Irwin Chusid: Songs in the Key of Z: The Curious Universe of Outsider Music (2000)

Outsider musicians can be the product of damaged DNA, alien abduction, drug fry, demonic possession, or simply sheer obliviousness. This book profiles dozens of outsider musicians, both prominent and obscure—figures such as The Shaggs, Syd Barrett, Tiny Tim, Jandek, Captain Beefheart, Daniel Johnston, Harry Partch, and The Legendary Stardust Cowboy—and presents their strange life stories along with photographs, interviews, cartoons, and discographies. About the only things these self-taught artists have in common are an utter lack of conventional tunefulness and an overabundance of earnestness and passion. But, believe it or not, they’re worth listening to, often outmatching all contenders for inventiveness and originality.

A CD featuring songs by artists profiled in the book is also available.

Publisher A Cappella/Chicago Review Press, 2000
ISBN 1556523726, 9781556523724
272 pages

interview with the author (Richard Metzger’s Disinformation TV show)
review (Graham Johnston, beefheart.com)
review (Ben Tausig, Dusted)

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wikipedia
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google books

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Listen to Irwin’s show on WFMU