"Brilliant; the best book I have ever read about the recording industry; a classic."--Larry King On the south side of Chicago in the late 1940s, two immigrants;

"A first-rate look at the little-known story behind the creation of America's first continental railroad…Entertaining and well written." —Publishers Weekly

Tells the story of Chess Records, tracing the evolution of the label, and discussing its role in introducing African-American music to white America.