Amazon.com
Right in time for the Grateful Dead's 40th anniversary, eccentric bass player extraordinaire Phil Lesh has delivered fans a most welcome gift: his autobiography. There are many books out there about the Dead told from the perspective of roadies, journalists, third party observers, and fans. However, with the exceptions of Jerry Garcia's ramblings in Garcia: A Signpost to New Space and Conversations With the Dead, Lesh's Searching for the Sound is the first time a founding member of America's favorite band tells their own story of what it was like inside the Grateful Dead. And what a wonderful, strange tale it is.
Phil Lesh, considered the most academic of the group due to his avant-garde classical composition training, literate mind, and passion for the arts, decided to write his story himself. Written without the crutch of a ghostwriter, Searching for the Sound might be considered disjointed in places, but overall it comes across as conversational, intimate, informative, and candid (particularly regarding topics of drug use and death). If you are familiar with the band and their extended family, their history, the sixties' musical milestones and influences and all the band's famous tales (the Garcia/ Lesh "silent" confrontation, being busted on Bourbon Street, the Wall of Sound), you may be a little disgruntled there is not much new here in the way of content. However, what is "new" and totally satisfying is Phil's warm, optimistic perspective on the many events that helped shape his life. As described by Lesh, his life's journey, much like the Dead's music, is "a [series] of recurring themes, transpositions, repetitions, unexpected developments, all converging to define form that is not necessarily apparent until it's ending has come and gone." For the many fans who enjoyed the fruits of his life pursuit of sonic explorations, Searching for the Sound is a welcome addition to their Dead library. --Rob Bracco
Book Description
Right in time for the Grateful Dead's 40th anniversary, eccentric bass player extraordinaire Phil Lesh has delivered fans a most welcome gift: his autobiography. There are many books out there about the Dead told from the perspective of roadies, journalists, third party observers, and fans.However, with the exceptions of Jerry Garcia's ramblings in Garcia: A Signpost to New Space and Conversations With the Dead, Lesh's Searching for the Sound is the first time a founding member of America's favorite band tells their own story of what it was like inside the Grateful Dead. And what a wonderful, strange tale it is. Phil Lesh, considered the most academic of the group due to his avant-garde classical composition training, literate mind, and passion for the arts, decided to write his story himself. Written without the crutch of a ghostwriter, Searching for the Sound might be considered disjointed in places, but overall it comes across as conversational, intimate, informative, and candid (particularly regarding topics of drug use and death). If you are familiar with the band and their extended family, their history, the sixties' musical milestones and influences and all the band's famous tales (the Garcia/ Lesh "silent" confrontation, being busted on Bourbon Street, the Wall of Sound), you may be a little disgruntled there is not much new here in the way of content. However, what is "new" and totally satisfying is Phil's warm, optimistic perspective on the many events that helped shape his life. As described by Lesh, his life's journey, much like the Dead's music, is "a [series] of recurring themes, transpositions, repetitions, unexpected developments, all converging to define form that is not necessarily apparent until it's ending has come and gone." For the many fans who enjoyed the fruits of his life pursuit of sonic explorations,Searching for the Sound isa welcome addition to their Dead library. --Rob Bracco
Customer Reviews:
Moonlight Rain.......2007-05-31
I FINALLY finished this book. It took two or three false starts (i.e., read up to page fifty and stop; wait a month or two, read up to page 50 and stop) but 6 days in the hospital (nothing life threatening) gave me ample time to finish the book. Fascinating- yes. Filled with interesting facts- yes. Reads more a history text book than the autobiography of a rock star- yes. I kept referring to a dictionary ever time (frequently) Phil used a word that I had never heard before. One cool thing is Phil refers to composers (Stockhausen, Berio, etc.) that most Deadheads would enjoy. (BTW, I've been hip to Stockhausen for several years. If you think the Grateful Dead invented "Space", you are wrong.) The same goes for references to books he has read. Basically, it's a slow read but very interesting. What I want to know is with all of the LSD he took, how he was able to remember tiny details from 1966?
Bass-ically where its at!.......2007-05-14
As a bassist myself, I relate to Lesh's writing and train of thought. He documents being a part of Grateful Dead as more of an ironic string of occurances than a drugged out trip. His book is incredibly personal while he discusses such moments as learning an instrument overnight, attending classical concerts while on tour, loosing friends, and finding the inner peace in chaos. He is funny, sad, and everything in between. Although some of the technical parts get a bit too detailed for those unfamiliar with sound technology, one can understand how dedicated he was to his craft aside from the music and lyrics. I liked how Lesh pointed no fingers, rather pushed towards the positives in everyone. I would recommend reading this book with Rock Scully's Living With the Dead because they follow the same format and share similar situations. Lesh's however comes across more intimately humorous. I strong urge readers to dig into this book!
Interesting and Illuminating.......2007-03-26
I've never been to a Dead concert, but once had a roommate in college who'd recorded about 100 of them, which he constantly played, so I've certainly heard my share of Live Dead. Everyone w/ a passing knowledge of the Dead knows that their best stuff was live, not studio. Just an observation that has nothing to do with the Lesh book. It's an interesting read and Lesh is an interesting character. Especially funny was how he got out of the army:
Army Doctor: "read the bottom line on the eye chart" Lesh: "I can't see anything" Army Doctor: "You can't see the bottom line of the chart?" Lesh: "What chart?" Army Doctor: "The chart on the wall" Lesh: "What wall?" Lesh certainly is thoughtful and observant. A good journey through the history of the Dead and sometimes quite moving.
Good 'Ol G.D........2007-01-21
My brother got this book signed by Phil himself. Another biography of the Grateful Dead. Written by One of the band members. It's good. Phils good. Check it out.
Searching for a Ghost Writer.......2006-11-23
I was pleasantly surprised by this book. Not by the writing. In fact, some of the prose is quite unnerving, such as "if Mickey had been born Native American, his name would have been `Pushing the Envelope.'" Although he did remember the concept of foreshadowing from High School English, and he makes of point of highlighting all of the ominous signs of the chaos to come. But overall I was surprised, because, unlike many musicians' autobiographies I've read (for example, Miles Davis), Phil Lesh does not come off as a brittle narcissist. He does not use this opportunity as a format for squabbling, for giving his side of the story. He actually comes off as a thoughtful, sincere guy, and someone willing to take the time to reflect on the past.
I was interested to hear his take on the disintegration of the Grateful Dead in the eighties and nineties. His take on it was not unlike my own. He takes some ownership for his role, admitting that the Grateful Dead had become too large of an organization, too much of a money-maker with too many dependents. The band had to keep up an outrageous tour schedule, despite the obvious decline in the quality of the music and the painfully obvious deterioration of Jerry Garcia.
He makes a note-worthy observation about the parallel process between the band and the audience. At first, it was a bunch of guys with different musical backgrounds, but all with open minds, all in the right place at the right time, who used drugs to expand the individual consciousness of each member as well as the group consciousness in step with the counter-cultural revolution happening around them. They pushed boundaries but they also communicated with each other through the music, with novel sounds erupting organically from their collective experiments. But the drugs that fueled their creativity would also eventually isolate each of them from each other and from themselves. As alcoholism and heroin addiction destroyed the sense of community within the band, the dead head scene would suffer as well. By the end, prior to Jerry's death, you had a band on stage pretending they were playing together, pretending to play with even a fraction of their potential. And as an audience, we pretended too. Or at least those of us who still believed we were there for the music pretended, and the frat boys just came for the party. And they continued to sell out stadiums, while shows were marred by police stings, gate crashers, riots, tear gas, and death threats.
When I was catching shows, late eighties early nineties, you would hear two different kinds of fans as you filed out of one of their 2 in 3 mediocre shows. The Pollyanna-heads would be glowing, talking about how Jerry lifted his arm at one point, or almost rocked his shoulders with the beat, "Yeah, he was really into it tonight." The more jaded heads would just be complaining, complaining about the lackluster set-list, complaining the Jerry continued to tune himself down in the mix, that he was quitting on solos, that Bobby was trying to steal the show again. Both types annoyed me. I like to tell people that I quit going to shows because I realized that the fans who supported the Dead were enablers, burying our heads in the sand. But in reality, that's a post-hoc, grandiose explanation. I quit going because I was paying $35 for tickets a mile away from the stage, to see dishearteningly bad performances, while the drunken frat boys all around me didn't even know enough to get quiet during those increasingly rare moments of musical transcendence. The breakdown was complete, and for both band and audience, going to show meant little more than participating in a ritual.
Phil spends the most time on the early years. That's a good thing. That's the most interesting part. When they were actually hippies, living like hippies, and things were just starting to happen. Woodstock and Altamont are recounted not just as events but as contrasting symbols of everything that was good about the hippie scene and everything that was wrong about it. Ultimately it is a commentary on human nature, the capacity to love and experience ecstasy versus the tendency to retreat into hostility and hatred.
Like I said, Phil owns his role in it all, admits to mistakes, and doesn't spend a lot of time defending himself or trying to bolster his reputation. The only part where it felt like he had a little bit of a self-serving agenda was when he talked about the different directions he wanted to push the band, more experimentation with exotic time signatures for example. But even then, he talks about it in terms of lessons learned. He realizes he misread the mood of the band, they were content to play their songs and didn't want Phil as martinet. I think Phil is giving an honest account here. If you listen to the post-Dead music coming from all the living members of the Dead, it is Phil and Friends who continue to be the most exploratory. Though not the most charismatic of a stage presence, he may have been the biggest "believer" of the bunch, the most devout in his quest for the divine through the psychedelic. Along those lines, it's also interesting hearing Phil weave in and out of magical thinking. He's often grounded and very down-to-Earth, but moments later can go off on a tangent about any kind of mystical spirituality that he can tie in to the moment.
It's worth a read. Not great writing but good enough, readable, and will certainly be of interest to any fan of the band. The book ends with the recent history, the fall-out from Jerry's death, some of the ugly fighting over who owns the rights to what, and ultimately Phil's hepatitis and liver transplant. He really does end up sounding like a likeable guy, the grinning musical little brother of Jerry, the classically-trained marching band nerd, and the survivor who gets a second chance at the gift of being a father.
Book Description
A fascinating memoir featuring never-before-told stories from Beatles recording engineer Geoff Emerick—the industry legend who made music history by crafting the groundbreaking sound of the group's most famous records, including Revolver, Sgt. Pepper, and Abbey Road
Geoff Emerick was only fifteen years old when he began working with the Beatles as assistant engineer for their early classics “I Want to Hold Your Hand” and “She Loves You.” Incredibly, at the age of nineteen, he was promoted to full engineer, taking the helm for the group's groundbreaking album Revolver. Ten months later, he joined forces with the Beatles for the recording of Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, hailed by Rolling Stone as the greatest album ever made. In their constant quest for experimentation and new sounds—and despite the technical limitations of the pre-digital age—Emerick developed a slew of innovative recording techniques, many of which are still in use today.
In Here, There and Everywhere, Emerick tells his story for the first time, taking the reader through the hallowed (though somewhat dingy) corridors of Abbey Road Studios to give rare insights into the Beatles' unique creative processes and personalities and provide a behind-the- scenes look at how the greatest band of all time made their greatest records. As Emerick describes the Beatles' transformation from wide-eyed Liverpool teenagers into tour-savvy professionals, he provides a startling picture of the Fab Four. Fascinating and moving, Here, There and Everywhere illuminates the creative tensions within the band that fueled their early success, but would ultimately lead them to record in separate studios while the partnership was disintegrating.
“We all owe some debt to Geoff Emerick's self-effacing work as an engineer and producer . . . there is very little that any group of scruffy musicians can throw at him that he cannot put into some kind of good sonic order. I feel fortunate to have worked with him.”
—Elvis Costello
Customer Reviews:
He should know; he was there.......2007-09-28
Few accounts of history are more accurate than the first-hand kind, and that is what we have with Mr. Emerick's outstanding book. To his credit, this thoroughly British gentleman focuses on what he actually saw versus what is commonly known about the Beatles. His tone is respectful, but he does not shy away from saying what he thinks based on what he saw and how he was treated. Mr. Emerick went on to engineer and produce some great acts, which I hope are the subjects of a future book. And consider this: When I was 19, I was just learning to tie my shoes. He was engineering the "Revolver" album!
Class Act.......2007-09-17
I couldn't put this book down....what a fascinating first hand account of one of the most infuential musical experiences in modern history. I think you will find it particularly interesting if you write and record music, as Geoff's recollections are incredibly detailed and specific. It's truly unbelievable that he could remember so much of what happened in such picture perfect detail, and it is a lasting testament to critical and often unsung heroics of the worlds best audio engineers. Howard Massey did an excellent job helping Geoff make this material completely accessible to the lay person and fan as well. When I proposed to my wife in 2002 I wrote a symphonic piece and surprised her at Capitol Records in Studio A, where we recorded it live (I proposed afterwards). While they were mixing the music we took a tour of Capitol Records, and when we returned there was a gentleman in the studio playing the most beautiful music on the grand piano. We listened for awhile, then entered to studio and spoke with him for almost half an hour. What a lovely man, and what great music. That was Geoff Emerick. Perhaps someday we will hear you on the other side of the glass young man:)
Thanks so much for sharing your amazing life with us Geoff. As I sit at my grand piano in Maui I can't thank you enough for the inspiration. Warmest aloha from Maui, Tim & Michele Heile
Here, There and Everywhere.......2007-09-03
Geoff Emerick was there for the creation of the Beatle sound. It is well written with enjoyable person information.
