tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-52714301411592101702024-03-05T17:04:26.720-05:00Books That RockReviews of books about popular music and rock musicians. Find reviews of rock star memoirs, biographies, and histories of the rock and roll era.KL/LEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15045377943989208453noreply@blogger.comBlogger81125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5271430141159210170.post-63043811496633580642021-05-27T16:13:00.000-04:002021-05-27T16:13:08.030-04:00Rush's 2112 - The 33 1/3 Book That Wasn't/Wouldn't Be <p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr8Pritf7j264KV9vtj9ZzUMNichGPRkNos6g3oVbLtzqEPZQ7PNFgD0oIcKHnCofwdg-lCd_w6kTCSZBL_SXkMxtY42gTq7VB3DMBrLEjxnWygddYocIxvPRYzNBmWn2r7i9BC4sI9vA/s300/Rush_2112.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr8Pritf7j264KV9vtj9ZzUMNichGPRkNos6g3oVbLtzqEPZQ7PNFgD0oIcKHnCofwdg-lCd_w6kTCSZBL_SXkMxtY42gTq7VB3DMBrLEjxnWygddYocIxvPRYzNBmWn2r7i9BC4sI9vA/s0/Rush_2112.jpg" /></a></div><br />I knew it was a long shot going in. I had not written a book of music criticism or history; my catalog is mostly fiction - romance and mystery...genres people don't always take seriously. I could tell you stories of the elite literati sniffing at my offerings at book events, but I'm already in a bad mood. <p></p><p>When I saw the submissions call for the 33 1/3 book series during the lockdown, I figured why not try. It had been four years since I published a book-length work of any sort, and since my mother-in-law's sudden passing in 2016 I lost my drive. 2020 hadn't fared much better - COVID coupled with losing my father, and writing a proposal at least took my mind off the gloom.</p><p>I picked <i>2112</i> because A) uh, huge Rush fan, and B) an album such as this seemed ideal for a book. The album not only presents a story, but its place in the band's history is important in their story. <i>2112</i> was the make it or break it album, one that on paper should have ended the group, but instead elevated them. I learned recently, too, that somebody had pitched <i>2112</i> in 2014 and didn't make the cut, either. I won't speculate on why I wasn't offered a spot in the series - I don't really want to know. I've lived a brittle year, and the last thing I need is for some stranger with a music theory degree telling me that my writing sucks.</p><p>I do not intend to pitch another book, Rush or otherwise. I enjoyed the experience. I liked that I could still find pleasure in writing, even if it wasn't fiction. Who knows, I may write this book anyway. What's to stop me?</p><p>Anyway, I checked their website and there's nothing there that says I can't post my proposal. I won't, but I will share the beginning of the Introduction I had drafted. You tell me.</p><p>Actually, <i>don't </i>tell me. It's still brittle here.</p><p>~</p>The children of today will never know the pleasure of opening the Sunday newspaper to the comics section and finding an advertisement for the Columbia Record & Tape Club. Consequently, the parents of today are spared the frustration of getting rooked into a shady business model that relied heavily on a nation’s collective memory lapse to succeed.<br /><br />From the late 1960s through the 1990s, Columbia Records operated the subsidiary Columbia House, a music by mail subscription program that enticed new customers through its introductory X-number of records/cassettes/CDs for a penny deal. One might find a gatefold ad in the Sunday paper, People Magazine or The National Enquirer, complete with a perforated sheet of album cover “stamps” from which one could select twelve titles to stick to a return postcard. Four to six weeks later your order arrived, along with a difficult-to-end obligation to purchase at least one new selection every month for the foreseeable future at (a severely marked-up) regular price. <br /><br />So, as you whiled away the days spinning the latest releases from Queen and Aerosmith, the good folks at Columbia House had your information plugged into some algorithm that determined the next record to be sent to your house...if you didn’t place an order for something else beforehand. You’d get a postcard to warn you, but maybe it got tossed -- mistaken for junk mail -- or maybe you set it aside, thinking you had time to decide. That’s how you, the Queen and Aerosmith fan, would end up with a copy of Englebert Humperdinck’s Greatest Hits that would cost more in postage to return.<br /><br />It came to pass, in the summer of 1976, that such a memory lapse helped introduce my future husband to Rush.<br /><br />He was eleven years old and had had his fill of The Statler Brothers and similar crossover country-gospel acts his parents favored. He enrolled in the club to build a collection of artists he, as an aspiring rock/jazz pianist, hoped to emulate -- Elton John and The Bee Gees for two. Invariably, he missed a postcard warning and one day opened a package to reveal the default title selected for him: Rush’s 2112.