its heart, and it is humanity that glues the layers together.
Principally, though, Ten Telecaster Tales is the next logical step for Emmett after publishing his memoir, Lay It On The Line. It represents the evolution of his life story into a combination of musical composition, guitar playing, and prose. After all, writing has always been the solid backbone and lifeline of his multi-faceted journey.
- GenresNonfiction
208 pages, Paperback
Published March 25, 2025
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
March 29, 2025
Everyone wake up, the new Rik Emmett book just dropped!!!! Aaaaand, the album is out as well, so you might wanna give it a listen as you're reading to enhance your experience.
Trust me, you WANT to listen to each composition as Mr Emmett is describing how they came about, and you'll have a hard time picking a favourite. If I had to choose though, I'd have to say Winter Nocturne touched me the most. If you read the book, you'll know why, and if you listen, you'll feel it in the music.
I often miss my dad, but it's when I read books like this one that I miss him the most, because I know he, as a sound engineer, would've loved all the technicalities described here.
Rik Emmett takes us through the whole process of creating an album, what inspired him for each composition and why there's exactly ten of them in the first place, what's so special about Telecasters, and their history as well.
I honestly had such a great time with Ten Telecaster Tales, there's a lot of fascinating information inside. I love Emmett's attention to detail, the way he describes things, the reasons why he composed the album and wrote this book, and the soul he puts into everything he does.
I'd recommend this to any music lover, who wants to get a deeper look into one artist's creative process and learn something interesting along the way.
*Thank you to the publishers and Netgalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*
Trust me, you WANT to listen to each composition as Mr Emmett is describing how they came about, and you'll have a hard time picking a favourite. If I had to choose though, I'd have to say Winter Nocturne touched me the most. If you read the book, you'll know why, and if you listen, you'll feel it in the music.
I often miss my dad, but it's when I read books like this one that I miss him the most, because I know he, as a sound engineer, would've loved all the technicalities described here.
Rik Emmett takes us through the whole process of creating an album, what inspired him for each composition and why there's exactly ten of them in the first place, what's so special about Telecasters, and their history as well.
I honestly had such a great time with Ten Telecaster Tales, there's a lot of fascinating information inside. I love Emmett's attention to detail, the way he describes things, the reasons why he composed the album and wrote this book, and the soul he puts into everything he does.
I'd recommend this to any music lover, who wants to get a deeper look into one artist's creative process and learn something interesting along the way.
*Thank you to the publishers and Netgalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*
February 5, 2025
My thanks to NetGalley and ECW Press for an advance copy of this book that is both a memoir of a man in the midst of creation, and a biography of the work being created, along with a history and description of the importance of guitars, guitarists, and music to the world.
When my parents left New York City for the wilds of Connecticut, a deal was made, at least so it seemed that every weekend would be spent, barring illness or weather, in the Bronx with the respective grandparents. This meant a lot of driving. The trip would start with news radio, for traffic, but once the trip was set, or we were returning home, it would be set to top 40 as AM radio was the only band we received. I fell in love with music early, picking up the feelings that beats, lyrics, and the way the song was played and sang left me as a listener. FM radio was an emotional bomb, hitting hard in places top 40 hadn't hit, movie soundtracks and jazz, world and experimental filling my ears with possibilities. I loved music, but my shyness never let me learn an instrument, nor even go to a Karaoke bar. I loved lyrics that told a story, and instrumentals that did the same thing. Much of my reading over the years has been about bands, making of albums, and recording history. Many of these are look back at books, made for nostalgia, or to be included in a box set, years after the fact, when memories and stories have changed or morphed for better telling. Few have been books following an album from pre-history, to conception, creation, and release. Until now. Ten Telecaster Tales: Liner Notes for a Guitar and Its Music by Rik Emmett is the story of a creator, the art that is created, with all the doubts, fears, experience and talent only a legendary musician and writer can tell.
The book starts at a beginning, talking about the history of the Telecaster guitar, and those musicians who made their career and some of the their greatest songs on it. Emmett, vocalist and guitar player for the Canadian rock band Triumph, goes into the technical details of why this guitar is the instrument it is, and why after trying to get away from touring, he decided to plan and craft his own Telecaster. And the seeds for his new album. Emmett discusses his creative process, from the room he writes in, and draws in. There are discussions about the arthritis that arises, the feeling of getting old, but still vital, and how vital music is too Emmett. From there we are introduced to his album, Ten Telecaster Tales. Each song gets a chapter, and Emmett details the ideas, the influences and how these songs came to be. A biography of an album, title by title.