Interesting book.......2007-09-01
I picked up this book to find out why the Beatles are so good, and I found all the answers I was looking for. This book gave terrific insight to all four beatles and the camp that surrounded them, though my patience did wear thin towards the end- Emerick favors Paul, tends to repeat himself a little bit, and shows a little disdain towards Lennon and George Martin. That being said, I really thoroughly loved the book as a music student and an audio engineering student, but any fan of music should read this to get a glimpse of the thrilling world that creates the music we all love. I love understanding the context to the music I listen to, and if you do too you'll really enjoy this book.
I'll read this one again, soon!.......2007-08-29
My favorite Beatles related book to date. Geoff Emerick and Howard Massey captured a straight forward account of The Beatles in the studio from beginning to end. Added bonus includes Paul's sojourn in Lagos recording Band on the Run. The interesting happenings their, were not in the studio.
Book Description
Whether giving back through her patriotism and community service, touring with Fleetwood Mac or performing as a solo artist, Stevie Nicks has mesmerized us for over thirty years. Her life story, with all its highs and lows, provides an opportunity to grow from her tremendous strength, persistence and courage while learning from the challenges she has faced. A widely revered singer/songwriter, Stevie is adored by multiple generations.
Interpretation of her songs gives you a look inside her soul but "not unless she lets you." On "Stand Back" from The Wild Heart, Stevie's second solo album she sings, "No one knows how I feel what I say unless you read between my lines." Her highly personal songwriting tells the story. Stevie's autobiographical songs serve as an outlet for coping with pain and personal sacrifice. Fans have credited her with literally saving their lives!
* Stevie's relationship with Lindsey Buckingham serves as a consistent basis for her songwriting and decisions made along her life journey.
* The book chronicles Stevie's musical accomplishments while highlighting the pain and sacrifice women face leading a rock 'n' roll lifestyle.
Customer Reviews:
Terrible.......2007-09-04
First of all, this author appears to never have even spoken to Stevie Nicks. The book is full of innacuracies and at one point she even gets the title of Stevie and Kenny Loggins duet wrong.
Dont bother read it!
What a Mess!.......2007-08-06
Sandra, I don't know who your contacts were but it's a wonder you spelled Stevie's name correctly. I have never read a biography with more inaccuracies than you log in at. In additon, I can't help but wonder if those postive reviews are from friends of yours. How can anyone with any literary sense call this book a good read? Despite getting the facts wrong --- it bounces around more than a bouncing rubber ball at a dodgeball game in which the participants are blind! There is no chronological order at all. It's as if you just repeated a bunch of quotes you heard over and over -- never bothering to verify the info at all while just kept listing one after another. Like the "Planets of The Universe" - you should "Go Your Own Way" and leave Stevie and her true fans alone. I wish I could give this book negative stars!
The book should be called "Lost in Timespace".......2007-05-22
HI Stevie fans,
Over the years I've been involved in several Stevie e-posters and websites sharing deep info on Stevie Nicks, her life and songwriting. Though I sometimes enjoy reading "independent" writers at times, this book is a fiasco. I was able to read just a couple of pages from this Amazon website and discovered several errors and wrong info on Stevie.
From saying Stevie moved to Arcadia Ca and went to High School there, and knowing fully well she lived in Atherton Ca in Northern Ca, and went to high school there was enough for me. She played in the band Fritz in the Bay Area with Lindsey Buckingham if I'm sure many can attest.....all anyone would have to log on youtube and type in Fritz to see the info gathered there of her early years in the Bay Area. She did go to LA with Lindsey during the Buckingham Nicks years before being "discovered" by Mick, but Sandra's book is scattered like 'dreams" in the "midnight wind"....Bob of CA(of prodigy legend)
Comments on Stevies life........2007-05-13
This book details alot about Stevie, but none of it is directly from her. I would say this book is more a collection of Stevie Nicks interviews and comments from her rock n roll life with comments/story outlines from the author in between, so i found that disappointing from that respect. However overall still some great facts and insight into the rock n roll legend that stevie is.
An "ok" Read.......2007-03-10
As far as biographies go, I found the book to be small, for some one as Great as Stevie Nicks. But all in all was informative. For a beginer reader of anything about Stevie Nicks, and are not sure about getting a great big fat book, and just need quick facts this a a good book for this pupose.
Book Description
A consummate insider as the girlfriend of Lindsey Buckingham, Fleetwood Mac singer and guitarist, Carol Ann Harris leads fans into the very heart of the band’s storms between 1976 and 1984. From interactions between the band and other stars—Mick Jagger, Eric Clapton, and Dennis Wilson—to the chaotic animosity between band members, this memoir combines the sensational account of some of the world’s most famous musicians with a thrilling love story. Illustrated with never-before-seen photographs, the parties, fights, drug use, shenanigans, and sex lives of Fleetwood Mac are presented in intimate detail. With the exception of one brief interview, Carol Ann Harris has never before spoken about her time with Fleetwood Mac.
Customer Reviews:
Page turning excitement!.......2007-09-21
very intriguing could not put it down tastefully told of a time circa {1977}when indulgence was in excess. gives you a behind the scenes multiple love triangle complete with, drug,sex, rocknroll and superstardom!
Great Great Book.......2007-09-18
If you are a fan of Fleetwood Mac or in particular Lindsey Buckingham you absolutely must read this book. I could not put it down. While some of the events disclosed in the book have been discussed in previous interviews and books it gives an in depth look at the band in a way that differs from Mick Fleetwood's account in his autobiography. Very heartbreaking at times and at times hillarious it is a surprisingly well written book that left you wondering how did Fleetwood Mac and Mrs. Harris in particular survive those harrowing days.
Good but maybe half true .......2007-09-14
I felt that Carole Ann Harris left a lot out. She seemed shocked anytime someone went off on her in the book. She was innocent, never thought a mean thought never said an unkind word. All she ever did was sniff a little blow when it was around. She was an angel with a vice and it was a wonder that she endured FM for as long as she did. I don't buy it. I liked the book and I read it pretty quickly but I was left wanting more. If everything happened the way she said it did then FM needs a schizophrenic observation. The book was a good read but I think after 30 years Miss Carole is still trying to save face. I don't feel her pain so much because she is still trying to protect herself while somewhat lovingly tarnishing others. There is no excuse for abuse (I don't know if Lindsey did it or not) so why does she pretend that she doesn't know why he would hit her. We know an abuser would beat you over burnt toast so why hide. She doesn't know why Lindsey did her that way nor did she ask him. One minute he would be fine the next pow right in the kisser. How ever crazy Lindsey was when you spend time with someone you begin to understand them and their off the wall reasoning. Carole pretends ignoranc
my favorite fleetwood mac book ever.........2007-08-27
i have been a fan of stevie's since i was 12 years old and just turned 40. having attention deficit disorder for as long as i can remember i have never been able to read an entire book...ever.i finished this book the same night i started it. yes, parts of it are extremely heartbreaking but i found a lot of respect for the author Carol Ann Harris. i have read on the internet some of the flak she has received about waiting all this time to put a book out. i really think she waited all this time out of respect for all involved. (and no i am not a friend of Carol Ann Harris- i havent even met her).i also have a lot of respect for her for the way she talked about stevie in the book. there were a few things in the book about stevie that i wish i would have never read but overall she talked about stevie with much respect and admiration. the same goes with lindsey buckingham. she told the bitter truth that many of us long time fans already knew but she told it and it seems like she still loves lindsey. she told the painful stories but she was protective of him at the same time. i hate some of the things in this book but i respect the honesty and protection she continously displays throughout. i imagine stevie and lindsey are not happy about this book but i think the story was told as caring as possible. It's a must have. Carol Ann Harris i totally applaud you on a terrific book. jeff horton/indianapolis
DON'T WASTE YOUR MONEY!!!.......2007-08-26
Carol Ann Harris was oblivious to the fact that all she was to Lindsey was a poor substitute for Stevie. Even she herself seems obsessed with Stevie's stage presence, her clothes, looks, etc. She's so naive - Lindsey wasn't over Stevie then and every girlfriend (even his current wife) has looked like Stevie, so one wonders if he's even over her now. She couldn't even come up with an original title for this book - "Storms" is one of Stevie's songs! Plus, she's whiny and melodramatic throughout, don't waste your time or money.
