Synopsis
A compelling mixture of the lurid and the homespun, George Jones's autobiography I LIVED TO TELL IT ALL is all you'd expect from an artist of his larger-than-life reputation. There are bawdy road tales of drunken escapades and groupies (memorably described in musician's terms as "easy as a three-chord progression"), all told with a certain kind of unapologetic relish, and the rather more poignant story of his celebrated 1966 marriage to Tammy Wynette, whom he divorced six years later in a whirl of claims and counter-claims of abuse and drunkenness. He denies most of the more outlandish tales, such as breaking off the heels of 150 pairs of Wynette's high-heeled shoes to prevent her from walking out on him, but admits that his alcoholism was a major factor in their breakup. He also admits that "[t]wo decades, a river of booze, a bushel of cocaine, and open heart surgery have done a great deal to eliminate my memory." In consequence, there's little mention of his songwriting technique, other than to note that he recorded as many as five hit singles a year over a period of seven years; whether his creativity was helped or hindered by his drug and alcohol abuse is left an open question.
| Details | | Publication Date: | 1996-04-01 |
| Size | | Length: | 333 pages | | Height: | 10.0 in | | Width: | 6.8 in | | Thickness: | 1.5 in | | Weight: | 24.0 oz |
Publisher's Note
Boozing. Womanizing. Brawling. Singing. For the last forty years George Jones has reigned as the countrys king--the singer many have called the Frank Sinatra of country. And for most of that time, his career has been marked by hard-living, hard-loving, and hard luck. From his early east Texas recordings through his marriage with Tammy Wynette to his latest acclaim as a solid citizen and "high-tech red-neck," Americans have been fascinated with Jones, never even knowing whether he's going to show up for his next concert.Now, in I Lived To Tell It All, George Jones supplies a no-holds-barred account of his excesses and ecstasies. How alcohol ruled his life and performances. How violence marred many friendships and relationships. How money was something to be made but never held on to. And, finally, how the love of a good woman can ultimately change a man, redeem him, and save his life.
Industry Reviews
"In his preface, Jones apologizes for not being more self-analytical. No need: that stuff we can get anyplace nowadays. What Jones gives us is rarer and more precious: humility before the primal forces of self-hatred and selfless love that tore him apart and put him back together."
Newsweek - David Gates (05/06/1996)
"What 'I Lived to Tell It All' offers is a rough-and-tumble ride through the backwoods, when hillbilly bands rode six to a car with instruments and no a/c, when country stars played endless successions of one-nighters in thousands of towns, and the only way to relieve the pressure was booze and practical jokes."
Los Angeles Times Book Review - Rick Shea (06/02/1996)
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