I've read a lot of liner notes, and books that accompany box sets and as I said earlier, except for the technical details there are as many stories to a songs creation as there are people in the studio at the time. I've never read a book that looks at every song, can tell the story of its creation, from inspiration, an old idea worked on, or an idea that just struck Emmett. I have always loved books about how people create things, and this is one of the best on song creation. Emmett has a very good style, one warm, welcoming and instructive, but one that is still amazed by what happens when tape, or digital, records. The book is also illustrated showing rooms, places, hands that are healing and the artist being creative.
An interesting book for performers, even if they are still new to the works of Rik Emmett. There is a lot to draw from as a creator, and little hints, and ways on how to shape an idea into something more solid. Gear heads will enjoy the technical info, and the history of different guitars and techniques. A very good book, full of fascinating information, and very inspiring.
When my parents left New York City for the wilds of Connecticut, a deal was made, at least so it seemed that every weekend would be spent, barring illness or weather, in the Bronx with the respective grandparents. This meant a lot of driving. The trip would start with news radio, for traffic, but once the trip was set, or we were returning home, it would be set to top 40 as AM radio was the only band we received. I fell in love with music early, picking up the feelings that beats, lyrics, and the way the song was played and sang left me as a listener. FM radio was an emotional bomb, hitting hard in places top 40 hadn't hit, movie soundtracks and jazz, world and experimental filling my ears with possibilities. I loved music, but my shyness never let me learn an instrument, nor even go to a Karaoke bar. I loved lyrics that told a story, and instrumentals that did the same thing. Much of my reading over the years has been about bands, making of albums, and recording history. Many of these are look back at books, made for nostalgia, or to be included in a box set, years after the fact, when memories and stories have changed or morphed for better telling. Few have been books following an album from pre-history, to conception, creation, and release. Until now. Ten Telecaster Tales: Liner Notes for a Guitar and Its Music by Rik Emmett is the story of a creator, the art that is created, with all the doubts, fears, experience and talent only a legendary musician and writer can tell.
The book starts at a beginning, talking about the history of the Telecaster guitar, and those musicians who made their career and some of the their greatest songs on it. Emmett, vocalist and guitar player for the Canadian rock band Triumph, goes into the technical details of why this guitar is the instrument it is, and why after trying to get away from touring, he decided to plan and craft his own Telecaster. And the seeds for his new album. Emmett discusses his creative process, from the room he writes in, and draws in. There are discussions about the arthritis that arises, the feeling of getting old, but still vital, and how vital music is too Emmett. From there we are introduced to his album, Ten Telecaster Tales. Each song gets a chapter, and Emmett details the ideas, the influences and how these songs came to be. A biography of an album, title by title.
I've read a lot of liner notes, and books that accompany box sets and as I said earlier, except for the technical details there are as many stories to a songs creation as there are people in the studio at the time. I've never read a book that looks at every song, can tell the story of its creation, from inspiration, an old idea worked on, or an idea that just struck Emmett. I have always loved books about how people create things, and this is one of the best on song creation. Emmett has a very good style, one warm, welcoming and instructive, but one that is still amazed by what happens when tape, or digital, records. The book is also illustrated showing rooms, places, hands that are healing and the artist being creative.
An interesting book for performers, even if they are still new to the works of Rik Emmett. There is a lot to draw from as a creator, and little hints, and ways on how to shape an idea into something more solid. Gear heads will enjoy the technical info, and the history of different guitars and techniques. A very good book, full of fascinating information, and very inspiring.
April 1, 2025
Book review: 4/5 ⭐️
Genre: non-fiction
Themes: music, creative process, historical allegory
Narrated by the author himself, Rik Emmett shares the creative process in creating an album. A natural born story teller he seamlessly weaves together the mechanical notes of the telecaster with cultural observations and history. All the stories and philosophy that inspired his creative focus come together in this sort of album in written form. Writer, composer and performer, this is an auto-biography of creation.
He is very well read and liberal in his ideas, making his observations very interesting to me. I personally also liked that I recognized people, places and events in his stories. He never comes across as preachy and is aware of his own privilege. He manages to remain insightful of both the music and the world around him. Write what you know and be yourself - it’s as simple as that.
