45 RPM: The History, Heroes & Villains of a Pop Music Revolution

by Jim Dawson

In the 1950s and '60s, those shiny 45-rpm records with the big hole in the middle were the primary delivery system for popular American music, especially rock 'n' roll. Cheap to manufacture and available to even fly-by-night record operations, the “donut disc” changed the way popular music was written, recorded, promoted and marketed, and it broke – at least for a time – the iron-fisted dominance of the major record corporations. This book traces the 7-inch single's origins back to the 1880s, and explains the personality conflicts that led an eccentric genius to develop the 45 into one of postwar America's most popular consumer products. It explores how the jukebox, the autonomous disc jockey, and payola and artist rip-offs kept the 45 at the forefront of rock for 20 years. There are also chapters on the most valuable (and legendary) 45s of all time, as well as the oddities, oddballs and freak hits that make listening to 45s so much fun. With over 80 illustrations – many in full color.

Genres: Music, History

176 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 2003

About the author

Dawson has also written extensively about early rock and roll and rhythm and blues, including 'What Was the First Rock 'n' Roll Record?' which Mojo magazine called 'one of the best musical reads of [1993].' His 1980 cover story on Ritchie Valens in the Calendar section of the Los Angeles Times led directly to the reissue of the forgotten rock 'n' roller's recordings and the making of the biopic La Bamba, which used some of Dawson's research.

Jim Dawson is a Hollywood, California-based writer who has specialized in American pop culture (especially early rock 'n' roll) and the history of flatulence (three books so far, including his 1999 top-seller, "Who Cut the Cheese? A Cultural History of the Fart"). Mojo magazine called his What Was the First Rock 'n' Roll Record (1992), co-written with Steve Propes, "one of the most impressive musical reads of the year"; it remains a valuable source for music critics and rock historians, and an updated second edition is currently available on Kindle. Dawson has also written a series of articles on early rhythm and blues and rock 'n' roll pioneers for the Los Angeles Times, including a front-page story in the Calendar entertainment section on the forgotten tragic figure Ritchie Valens. The piece led directly to Rhino Records reissuing Valens' entire catalog (with Dawson's liner notes) and eventually to the 1987 biopic "LaBamba," which used some of Dawson's research. Since 1983 Dawson has also written liner notes for roughly 150 albums and CDs, including Rhino's prestigious "Central Avenue Sounds" box set celebrating the history of jazz and early R&B in Los Angeles. His most recent book (2012) is "Los Angeles's Bunker Hill: Pulp Fiction's Mean Streets and Film Noir's Ground Zero."

Reviews

[Eric Copeland · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book will appeal primarily to people who are VERY interested in pop culture and music. I spent much of my childhood listening to my parents' old 45-rpm records, and purchased more than a few of them on my own. For someone who likes to hear the stories behind the stories, or who is fascinated by trivia and ephemera, there's lots to love here.

But first you have to get through the initial few chapters. The start of this book definitely falls on the technical side of things, with the author explaining the differences between the old 78-rpm shellac records, the ensuing 33 1/3-rpm LPs, EPs, and 45s, covering the recording and pressing methods, and generally giving the reader far more information than he or she truly needs. I learned some interesting things, but much of the detail was lost on me.

But the slog through the early chapters was worthwhile, as it went quickly into the actual history: the competition, the feuds, the race to get different versions of a song out and positioned for success, and plenty of behind-the-scenes stories. There's even a chapter on the most valuable 45s in existence (though a few of them are iffy on the "existence" part). I'm unlikely to ever run across one of those rarities, but at least now, if I ever find myself in a conversation about 45s and the role they played in shaping popular music, I'll be able to hold my own.

[Greg · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting book about the evolution of music hardware. I still have 100s of 45s and a turntable! Can you believe that CDs were $18 in 2003 (that's $30+ now in 2023). But why is the print/font so tiny? Gave me a headache.