the variety of Chicano performers and musical styles over time
LAND OF A THOUSAND DANCES - Chicano Rock 'n' Roll from Southern California, Revised Edition by David Reyes and Tom Waldman. U. of New Mexico Press, Albuquerque, NM; 800-249-7737; unmpress.com; asutton@unm.edu. 1998, 2009 revised edition. 189+xxx pages. $21.95 trade paper, ISBN 978-0-8263-4722-0. photographs, discography, index.
The revised edition contains some new material. But it does not modify or reevaluate the content and theme of the original edition--which is to bring attention to the sources and originators of Chicano rock music and survey the variety of styles, performers, and bands in the field. While being more a popular work than a historical study, the book too follows to some degree how Chicano rock gained popularity and made its way into the mainstream. The indication of the success of Chicano music in becoming part of the mainstream of popular music is that much of today's Chicano music and many of today's Chicano performers are not identified as such. As happened with lots of rap music, Chicano music has blended into the popular culture medley. Both authors have backgrounds in music and popular culture. The Selected Discography is a good starting point for finding recordings of Chicano music.
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