It seems like good music and good writing must overlap because this composition had me hooked. I don’t read a lot of non-fiction, but my love of vintage style music and musicians really made me interested in this one. It has a longer introduction, but I think that makes it accessible to more readers. Then latter half is really about generating music and how layering and technique are used to search for a certain balance that creates the magic. Morphing illusion and self-awareness to create the shape of a song. There is the architect of form itself, but that is only half the tale. The rest is the spirit of the artist, the creative component that breathes life into the notes. The space for consideration that enables a unique imprint to form.
If you have ever been interested in musical history or the creative process this is a must read, especially if you are a jazz guitarist or just a fan of the music and this artist. Some parts are jargon heavy, but it balances the artistic with the technical, the recognizable with the hidden secrets. It is written in such a way that can appeal to the casual listener.
Thank you NetGalley and ECW Press Audio for a copy of this audiobook. With the added instrumental sections, this was certainly better as an audiobook in my opinion. It brought the concepts to life. Overall, it was a nice change of pace in my reading line up and I am now in the mood to pull out some old records and see if I hear the music differently.
Genre: non-fiction
Themes: music, creative process, historical allegory
Narrated by the author himself, Rik Emmett shares the creative process in creating an album. A natural born story teller he seamlessly weaves together the mechanical notes of the telecaster with cultural observations and history. All the stories and philosophy that inspired his creative focus come together in this sort of album in written form. Writer, composer and performer, this is an auto-biography of creation.
He is very well read and liberal in his ideas, making his observations very interesting to me. I personally also liked that I recognized people, places and events in his stories. He never comes across as preachy and is aware of his own privilege. He manages to remain insightful of both the music and the world around him. Write what you know and be yourself - it’s as simple as that.
It seems like good music and good writing must overlap because this composition had me hooked. I don’t read a lot of non-fiction, but my love of vintage style music and musicians really made me interested in this one. It has a longer introduction, but I think that makes it accessible to more readers. Then latter half is really about generating music and how layering and technique are used to search for a certain balance that creates the magic. Morphing illusion and self-awareness to create the shape of a song. There is the architect of form itself, but that is only half the tale. The rest is the spirit of the artist, the creative component that breathes life into the notes. The space for consideration that enables a unique imprint to form.
If you have ever been interested in musical history or the creative process this is a must read, especially if you are a jazz guitarist or just a fan of the music and this artist. Some parts are jargon heavy, but it balances the artistic with the technical, the recognizable with the hidden secrets. It is written in such a way that can appeal to the casual listener.
Thank you NetGalley and ECW Press Audio for a copy of this audiobook. With the added instrumental sections, this was certainly better as an audiobook in my opinion. It brought the concepts to life. Overall, it was a nice change of pace in my reading line up and I am now in the mood to pull out some old records and see if I hear the music differently.
February 10, 2025
Thanks to NetGalley and ECW Press Audio for the Audio ARC!
Ten Telecaster Tales is an interesting mix of words of wisdom from a veteran of the music industry, and a detailed explanation of the creative process behind a series of 10 songs with the same title. I enjoyed the technical discussions of the music-writing and -making processes, and also the excerpts of the songs themselves included in the audiobook. I will definitely check out more of Rik Emmett's stuff.
Ten Telecaster Tales is an interesting mix of words of wisdom from a veteran of the music industry, and a detailed explanation of the creative process behind a series of 10 songs with the same title. I enjoyed the technical discussions of the music-writing and -making processes, and also the excerpts of the songs themselves included in the audiobook. I will definitely check out more of Rik Emmett's stuff.
January 18, 2025
Received arc from ECW and Netgalley for honest read and review,this review is my own.
I have grown up listening to Triumph and read the last book from Rik, so this was another delve for me into my past, and it was another great read and thoroughly entertaining.
It gave a great insight into the writing and style of Rim and showed what a great musician he is.
I have grown up listening to Triumph and read the last book from Rik, so this was another delve for me into my past, and it was another great read and thoroughly entertaining.
It gave a great insight into the writing and style of Rim and showed what a great musician he is.
March 13, 2025
I think die hard Triumph fans, real guitar people, owners of the Telecaster will enjoy this more.
Some music history that was interesting but too deep into his creative mind for me.
Some music history that was interesting but too deep into his creative mind for me.
March 15, 2025
Enjoyed Rik's intro on what led to his writing this book and then reading his inspiration for each of the ten songs. Read the entire book and listened to the songs in one setting!
December 4, 2025
Not being a guitar player I wondered if this book would be accessible to me, I was pleasantly surprised. I enjoyed this book more than Lay it on the Line.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews