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 Fun, Breezy Read from Vintage Rock and Roll Believer Nov 22, 2007
By Anthony G Pizza
"trivialtony"
Last week's death of legendary 60s Philadelphia rock and roll disc jockey Hy Lit distanced pop music, and its youth culture, another step from its early roots. Its first fans are aging as their beloved music from rock's first 10 years slips from mainstream radio to Internet and alternative sources.
In breezy, conversational prose dotted with personal remembrances, groaningly bad puns, some Canadian flag-waving and a few fun facts, Deborah Godin's "Papa Do Run" sweetly salutes rock and roll's first golden era, its stars and songs. But light as they are, hers are the words of a rock and roll believer. "You see, I had the good fortune to be born early enough in the 20th century that when rock and roll hit the airwaves, I was already old enough to pay attention," she writes in the first paragraph. "And I unabashedly admit it was love from the very start."
Part of "Papa Do Run's" fun,fun fun is Ms. Godin's seeing these classics through today's lens, rather than the murky Cold War culture they grew in. She devotes chapters (each named for a golden oldie lyric or title) to rock censorship ("Louie,Louie," "Wake Up Little Susie") political incorrectness (the cads of "The Wanderer" and " Oh, Pretty Woman," the misguided devotionals "Bobbie's Girl," and "Johnny Get Angry.") misheard lyrics ("Under the Boardwalk," Along Comes Mary,") and rock mysteries (her explanation of Don McLean's enigmatic "American Pie," is nothing if not original.)
Ms. Godin misses few touchstones (though she short shrifts the Brtitish Invasion throughout, especially the Beatles). She salutes nearby Motown by telling a life story timeline through its lyrics, recalling Berry Gordy's commanding his songwriters write in present tense. A language lover who created and defined her own words for her poetry book "World of Wonders," she spends chapters 4-6 walking through key rock and roll phrases with changed modern meanings, or piling classic doo-wop nonsense phrases into her own poem.
Ms. Godin sometimes spends too much time telling what she can't tell us (due to copyright or other restrictions). But no lawyer will fight over describing "Louie, Louie"'s organ riff, the drums slamming Elvis Presley's cell door "Jailhouse Rock," or the French horn flourish on Dusty Springfield's "You Don't Have To Say You Love Me" (to name three humorous essays). Despite retelling the song stories with proper smirk, she doesn't quite share the exhilaration of the songs themselves, the reason why they keep their place in so many memories.
During his radio shows, Hy Lit often said, "I'm the good guy that raised you, I taught you to love this music." He and others (Ms. Godin praises Canada's CKLW) connected their music to the lives of what's still America's dominant, pervasive generation. Ms. Godin looks long and even laughs gently at these songs and performers, but also shares sincere love for classic and even overlooked songs. This alone makes "Papa Do Run" a welcome read for anyone knowing and loving early rock and roll music.
 History buffs, save your money Aug 24, 2011
By Dotti Webb
The too-short list of "Then and Now" words was quite good. The section on Canadian artists was informative. However . . .
This book appears to be the product of some very hasty "research." (Example: not knowing that B.Bumble & the Stingers was really the Ernie Freeman Orchestra.) It's mostly about the 'Sixties, *not* the 'Fifties, and it's amazing how many times the author overlooks the original songs from the 'Fifties that were covered by 'Sixties artists.
I guess I had it coming, buying a book with a pun in the title. A clue to the hastily compiled contents is offered on the cover: the picture of the little record player in the lower right-hand corner is printed backwards. I had a turntable just like that and, like all other turntables, the needle arm was on the right, not the left.
Nostalgic and irreverent romp into the early days of rock Nov 02, 2007
By Paul Allaer
As a music fan(atic), I am always interested in a good book about the history of rock. There are many different styles of books: a band or artist biography, a collection of album reviews, an analysis of a certain period of rock, etc. This book generally falls into the latter (i.e. the early days of rock), but brings it with its own twist.
In "Papa Do Run" (283 pages), author Deborah Godin vividly describes growing up in Detroit in the fifties as rock gets off the ground, and then as a teenager in the sixties (check out how she describes having 'advanced knowledge' about the Beatles in 1963 due to a friend traveling to England). Godin's twist to the discussion of the early days of rock it that it's almost entirely brought by having list of songs to discuss a particular topis (car songs, tragedy songs, protest songs, etc.), and always keeping a light touch on things, with plenty of good humor (but thorough knowledge of the subject matter). For example, in the "Crazy dance songs" list, Godin writes: "The Freddie (Freddie & The Dreamers): five year olds can automatically do this one; adults shouldn't unless accompanied by a five year old." The "answer songs" list (such as Neil Sedaka's 1959 hit "Oh Carol", which is followed by Carol King's "Oh Neil" in 1960) was particularly well done: I didn't know that there were so many of them, and the insights provided on each of the songs is amazing, and entertaining. The chapter on "classic rock enigmas" was another one I really enjoyed (what is Peter Paul & Mary's big hit "Puff the Magic Dragon really about?). Without knowing it, you find yourself turning the pages. I thoroughly enjoyed the book.
About one fourth way into the book, out of the blue and for no good reason Godin makes a plug for her next book, on music trivia, and I can't tell whether this is serious or tongue-in-cheek, but I decide to chalk this one up in the same sense of irreverent fun that is demonstrated throughout the book. I had a fun time reading this, and if you are a music buff, you will too.
 A Large and Trivia Filled Topic Made Humorous and Handleable Oct 20, 2007
By Le Papillon Vert
"Je vous en souhaite!"
Godin, a goddess of mirth, writes about rock-n-roll, its culture, and icons with Sienfeldian humor. Music aficionados may want to read this one un-cut and full on. I savor it as my favorite nightly break-book. Besides, if you go to sleep with a smile on your face you are more likely to wake up that way. I encourage all in need of a rib-tickler to buy a copy. This book coupled with the right oldies CD box set will help to make my Christmas shopping a no-brainer. Thanks for the musical memories and for the joy of bee-bopping and doo-langing myself to dreamland.
Respectfully yours,
Sleeping Soundly in Ontario
papa do run Oct 16, 2007
By "charlie" C
"Oldie"
What a fun book to read. Did Roy O really mean that in Pretty Women? Brought back songs I've not heard in years.This book has me working on my own lists of greatest songs and humor songs and girl groups and...
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