Comin’ Right at Ya

Cover by Lindsay Starr.

“Comin’ Right at Ya: How a Jewish Yankee Hippie Went Country, or, the Often Outrageous History of Asleep at the Wheel” by Ray Benson & David Menconi was published Oct. 1, 2015, by University of Texas Press. Find it on amazon.com, bookshop, bn.com or iTunes.

Reviews & Testimonials

A pleasure for fans of Benson and the band.
— Kirkus Reviews

Far from the final chapter for a man who keeps chugging along and following his muse and vows to keep “riding that wave.”
— PopMatters review

The man is a trip, literally and figuratively…a real relaxin’ ride with a mellow fellow.
— Library Journal

A let-it-all-hangout memoir.
— Texas Monthly

A memoir that’s nearly as much fun as one of his shows.
— Texas Music

One helluva ride worth telling.
— Austin Chronicle

Fast-paced, often hilarious.
— Austin Chronicle

Benson’s storytelling chops and Forrest Gump-caliber life live up to that billing.
— Gary Graff, Oakland Press

…shows the power of persistence and reinvention when a Jewish boy from the burbs of Philadelphia can become a bonafide Texan country-western star.
— Philadelphia magazine

What a marvelous book, such a delight to read. It evokes so many memories. And what a great band with so many brilliant albums and so much fantastic music! I have so long and deeply loved Asleep! But I think the greatest achievement was to find so many photos without Turk Pipkin in them!
— Louis Black

Benson is a hell of a great storyteller who grabs our attention with a great anecdote, entertains us with the story behind it and then moves on to the next tale, keeping us turning pages eager for the next chapter of his chronicle.
— Henry Carrigan, No Depression

There might be stranger musical journeys than the one that took a nearly 7-foot-tall Jewish pot smoker from Philadelphia to Official Texas Musician of the Year in 2004, but I doubt they are as funny and uncensored as Ray Benson’s. Highly recommended.
— Ink 19

David Menconi is an old pal, and while Ray Benson is a legend and tells incredible stories of his life in music, my favorite part of the book is discerning how David’s voice meshes with Ray’s. Maybe it’s ’cause (that’s right) they’re both from Texas. (Although Ray is really from Philly.) A great book and everybody should buy it immediately!
— Steve Knopper, “MJ: The Genius of Michael Jackson”

goodreads reviews

Book Chase

Shepherd Express review

AXS review

Review, Jewish Book Council

Number 15, The No Depression Reading Room’s Best Books of 2015

Number 6, Book Chase 2015 Nonfiction Top 10

The Boot: 10 Must-Read Country Music Books of 2022

Counter Punch review