Set in the early Seventies, Crackin' Up tells the story of Kenny Roberts' late teen years, and centres around the major passions of his life in those years. They just happen to be his scooter, Northern Soul, and sex.  Sound familiar? Read on . . .

Very similar in style to the old Skinhead/Suedehead novels, Crackin' Up is obviously written by someone who has been there, done that, worn the T-shirt.

I won't spoil the story for you, but I wonder how many readers would also be able to say I remember doing that sort of thing! There's even a twist in the tale right at the end.

At only £6.99 . . . . it's got to be worthwhile buying a copy.

Dave Rimmer
Soulful Kinda Music Magazine

Set in the early Seventies Crackin' Up is a rites of passage story set in 'any town' - somewhere in the North Midlands.

Kenny Roberts is a Suedehead, with a passion for Lambrettas, Northern Soul and the females of the species. Run-ins with Greasers, the local plod with a grievance - PC Dennis, parties, punch-ups and the inevitable problems at work feature heavily. It's the attention to detail in almost every way that makes Crackin' Up work. From repairing his Lambretta, or his best mate Floyd's Vespa - to the interior and exterior appearances of two of Northern Soul's truly legendary venues, namely The Highland Rooms upstairs at the Blackpool Mecca and the Golden Torch in Stoke on Trent.

Northern Soul and, shall we say, substances have gone hand in hand since before day one, and Maxwell Murray's novel encompasses this. Each and every chapter has borrowed the title or line of a Northern Soul song.

Sex - steamy and stacks of it. Scooters - and not just as a backdrop. Street violence - as youth cults clash. Soul - of the stomping, floor shaking variety, and Speed - pills, capsules and powder.

A retrospective look at the underground of Britain in the early 70's, and not through the proverbial rose-tinted spec's. It's got it all and more. Gritty, gripping and a large slice of reality make Crackin' Up an absolute must for anyone with an interest in the development of Northern Soul, the Skinhead Movement and the Scooter Scene - and for that matter all three.

Scootering Magazine - October 99

Crackin' Up is a recently published novel by Maxwell Murray that deals with "sex, drugs and Northern Soul", but it is much, much more, and the result is an absorbing good read, and one which everyone whose life has in any way been touched by the music of Blackamerica should read.

Like all the best novelists, Murray has a fine eye for detail, but, more importantly perhaps, has an ability to convey the natural speech rhythms of real people that is neither artificial nor patronising. It really works, and, there are many who will see in its narrative, aspects of their own lives and life experiences.

Highly commended and for many, no doubt, a bitter-sweet recollection.

Dave Godin
Soulful Kinda Music Magazine

A light hearted look through the eyes of Kenny Roberts, in sex, drugs and Northern Soul. A character of determination until he finally loses the plot through no fault but his own.

A good read, particularly if you were, or are, into Lambretta and Vespa mode, or if you wouldn't mind being seventeen again.

Manifesto Magazine

Crackin' Up is about a young lad called Kenny Roberts, aged 17, the year is 1971. The story unfolds about the life and times of a typical scooter boy who has seen the demise of the Mod image of the Sixties, but can still relate to it by 'Modding up' his scooter with plenty of chrome and mirrors.

The fashions he follows lead him through the Skinhead and Suedehead identities of the day and eventually to the Northern Soul scene. Along the way there is trouble with the greasers, fighting at football matches, trying to get off with Maureen, the boss's daughter, getting blocked up, trying numerous drugs and keeping it together with his best mate, Floyd. . .

Every chapter sees a twist and turn to the story, with emotions and turmoil increasing day by day, while steadily he is being drawn to the Northern Soul scene.

Having been a Skinhead/Suedehead/Mod scooterist at the same time and age as Kenny (1970 onwards), I can say that the book has been well written and is accurate in all its detail with regard to fashion, music, song titles and the problems we had (and still have) with our scooters.

I found myself being described in the unfolding plot and relating to some of the incidents and accidents along the way. I would expect any of my peers to find themselves also in the book. This book would also appeal to a younger generation who would like a glimpse into the soul scene and lifestyle of the early Seventies.

Crackin' Up is a cracking book which is difficult to put down, with a rather poignant ending.

Go relive the early days, go do it today!

Bill Smith (Billy the Mod)
Soul Up North Magazine

Well written, without going over the top as is all too easy to do, thrilling, exciting, and full of sorrow and joys - memories of what was - to the embarrassment of some and the envy of others. Highly recommended . . . .

"Big Mick"
Togetherness Magazine

Kenny Roberts is the typical young man on the edge. He is on the cusp of adulthood, on the verge of leaping from casual lover to married man and on the brink of going from Soul fan to Northern Soul devotee. It's the Golden Torch and its All-Nighters that has him enthralled even to the point of skiving off from responsibility, work and the daily grind of life. For Kenny Roberts, soul music is life.

Maxwell Murray has created in the character of Kenny Roberts an Everyman of northern soul. The experiences in the book may not be wholly Murray's but they are typical of a generations fumbling with new experiences and behind those fumblings blare the strains of black America. And that I suppose is how it was - before the all encompassing passion of northern soul - soul music was a soundtrack - before the Northern Soul scene soul music still got played. It's at his local disco that Roberts' interest is kindled but it's at the Torch where the flames rage wild. With his best mate Floyd he dives headlong into the music and immerses himself in the scene that is the Torch. At this point in the book Murray's writing comes alive and will have soulies nodding knowingly. Okay so I've never been to the Torch but I know what it feels like to hear Hit and Run and see the floor instantly heaving with happy dancers and Murray's evocations are spot on . . .

. . . the finale of this book kicks in like a big Detroit stomper.

. . . I'll be interested in seeing Murray's future work.

Joe Moran
This review appeared in La Pelle Nera Italian soul fanzine

Now this was something really different. A novel taking place in the early seventies and telling the story of a scooter riding, pill popping, rocker bashing, soul loving teenager.

When I first heard about this book I wondered if the author would be able to pull this off with any credibility. I mean most people have read the Skinhead and Chopper style of books and they were, in my opinion, a bit short on detail. Which really let you know that the authors had not had any experience of doing anything that was mentioned in the books. Crackin' Up though is full of detail and many references to places every soul fan will know. Lots of record titles and various other unmentionables . . .

The book is well written and very entertaining - if you haven't got it yet then what are you waiting for cos I'll bet you now that anyone who lived through that period and reads it will find that they HAVE to say, somewhere along the line, "Oh God I remember doing that."

Foz
Competition Ain't Nothing website

Have you ever had that feeling of deja vu? Do you ever think you've seen somebody that you feel you should recognise? How would you feel if you had just read a book and realised that you knew the people in it? Even more bizarrely, what if the central character was . . . You!

Crackin' Up is the story of Kenny Roberts, a young lad with four things on his mind, Sex, Drugs, Northern Soul and his beloved Lambretta. The deeper you get into the book, the more you feel that you've been there and done that, or at least one of your mates has. . .

Kenny is introduced to Northern Soul and soon starts going to the local clubs to show off his dancing shoes. As usual, there are punch-ups with the greasers and run-ins with the local police. One copper in particular seems to have it in for Kenny and throughout the story gives him a hard time as much as possible. . .

As with all good stories there is a twist at the end and, although I said the characters were familiar, I am glad the end never featured in my youthful days.

If you've got £6.99 to spare then I suggest you get yourself down to the bookshop. . .

Buy it. Read it. Enjoy it.

Steve Handbury
On Target Magazine