Since it was first published in 1975,
Mystery Train
has cemented itself in the canon of great rock literature, offering one of the most astute, fascinating visions of the genre. Greil Marcus traces the emotional landscape and zeitgeist of an entire continent through the lens of the music of six of the most influential bands and musicians: from the pioneering Harmonica Frank to the tortured universe of blues singer Robert Johnson; from The Band and their dream to create a community grounded in rootlessness to the chaotic friction of Sly and the Family Stone; and from Randy Newman’s struggle for creative freedom to the larger-than-life talent and ambition, downfall, and reinvention of the iconic Elvis Presley. The second half of the book—a masterwork of music criticism, focuses on the discography of the aforementioned artists and the evolution and continuing impact of their recordings.