Oh, Didn't They Ramble

“An admiring tribute [and] well-researched celebration of Rounder’s influence and accomplishments.”—Kirkus Reviews

“A richly detailed presentation of the facts [Menconi] uncovered through research and countless interviews. . . . Oh, Didn’t They Ramble tells an important story in an entertaining and informative way. If you only read one book about music this year, this should be the one.”—Bluegrass Today

“With extensive access to Rounder artists, staff, and founders Ken Irwin, Marian Leighton Levy, and Bill Nowlin . . . David Menconi is able to tell Rounder’s story, from its humble but audacious and idealistic beginnings to becoming one of the most influential record labels in the history of recorded music.”—Bluegrass Situation

“A terrific piece of writing. Oh, Didn’t They Ramble isn’t just a book. It’s a guide to our essential musical past.” —Greg Kot, Sound Opinions

“David Menconi does a masterful job of documenting the impact of the roots music label that started as it’s three founders sold records out of their van at bluegrass festivals and from the basement of their house.”—Americana Highways

“Filled with period photos of the founders and the acts and festivals they supported, Oh, Didn’t They Ramble is essential reading for bluegrass fans hungry to learn the inside story on one of the most influential and impactful record labels ever in bluegrass music. Highly recommended.”—Bluegrass Unlimited

“Rounder Records is arguably the most successful, influential, and adventurous independent record label of the 20th century, and Menconi tells its story vividly and thoughtfully. In addition to tracing its history from ”anti-profit collective“ to roots music juggernaut, he uses Rounder as a lens through which to view the history of the music business and 50 years of American pop culture. At its heart, though, the book is a love letter to the old-time music scene of the late '60s and early '70s — a countercounterculture full of string bands and fiddlers, weirdos and outcasts, obsessive fans and of course three young radicals who wanted to make sure the music was preserved and enjoyed. Menconi writes with authority and immense enthusiasm for the music, which makes his book a must-read for fans of roots music and anyone who might want to start their own Rounder.”—Stephen Deusner, author of Where the Devil Don’t Stay: Traveling the South with the Drive-By Truckers

“Menconi’s history of the legendary Rounder record label also offers a concise survey of the music industry over the last half-century. Rounder successfully found a way to honor what came before while introducing a new generation to the best roots music has to offer, and along the way, it helped create the genre some now call Americana. Menconi does a masterful job crafting a complex narrative into a thoroughly entertaining, and dare I say, even emotional, read.”—Michael Elliott, author of Have a Little Faith: The John Hiatt Story

“Dreamed up by anarchists, seed-funded by eczema disability payments, and proudly self-described as an ”anti-profit collective,“ Rounder Records became the home for what we now call Americana music. David Menconi’s Oh, Didn’t They Ramble captures this astonishing achievement in all its unlikely glory. From their muddy beginnings bridging the ”marijuana-versus-moonshine divide“ at 1970s folk festivals, the three Rounder founders built a veritable empire on their own terms, one that remained independent even as their artists performed on Saturday Night Live and won nearly 60 Grammys. If you cherish roots music, you owe Rounder a round. Menconi’s book is an occasion to lift a glass.” —John Lingan, author of A Song for Everyone: The Story of Creedence Clearwater Revival

“Balancing a determination to document the label’s history, warts and all, with a loving appreciation of the music and the label’s founders who facilitated it, Menconi charts the path Rounder followed from an 'anti-profit collective' to a cultural juggernaut. A masterful depiction of the indie label business and the roots music culture of the last fifty years.”—Danny Goldberg, author of Serving the Servant: Remembering Kurt Cobain