R. Crumb's Heroes of Blues, Jazz, & Country

Book Description

Anyone who knows R. Crumb's work as an illustrator knows of his passion for music. And all those who collect his work prize the Heroes of the Blues, Early Jazz Greats, and Pioneers of Country Music trading card sets he created in the early to- mid-1980s. Now they are packaged together for the first time in book form, along with an exclusive 21-track CD of music selected and compiled by Crumb himself (featuring original recordings by Charley Patton, “Dock” Boggs, “Jelly Roll” Morton, and others). A bio of each musician is provided, along with a full-color original illustration by the cartoonist. A characteristically idiosyncratic tribute by an underground icon to the musical innovators who helped inspire him, R. Crumb's Heroes of Blues, Jazz & Country is a must-have collection for Crumb aficionados, comics fans, and music lovers alike.

Customer Reviews:

Great artwork, great CD, and the roots of American Music. .......2007-03-21

A great book and a great CD at the price of one or the other. Book contains the comprehensive full-color artwork from Robert Crumb's three in and out of print collectors' card series: Jazz, Blues and Country featuring a few of the well-known artists and a lot of obscurities from the 20's and 30's. A great gift or a must have item for any fan of American Roots Music of the 20's and 30's.

Crumb's Heroes.......2007-03-19

Most Blues afficionado's will recognize the source of a lot of these illustrations but Crumbs personal take on the subjects brings new light and colour to some much loved portraits.The text is very light and could have been expanded, hence 4 stars . Buy Now

Trading cards for the music aficianado.......2007-03-07

It is worth it for the CD alone, but you get this glorious book as well, packed with wonderful color illustrations that Robert Crumb first put forward as trading cards of classic Blues, Jazz and Country musicians with the hope of stimulating interest in these musical legends. The cards were eventually packaged in sets, and sold through Shanachie Records. The number of cards increased over the years, to the point that a compilation like this had to come along at one point. The book has been lovingly packaged with an introduction by Terry Zwigoff, that is destined to become a collector's item, like so much of Crumb's work. The CD was selected and compiled by R. Crumb himself, drawn from his extensive collection of music. Unfortunately it is loosely attached to the inside of the backcover, with the contents listed on the end page. A more permanent slipcase would have been nice, but then one can hardly complain to finally have Crumb's glorious tribute contained in a handsome little volume.

Pictures plus music equals happiness.......2007-02-21

This is an excellent deal. The recordings are certainly esoteric, but I must be in the correct demographic (or something.) I like just about all of the music. I'm a kind of old-time music dilettante, so it's a great way for someone like me to check out some more obscure stuff.

As for the book... hard cover, heavy paper and just the right size to carry around (if so desired.)

Of course the main selling point of this book is the drawings. They are uniformly excellent. Someone with an obsessive personality may wish to collect the actual trading cards which are reproduced in this book, but this is a far more economical and practical means of collecting these drawings.

There is mention of Crumb's decision to use a different coloring technique for the jazz trading card set in the book's introduction. This means that some of Crumb's trademark cross-hatch shading is obscured by the overlay of color. Rather than being a detriment to the jazz drawings, it actually helps to give them a distinct character.

Anyway, buy this book. It's worth double the price.

this book is a must for any R.Crumb fan!.......2007-01-31

This book reprints all of the collector's cards series that were published close to 30 years ago by Nick Perls (Yazoo Records) as three different sets of cards(Heroes of the Blues, Early Jazz Greats, and Pioneers of Country Music). Originally, each set was priced at around $16, and they went out of print and disappeared much too quickly.
Now you can have them all in one book, with all the biographical sketches of the artists on each facing page, plus a great little CD of music by some of the artists - 21 songs are included on this CD.

This book is a must for Crumb fans, as well as for fans of the early forms of American music.

Mel Bay Complete Country Blues Guitar Book/ CD set

Average customer rating:

Overall, a Great Collection...
Excellent
A Treasury of Country Blues Guitar Styles

Mel Bay Complete Country Blues Guitar Book/ CD set
Stefan Grossman
Manufacturer: Mel Bay Publications, Inc.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0786651261
Release Date: 1999-11-16

Product Description

Over 50 fingerpicking guitar solos in notation and tablature in country blues, Delta blues, ragtime blues, Texas blues and bottleneck styles. An extremely comprehensive blues solo collection. 2 CD's included.

