I Love You A Thousand Ways: The Lefty Frizzell Story

Claiming all previous material on his older brother Lefty to be misleading at best, David Frizzell presents this family-orientated account of the legendary country singer, whose youthful ambition and unmistakable talent outshone his gritty upbringing. Prone to the occasional misdemeanor, it was while serving jail time for rape that Lefty composed the brilliant "I Love You A Thousand Ways:" "Lefty wrote one of the most important songs in country music history%E2%80%A6 sitting on his bunk with tears in his eyes and no guitar in his hands." The book's most honest and captivating episodes focus on Lefty's musical talent. He earned his stage time the hard way, but topped the charts with his unique relaxed vocals, led by the hit single "If You've Got the Money, I've Got the Time." Though hard-working, Lefty embraced the role of the unreliable star, and David seems to revel in his brother's maverick persona and abusive nature. Succumbing to drinking and womanizing, Lefty's foolhardiness proves to be the root of his sad demise. Lefty's charm glimmers in the book's musical moments, but the book is primarily a raw family drama, and the writing is decidedly, if unapologetically, corny. However, a close-knit country community will be grateful for this understandably biased tribute. (June)