<br /><br />He’d never heard of Rush. He didn’t listen to the only album-oriented rock station in Jacksonville, Florida that might have played anything by this trio of long-haired, kimono-clad men from Canada. He almost slid the album onto the shelf with the albums he did want, content to write it off as an expensive reminder to be more vigilant about those postcards. One thing prevented this: the pentagram on the front cover.<br /><br />Flaming red, as though forged from the fires of Hell. A branding guaranteed to chafe his strict Methodist mother’s eyes every time she entered his room. He figured that alone was worth a listen, and so he dropped the needle on side one and proceeded to fall into what we at home have coined the “Ratatouille moment.”<br /><br />Now, this will make more sense if you’ve seen the Disney film Ratatouille. If you don’t want to invest the time, just go to YouTube and search Ratatouille flashback. In the scene, the antagonist food critic, Anton Ego, bites into that signature dish and is transported back in time to warm memories of Mama’s kitchen and comfort food. My future husband didn’t end up in a Pixar-ed French cottage, but rather a transcendent state of progressive rock bliss. Each note of Alex Lifeson’s guitar in the overture of the title track became a stepping stone toward a new awakening.<br /><br />duh-DUH<br />duh-duh-duhhhh… DUH<br />duh-duh-duh<br />duh-DUH<br />DUH-duh<br /><br />Hearing it now? Imagine scores of tweens and teens and young adults transfixed by the same interstellar march. How many of them, like this young boy growing up in a North Florida subdivision, experienced the same, then scraped up their allowances to purchase Rush’s backlist?<br /><br />Quite a few, if you’ve heard the music that’s come out since. Billy Corgan of Smashing Pumpkins claimed to have spent a year teaching himself to play the entire “2112” suite. Taylor Hawkins of the The Foo Fighters told NPR in 2016, “The overture grabbed me...It was as hard as Sabbath or Zeppelin, but the technicality was on a whole other level.” His bandmate Dave Grohl spoke of the album’s influence on him in Rolling Stone: “When I got 2112 when I was eight years old, it fucking changed the direction of my life. I heard the drums. It made me want to become a drummer.”<br /><br />John Petrucci of Dream Theater would also credit 2112 as the album that changed his life. He wrote in Guitar World, “[2112] opened me up to this whole concept that rock music could be bigger than just a tune—that it could be used as a vehicle to tell a story or to transport you to some other world.”<br /><br />My Ratatouille moment with Rush happened years later. Being an 80s teenager, I gravitated toward the artists who made MTV look good, and vice versa - Michael Jackson, Madonna, Prince, and the second wave British invasion of Duran Duran and Wham! I’d heard of Rush, and knew them mainly as the band my friends’ older siblings preferred. <br /><br />Top 40 radio didn’t play them. Tiger Beat and 16 ignored them. I grudgingly kept MTV on through their concert-footage videos while waiting for the ones I wanted to watch. For me, Rush existed beyond the planes of the comfortable popular culture bubble in which I felt happy to live - visible and perhaps warranting an occasional glance. It wasn’t until the beginning of my relationship with the man I’d eventually marry in 1994 that Rush breached the membrane. <br /><br />By then, my musical tastes had expanded into heavier bands. Yes and Led Zeppelin, for two, had replaced 80s pop on my Walkman. “You might appreciate this, then,” my fiance said one night at his home as he played side one of 2112 on his parents’ stereo.<br /><br />And it happened. The shrill, sci-fi whistle and howl of the “Overture” sliding into Alex Lifeson’s guitar led me into a near 30-year admiration for Rush that has included ten live shows around the country, one pilgrimage to Toronto for RushCon, a brief co-ownership of a Rush fan message board, and one meet and greet with Alex and Geddy. <br /><br />My passion for this band even eclipsed that of my husband’s, and passed along to our daughter - beginning in utero. I was six months pregnant at my first Rush show; the meet and greet photo shows me standing in between Geddy and Al, holding my rounded belly as though willing away premature labor. For the first year after she was born, a bootleg video clip of Neil Peart’s famed drum solo was the only thing that could calm her down from a crying jag.<br /><br />She is a teenager now, with two Rush shows outside the womb under her belt, and learning bass guitar.