Customer Reviews:

Overall, a Great Collection..........2006-01-30

The Complete Country Blues Guitar Book has tabs for a wide variety of blues styles, including Delta, Rag, Texas, and bottleneck. The one point that keeps me from rating it 5 stars is the CDs, one of which was defective. I contacted Mel Bay Publishing by e-mail, advised them of the problem, and they promptly sent me a replacement along with a nice apology. That issue aside, I am very pleased with the overall collection. Get this if blues is your thang...

Excellent.......2003-09-04

I haven't played guitar for about ten years, and got this book to get myself back into it. It's great, I can't put it down, and I'm actually learning the pieces!
Defintely recommended, but not for a complete beginner.

A Treasury of Country Blues Guitar Styles.......2003-07-29

Stefan Grossman has been the world authority on fingerstyle blues guitar for decades now, and this book is the biggest compendium of his work as an educator. He tabs out fifty-seven (fifty-seven!) songs in a variety of styles and tunings, enough to keep any student busy for a year or more.

This isn't so much a method book--though I taught myself to play country blues from it--as a large tab compendium with helpful tips about each song. Each song has at least one fully-transcribed verse. Many have intros and outros, and some are complete arrangements. Most of the book covers the alternating bass and ragtime traditions of the Memphis and Piedmont blues, but there are seven Delta tunes, and excellent seven-song chapter on Texas blues, and even a good number of bottleneck tunes. Most of the songs are old standards ("Crow Jane","Vestapol","Hard Time Killin' Floor") taken from the original recordings by artists like Reverend Gary Davis, Mance Liscomb, and Blind Blake.

The "handwritten" tab is large and easy to read--you'll never be able to go back to that tiny Hal Leonard/Guitar Player tab after this. There are lots of photos of old bluesmen as well as atmospheric old-South pictures from the Library of Congress collection. It's so attractive I keep it on my coffee table. The CDs feature Grossman playing the tabbed arrangements (and then some) as well as original Blind Lemon Jefferson tracks. They're listenable in their own right, even if you aren't learning the guitar!

If you're interested in pre-war blues guitar, and you already known how to play five or six chords (remember, this book teaches country blues, not guitar), this is easily the best bang for your music buying buck.

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Grumpy Old Stoners

So Much For the Golden Years

Crunchy on the outside, soft at the core

Taking a walk on the "wild"& unique side...

Comic romp and frightening parable wrapped into one

Jimi Hendrix Turns Eighty
Tim Sandlin
Manufacturer: Riverhead Hardcover
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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Kockroach: A Novel

You Suck: A Love Story

Boomsday

Western Swing

Skipped Parts: A Novel

ASIN: 1594489335
Release Date: 2007-01-18

Book Description

It's 2023, and Guy Fontaine is an unwilling new resident at Mission Pescadero, an assisted-living facility outside San Francisco. It doesn't take him long to realize that his fellow residents have reverted to the lifestyles they embraced in the sixties, complete with sex, drugs, and rock and roll (with a little Viagra thrown in for good measure). The Mission Pescadero staff, and the world outside, would like nothing more than to forget these aging hippies, but the residents want-no, demand-to be treated with respect and dignity. And they'll fight for it. When one resident's prohibited cat is discovered by Mission Pescadero's domineering administrator, the resulting confrontation mushrooms into an epic battle between authority and anarchy, complete with twenty-four-hour media coverage and the involvement of California's governor, Drew Barrymore. As tensions escalate, Guy finds himself cast as an unlikely radical in a drama he doesn't understand.

By turns outrageous, hilarious, and, ultimately, touching, Tim Sandlin's new novel is a fascinating exploration of how the baby boomers are facing their own mortality. Jimi Hendrix Turns Eighty is Sandlin at his iconoclastic best.

Customer Reviews:

Grumpy Old Stoners.......2007-08-14

As much as I would love to take credit for that descriptive title, I cannot. That is merely another gem from Tim Sandlin.

If you enjoy reading a well written, entertaining, laugh out loud funny book with a whole lot of heart then you are in luck because "Jimi Hendrix Turns Eighty" will deliver on all counts.

So Much For the Golden Years.......2007-08-03

I must admit to being a big fan of Tim Sandlin, ever since "Sex and Sunsets" he has had my attention. This book is way to close to my age group and Tim is too young to know all the 60's music references. Scary as the prospect of my future in an "assisted living" facility may be, send me to this spot, I want to sit between the two Sunshines, I think I met one of them at the Fillmore at a Paul Butterfield Concert many years ago. Congrats to Tim, this hilarious book has a brutal honest side that is longer than Jerry Garcia's beard.

