Rob Miller The Hours Are Long But The Pay Is Low – A Curious Life In Independent Music
There are 27+ compelling little chapters to this story, told with enthusiasm & nostalgia with an inspired delivery. Even the introduction has some sharp sentences about what the music perceives to be. Music, commercially, has been with us since the era of sheet music. Then the Edison cylinders, the heavy 2-sided 78s, the smaller cool & affordable 45s, the brief reel-to-reel era, the emergence of 12” albums, the terrible 8-track tapes, the convenient cassettes, the ideal CD, Dats, MP3s & now streaming services. What’s next? How can we sell what everyone already has…yet again? It’s alright. A person has to have their tunes. Music is a temptation; an addiction God allows us to have with no side effects — unless your floors start to buckle.
There have been many types of music throughout the decades. When the mainstream record companies (the majors) didn’t always satisfy the craving of habitual ears, there were the independents. However, the majors contributed to the beast. When an artist didn’t “fit” the major label curriculum, ideally, the artist was relegated to the corporate tributary. An independent-looking label. Columbia had Epic & Epic had Okeh. Decca had Coral Records.
“At the Hop,” by Danny & the Juniors, was originally on the independent Singular label before ABC-Paramount picked them up. Didn’t some guy named Elvis start on the Sun label? Then, there was the underground music which this comprehensive, well-written Rob Miller book details eloquently & with some cool descriptive verses. He was the founder of Bloodshot Records (1993) out of Chicago. A prophetic line from The Hours Are Long But The Pay Is Low – A Curious Life In Independent Music – Rob Miller (Drops Nov. 25/3 Fields Books/University of Illinois Press/318pp) was “the music business is no place for a music fan to be.” How true is that? It happened to me when I went to radio. What a disaster. But a place like Bloodshot is where innovation & creativity take root. An artist can develop. It’s a business that tries to put lipstick on a pig.
Rob writes concisely, colorfully, with anecdotes & always keeps his subject interesting with personal recollections. Far better than any fanzine. It’s like taking a walk with him through the alleys of Music Row & he’s the tour guide. Not where Johnny Cash is, but Robbie Fulks, Neko Case & Justin Townes Earle. The record business is shark-infested water. The majors are always lurking like that big demonic faux head in The Wizard of Oz.
Some chapters are hilarious, too. Rob’s itinerary is filled with marginal artists who gained some notoriety & some that faded. Even Ringo Starr liked The Cramps. Miller’s narrative has character. There are bright spots & melancholy realities. After all, it doesn’t take long for an artist to understand the music industry isn’t predicated on what they’ve done. It’s sales, it’s marketing. It’s not in the eyes of accountants as a vehicle to express feelings. This is why, over the years, music has been referred to as product. Like meat & potatoes, taste has nothing to do with it. How many pounds did you move? Did we have a good quarter?
It’s been said that the independent record company is the talent scout of the industry – (now TV shows like America’s Got Talent do the same homework for the record labels). It’s obvious the major label A&R departments are too busy with their wine & dine of the Beyonce & Taylor Swift people to attend a local showcase of Zip & the Zippers. Most people who record artists aren’t hip. Well, maybe the late John Hammond in his suit & wing-tip shoes had an ounce of hip instinct.
I enjoyed each chapter. It was an education. I don’t always approach books with optimistic verve. Some are too informative & others drag. Rob’s honesty certainly flowed through his pen or keyboard. Page 178 has a checklist of dos & don’ts that should be the artist’s bible. I know, by reviewing music, I don’t have time to read a 3-page press release & bio. I don’t care what groups you played with & never heard of them. So what? I’m not going to rewrite your press release. I’m interested only in assessing your music.
Fortunately, while reading, I had the Bloodshot Records CD While No One Was Looking, which celebrated 20 years of the record company & was filled with their varied artists. I also had a copy of Bobby Bare Jr’s “Young Criminals’ Starvation League” & listened to that while reading. It gave me Bloodshot atmosphere & presence. Bottomline? For all his trials & tribulations, difficulties, & frustrations, Rob Miller had a wonderful label. It served a purpose. It sustained itself respectfully.
The book is an interesting journey for those interested in music, the business, or the struggling artists who had determination & guts to believe in what they were doing & a thrift store entrepreneur like Rob Miller who shared their dreams & tried to make it happen for them. It’s a bunch of pages music lovers would delight in. Miller never holds back, & that’s what makes the entire effort delightful. It’s like he’s talking to you. It made me wonder where I put my old drum set? Maybe it’s not too late.
Color image courtesy of Manuel Martinez/WBEZ – Book available @ Amazon & https://www.robmillerwriting.com/