Average customer rating:
- Different perspective on Southern Illinois... I love this area, and wasn't "poverty-stricken" at all.
- Hell NO!
- Book
- Half Truths
- In the time it takes you to read this book, 3 REAL writers will haved starved to death...
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Redneck Woman: W/DVD: Stories from My Life
Gretchen Wilson , and
Allen Rucker
Manufacturer: Grand Central Publishing
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ASIN: 0446580015 |
Book Description
Born in rural Illinois and raised by a single mom, Gretchen Wilsons formal education concluded in the eighth grade when she started tending bar at Big Os, a rough and tumble joint. By the time she was 15, she was managing the place with the help of a loaded 12-gauge to keep folks in line. But her voice provided the most firepower. Discovered while singing with a house band in Nashville, Wilson soon joined the ranks of the Muzik Mafia and the rest is history. Her debut album Here for the Party was certified quadruple platinum and established her as the top-selling debut artist of the year for any genre. And her signature knack for storytelling and connecting with an audience made her a superstar. Co-written by acclaimed New York Times bestselling author Allen Rucker, Redneck Woman: Stories from My Life will recount this All-American success story as Gretchen shares her childhood memories, the road to the top, inspirations (Tammy Wynette, Loretta Lynn, Merle Haggard), fashion preferences (Wal-Mart over Victorias Secret), connoisseurship (beer over champagne), and much more in an open, honest, and hilarious memoir that will enchant new and old fans alike.
Customer Reviews:
Different perspective on Southern Illinois... I love this area, and wasn't "poverty-stricken" at all........2007-05-27
I always appreciate someone telling "the other side of the story," as CC Girl has done in her review here.
Castlegrrl : It's unfortunate that Amazon does not provide a spell-checker as do most email programs, as even though I am a teacher I find myself making spelling errors myself. This does not detract from this review at all; in fact, having grown up half my life in Ill. I was very surprised to hear Wilson describing the area as "poverty-stricken" myself. You really should think before you attack someone else's review as we all are describing our own experiences, no more and no less. Everyone has the right to their own experience and the right to describe it.
I am very glad that CC Girl took the time to describe their experience living in this area. I admire Gretchen for finally going for her GED, as without even a high-school education, this could well have led to her outlook in the past. This does not take away from her major success(es) she has achieved, but there is always "another side to the coin." Someone's story is always only from their own experiences and perspectives, so I appreciate another's experiences in the same area or situation. I wouldn't say Wilson was "trying to make it more redneck that it is," it's just that we can only describe our own personal experiences when we write about our own life.
Thank you CC Girl for telling more of the story of this lovely area in Illinois. I love Illinois, especially southern Illinois, and spent some of the happiest years of my life out in the country at the university town of Charleston Ill.
I am glad to see, due to CC's comment, that people will not think of this area as it has been described only from a poverty-stricken, beer-drinking "redneck" point of view. There's nothing wrong with describing one's own point of view, mind you, being redneck or drinking beer, it's just a limited perspective that we all have. I welcome other people's opinions even if I don't agree with them or haven't experienced them.
I would NEVER consider CC's comment to be a "diatribe."
Shame on Castlegrrl (can't spell her own name?) for attacking another person's experiences. She acts as if she was being attacked personally. That is not what is happening here, not at all.
Thanks again, CC, for the positive words about Southern Illinois.
I have not commented on the problems that alcoholism brings, as that is another whole story, but "people that live their lives for the bar, in the bar choose that life" as CC points out, does change things a great deal.
CC has presented many important opinions here, and very clearly stated. Excellent and very welcome comment.
Hell NO!.......2007-04-23
This book is awful! What was Gretchen Wilson thinking...how to bilk a few more dummies out of their hard earned money? Get a life Gretchen...don't try to cheat us Rednecks. We aren't any different than you are and no one cares to buy a story about our life and how we lived in a trailor, and worked as waitresses, and tried damn hard to succeed. I am a Redneck, I work hard, and do my best...and who the hell wants to buy a book about my life? Don't waste your money on this book! Totally throwing your money down the drain!
Book.......2007-03-14
I enjoyed immensly reading about Gretchen Wilson's life. The DVD that is included is excellent
Half Truths .......2007-02-08
This book borders a little too much on half truths to be non-fiction. Although I believe it is a well written book, for entertainment value, readers should regard it as entertainment only. I have lived my entire life in the exact territory of Southern Illinois that she describes so poorly. In reality, Pocahontas/Pierron is only a short 10-15 minute drive from a VERY AFFLUENT Highland, IL. It disturbed me that she described this very well maintained piece of country as a poor/destitude area with no economic prospects outside of farming or tending bars! My hometown of Carlyle (not CARLISLE, as is it is often spelled throughout this book) is a stones throw away from all of the towns she describes. Pocahontas/Pierron is a short drive from three college towns; Greenville is home to Greenville College, Lebanon home to McKendree College and Edwardsville home to Southern Illinois University. Opportunity is endless in this neck of the woods, most if not all of my friends are working professionals and YES they still live in the area. Yes, I believe she had a rough way to go, but that is simply not the case for most of the people in this area. I would venture as far to say that there are more over-priveleged children in the area than under, you can make that judgement just by driving through the parking lots of Highland High School/Bond County (Greenville) High School/Carlyle High School. These kids are not driving 76' Ford pick ups they are driving 2000 era model vehicles. Highland High is home to a national award winning cheerleading squad (several years running) not to be stereotypical but that usually is not something you find in the ramshackled,trailor ridden "white trash" (as she so elequontly describes it) neighborhood that she portrays. Yes, Pocahontas/Pierron are small towns with not a lot going for them other than a few bars, however it is not like they are a million miles from nowhere. Plenty of opportunity was out there for herself, her mother and her family outside of farm labor and bartending. There are several factories that pay very good wages in Highland and Breese (another town about 15-20 miles south of Pocahontas). Arrow Group Industries in Breese has been providing an extremely good living for many people in that area as their pay is well above the mininum with extremely good benefits, a short drive to the west in Highland will find you at Basler another well paying job that has provided for many families over the years, both of these employers would have been excellent sources of income for Gretchen's Mother, or even Gretchen herself when she came of age however they made a choice to work in the bar scene. Granted both are factories and require a good hard working ethic, however had she finished high school she probably could have landed herself an even better office job in the area and with a little more work and a college degree her opportunities would have been abundent. Did I forget to mention the very well paying state/federal jobs at the 3 prisons within an hour of this area in each direction. These are not jobs that everyone wants however in times of desperation when you have apparently been limited to eating nothing but Possum for three days (another story I find impossible to believe, a good hunter can kill a couple deer in this area and feed a family for a year) these are jobs that are easily obtainable if you have a little initiative. I drink, I have even spent a couple years of my life serving drinks (while I was raising a child and working my tail off in a factory) however it has been my experience that people that live their lives for the bar, in the bar choose that life.....they refused the opportunities that were right there in front of them to make life better. Gretchen is a great entertainer, but that is just it....her story is entertainment and a far cry from most of the lives people live in this neck of Southern Illinois.