Crunchy on the outside, soft at the core.......2007-05-19

In this old-age romp, Sandlin turns his sharp satirical talents loose while doing that other thing that hilarious satirists can't always do -- empathy. Sandlin is able to both poke fun at sentimentality and yet he has a soft touch too; when these old peeps aren't expsoing their rear ends in mass-moonings, they expose their sadnesses, bewilderments, regrets, and disappointments at the lives behind and in front of them. The best part of JHT80 is the highly refreshing take on stereotypes of old age: the wisdom, feeblemindedness and bloody boringness with which old people are often relegated don't feature here. These old folks stick it to that portrayal and fling an adult diaper at anyone who ever says growing old means acting like it.

Taking a walk on the "wild"& unique side..........2007-04-02

All "baby boomers" should read this book. The references to the sixties and people and places of the time are nostalgic. The honesty about situations that the elderly of our generation are realistically written about. Alot of food for thought, I enjoy the authors writing style.

Comic romp and frightening parable wrapped into one.......2007-03-08

It's 2022, Jenna Bush is President, Gulf War VI is going on, and Gen Xers are warehousing their aging boomer parents in "assisted living" communities and taking control of their money under false pretenses.

Guy Fontaine, a retired sportswriter from Oklahoma, has moved in with his daughter, Claudia, in California after the death of beloved wife Lily. But when he has a senior moment--he hallucinates and drives a golf cart onto the freeway--he is locked up in Mission Pescadero, an assisted living community that encapsulates the frightening world Sandlin posits for our future. An evil administrator runs the place with all the humanity of the worst lunch lady in the boomers' past, peopling it with patients brought in on the flimsiest diagnoses of dementia, with residents going "through the tunnel" to the nursing wing on even flimsier diagnoses by her corrupt doctor/near lover, where they are drugged comatose and quiet.

The Mission's population is mainly leaders of the leftist movements of the Sixties, who have created a hierarchy based on when and what they did in the decade that you're only supposed to have been there if you've forgotten it. Guy, straight, drug-free and monogamous all his life, finds himself struggling to adjust with the proponents of free love and drug use in the golden years. But when the administrator discovers one patient has--shudder--a cat in his room, Guy is driven to violence to defend someone who had befriended him, setting off a revolt to liberate the Mission.

Sandlin carries this absurd yet realistic situation with aplomb, showing real understanding of the concerns and difficulties faced by old people, as well as the trends of society that, if left unchecked, could lead to a world like the one he imagines here. Even minor characters are given some depth and the good lines are dispersed amongst them. Guy's unconventional romance with Rocky is counterpointed by other love stories, from a lesbian encounter between one of the youngest residents and a yoga instructor to an alley cat of a man who doesn't realize he has terrible breath. Even the villains are given some back story and some sympathy. And all to the tunes of Jefferson Airplane and The Who.

My favorite character is a woman who comes out of a drug-induced coma to lead the revolution, barking orders in a remarkably cogent and prepared manner, which foreshadows revelations about her character that end up shocking the residents and prolonging their isolation. Full confession: I once met a woman who might have been a model for this character while doing work in a prison. Sandlin has the type down perfectly.

He also has the good sense to provide a bittersweet ending, reminding us that mortality and fragility occur even among the worthy.

Whether the book will become non-fiction, as Sandlin predicts, is really up to all of us.

Beautiful Swimmers: Watermen, Crabs and the Chesapeake Bay

Average customer rating:

A LIFE CHANGING READ
Attention to Detail
Beautiful Swimmers
Entertaining and Educational
It Takes You There....

Beautiful Swimmers: Watermen, Crabs and the Chesapeake Bay
William W. Warner , John Barth , and Author
Manufacturer: Back Bay Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0316923354

Customer Reviews:

A LIFE CHANGING READ.......2007-05-29

Growing up in Northern Virginia I always had a vague sense of the crab's popularity, both for dining and as a sort of a local mascot for people who live near the Bay. However, I had only eaten them at my aunt's house in Benedict, MD. and thought them to be strange and hard to eat. They made me feel inferior some how not knowing the technique and how exactly my aunt was able to come up with these bushels during the warm summer months. I dedicated last summer to learning all about the Bay and the blue crab and the wonderful people who make a living off them. I was transformed with the knowledge from the book that explains so many details about the life of the crab, the watermen and their families. The author is so creative with the insights he reveals. After reading this book, I am equipped to speak intelligently about the geographical areas, crab industry and most importantly-how to get and eat these beautiful swimmers!

