What'd I Say?: The Atlantic Story
Founded in 1947 by Ertegun, the son of a Turkish diplomat,  Atlantic Records is one of the most successful and respected  major record companies. Early hits by black artists such as Ray  Charles and Clyde McPhatter established the label as an  incubator of R&B.; (In fact, it was Ertegun's partner, Jerry  Wexler, who coined the phrase rhythm & blues). As the 1970s  dawned, the label famous for its black artists filled its roster  with quintessential white bands like Yes, Emerson, Lake &  Palmer, and Led Zeppelin. In this oral history, Ertegun's  anecdotes are liberally supplemented by comments from scores of  associates and Atlantic artists. Some of the most respected  names in music journalism, including Robert Christgau and Greil  Marcus, have also contributed eight essays covering different  time periods and aspects of Atlantic. More than 1200 color and  black-and-white photographs make this a fun book to leaf  through. Big, glossy, and entertaining, "What'd I Say" is a  coffee-table tribute to a rare species: a record company that  respects its artists and treats them fairly. For a more  comprehensive biography of Ertegun, see Dorothy Wade and Justine  Picardie's Music Man (LJ 3/15/90). Lloyd Jansen, Stockton-San  Joaquin Cty. P.L., CACopyright 2001 Reed Business Information, Inc.