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">***</div><br />When Rush entered Toronto Sound Studios in February, 1976, it happened likely with feelings of bemusement mixed with impending doom. Their third album, Caress of Steel, was released in the fall of 1975 to negative reviews and sold dismally in their home country as well as in the United States (it would take nearly twenty years for the album to reach RIAA gold certification). The shows scheduled to support the album, plagued by low ticket sales, became known collectively among their inner circle as the “Down the Tubes” tour. <br /><br />Their international label, Mercury Records, was also losing faith in them and determined not to lose money. It appeared that Rush, despite having avoided a sophomore slump with the modest success of Fly By Night, was eventually spiraling into oblivion. The reality of an approaching end was not lost on the band. Alex Lifeson told NPR in 2016, “I remember thinking, 'I had eight years of playing rock in a band, and it's awesome, I love it, and I don't want to compromise. If this will be the end, I dunno, I'll go back to working with my dad plumbing, or go back to school, or something else.'”<br /><br />Nevertheless, Mercury conceded to offer the band one last grab for the brass ring. They allowed for one more album, provided Rush ditch the cerebral, Tolkienesque rock operettas found in the last two albums for catchy radio fare. They wanted songs that could bump Captain and Tennille off the charts.<br /><br />Convinced they had nothing left to lose, Rush went into the 2112 sessions determined to deliver not a simple walk into Mordor, but the mother of all musical concepts: a futuristic suite of songs born of a new mythology, taking up an entire album side. Sure, they’d done it before on Side Two of Caress of Steel with “Fountain of Lamneth,” an epic two seconds short of twenty minutes, its sound reminiscent of early Genesis. Would Rush be so foolish as to use their last chip to pull the same stunt twice?<br /><br />Narrator: They were.<br /><br />While time has since softened criticism of “Fountain of Lamneth” and the rest of Caress of Steel, it wasn’t exactly what an A&R man in 1975 believed would top the Billboard 100. Follow that with another ambitious sci-fi/fantasy chronicle about a gloomy place called Megadon, where nobody knew of music and flowers and love, and one would surmise Rush intended career suicide.<br /><br />They wrote and recorded this album knowing the high probability of failure.<br /><br />They wrote and recorded this album knowing men in suits would blanch in despair, picturing good money circling the drain.<br /><br />They released this album with the knowledge that the rest of their lives hinged on the initial public reception. They’d either bring the tragic tale of Megadon in the year 2112 to appreciative sold-out concert goers throughout the continent, or be resigned to share the classifieds, checking vacant positions against what other skills they possessed. <br /><br />By all logic, the latter scenario should have occurred. 2112’s release date of April 1, 1976 - rather appropriate given their situation - would follow late March blockbusters like Led Zeppelin’s Presence, which shipped gold, and KISS’ Destroyer, which would attain gold in just over a month. How could Megadon compete with “Detroit Rock City” for listeners, much less succeed over Rush’s previous efforts?<br /><br />2112 shouldn’t have worked. Instead, it peaked at the fifth spot on the Canadian Albums Charts and reached sixty-first on the U.S. Billboard LP chart - the first Rush album to enter the Top 100. A little over a year later, 2112 would outsell Rush’s three previous LPs and reach sales of half a million in the U.S. in late 1977 for RIAA Gold certification. <br /><br />In 1995, 2112 was awarded Triple Platinum status, putting it second only to 1981’s Moving Pictures among the band’s top selling studio albums. In a 2012 reader’s poll conducted by Rolling Stone to rank favorite prog rock records, 2112 came in second behind Dream Theater’s Metropolis Pt. 2: Scenes From a Memory.<br /><br />Neil Peart told Sound Magazine in 1976 that 2112 “would have to be the realization of all our hopes.” The album represented a huge gamble for the band, one that paid off handsomely.<br /><br />Forty-five years later, 2112 continues to provide “all the gifts of life,” to aspiring rock musicians and fans.<br /><br />KLhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07228210286017448251noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5271430141159210170.post-76788685125401220852020-10-11T22:49:00.004-04:002021-05-27T16:14:25.792-04:00COVID Re-Read: The Love You Make by Peter Brown and Steven Gaines<p>So...what's new?