T Bone Burnett: A Life in Pursuit

American Music Series

by Lloyd Sachs

T Bone Burnett is a unique, astonishingly prolific music producer, singer-songwriter, guitarist, and soundtrack visionary. Renowned as a studio maven with a Midas touch, Burnett is known for lifting artists to their greatest heights, as he did with Raising Sand , the multiple Grammy Award–winning album by Robert Plant and Alison Krauss, as well as acclaimed albums by Los Lobos, the Wallflowers, B. B. King, and Elvis Costello. Burnett virtually invented “Americana” with his hugely successful roots-based soundtrack for the Coen Brothers film, O Brother, Where Art Thou? Outspoken in his contempt for the entertainment industry, Burnett has nevertheless received many of its highest honors, including Grammy Awards and an Academy Award. T Bone Burnett offers the first critical appreciation of Burnett’s wide-ranging contributions to American music, his passionate advocacy for analog sound, and the striking contradictions that define his maverick artistry. Lloyd Sachs highlights all the important aspects of Burnett’s musical pursuits, from his early days as a member of Bob Dylan’s Rolling Thunder Revue and his collaboration with the playwright Sam Shepard to the music he recently composed for the TV shows Nashville and True Detective and his production of the all-star album Lost on the The New Basement Tapes . Sachs also underscores Burnett’s brilliance as a singer-songwriter in his own right. Going well beyond the labels “legendary” or “visionary” that usually accompany his name, T Bone Burnett reveals how this consummate music maker has exerted a powerful influence on American music and culture across four decades.

Genres: Music, Biography, Nonfiction

278 pages, Hardcover

Published October 4, 2016

Reviews

[Stacy Bearse · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sachs has penned a comprehensive look into the life of a talented musician, songwriter and - most importantly - music producer. He takes the reader behind the scenes to examine the creative process of modern-day recording. I became interested in Burnett when I saw him play with Alison Krauss and Robert Plant during the "Raising Sand" tour, and soon discovered that he was the creative brain behind pairing up a soulful country singer and a heavy-metal screamer. Sachs does let us down with his dry, paint-by-the-numbers style; Burnett is a remarkable person, and deserves a far more engaging narrative.

[DDM · Rating 1 out of 5]

I gave up about a quarter way through - mostly just a list of albums he worked on and endless name dropping. Could have found all with a google search. I didn't realize T Bone didn't want to participate in the writing of this book.

[Dave · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not the kind of book I normally read but this was very interesting. T Bone's life gives insight into a world of music normally unseen, or should I say unheard, by most of us.

[Shane · Rating 2 out of 5]

I like T Bone's music and I think he's pretty interesting. I read books about musicians because they usually have crazy stories in them and then I can tell my friends about these crazy stories. This book was just too tame to hold my interest. Plus T Bone was a little "before my time" so I don't really know a lot about a bunch of the people and bands that are being talked about.

So I would still recommend this to fans, but probably more to those who were born in the early 60's or before.

[Richard · Rating 3 out of 5]

Depending on your depth of interest in T Bone, this could be starred at 3-5.

Was it everything I could want to know about T Bone's work as a musician and producer? Yes.

Was it more than I wanted to know? Yes.

Is it less than what other people might want to know? Yes.

And there you have it. Well written, on point, gossip free, a must for fans.

[Jeff Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pity T Bone wasn't a bit more co-operative but it still it's an impressive body of work in and around the recording industry.. love his passion, hopefully more to come. Sachs really brings focus to T Bones amazing musical knowledge and sound engineering skills.

[Markku · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's not easy to write a biography of a person who is equally great as an artist and as a producer...taking everything into account leads to a cv of Burnett which makes no great reading. The author also seems to take a defensive stand on the person who he clearly knows well.

[Susanhummel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm a big fan of his music and all of his productions. There is a vast quantity of work, you never knew he had his hand in. It seems like, if the music is really good, he touched it.

[Michael · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have been a long time fan of T Bone Burnett's music. I have also been aware that he's produced some fine albums over the years including the soundtrack to O Brother, Where Art Thou? What this book has illustrated is how many great albums he has produced, as well as putting his stamp on many film and TV soundtracks. While T Bone (nee Henry) refused to sit down for set interviews for this biography (saying he's looking to the future and no time to look to the past), he gave his blessing, turning over achieve material, including rare photographs (he famously HATES being photographed). He also put the author in touch with many collaborators and family. While a short book, it does give some good family background, including his youth in Texas, and musical influences. It covers all aspects of his recording career, the reason for long breaks and his productions as well as his involvement in the Rolling Thunder Review.. A sample of production credits: Los Lobos: How will the Wolf Survive? (and it's follow up), The Costello Show: King of America, Sam Phillips: Martinis and Bikinis (and others), Robert Plant and Alison Krauss: Raising Sand, John Mellencamp: Life, Death, Love and Freedom, Elton John: The Diving Board, The Big Lebowski, Cold Mountain, Crazy Heart, True Detective (HBO). Even if you are not a fan, you can get a good glimpse at how the music industry works from a read of this biography.

[Mark · Rating 3 out of 5]

About as full and satisfactory a bio as any that lacks its subject's direct participation can be. Covers Burnett's professional life, with sideways glances at his religious faith and impact on popular culture.

[Will George · Rating 4 out of 5]

About as good a musical biography as could be hoped for without the subject's participation. I was reminded of a lot of records Burnett produced and was introduced to several more. But one of my pet peeves is when a biographer gives his critical opinion on various musical projects instead of just explaining them. Let the reader make up his/her own mind. If I want criticism I'll read a review, I don't need it on my biographies.