I've been a fan of Shoes since college. I don't remember if I started with their Black Vinyl Shoes LP, or if I started with hearing their sublime "Tomorrow Night" on the radio; all I can say for sure is that I knew this was a terrific pop band from first spin on, and nothing's ever challenged that belief.
While listening to Shoes on my iPod the other day, my mind drifted to Boys Don't Lie, Mary E. Donnelly's essential first-person account of the Shoes story. I met Mary when she was a guest on This Is Rock 'n' Roll Radio, promoting the book at the time of its release in 2013. Mary's simply swell--a knowledgeable pop fan, an enthusiastic presence, and an exhaustive researcher--and it occurred to me that I should share my Amazon review of Boys Don't Lie right here.
Enjoy! And, once properly motivated, help a sister out HERE
Well-Rendered Document Of A Great, Great Band
There has never been any shortage of great pop bands that deserved acclaim but achieved obscurity. The story of Zion, Illinois' Phenomenal Pop Combo Shoes lacks the pathos of a Big Star, or the heartbreak of a Badfinger, but it's nonetheless a shame that Shoes' records aren't being played around the clock on a radio near you. Mary Donnelly recounts Shoes' story in exhaustive detail, based on interviews with nearly everyone who has ever been involved with the band over the years; the book is huge, packed with information, but it never seems overwhelming, nor any less than compelling. Whether one is a pop novice or a faithful Shoes devotee, Boys Don't Lie puts you in the band members' shoe...um, footsteps, and lets you feel the frustration of an elusive brass ring, and the satisfaction of creating an irresistible body of work. An essential read for anyone who loves pop music.
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