</p><p>Yeah, I thought we'd be done with this mess by now, too. I thought 2016 had been my personal nadir, but it appears 2020 continues to ask me to hold its beer. Sometimes, though, I feel it's not my place to complain. Compared to other people, I'm not doing badly, but there are days it feels my mind and body are functioning at the bare minimum. Those days, I can't even pick up a book.</p><p>I have a healthy TBR stack meant alone for this blog, and I will finish it. To rediscover my reading groove, I gathered several titles I'd enjoyed in my youth, thinking the nostalgic factor might revive my spirits. Word of warning: if you attempt this yourself you may come away more discouraged.</p><p>A few novels I'd treasured in college...the adult me abhors. On the upside, my Carrie Fisher re-read has strengthened my appreciation for her work. In between, the Beatles tell-all <i>The Love You Make</i> sits.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZRknmZJOgPFFaQC0yxLD6m6EcWKnLv71AVqsxAJ9soSU2yR8bZFqmxCD5etNHlpkOgQfoGSKeba7gh0b21RvceRBTcZzqbXjrMirzc0ujZylwyMhDSz12rzM3kM5FW6hjBhcJlwT8WZ8/s2048/81Gkhk7JV8L.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1360" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZRknmZJOgPFFaQC0yxLD6m6EcWKnLv71AVqsxAJ9soSU2yR8bZFqmxCD5etNHlpkOgQfoGSKeba7gh0b21RvceRBTcZzqbXjrMirzc0ujZylwyMhDSz12rzM3kM5FW6hjBhcJlwT8WZ8/s320/81Gkhk7JV8L.jpg" /></a></div>I chose this as part of my re-read because it was the first Beatles book I ever read. It was also one of the first "adult" books I checked out of my local library, and a rather hefty tome in my eyes. I was in high school, and my classmates were either metal-heads or into Hank, Jr. -- technically, I lived in "the sticks." I listened to hippie music, and even teachers razzed me about it. Well, I have a blog with close to 100 book reviews of mostly classic rock. I guess I showed them!<p></p><div>Anyway, Beatles. Peter Brown had introduced my virgin eyes to the seamy underbelly of the Fab myth. I took my time with this book, imprinting the stories of rutting in filthy Hamburg toilets, toking with Dylan, meditating in their own stench while in India, and drugs fights Yoko and the clap. Decades after reading this, I could still recall passages, something not necessarily achieved with other Beatles books.</div><div><br /></div><div>Does that mean I think this is the best of all the Beatles books? No. Some maintain Brown isn't 100% truthful, some accuse this book of being too depressing and focusing on the negative. I realize the negative is not the place to be in 2020, but high school me went into <i>The Love You Make</i> expecting a story. She got it. In re-reading it, she's still blown away when she's reminded of the monetary losses, the exhaustion, and the infighting these men endured when all they wanted to do was have a good time.</div><div><br /></div><div>They worked. For them, in the end, it paid off. We still talk about The Beatles.</div><div><br /></div><div>Be aware the stories are raw -- it's not all yellow submarines and marmalade skies. In fact, the book begins with a story some will say is cruel, of how Cynthia Lennon returned home from a vacation to find her husband with the woman who would become his next wife. While Brown was part of the Beatles' inner circle as an employee he was also close with the band, particularly John. I will always wonder why he chose that particular moment to launch the story. Many like pointing to John's relationship with Yoko as the beginning of the end, though it's not really true. My guess is Brown wanted to start shocking people right off the bat, unfortunately at Cynthia's expense.</div><div><br /></div><div>So, I won't rank this as the definitive Beatles book as I may not have read it yet, but I will say if you have never read a Beatles biography this may interest you. </div><div><br /></div><div><b>Rating: C</b></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>KLhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07228210286017448251noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5271430141159210170.post-18792022121708196862020-10-11T21:48:00.004-04:002023-05-28T12:28:32.117-04:00Runnin' With the Devil by Noel E. Monk<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOaQ3nKmboH_GyFnaJRRwQ-bZ9se1U6sRS8bSK64IlHErvkZTEQGJLjIgjzGOoXPMDUBr3YDss_0QohPiRGoV2weMD9Qi-gwaWdR5me1M1E8xqXP3EsHZu9wQz8_OiZ-TEvFt5hfGPbVs/s475/noel.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="313" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOaQ3nKmboH_GyFnaJRRwQ-bZ9se1U6sRS8bSK64IlHErvkZTEQGJLjIgjzGOoXPMDUBr3YDss_0QohPiRGoV2weMD9Qi-gwaWdR5me1M1E8xqXP3EsHZu9wQz8_OiZ-TEvFt5hfGPbVs/s320/noel.jpg" /></a></div><br />I asked for one thing for my 13th birthday, a copy of Van Halen's <i>1984</i>. Until that album's release I wasn't a fan; I was drawn toward them when this particular album (and MTV) brought them deeper into the mainstream. I knew die-hard VH fans in school. One classmate owned a Velcro wallet with their logo, as though that certified his admiration. Me, I was caught up in the flotsam when <i>Jump</i> exploded and I figured this album was a good place to build a collection.