In the time it takes you to read this book, 3 REAL writers will haved starved to death..........2007-01-30
...and more than that will probably have shot themselves in despair. I mean, Gretchen Wilson? Is this some kind of sick joke? Gretchen freakin' Wilson gets to publish a book? This is even worse than Paris Hilton recording an album.
Book Description
TOP FIVE MUSICAL THINGS I HOPE HAPPEN NOW THAT THE ORIGINAL LINEUPS OF THE PIXIES AND DINOSAUR JR. HAVE REUNITED
1. Ian Curtis is resurrected.
2. The Smiths reunite for a private party at my favorite bar.
3. There is a new My Bloody Valentine album.
4. A new Nirvana comes along to blow away all of those fey Duran Duran emulators.
5. Radiohead stops listening to Pink Floyd and starts listening to Black Sabbath.
If you've ever made, or conceived of, a list like this, then look no further for your next book purchase. You have it. In your hands. Please consider it as your next book purchase.
In Perfect From Now On, John Sellers has written a fan's memoir overflowing with humor, self-deprecation, encyclopedic knowledge of musical minutiae, and "you should have been there" personal anecdotes. Despite vowing never to get caught up in music due to the nuttiness of a Dylan-obsessed father and playground taunts about his preference for Top 40 trash, he found himself powerless to resist the allure of indie rock, the genre that begat the likes of Sonic Youth, Pavement, Built to Spill, and Modest Mouse. When his favorite band, Guided By Voices, called it quits in 2004, Sellers examined his own listening habits, caught a few mind-blowing shows, got drunk with his heroes, and wrote this book -- one that is sure to resonate with anybody who has ever obsessed over good music.
Customer Reviews:
Less than perfect.......2007-09-09
I ordered this book because I could relate to the title, unfortunately. "Indie rock" (or what I would call alternative rock...where did this new term, indie rock, come from anyway?) probably did save my life. When I suffered from depression as a young adult, music was my therapy. It provided me with the words or the emotions that I could not express myself. It was an outlet, an escape, a friend. Being a huge fan of 90's music, I was disappointed that Sellers dismissed grunge and only mentioned it in passing. He seemed to be moved more by British bands than American ones, which is okay, but was something I couldn't identify with. The biggest downside to the book was the infinite number of footnotes, which I eventually stopped reading all together because I found them distracting. I think a better writer could have included the material from the footnotes within the text to provide a better flow, or not included them at all (as some of the notes were so idiosyncratic...i.e., who cares?).
Sellers rocks!.......2007-08-28
I bought a signed copy of this book during a visit to Powell's Books in Portland, OR, completely on the basis of liking what the book jacket said about music and Donkey Kong. Maybe you need to have grown up during the '80s and to appreciate college/indie music to get it? Not sure, but I identified with a lot of the scenarios, loved the titling of chapters from song lyrics, got the emotions behind listening to different kinds of music at different points in your life, and ... well, liked John Sellers. It's good stuff that made me laugh out loud many times.
Guided by Indie Rock.......2007-08-20
John Sellers is a music/pop culture writer who's gotten the opportunity to transform his blog (google "Angry John Sellers") into a book that's a kind of musical autobiography--that is, he charts his musical maturation over the years, from young Duran Duran fan to modern day indie rock obsessive. Consider this, then, a non-fiction version of Nick Hornby's seminal High Fidelity: A Novel. One important difference is that where HF's protagonist views his music in terms of his love life, for Sellers the music IS his love life. Sure, he's had relationships with women, but his chief interest in them lies in their ability to turn him on to new bands. Therefore, hie relationships with his favorite bands is what drives this book, and it helps to enjoy it if you share his passions, mainly regular-guy alt rockers such as the Pixies, Pavement and Built To Spill (whose album Perfect From Now On had an obvious influence). He will endlessly listen to and mull over the career of Joy Division/New Order and the lyrics of The Smiths. In fact, he'll even travel to Manchester for a New Order reuniion show and impromptu pilgramage. Far less time-consuming are the numerous lists (you can't be a true music obsessive without them) the lengthy appendix to the book: everything from "My Top Ten Favorite Albums" (#1: The Queen is Dead by The Smiths) to "Top Five musical things I hope happen now that the original lineups of the Pixies and Dinosaur Jr. have reunited" (#5: "Radiohead stops listening to Pink Floyd and starts listening to Black Sabbath"). Meanwhile, the main body of the book is frequently interrupted by long, digressive footnotes, some going on for as long as ten pages (Sellers admits he got the idea from Nicholson Baker, but he could just as easily been channeling David Foster Wallace).
The last few chapters, however, are devoted mainly to one subject: Guided By Voices. This Ohio band has gathered a freakishly obsessive cult following, and Sellers has clearly not only drunk the Kool Aid (or Miller High Life, as the case may be), but mixed it as well. He describes how his addiction grew from just being a fan to finally spinning in their orbit. His status as hanger-on might have helped get him the book deal, but it also garnered him brief ignominy on GBV message boards. Naturally, he covers this incident at length, and in fact continues to apologize for any misunderstanding. Therefore, his fawning over GBV frontman Robert Pollard gets pretty grating after awhile, especially if you don't share Sellers' love of the band (I myself could have written a book about my devotion to Sonic Youth, but of course I digress). Actually, you'll find the whole book annoying if you cna't connect your own obsesseions (be they sports, shoes or heroin) with the author's, and even then it helps greatly to know a bit about what he's talking about. Still, Sellers' writing style is self aware (in that uniquely Gen-X way), witty and often flat out hilarious. Taken for what it is, this is definitely a worthwhile read for music fans, even if, alas, it won't save your life.