Attention to Detail.......2006-06-03

Whereas I found this book to be quite informative, the author's attention to detail about every aspect and apparatus of a waterman's life on the Cheasapeake Bay to be a bit much. I found it difficult to find interest in how many eel baits were used on a trotline and how close together they were spaced. Not being well versed on the parts of various fishing vessels, I found myself lost as to what the author was writing about not to mention the numerous detailed descriptions of every piece of fishing apparatus employed by watermen.

Beautiful Swimmers.......2005-08-18

Beautiful Swimmers was given to me by a relative mixed in with a number of Bay-related books(including Tom Horton's Island Out of Time and several others).
Often, environmental writers stand the risk of in a way reducing the Bay to merely some sort of ecological experiment. Some I have read do not take into account that every little change in the Bay, whether the fault of Mother Nature or ourselves, drastically affects the people whose entire livelihood is fished out of these waters. Fortunately, the author(s) of Beautiful Swimmers does not fall into that trap.
The Watermen have a unique love affair with the Blue Crab. As evidenced by my own home town's "Hard Crab Derby" celebration ever year. This book, I think, gives a very fair and honest portrayal of these seemingly simple people with seemingly simple lives. Its handling of carcinological matters is anything but boring, including an in-detail description of how the crabs make love.
I would highly suggest this work not only for its informative value but for its treatment of the inherant poetry and beauty of the Bay. Even at the time of its publishing, the downward trend in the Bay's health was growing more evident. Today the situation is even more precarious, and requires a very delicate balance between the health of the Bay that supports so many and the people themselves, whose lives have been spent gleaning from these once bountiful waters an income, and who keep alive the traditions of Watermen from over four centuries ago.
Let us protect the Bay, this precious resource of ours, but we must not forget about the people.

Once again, an exceptional book, and one that I recommend for anyone interested in the Conservation of the Chesapeake Bay and the people that depend upon it.

Entertaining and Educational.......2005-01-03

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I spent summers as a kid catching crabs and seeing commercial crabbers outside my grandparents' home but there was a lot about the industry and the bay that I didn't know. I felt like an eavesdropper on an unfamiliar yet familiar world as I read this book, and found my curiousity awakened. The writers clear appreciation for his subject shines through, and it is a delight to discover even many years after it was written.

It Takes You There...........2004-11-16

Beautiful Swimmers will make you feel like you are a part of growing up in the Chesapeake Bay region. If you already did so, it will bring you back home.

Beautiful Swimmers serves as excellent literature for a multitude of readers: naturalists, historians, travellers, and folks who enjoy reading a good novel. It also provides a good blend of natural and cultural resource history.

I moved to the Chesapeake Bay area (Deale, MD) several years ago and was referred to Beautiful Swimmers by several members of the Chesapeake Bay Foundation. Prior to reading Beautiful Swimmers, I grew extremely fond of living on the bay. Since reading the book, I have that much more appreciation for the culture of the bay.

Country and Blues Harmonica for the Musically Hopeless (Klutz)

Average customer rating:

Music in your pocket
Don't Miss Out on the Best Harp Instructor for Beginners
Yeah! What a deal for hours of fun!
Country and Blues Harmonica for the Musically Hopeless
For anyone who wants to play the harmonica

Country and Blues Harmonica for the Musically Hopeless (Klutz)
Jon Gindick , and Barry Geller
Manufacturer: Klutz Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0932592082

Book Description

This friendly book comes with an instructional cassette and a genuine Hohner harmonica. The entire package is a musical first-aid kit that picks up where your third-grade piano teacher quit.

Customer Reviews:

Music in your pocket.......2003-04-02

I don't know if I am musically hopeless, but I certainly have never gotten much out of a harmonica. In a few short lessons with this book and tape, I was able to play "Oh Susanna" in straight harp (accent on the blow notes) and was on my way to playing single notes, "cross harp" (blues, accent on the draw notes) and riffs.

