Told in first person by band leader Rocky Strong, the band’s story spans ten years, from 1957 to 1967, and provides commentary on the cultural shifts taking place during that time.
Rocky observes their ups and downs, and comments on contemporary events: the Kennedy family is wildly unpopular in the South, the mob is a major player in the music industry, and music itself is evolving as the Beatles hit the American market.
The arc of the plot is well balanced, and Nelson wraps up nicely with a satisfying epilogue for each of his major players.
The Clarion Review
Julia Jenkins
A glance at the cover of The Fabulous Carousels: Hitchhiking the American Cultural Revolution suggests a straightforward tale of a band and its travails on the road from the late 1950s to the late 1960s. While that is indeed the framework for John L. Nelson’s book, described as an historical novel based on a true story, its actual content is much darker and even borders on the bizarre at times. … If the author’s actual experiences represent even a small fraction of the tales in this book, he lived one hell of an interesting life.
From band members curing sexually transmitted pubic lice with insecticide to the grisly consequences of a home abortion gone wrong, the book has a love for R-rated dialogue and situations, with an abiding aversion to sugarcoating. … “I’m torn between my love of [racial slur] music and my commitment to the KKK” is just one of the book’s many outrageous lines. And that’s long before Rocky has visions of Ann-Margret and a ghost crab battling for his soul, with plenty of Randian (Ayn Rand) philosophy thrown in for good measure. … Credit the author for creating a book that’s truly anything but dry.
The story follows the Fabulous Carousels, a Louisiana-based rock band, as their star rises. Their leader is Rocky Strong … Rocky, a college student, plays part-time in a band before dropping out of school to focus on his music full-time. The group is made up of hard-partying guys who are as dedicated to music as they are to women; most chapters focus on successful shows and after-shows, with plenty of explicit, salacious details. The Fabulous Carousels gain a large following down South and get a chance to tour the country, but the changing cultural landscape, the members’ disputes over the band’s direction and their stormy home lives threaten to tear things apart.
Nelson tells readers that, “Like delicious gumbo, the Carousel story is spicy,” which is true: The book is peppered with sex, drugs and rock ’n’ roll, which will delight ’60s sentimentalists.
Kirkus Reviews
Amazon Customer Reviews
This book is a rare treasure. The compelling plot…
By Loren Murfield, Ph.D. on September 2, 2014
This book is a rare treasure. The compelling plot is laced with colorful characters and set amidst the rapid and radical change of the American Cultural Revolution. This story is fast paced and intriguing. It is enticing yet disturbing, entertaining while transforming, historical but also imaginary. Rarely do we see such a balance and complexity as the author weaves five themes into a virtual concert of motive, message and meaning. Such depth often leaves readers trudging but Nelson creates a refreshing air of effortlessness and readability. He tells the story well. But he didn’t just tell a story, he lets us inside a band on the rise to fame and fortune. But he also takes us inside his thinking, conscience and heart. There, we are seduced by his temptations, given to his pleasures, challenged by his self-contempt and then find a bit of our own transformation in his resurrection. What a trip! What a story! What an experience! I can’t wait to read it again.
The Fablulous Carousels
By Captain Lands on August 19, 2014
I found this book very well written and especially interesting to me because I grew up during that era of smoky night clubs and garage bands. At times, I found myself day dreaming about the night clubs and cities mentioned in the book. I can relate to the events surrounding this young musician’s wonderful and realistic journey through the times and culture of the music business of the 1960’s. It was a cut throat music world accurately told through the eyes of Rocky Strong and his efforts to gain fame and fortune for himself and his band.
The Best (and Worst) of the Band Life
By Suzanne Goebel on August 26, 2014
If you want to get a realistic picture of life with a touring band in the 60’s, this is it. The Fabulous Carousels depicts the ups and downs of ‘making it big’ while offering all of the excitement of life in that world..the actors, the events, the rough and roughty, AND the internal conflicts that emerge between life on the edge and the traditional American good guy college life. You won’t be able to put it down.
From “God Power” to Bandaides, try to keep up
By John P. Foster on April 23, 2015
The Fabulous Carousels uses an interesting device to set itself apart from other books about the period right from the beginning. I’ll let you discover it, though it has to do with history and music which for readers of a certain age will elicit a response. Mr. Nelson weaves a very interesting tale as he brings us along on a sojourn few of us really do more than glimpse. We read the headlines after the fact but we never see the underbelly. This book exposes the underbelly and links us t a field of characters that will have you shaking your head. Take it for a spin and meet “god power” and the bandaides. It’s a fun read and one with more than it’s fair share of surprises.
What a fantastic journey!
By Chris on March 10, 2015
What a fantastic journey! As a fellow musician, I appreciated and enjoyed the inclusion of the band’s set lists as they toured the states painting a picture of the venue, audience, city and societal feeling at the time, making it feel like you were actually there! Jump inside John’s time machine as he takes you on thrilling ride with The Fabulous Carousels! You won’t be able to put this book down!
You need to hear this story! You won’t regret it!
Amazing read!
By Brent Waluzak on February 13, 2015
Amazing read, will take you on a journey that you’ll certainly never forget! As a millenial I found this book to be timeless and resonated deeply with several experiences I have gone through. I have recommended all of my friends to grab a copy, sit back, and enjoy the ride!
As well, The Fabulous Carousels is screaming to become a movie – and I hope it does!
… a musician however I “matured” during this time period—absolutely loved the fact that it is first person.
By Maynard D. Luetgert on April 21, 2015
I am not a musician however I “matured” during this time period—absolutely loved the fact that it is first person. Anyone in the “roadie” music business or other music world will enjoy this story.
Millennial Perspective
By Teddy Stengeron on March 26, 2015
This novel really opened my eyes to what it must have been like to travel around the country during The Cultural Revolution as a popular musical group. As a millennial, my generation does not have much direct sources/insight into this time period and I was astonished to learn about politics, cultural standpoints, and cultural movements of the time that I could not get out of a textbook. I particularity enjoyed the reasoning behind the JFK Assassination and who done it! Also, as a huge Beatles fan and follower, I had no idea how other entertainers felt during the time, now I do!