Disappointing...........2007-08-01
To any true music fan, there is often times as much joy in debating the relative merit of one artist against another as listening to the music itself. I suspect that is true with most things (sports talk radio comes to mind). That is why I was excited to read this book. Going in, you understand there you are not getting anything that is plot driven or even has a point. What you expect is that the author will lay out arguement as to why he loves a certain band/genre of music and you can silently juxstapose those against your own biases. I am willing to concede almost any point in these debates when I engage in them with friends, with the understanding that they are nothing if not totally arbitrary, so long as there seems to be a sense the opposing viewpoint has a heartfelt conviction about the subject matter. That is why I was hugely dissapointed with this book.
While there is no doubt that the author seems to have a sincere conviction that indie music is a superior medium, it seems borne out of a sense of what he thinks is cool rather than what indie artists produce. For example, if The Pixies has acheived the same level of commercial sucess as Pearl Jam, there is no doubt in my mind the author would dismiss them with the same contempt he holds for Journey. It becomes exhausting to read the contempt he has for anything that exists outside the very obscure or how a band he loved at one point he now regrads with a sneer simply because they eventually achieved broad acceptance.
Another point of contention I have with the overall tone of the book is that Sellers comes off as fairly spineless. A large chunk of the narrative is devoted to him getting to meet Bob Pollard from Guided By Voices. I was willing to overlook the fawning tone toward Pollard as his whole point was to draw a picture of how he is more slavishly devoted at various points in his life to artists than just about anyone so he can gain an upper hand when congregating with like minded obsessives (and if you don't believe his motivations are this shallow, read the book). However, he mentions something in passing (a footnote actually, one of the several thousand he includes in the book) that made me lose all respect for him as a man and thus tainted the whole book. Seller is a University of Michigan grad while Pollard is an OSU fan. Anyone with even a passing knowledge about the sport of college football knows that this is one of the most storied rivalries in all of college sports and the two sides hate each other. Anyway, he ends up cheering for OSU in front of his idol as they watch the game because he so badly wants Pollard to like him. I know nothing about Pollard personally but I bet it wouldn't be far from the truth to speculate that he would have had much more respect for Sellers if he would have grown a pair and had his own opinion about the game rather than adopting one based on being accepted. And that right there pretty much sums up the whole book.
Perfect indeed.......2007-05-24
You know how, every now and then, you come upon someone's music mix, and you instantly think, this person is completely in sync with me, yet simultaneously infinitely cooler?
It's like that.
When it comes it to music, Sellers is insightful, funny as hell, and scarily knowledgeable. He's the guy you want filling your iPod for a long drive, and the guy you'd want in the car, telling great stories along the journey. Anyone's who's ever had that feeling of a song speaking for the state of their lives, anyone who's ever thought of a band as THEIR band, will love it.
Customer Reviews:
Sour Grapes.......2006-10-15
While I enjoyed Miss Wilson's book, I think she had a tendency to paint herself in a more positive light while completely trashing Diana Ross. She also never mentions that Ross helped her and Florence Ballard financially at differnt times. Therefore, Wilson wasn't completely honest. I think all three Supremes were victims of Motown/Berry Gordy. They were very young when they became superstars and were ill equipped to handle all that came with it. As a result their behavior at times was childish and immature. Who hasn't made mistakes in their youth? However, Ross was pushed to the forefront long before her romantic relationship with Mr. Gordy began. First and foremost, Mr. Gordy was a business man and he realized Ross had the most "commercial" voice and star power $$$. That's why she became the lead singer. Obviously he was correct. You can love her or hate her, but without Diana Ross, the Supremes would have remained just another girl group.
Very interesting book.......2006-08-21
I found the book to be quite interesting and nostalgic. I visited the Motown Records Museum in 1989 and would recommend the museum (Hitsville USA) to Motown fans.
Jealousy and Bitterness is Obvious.......2005-12-28
Mary and Florence and some of their friends originated a girl group. When their friend, Diana Ross is brought into the group and chosen to become its lead singer, Mary and Florence feel slighted so they become jealous of Diana Ross. Who knows how long this bitterness has been harboring, but it comes to surface when Mary decides to write a tell-all book. She brings attention to herself and garners sympathy from others while tearing Diana down and painting her as the B-----(rhymes with witch) of the group. She disrespectively refers to Diana Ross as Diane when she knows full well that her name is Diana, and that's what she prefers to be called. People have a right to be called by the name that their parents gave to them.
Get over it Mary. Being the lead singer of The Supremes was Diana's calling. Whatever God blesses, no man can tear down.
One day we'll be together (in Heaven).......2005-05-19
This book was written in 1986, and Mary Wilson wrote an updated version (Dreamgirl and Supreme Faith), which has an afterward copyrighted in 1999.
This is an intriguing book, a first person account by Mary, and it can be read almost as a morality tale: the tale of three sisters and the monster (Motown).
The three singers all had roots in the same Detroit neighborhood, and were taken on by Berry Gordy's newly formed Motown. According to Mary, Diana seemed to always want to stand out from the other two, and of course, she eventually got her wish. Diana comes through as an egotistical, self-serving person, who, of course, had the talent to back up her swelled head.
On the other side of the trio, Florence Ballard is the tragic heroine. According to Mary, although the three started as peers, Flo eventually got exasperated having to fight both Diane and her paramour, Berry Gordy. She turned to alcohol, which depressed her further, and she ended in poverty and an early death.
Mary paints herself as the peacemaker and person in the middle. She stands by Flo in her darkest hour, but never follows her path in leaving the group.
Mary had various lovers, and she had so many, from Tom Jones to Steve McQueen to some people I'm sure nobody has ever heard of. Mary, in her honesty, has listed most of them in this book. After all those celebrities, she ends up, by the end of the book, marrying someone I had never heard of (he could be well-known).
Yes, I grew up listening to the Supremes, and I danced to their songs and I popped my fingers to their steady tempos like everyone else in those days.
Today, their music makes me sick, but hey, times have changed.
I think Mary has shown, in this book, that she can adapt and change, whereas Flo could not. Flo had talent, but she maybe didn't have the type of personality to keep coping year after year in the face of quick fame followed by quick decline.
As for Diana, well, no matter how talented she was, wouldn't it be nice if she could be just a little humble? No?
"Blessed are the humble in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven."
Okay, nobody wants to go to Heaven (until they die, of course), but everybody wants to be "important" while still here on Earth.
Diane got her wish, she was, and to a lesser extent, she still is, "important."
But Mary wrote the book. Diximus.