The little harmonica that comes with the book is a 10 note key of C Hohner. It is surprisingly sweet-sounding and a very good little instrument. That impressed me; I imagine once I get better at this I will still be happily playing on it. The harmonica has a protective plastic case-- the whole thing is no bigger than a candy bar. The slim paperback book is well-illustrated with a back section of quite a few straight harp folk tunes that you can play even if you don't read music. The tape is pleasant--plenty of blues guitar to jam with, and many example riffs that are the backbone of learning basic blues. The tape is also invaluable for hearing what a single note, a "bent" note, and the wah-wah sound effects are like.

If you want to teach yourself or your kids a musical instrument with not a lot of money or musical knowledge, this little kit might just do it for you.

Don't Miss Out on the Best Harp Instructor for Beginners.......2001-07-08

Musically Hopeless No More. By studying Jon's books, Harmonica for the Musically Hopeless and Rock n Blues Harmonica, I have learned how to play with a band in 9 months. Gindick speaks the language of the people while carefully teaching you the basics in a way that is interesting and fun. Since Jon recommended that I learn from as many people as I could, I have scoured the blues "how to" literature. Gindick's books are my favorites.

Yeah! What a deal for hours of fun!.......2001-05-12

Yes, I am a piano-lessons-dropout. Never could play a musical instrument, but now I am jammin' with a blues guitar! I practice along with the included instruction tape in the car and my commute is just a blast. It did not take long at all to get addicted and there is plenty on this tape to keep you busy for a long time. I imagine that I will eventually outgrow this 'first-timer' tape and get the intermediate instruction, but it will last you a lot longer than you think. It's fun to play along with the tape over and over again -- each time hearing yourself get better! I used the book just once to get started, went to the tape, and stayed with the tape ever since. The first time I heard the cool riffs on the tape, I thought "That is SO cool. I would love to play like that!" Now I am doing it! and coming up with my own variations. My plan is to get a tape that is 100% guitar (no instruction) and show my friends my jam session! I'll hedge my bets and make sure they enjoy a few drinks beforehand.

Incredible, and what a deal for so much fun. By the way, when I bought this, [they] said it's a book and instruction tape. When it arrived it also had a harmonica (Honer Pocket Pal). This is my thrasher, throw-it-in-the-glove-compartment harp. Based on recommendations I found on the web, I bought a quality harmonica that's solid for beginners and can support you to intermediate levels (Lee Oskar Major Diatonic, Key of C). It plays very well.

Country and Blues Harmonica for the Musically Hopeless.......2001-01-08

When I wanted to learn blues harmonica I started asking around and searching the net. Everyone pointed me in the same direction. They told me Jon Gindick is the undisputed champ when it comes to harmonica teaching materials. And they told me to get this package. I got it, and couldn't be happier. The only thing I knew about music is that I liked it. Jon takes you through step by step from how to hold the harmonica, to basic music theory, to bending notes, and other techniques to get that blues sound you seek. Jon is clearly interested in getting people started on their way to a playing successfully. And the book is quite entertaining. Finally, getting a book, cassette, AND harp for this price is unbeatable. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

For anyone who wants to play the harmonica.......2000-11-20

This method really worked for me. Whenever anyone asks me how I got started with the harmonica or says they are interested in playing, I send them right to this book. The lessons are easy to follow and the tape is a great way to start to learn how to play.

Book Description

Niall Murtagh spent years as a world traveler—hitchhiking in Istanbul, trekking in Patagonia, crossing the Atlantic in a home-built yacht. In 1986, he closed the door on his life of adventure to settle in Japan. And then, in a breathtaking transition, he joined Mitsubishi as a "Salaryman"—a guy in a shiny suit with a shiny attaché case in a multinational corporation with 100,000 employees. What led to this extraordinary shift of direction, and why, despite the disillusionment, is it so hard to leave? In The Blue-Eyed Salaryman, Murtagh takes the reader behind the scenes of this huge conglomerate. By turn enlightening, astonishing, and hilarious, his book offers a fresh perspective on the nature of Japanese business culture as well as the many hurdles awaiting the outsider.

Customer Reviews:

One of the best of its kind---worth your time!.......2006-09-17

Content is accurate, well-observed, and recounted with sensitivity and balance; happily, it's very well-written and flows beautifully. Certainly worthwhile reading for foreigners working with (or for) the Japanese. Hopefully, this work will appear in a Japanese edition as well, and I'll bet it would be a best-seller in Japan. Like the author, I have worked in a large Japanese company, married a Japanese national, and make my home in Japan.

