Gone to the Country

Received a Certificate of Merit from the Association for Recorded Sound Collections (ARSC) in the category of Best Research in Recorded Country, Ethnic or Folk Music, 2011.

"Allen has chosen the perfect example through which to document this watershed in American cultural and musical history."--Library Journal "A rich reminiscence on the heady times in late-1950s and -1960s America, when a rediscovery of folk music flourished within and around such social issues as the civil rights movement."--Booklist “A thorough and in-depth look at what was undeniably the most popular and influential old-time string band of the late 20th century."--Goldenseal "A portrait of cranky eccentrics on the margins of the commercial music world. . . . The story of the New Lost City Ramblers is a crucial part of the postwar counterculture of dissidents and dropouts who worked as hard at their craft as any nine-to-fivers. They left a legacy every bit as worthy of rediscovery as that of their heroes from the hills."--The Wall Street Journal "Allen is a gifted writer with a talent for creating a precise and highly detailed narrative that never becomes obscure. . . . A book for anyone interested in the history of American music."--PopMatters "A precise and highly detailed narrative ... [Ray Allen] perfectly captures the New Lost City Rambler's struggle for authenticity during the folk music boom."--The Sacramento Bee "Sadly, Mike Seeger died a year before this book appeared. It makes a fine memorial to him, one fans and scholars alike will cherish. Recommended."--Choice "A remarkable story told accurately and well."--Inland Northwest Bluegrass Association

"Highly recommended. . . . It is above all a good story and it is told with care, sympathy, and good humor, and a genuine appreciation for the music."--Notes

"A richly compelling, thoughtful, and enjoyable book on folk music and its 'revival.' Allen also draws upon the complex world at large by touching on topics such as the Cold War, Vietnam, the folk revival, issues of authenticity, the Civil Rights Movement, and the impact of independent record companies."--Kip Lornell, author of The NPR Curious Listener's Guide to American Folk Music

"While the number of studies addressing the folk revival has increased steadily over the past fifteen years, this is the first scholarly work to focus on the cultural impact of a single performing group. Gone to the Country is a fascinating read."--Michael Scully, author of The Never-Ending Revival: Rounder Records and the Folk Alliance