More than entertainment.......2005-01-19
Mary Wilson's book is an interesting and sad look at the greatest girl group of the 20th Century. The Supremes were the image of polish and class. Mary's account of the story is tragic, but I wondered why she didn't stand up for the group. She didn't seem to be afraid for the group when Florence was going through her problems mostly alone--she thought it would pass. It seems obvious that each woman was immensely talented in various ways, but Motown didn't appreciate that. Good examples are the demise of the Marvelettes and Kim Weston (as well as every other group in short order--male or female). It's hard to understand that through all that strife Mary didn't see the end coming. Florence saw it...but why couldn't Mary?
Average customer rating:
- Must have for fans of Dame Judi
- Touching, warm and funny
- Judi Dench
- Judi Dench: Scenes from My Life
- Judi Dench: Scenes from My Life
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Judi Dench: Scenes from My Life
Judi Dench
Manufacturer: Orion Publishing Group, Limited
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
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ASIN: 029784427X |
Book Description
This marvelous collection of images, many of which are drawn from Judi Dench’s personal photo albums, offer the actress’ many fans a rare insight into her life. John Miller, her biographer, has augmented Judi Dench’s own photos with images depicting 50 years of distinguished work in film, theater, and television. From her childhood in York and her first work as an actress in her teens, to recent informal shots backstage and private family photos, these images show Judi Dench as never seen before.
Customer Reviews:
Must have for fans of Dame Judi.......2007-05-14
If your are as big a Dame Judi fan as I am this book is a must read or maybe, more accurately, a must see. It's sprinkled with family photos of Judi Dench, her late husband, Michael Williams and her daughter. Best of all it covers virtually all of her career from her early Royal Shakespearean Company days through all of her stage, movie and TV performances (up to but not including her latest film, "Notes on a Scandal.)
This book is literally presented as "scenes" with great photos and anecdotes about her many talented costars starting with her RSC performances - a virtual who's who of great British actors.
If you are an American like me and were originally introduced to Judi Dench through the limited offerings of her BBC TV show "As Time Goes By," this book gives you loads of insights into the breadth of her career. It has dozens of black and white photos and just as many brilliant color photos.
There are brief comments by Dame Judi about family photos and other personal moments that give one a bit of insight into her real life. She comes across as being very down to earth and her legendary sense of humor shines through. The only reason I didn't give it 5 stars is because this isn't an actual autobiography by Dame Judi. It would have been nice to have had more material written by her.
All in all this is a great coffee table book for fans of one of the great actors of our times.
Touching, warm and funny.......2007-04-03
Judi Dench continually amazes, and her wonderfully open, honest, and often touching personal photo album style of bio leaves one with an even greater sense of her lovliness as a human being. The book is truly a delightful journey.
Judi Dench.......2007-03-09
I have always been a fan of Judi Dench; her acting has inspired me. I enjoyed the book very much. I have never bought a book about an actress in my lifetime but I couldn't resist this one. It's on my table in the living room and everyone scans it and tells me they are going to buy it too.
Judi Dench: Scenes from My Life.......2007-02-15
Quite enjoyable. Nice to get a take on the richness of her remarkable career. The insight she brings to her acting tell volumes between the lines. Certainly one of the greatest artists of our time yet modest and endearing.
Judi Dench: Scenes from My Life.......2007-01-10
Mostly Biographical Pictures from her life as an Actress wife Mother and Grandmother.Her Life in Films Stage Comedy Shakespear
Book Description
From the first time a record was played over the airwaves in 1906, to a modern club economy that totals $3 billion annually in New York City alone, the DJ has been at the center of popular music. Starting as little more than a talking jukebox, the DJ is now a premier entertainer, producer, businessman, and musician in his own right. Superstar DJs, from Junior Vasquez to Sasha and Digweed, command worship and adoration from millions, flying around the globe to earn tens of thousands of dollars for one night's work. Increasingly, they are replacing live musicians as the central figures of the music industry. In Last Night a DJ Saved My Life, music journalists Bill Brewster and Frank Broughton have written the first comprehensive history of the mysterious and charismatic figure behind the turntables -- part obsessive record collector, part mad scientist, part intuitive psychologist of the party groove. From England's rabid Northern Soul scene to the birth of disco in New York, from the sound systems of Jamaica to the scratch wars of early hip-hop in the Bronx, from Chicago house to Detroit techno to London rave, DJs are responsible for most of the significant changes in music over the past forty years. Drawing on in-depth interviews with DJs, critics, musicians, record executives, and the revelers at some of the century's most legendary parties, Last Night a DJ Saved My Life is nothing less than the life story of dance music.
Customer Reviews:
Great History, Writing Talent Lacking.......2007-08-18
The only thing that kept me reading this book was that it contained information I didn't know. I found that skimming helped reduce the groaning and eye-rolling caused by poor organization of the material. Much of it was just fine, but parts of the book are difficult to read because the authors couldn't devise a smooth transition from one chapter to another. Other than that minor complaint, this is a great book!
Thoroughly researched, well-written history of the dance/club DJ.......2007-07-17
Written by two former editors of Mixmag (the magazine bible of club culture and dance music), this 400-page book provides a deep, well-researched history of the club DJ. It follows the evolution of the live performance DJ from a human record changer, to a macro mixer of individual platters, to a micro mixer of record segments and sounds, to a full-fledged music producer. In doing so the authors document the impact that DJs had on the music itself, first in selecting what they played, later in demanding what they needed, and lastly in creating what they wanted.
Although the book opens with a short chapter on radio DJs (all of twenty-one pages), this story is about the club DJ's rise to musicianship. The book charts the live DJ's beginnings as a record spinner in large halls, follows the DJ-fueled Northern Soul scene in the UK, threads in the revolutionary work of Jamaican DJ sound systems, and returns to the US for a lengthy exposition on disco, hip-hop, house and beyond.
The disco chapters, though at times devolving into discussion that's more of the music than the DJs, are among the book's most interesting. They explore the movement's organic New York roots, contrasting them sharply to the genre's publicly refuted commercial apogee. One might argue with their contention that the "disco sucks" backlash was a homophobic reaction (particularly when they do such a good job of describing the commercial overexposure that led to disco's mainstream repudiation), but their descriptions of the era's seminal underground clubs and DJs bring context to disco that was completely lost in its mainstream incarnation.
Two chapters on hip hop show both its evolutionary and revolutionary forward steps, with the DJ becoming a producer and musician. Fresh interviews with the major players are skillfully woven into a compelling narrative of the genre's birth and growth. Club music's transitions between house, techno, garage and other variants are layered with reporting on the stage-setting cultural environments and geographic movements of key players. These latter chapters read more as anthropological catalogs than the you-are-there accounts of disco, so while they're informative, they're a bit dry.
A good deal of the text devolves into a history of the music, leaving the DJs temporarily on the sideline. But given the intimate intertwining of DJs and music, and the reciprocal impact they had on each other, this is probably unavoidable. Unless you're an avid dance music fan, some of the authors' points, hinged upon references to specific songs, will fail to resonate.