Blue-eyed or Any-eyed Salaryman.......2006-09-02

Niall Murtagh is an Irishman who came to Japan to study the language. He ended up working for the Mitsubishi corporation for 14 years. Murtagh was a world traveler who did not stay in any one place for to long. So how is it he stayed with one company, a japanese company at that, for 14 years? This book attempts to answer that perplexing question. Though Murtagh has led a varied life, he devotes most of his book to his 14 years with the Mitsubishi Company as a Japanese kaishain, or salaryman.

Murtagh rose to a middle-manager position, almost unheard of for any gaijin (foreigner) in a Japanese corporation. He was always the only gaijin in the room. Because his Japanese was flawless he was always looked at askance. The Japanese feel that their language is to difficult for gaijin to learn let alone speak fluently. He tells of his daily commute to work on a bicycle, his unpaid overtime, company uniforms and he even the company song.

He says little of his personal life. His courtship and marriage to Miyuki is a good example of this. He sums up this chapter of his life by saying Miyuki's parents approved of their marriage because of his Mitsubishi credentials.

Murtagh keeps the story moving in a conversational style. He has an eye for the irony of the cultural differences between the west and the east.

I have a friend in Tokyo who is also a salaryman. I got this book for that reason. I wanted to see some of the things that he had to go through. He said that many of the experiences that Murtagh went through are quite common for a gaijin salaryman.

It is an entertaining book and I would definitely recommend it to anyone who has friends or family working in Japan. And for those of you who don't, it is still an interesting read to compare the cultures.

True & Entertaining .......2006-06-10

From the first opening sentence, this book is a page turner. The writer provides a simple but deep insight on working in a major Japanese company. The events presented are sometime caricatural, looks too bad/good to be true, but I can attest from my own experience they're quite real.
A must reading material for people thinking of working at a major traditional Japanese company.

Acurate and balanced.......2006-05-20

Niall Murtagh gives us an understanding of the real(hone) underbelly of Japanese corporate life. The book is well written entertaining and accurate. I have the same roots as the author and like him have endured 14 years in a large Japanese corporation. So I can verify his accuracy. He deals with the frustrating an oppressive aspects of salaryman Japan life in a very Irish way - he uses humour. He tries hard to fit-in but soon learns that foreigners, even Japanese fluent ones with a Phd., never fit in. or become totally accepted. He could have expanded on the psychological impact of salaryman life on foreigners. For those with a work link to Japan, read this book.

Excellent book for anybody working in a Japanese corporation in Japan (or thinking about it).......2005-10-27

"The Blue-eyed Salaryman" is a book written by Niall Murtagh, an Irishman, and is based on his real life experience as a salaryman at Mitsubishi Corporation in Japan.

The story starts when he joins the R&D department at Mitsubishi in the early 1990. At the beginning he was a contract worker, but eventually he became a normal lifetime salaryman. He was also the first foreigner to be promoted to management level in Mitsubishi in Japan.

His book is very interesting, because it is based on his experience over a period of more than 10 years. So he really got to understand deeply about Mitsubishi's culture and way of working. He also experienced the end of the bubble area, and the following crisis years.

Later on, Murtagh-san was transferred to Osaka, which allowed him to compare between Osaka and Tokyo working culture. His finding was that people in Tokyo cared about big visionary research projects, whereas in Osaka all research needs to have a practical application to get accepted. He did enjoy living in the Osaka area, and eventually enjoyed working here.

The final conclusion of his book is that for foreigners, as change agents, it is not meaningful to join traditional Japanese companies from the bottom; because the only way to drive fundamental change in large Japanese traditional corporations is top down. According to Niall, Carlos Ghosn would never have been able to impact to Nissan if he had joined them from the bottom...

Working as a foreigner in a large Japanese corporation in Japan, I really identified strongly with Niall's writing. It gave me a sense of comfort, making me believe that I still haven't lost my common sense....

Motorcycle Adventures in the Southern Appalachians: Asheville Nc, the Blue Ridge Parkway, Nc High Country

Average customer rating:

Great Guide!

Motorcycle Adventures in the Southern Appalachians: Asheville Nc, the Blue Ridge Parkway, Nc High Country
Hawk Hagebak
Manufacturer: Milestone Pr Inc
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1889596116

Customer Reviews:

Great Guide!.......2007-08-03

I just returned from a motorcycle trip to this region with my son. One of the routes we used was totally from the guide. It was just as described!
The little extras that change a ride from routine to something special are all there.
I recommend it!