<p></p><p>I didn't expect to get the album, so I was surprised to unwrap it, even more so when my Catholic father insisted we play the whole thing. Understand that my father was into Roy Orbison and Buck Owens, and I had no idea what other songs were featured on this record. It could have been <i>Jump</i>, <i>Panama</i>, and six songs about "doing it." But he liked <i>Jump</i> - the Chicago Cubs had adopted it as their intro music that summer, so we heard the song often. Days after learning of Eddie Van Halen's untimely departure, I'm reminded of sitting with my dad listening to Van Halen - a sweet and surreal memory given they left in the same year.</p><p>Since Eddie's death we're hearing all sorts of stories about him. Not being a student of Van Halen (yes, I've read two other books, but don't ask my COVID-addled brain to recall the content), I was surprised to hear of the moments of generosity toward fans and especially the bullying he and Alex suffered in high school. One has to wonder how many of those people would tell their children and co-workers, "Yeah, I went to high school with Eddie, we were <i>tight</i>!" Backstage antics, like those recounted in <i>Runnin' With the Devil</i>, present a picture of the band I can understand. Author Monk served first as VH's tour manager, then manager, during the initial Roth era, and published his story in 2017 once a moratorium on telling his side of things expired. His book came to me as part of a group read done in tribute to Eddie. </p><p><i>As</i> a tribute...well, it isn't. <i>Runnin' </i>is a raw history of Monk's involvement with Van Halen, peppered with a few confessional moments that have led to litigation if secrets spilled earlier. Mostly, though, the book talks about nailing bootleg shirt vendors, how much the band liked alcohol and drugs, and how Monk basically babysat a gaggle of badly behaving man-children. Most chapters end with an ominous prediction of the end, and in Monk's defense the band did him dirty. You read of Eddie's benevolence in giving his time to the <i>Thriller</i> album then in nearly the same breath cutting Michael Anthony out of the money, and I don't know what to say about his character. I imagine there was more going on behind the scenes, but the book doesn't reveal it.</p><p>I would have liked to read more about the band in the studio, and while Monk stresses most of the Roth-era albums were recorded in short time, that creative process is lost among tour stories, Roth's ego, and the brothers' drinking. There's entertainment value here, yes, but nothing I hadn't expected to read.</p><p><b>Rating: C</b></p><p><br /></p>KLhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07228210286017448251noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5271430141159210170.post-62815613259734106202020-05-19T20:16:00.000-04:002020-05-19T20:24:27.988-04:00Books by Drummers: Chris Frantz and Woody Woodmansey<i>Thanks to the coronvirus lockdown, I've nearly hit my goal of 50 books in 2020 before the halfway mark. It so happened I had two memoirs by well-known drummers come up back-to-back in my book queue, so here they are:</i><br />
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<b>Remain in Love: Talking Heads, Tom Tom Club, Tina by Chris Frantz</b><br />
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My initial reaction on finishing Chris Frantz's memoir came as a wave of relief, a feeling of happiness for having read a story steeped mainly in positivity while we continue to ride out COVID. Coming off books weighed down by heartbreaks (<i>Open Book</i>) and heroin (<i>Slowhand</i>), I was ready for something to lift me. I figured I couldn't go wrong with the story of a co-founder of an awesome band who's still in love with his awesome co-founder wife after forty-plus years.<br />
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This is not to say you're getting 400 pages of unicorns and gummy bears in <i>Remain In Love</i>. While Frantz gives a straightforward and easygoing voice to his memoir, there's an underlying restraint in the passages that discuss the speed bumps in his journey - about 90% of which involve David Byrne (Johnny Ramone makes up some of the difference). Frantz's life is quite a learning experience, especially for those intent on pursuing a career in music. Though I went into <i>Remain in Love</i> knowing next to nothing about the band (and Frantz emphasizes here that what books exists aren't wholly accurate - par for the course), I suspected I'd find some history of "us versus him" when recounting work with Byrne. That Frantz is able to handle conflicts with song ownership and contracts with calm is very admirable, and even in his writing he doesn't paint pictures of villains.<br />