The authors make a compelling argument for the DJ at the center of the vortex that created disco and morphed it into house, techno, acid house and more. Unlike music that was a product of artists, record companies and radio, dance music is a product of dancers, clubs, DJs and producers, with the latter two categories merging more and more over time. The added element of geographical isolation is shown to have had a major impact on numerous scenes (northern UK, New York, Chicago, Detroit, Europe) and the development of their respective musics, and the commercial needs for starless music created a vacuum into which DJs could step.
Though this is very well written, though there are nits to pick. Their anti-academic disclaimer is unnecessarily reactionary, and not even particularly true given the amount of original research they conducted. Their text on drug influences ignores numerous earlier drug/music interactions, such as in jazz and rock. Their lack of detail on radio DJs is a reasonable choice, but one not explained by the book's title or subhead. Their geography is UK/US-centric, and limited in the US mostly to New York, Chicago and Detroit. Whether or not those three cities were host to the only innovations worth reporting upon is questionable.
Structurally the book follows a linear timelines through the disco era, but later chapters have timelines that overlap. For the unschooled, it's difficult to really see how innovations in different places were influencing each other. The book's appendices include priceless club charts that provide useful guidance in assembling a soundtrack but it's unclear where these charts came from.
Quibbles aside, this is a great read for anyone who wants to learn about the DJ's critical role in the development of dance music. For disco, in particular, the DJ booth point provides an excellent view into the scene's true history. Brewster and Broughton write lively, engaging copy and have based it on thorough original research. Highly recommended! [©2007 redtunictroll at hotmail dot com]
Written With Passion.......2007-05-16
Covering a subject as broad as this is difficult and most readers will take exception somewhere since the author deals with such a subjective subject. However, I enjoyed both the exhaustive research and obvious passion that went into this work. It's a must, not only for DJs, but for any fan of music made for the dancefloor.
Read The Real History Of Disco.......2006-10-25
This book is pure magic and brought back some happy memories.
Wannabe Club DJs please read this and understand how it all really started.
Mobile DJs? Give up and let iPod reign...
Must Read for DJ's, Dancers, Music Heads.......2006-04-05
It is pretty well know that this book is a must read for DJ's, Makers, and Fans of all forms of electronic and dance music.
Excelent histories of Dub, Hip Hop, Disco, House etc. While many of the adherents of these sub-cultures don't necessarily appreciate the others, the histories outlined in this book show how they are all inherently connected.
My only issue with this book is that the West Coast is totally ignored up until the turntablist revolution of the late 90's which the authors regard as mostly mastabatory as the writers' bias is toward DJs as providers of a dance environment.
No matter ...
There are vital histories here.
READ THIS BOOK!
Book Description
The national best-selling autobiography of Bill Graham, the colorful, larger-than-life architect of the modern concert industry.
As a child, Bill Graham fled Europe to escape Hitler's armies. He grew up on the streets of New York and in the dining rooms of the hotels in the Catskills. After failing as an actor, he headed for San Francisco right before the Summer of Love where he founded the Fillmore and launched the rock icons of a generation--Janis Joplin, Otis Redding, Jefferson Airplane, Cream, the Grateful Dead, and more. He was a complex, caring, compassionate whirlwind of energy who rock stars either loved--or hated.
In his own voice and those of the people who knew him--Jerry Garcia, Keith Richards, Grace Slick, Ken Kesey, Eric Clapton, Pete Townshend, and Carlos Santana--we hear Bill's story as well as the scoop on the major events in rock for more than three decades, ending with his tragic death in a 1991 helicopter crash. Gritty, moving, funny, and always fascinating, Bill Graham Presents is the inside story of the explosive and unforgettable man who created the business of rock.
Customer Reviews:
Great, interesting book.......2007-04-03
This book is a little weird (to me) in concept but it works out really well in the end. The book goes from Bill's early days in Nazi Germany all the way to his death with no major stone left unturned. Lots of great stories with very little in the way of punches being pulled. I mean Bill really tells you what he is thinking. Very uncensored. Covers the drugs and the behind scenes stuff with no BS involved. Shows the guy for who he was, warts and all and lets him and the people he is talking about retort one another which I thought was weird in a good way. This book is of great interest to anyone who has probably gotten to this point in reading reviews. If you are interested in this type of subject then this book is a must.
Insightful.......2007-03-24
It's a good insight into the rock scene back in the 60's and 70's. A must read for anyone who likes classic rock.
judgescott.......2007-01-10
i didn't realize how much bill graham did behind the scenes.
montery pop ,woodstock, altamont,ect............
The Production Manager king.......2006-12-21
This book is structured so that as Bill Graham comments on different times of his life, he allows the persons hes speaking of to comment in the next paragraph. This makes for some very interesting reading. Grham discusses his time in Korea and killing the enemy. This experience allows him to have an abundant amount of courage when it comes to dealing with band managers in the future. Bill discusses Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young, Zeppelin, the Stones, J Geils Band, Santana, the Who and all the tense dealings with each of these personalities. This book could have benefitted from better pictures of the bands. Thats my only critical comment.
A Fascinating Perspective On The Fillmore Era.......2005-03-31
Bill Graham is the rock promoter most famous for operating the leading rock and roll theaters of the late sixties and early seventies, including the original Filmore auditorium in San Francisco, the Fillmore East in New York, and the Fillmore West, (a different building in San Francisco.) The Fillmore period was sort of a golden age of rock and roll. Graham was able to present virtually all the cutting edge bands of the time, including some acts, like Santana and the Allman Brothers, before they even had their first record out. Rock and roll shows had never received the kind of attention to detail and respect for performers and audiences that Graham brought to the Fillmores. Graham presented a variety of music, including blues and jazz, although the headliners were almost always top draw rock and roll acts. Many artists took advantage of the Fillmore's reputation to record live albums there. In fact, according to this book, 58 albums were recorded at the Fillmores and 17 of them were certified gold. The Fillmores also became gathering places for the music industry. Graham was more than just a first hand witness to this era, he helped to create it. The Fillmore sections of this book are a fascinating examination of how the Fillmore came into existence, how the musicians felt about playing for Bill Graham, how the booking policy of the Fillmore evolved, and finally why Graham closed the Fillmores at the peak of the their success.
In addition to Graham's own memories, there are memories of his contemporaries as well which round out the story. Italics are overused in attempt to make the writing sound like a transcription of someone talking, but this is only a minor irritation. Consider the following quote from Pete Townsend which is taken from the book: "(Graham) gave us dignity. We felt we weren't the pop plebes we had been when we went out with Herman's Hermits and we were told to shut up and get in the back of the bus. We were dignified people. We were artists."
Graham's opinions are fun to read. Who was the best act he ever saw? (Otis Redding) Who was the biggest pain in the neck? (Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young).
Of secondary importance, but still fascinating, an added bonus really, are Graham's memories of his childhood escape from Nazi Germany. Most biographies are boring when the subject's childhood is discussed, but in this case, Graham's family was broken up during the Nazi era. Graham was a small boy and the only member of his family to escape to the United States. He was reunited with his surviving sisters after the war.
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