Smoky Mountain Memories: Stories from the Hearts of the Parton Family

Average customer rating:

Such A Talented Family of Singers.
One of the best Writers I have ever come in contact with!!
The tales of a unique family come to life in an amusing book
I loved it.
Great job on your book, Willadeen. I love you!

Smoky Mountain Memories: Stories from the Hearts of the Parton Family
Willadeene Parton
Manufacturer: Thomas Nelson
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1558534040

Book Description

This engaging collection of stories is an intimate look at Dolly Parton's family, told by her oldest sister, Willadeene. Rare family photos included.

Customer Reviews:

Such A Talented Family of Singers........2005-08-05

Dolly had a hard life growing up in the wilds of East Tennessee; she started out poor and indeed did have a 'coat of many colors' as her children's book explained.She was born at home like me. She wore hand-me-downs in the backwoods of Sevier County where my paternal grandfather's people lived. She's funny. Coming from the country, it took some doing and lots of help to get where she is today. She has re-invented her personality through the years from the young lovesick girl who write 'I Will Always Love You' to Porter Wagoner. He gave her the first 'big' break, singing on his show in Nashville.

Dolly had been on local talent shows in Knox County, Cas Walker's for country music. She migrated to Middle Tennessee to sing on the Grand Ole Opry where she met my friend, Hal Durham, who was manager of that fabulous old show on radio, television and live. I once attended at the Ryman and he gave Zachary and me a backstage tour.

In Nashville and in the movies, she had a good life but suffered some setbacks and depression. The two photo secitons show how little Dolly the girl was transformed into Dolly the bombshell blonde. She is the richest person in this area as she owns Dollywood, the major attraction for people from all the states who visit the Great Smoky Mountains and from other countries.

In her 'thanks' section, she included her favorite makeup, Revlon staff, and favorite lingerie shop, Frederick's of Hollywood. She includes Terry Morrow, local entertainment columnist for the News Sentinel daily Knoxville newspaper, and Ligiea Saveanu (whoever she is -- I was going to name my daughter Ligeia). From the Grand Ole Opry, she includes Archie Campbell from the famous Civil War area in East Tennessee, Bull's Gap, Grant Turner, and Bud Wendell, WSM announcer. Game show hosts were Bob Eubanks and Huell Howser; how could she leave out Wink Martindale and Pat Sajacks, both Tennesseans? For some reason, she included the Knoxville Democrat Party chairman, Jim Gray, Al Gore, Jim Sasser, and Sandra Fulton (wife of Dick Fulton of Nashville).

Movie stars included Kevin Costner, Jane Fonda, and Delta Burke, while singers were Mac Davis, Billy Ray Syrus, Whitney Houtston and Reba McEntire. She has Johnny Carson, Eddie Hill, and many many others -- too many to mention.

Like most successful people, she has humility when it comes to feeling indebted to others for her success. She has talent galore, and I wish Dolly could live forever. She will -- in the figure on Sevier County Courthouse Lawn, as a young country girl. Dolly is everything to everybody.

One of the best Writers I have ever come in contact with!!.......2002-02-14

Willadeene Parton is a very wonderful and great writer. She is not only sucessful at writing about her family but she is a great poet and cook as well. Her cook books are Awesome if you are into some great southern cooking. I have ate some of her meals in her cook book prepared by none other than herself, I used to be her Personal Assistant, and let me tell you, she cooks better than anyone I know. The Books are a great Pleasure to read and the cook books are just as much fun. Not just coming from a Friend but form a True Fan. ....

The tales of a unique family come to life in an amusing book.......1999-04-28

Originally, this book was released as "In the Shadow of a Song" in 1986. I read it then, and I read it again and enjoyed it as much as a second helping of grits and gravy and country ham. Brandon B., Tampa, FL

I loved it........1998-02-27

I have read this book front to back three times!! I was born in Appalachia and have lived in the hills and hollows of East Tennessee all my life. I related to the deep family roots, and loving atmosphere their family had growing up. Willadeene captured not only their family spirit but, the pain, laughter, and triumphs of the Appalahcian people.