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<i>Remain in Love</i> is a fun history of the Talking Heads, Frantz and Weymouth's long relationship and their Tom Tom Club projects. It is bit of a non-linear story, so be warned if that rankles. The highlight for me was Frantz's steel-trap recall of the Heads' European tour with the Ramones early in their career, a micro-history within the era of CBGB, early MTV, and a band that straddled rock and punk so well. If you're a fan, you'll come away from <i>Remain in Love</i> with a smile and a valuable lesson: listen to the woman in your group.<br />
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<b>Rating: B</b><br />
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<b>Spiders From Mars: My Life With Bowie by Woody Woodmansey</b><br />
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I picked up <i>Spiders From Mars</i> for two reasons. One: I've yet to review a David Bowie biography or related work, and this one was readily available at my library. Which brings us to the second reason: before the libraries went into lockdown I grabbed all my holds and some extras the night before. <i>Spiders</i> made the cut because the other books were not rock-related, and I hoped to review a few titles while staying at home. I feel I've done right by this blog over the last few months, so let's talk about spiders.<br />
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Rather, drummers. <i>Spiders' </i>full title is somewhat of a misnomer. Bowie's there in the title, because of course Mick "Woody" Woodmansey worked as his drummer over four pivotal albums and his breakthrough Ziggy Stardust tour. Bowie is not the complete story, however, nor the focus. Woodmansey's early small-town life and struggle to work post-Bowie take up good portions of the book as well, stories that parallel the memoir of another drummer reviewed here: <a href="https://booksthatrockus.blogspot.com/2015/05/you-should-be-dancing-my-life-with-bee.html" target="_blank">Dennis Bryon</a>.<br />
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The despair of a future in a small town with no opportunities, the discovery of music as a means to escape it, the serendipitous introduction to people who set the wheels in motion... <i>Spiders</i> details the union with Bowie and early days at the now legendary Haddon Hall. Yet, there's nothing in Woodmansey's voice that comes off as salacious. If you're looking for stories of Bowie banging people of various genders on coffee tables or sidewalks, while rolling in a veneer of coke, this isn't the book. Granted, Bowie isn't drawn as a saint here, but Woodmansey's narrative of whatever conflicts he endured with the singer is diplomatic.<br />
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There is a graphic novel about this era of Bowie's life called <i>Haddon Hall</i> that I'd like to read, to compare Woodmansey's experience.<br />
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<b>Rating: B</b><br />
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<b><br /></b>KLhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07228210286017448251noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5271430141159210170.post-28006291228569949382020-05-09T19:33:00.001-04:002020-05-09T19:33:57.274-04:00Slowhand: The Life and Music of Eric Clapton by Philip Norman<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Some books challenge me when it comes time to review. One I face more often than others is grading the subject as opposed to grading the book itself. Books have the ability to change minds - a person may read the Bible or the witness of a saint and experience a spiritual awakening. A meat lover may read a book on veganism and feel inspired to change their diet. In the near decade since starting this blog, my opinions of certain people have altered thanks to these books.<br />
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Books have the power to inspire, shake people to the core, and change belief systems. When I picked up <i>Slowhand</i> a month before the lockdown began I wondered if such lightning would strike. After reading his ex-wife <a href="https://booksthatrockus.blogspot.com/2011/03/wonderful-tonight-george-harrison-eric.html" target="_blank">Pattie Boyd's memoir</a>, every consequent mention of Eric Clapton spurred a fantasy of him being kicked in the balls repeatedly until he passed out.<br />
