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Rating: 
Summary: Lots of fun gossip === needs a better editor
Review: As a long-time fan of the Fairport-Steeleye thing, I had looked forward to this book through its many delays. The result was sort of what I expected -- a lot of inside information on the incredible burst of energy that erupted in the English Folk Rock phenomenon of the late 60s and early 70s.
So while I read through this book in an evening I was greatly entertained by all of the authors' insider details of all of this. That was fine.
The real problem here is the terrible job of editing. There were many, many obvious mistakes, typographical errors and annoying repeats of information that had been given just a few paragraphs before. Another few months of editing would have made this a much better book. All in all, however, a fun read.
Rating: 
Summary: An important man and time in traditional music
Review: I don't understand the one star reviews here - I admit it's been a year or two since I read the book, but I don't remember noticing any editing problems. If they were there, they didn't distract me from the subject.
For anyone interested in the traditional music of the British Isles, I'd recommend this, but especially to anyone interested in any of the fine bands Ashley was an important part of - Fairport Convention, Steeleye Span, and the Albion Band. This book gives a good survey of the early evolution of these bands and how Mr. Hutchings and his associates blended traditional music with rock. It offers insight into the meaning of "traditional music", which is always in question in its modern performance.
It also is a good introduction to Ashley's prolific output during that period, for those who only know some of his work. The book discusses the various albums he worked on (their genesis and the music itself) as well as what the bands were performing live.
Rating:
Summary: An important man and time in traditional music
Review: I don't understand the one star reviews here - I admit it's been a year or two since I read the book, but I don't remember noticing any editing problems. If they were there, they didn't distract me from the subject.
For anyone interested in the traditional music of the British Isles, I'd recommend this, but especially to anyone interested in any of the fine bands Ashley was an important part of - Fairport Convention, Steeleye Span, and the Albion Band. This book gives a good survey of the early evolution of these bands and how Mr. Hutchings and his associates blended traditional music with rock. It offers insight into the meaning of "traditional music", which is always in question in its modern performance.
It also is a good introduction to Ashley's prolific output during that period, for those who only know some of his work. The book discusses the various albums he worked on (their genesis and the music itself) as well as what the bands were performing live.
Rating: 
Summary: Hello, is there a copy editor in the house?!
Review: I found this book on the shelf of a local bookstore and quickly snatched it up, being a fan of Fairport, Steeleye, Morris On, and all things Brit-Folk. Though the subject is fairly intriguing, it's hard to get to the heart of the matter as the writing is so incredibly muddled and confusing (perhaps they couldn't afford an editor?) that the whole book seems a little nonsensical. In fact, three-quarters of the way through, I would say that this is the most poorly written book I've ever read, which is actually invigorating, as I can point it out on the shelf when guests come over and say, "Oh, and that, that's the most poorly written book of all time."
Rating:
Summary: He was there, but remind me what he did?
Review: The largely irrelevant Ashley Hutchings gets the movie star treatment, i.e. a poorly written biography which does not, in the end, make a convincing case for taking too seriously his part in the genesis of electric folk.Certainly, he was there when some great recordings were made ... but the cult of the self-styled 'guv'nor' which has been so painstakingly promoted in recent years does nothing to convince us that this man actually contributed much to them. Instead of spending your money on this, buy the Shirley Collins box set "Within Sound" (Fledg'ling Records, UK), a wonderful retrospective of her glorious career. She was associated with Mr. Hutchings briefly, and yes, it does throw a little light on him in the days before he began to style himself 'the guv'nor'.
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