Book review: 4/5 ⭐️
Genre: non-fiction
Themes: music, creative process, historical allegory

Narrated by the author himself, Rik Emmett shares the creative process in creating an album. A natural born story teller he seamlessly weaves together the mechanical notes of the telecaster with cultural observations and history. All the stories and philosophy that inspired his creative focus come together in this sort of album in written form. Writer, composer and performer, this is an auto-biography of creation.

He is very well read and liberal in his ideas, making his observations very interesting to me. I personally also liked that I recognized people, places and events in his stories. He never comes across as preachy and is aware of his own privilege. He manages to remain insightful of both the music and the world around him. Write what you know and be yourself - it’s as simple as that.

It seems like good music and good writing must overlap because this composition had me hooked. I don’t read a lot of non-fiction, but my love of vintage style music and musicians really made me interested in this one. It has a longer introduction, but I think that makes it accessible to more readers. Then latter half is really about generating music and how layering and technique are used to search for a certain balance that creates the magic. Morphing illusion and self-awareness to create the shape of a song. There is the architect of form itself, but that is only half the tale. The rest is the spirit of the artist, the creative component that breathes life into the notes. The space for consideration that enables a unique imprint to form.

If you have ever been interested in musical history or the creative process this is a must read, especially if you are a jazz guitarist or just a fan of the music and this artist. Some parts are jargon heavy, but it balances the artistic with the technical, the recognizable with the hidden secrets. It is written in such a way that can appeal to the casual listener.

Thank you NetGalley and ECW Press Audio for a copy of this audiobook. With the added instrumental sections, this was certainly better as an audiobook in my opinion. It brought the concepts to life. Overall, it was a nice change of pace in my reading line up and I am now in the mood to pull out some old records and see if I hear the music differently.

Ten Telecaster Tales is a fascinating all-access pass into the writing and recording process for Rik Emmett's instrumental guitar album of the same name, and an homage to the classic guitar type and some of its storied players.
The first half or so of the book feels a bit like several attempts at a prologue or introduction, and could use a bit of trimming. The second half is a song by song deep dive into recording techniques, creative inspiration, and other enlightening content. It would be great to hear more of the songs besides the tiny snippets included, but it's on Spotify and also Rik provides a link.
This is canon for a Rik Emmett superfan but also very valuable to any lover of music or the creative process, with nods to musical styles and musicians that served as inspiration.

Rik Emmett is a highly regarded sessions musician who’s now in his seventies. He narrates the audio version of this book and does so very well. His earthy voice and natural delivery makes for great listening. As a Strat enthusiast, I was keen to know more about the telecaster and his stories really bring music making to life. From building a guitar to studio sessions, sound creation, personalities…the whole kit and caboodle is here. It feels like a very honest peek behind the scenes and the complexities are incredible. This was such a relaxing listen; it felt as if Rik was in the room having a chat and talking about his experiences. Just brilliant and I’ve really enjoyed it, along with the music included. A very special and different listen and one I’ll dip into again.

Thanks to NetGalley and ECW Press Audio for the Audio ARC!

Ten Telecaster Tales is an interesting mix of words of wisdom from a veteran of the music industry, and a detailed explanation of the creative process behind a series of 10 songs with the same title. I enjoyed the technical discussions of the music-writing and -making processes, and also the excerpts of the songs themselves included in the audiobook. I will definitely check out more of Rik Emmett's stuff.