Overview
In 1991, legendary but down-and-out rock critic Paul Nelson was making a comeback and landed his dream assignment: fly from New York to Los Angeles and, separately, interview two of the most disparate popular music talents imaginable - Leonard Cohen and Lucinda Williams. Nelson reaches them at a time in their careers when both of them struggle with their respective record companies to be better understood and to be taken seriously. Nelson treats them as they deserve to be treated - as artists whose reputations as singer-songwriters are nonpareil. Over several days each, he burns over five and a half hours of tape talking with Williams and another ten and a half with Cohen, exploring their childhoods and upbringing, loves and losses, musical influences, and more. Neither of these journalistic treasures had seen the light of day by the time of Nelson's death in 2006. I Like People That Can't Sing, in addition to making these interviews available for the first time anywhere, takes a hard look at the reasons behind Nelson's inability to bring them and other landmark interviews to fruition.
Full Product Details
Author: Kevin Avery ,
Suzanne Vega
Publisher: Fantagraphics
Imprint: Fantagraphics
ISBN: 9798875000560
Pages: 320
Publication Date: 04 February 2025
Audience:
General/trade
,
General
Format: Hardback
Publisher's Status: Active
Availability: Available To Order
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Reviews
It's an incredibly insightful book that serves as a love letter of sorts to the art of the artist interview, and offers new insight on not only Leonard and Lucinda as subjects but Nelson as an interviewer as well.-- ""Rock and Roll Globe"" Yet, in bringing Nelson's interviews to fruition as he has done in I Like People That Can't Sing..., Avery has delivered an illuminating work of both journalistic value and casual reading enjoyment. In so doing, he not only captures a singular moment in the careers of two gifted, influential musicians but of a venerable scribe as well.-- ""Cinema Sentries"" Kevin Avery's I Like People That Can't Sing is a great gift to fans of songwriting and storytelling.-- ""Nashville""
Kevin Avery's I Like People That Can't Sing is a great gift to fans of songwriting and storytelling.-- ""Nashville""
Author Information
Kevin Avery has published over 300 articles and short stories. His books books include the bio-anthology Everything Is an Afterthought: The Life and Writings of Paul Nelson (which The New York Times selected as ""Editors' Choice"") and two books based on previously unpublished interviews by Paul Nelson. He lives in Brooklyn, NY. Suzanne Vega emerged as a leading figure of the folk revival of the early 1980s and is widely regarded as one of the foremost songwriters of her generation. Her iconic songs include ""Luka"" and ""Tom's Diner.""