Great job on your book, Willadeen. I love you!.......1997-09-08

Great reading . This is a very special book about a very special family. I promise you'll love it

Just Like Bob Zimmerman's Blues: Dylan in Minnesota

Average customer rating:

Exhaustive and brilliant
Essential Reading For the Dylanologist/Addict!
THE source for early Dylan info

Just Like Bob Zimmerman's Blues: Dylan in Minnesota
Dave Engel
Manufacturer: Amherst Press (WI)
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Music | Entertainment | Subjects | Books

Entertainers | Arts & Literature | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books

General | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books

Midwest | Regional U.S. | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books

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General | Performing Arts | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

Look Inside Entertainment Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books
ASIN: 0942495616

Customer Reviews:

Exhaustive and brilliant.......2007-08-13

Anyone who considers himself a Dylanophile needs this book. It's incredibly rare, as it was printed in a tiny first printing (about 1,000 copies) and the publisher failed soon after. But a Dylan collection isn't complete without it. Engel writes from a lifetime's research. It's a shame he doesn't reprint his book elsewhere.

Essential Reading For the Dylanologist/Addict!.......1998-09-22

An excellent guide for a road trip, or pilgrimage to Hibbing. It gives a lot of information on the history of Hibbing and its culture. Also quite a bit more info on Dylan's childhood and family history than I have seen anywhere else, including numerous photos. Picked it up on New year's Eve afternoon last year, devoured it overnight, and on New Year's Day--at 4a.m.--left for Hibbing and felt as if I had been there before when I got there and "watched the sun come rising from that little Minnesota town." Found all of the Dylan sites listed with the help of the book, but should have picked a better day. (Zimmy's was closed, the Dylan museum was closed, and it was rather chilly to be wandering around old Hibbing.)

Think of it as a highly detailed tour guide to Dylan's Hibbing, whether or not the reader actually goes. Adds a lot of weight to references in songs like North Country Blues, etc.

THE source for early Dylan info.......1997-10-07

I grew up on the Mesabi Range within 25 miles of Hibbing, Dylan's boyhood home. I've been a fan of his for 26 years. This is the definitive book on his early years. Full of photographs, some never before published, this book covers all aspects of his youth...his faith, his family, his town, his friends, and how he grew into who he became. Delightful reading for the true Dylan freak!

The Blue Ribbon Country Cookbook: The New Standard of American Cooking

Average customer rating:

There are a few errors
The Blue Ribbon County Cookbook
Now I can cook his meals like his mom!
The Blue Ribbon Country Cookbook by Diane Roupe
Got as a gift and love it!

The Blue Ribbon Country Cookbook: The New Standard of American Cooking
Diane Roupe
Manufacturer: Clarkson Potter
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Baking | Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | Books

General | Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | Books

ASIN: 0517704420
Release Date: 1998-08-25

Customer Reviews:

There are a few errors.......2007-05-19

I agree that the book is not a "Bible" of American cookery, but it does get shelf space in my kitchen. It's a workmanlike book of middle American cuisine. However, I've also found a few proofreading errors in the book, such as the "Dream Bars" recipe on p. 598 that calls for a cup of coconut and a cup of pecans, but never uses them in the text of the recipe. It later refers readers to a diagram on a page, but the page referent is wrong. I like to compare recipes when making anything for the first time, and always like to read the recipe thoroughly. Dream Bars is the reason why!

The Blue Ribbon County Cookbook.......2003-03-01

What A Book the "Blue Ribbon Country Cookbook" by Diane Roupe is! The Iowa State Fair Food Department is the largest in the nation and we use Diane's "Blue Ribbon Country Cookbook" for resource material and information. The most important use is the diverse wealth of recipes it offers. It is a "know all-tell all recipe book. Large quantities are sold each year as more and more people discover its value. Diane is one of our top canning judges because of her expertise in modern safe canning methodology. We refer to the "Blue Ribbon Country Cookbook" many times during the fair.

Now I can cook his meals like his mom!.......2002-11-11

Maybe I am the only wife who ever experienced this, but after 16 years of marriage, I was still not to make some of the dishes his mom did. Every son loves their mothers cooking and I wanted to be able to cook him some of those meals, but never quite got it right. I can now! In her book, Diane taught me the basic of midwestern cooking from scratch and now I receive the highest complimemnt - "As Good as Moms and Grandmas". Thanks Diane

The Blue Ribbon Country Cookbook by Diane Roupe.......2002-10-19

Absolutely amazing. The research and testing that must have gone into this book. It could easily be used as a text book for cooking. Very detailed and covers about everything one needs to know to cook. And the recipes are great! I am looking forward to her next book.

Got as a gift and love it!.......2002-08-04

Got this as a birthday gift and I think it is great. A super reference to have around the house. She makes canning seem so easy I might even give it a try..

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