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Yeh, I'm not what you'd call a fan. I'm not saying he's not a good musician and not influential, but Clapton's history of treating women like garbage doesn't endear me to him. I will add, too, my opinions of other artists reviewed here have dimmed over time (cough*Hari) - thank you, books. As Philip Norman is one biographer I like to read, I wanted to see a neutral take on Clapton's life and see about a possible change of heart.<br />
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Six days and 400-odd pages later, I still want to kick Clapton in the privates. Yet, I also feel bad for him some respects...a bit. Norman's presentation of Clapton's story doesn't sanitize his reputation, nor does it vilify him. <i>Slowhand</i> spans from Clapton's illegitimate birth in Surrey on to a summarized career denouement in the early 00s. Clapton's early, slow rise to celebrity - colored by strained relationships with peers, unresolved familial strife, and drugs - through the "Tears in Heaven" climax comprise the meat of the book. Norman seems to favor gossipy history over details of Clapton's craft, however. You'll learn about a phenomenon coined the "Clapton Luck," which blesses the bio's subject every time he ends up in a sticky situation, be it a near-miss drug bust or most of his sexual liaisons that don't result in kids or crabs. In actuality, it may be more white privilege or the people around Clapton who spoiled/enabled him, but sure, let's go with luck.<br />
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Of the Norman-penned bios I've read, I wouldn't rank this one the highest. I still intend to read his Jagger book, so we'll see where that one falls in rank.<br />
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<b>Rating: B-</b> KLhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07228210286017448251noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5271430141159210170.post-61852816578455247672020-05-05T21:49:00.001-04:002020-05-05T21:50:00.264-04:00Open Book by Jessica Simpson<img align="right" border="0" data-original-height="499" data-original-width="329" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy7akVbxbACjn2idxD0429wqSyFM8xQb6q4Y9DI29ZRK_mzGWa3dplMkkpA4BHz7eh0e7BErAzZTIeB7QI5wteNi29345ILRjXNs_0RsOgdsOTXjdMFo_F6MWgEtKoiYkDiNbgFlaQPN4/s320/openbook.jpg" />I debated whether or not to add a review of <i>Open Book</i> to this blog. On one hand, the majority of titles covered here concern artists of the early (I define as the 1950s-60s), mid (70s) and late (80s) classic rock eras. I never set out to limit the blog to a specific time frame - it just happens the majority of books I find are quasi-historical. Until this point, the most "recent" artist discussed here was Amy Winehouse, who isn't necessarily classified as rock. Of course, I've reviewed Sinatra bios here, too. I'm like the Hall of Fame in some respects, reaching toward the fringes when the mood suits. If they can induct ABBA, why shouldn't I read a book about them?
<br /><div><br /></div><div>We're talking about Jessica Simpson, though. The book came recommended to me via Twitter, but I wasn't going to review it here at first because I hadn't realized she started out as a pop singer. I knew she acted. I knew she had a reality show, but I had thought the show had been built on her fame as an actress and her <i>marriage</i> to a singer. That I'm not familiar with her music wasn't a deterrent - I've reviewed books by/about people outside my playlists. If a story appeals I read it, and the timeliness of certain themes in <i>Open Book</i> drew me to place a hold at the library.</div><div><br /></div><div>One theme, really - how women have to put up with so much bullshit and fight to rise above it. Simpson's journey from <i>Mickey Mouse Club</i> also-ran to owner of a billion-dollar fashion empire (with a few albums in between) displayed shades of "this sounds familiar"...</div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Lack of control over the direction of her career - Cyndi Lauper suffered that early on</li><li>Pressure from labels and/or management to sex up the image - remember Heart in the 80s?</li><li>Jealous asshole husband/boyfriend - Nearly every woman mentioned on this blog</li><li>Body image issues/shame fostered by work environment and media snickering - Janis had feelings, too, y'all </li><li>That vice is a balm - Simpson liked her cocktail but thankfully didn't get into the harder stuff that helped others bulk up the 27 list</li></ul><div><i>Open Book</i> is a confessional and somewhat of a cautionary tale, one I enjoyed reading. It didn't necessarily convert me into a fan; I have my tastes, and they don't align with Simpson's style. Her story, though, pretty much confirms my suspicions of the modern music industry and its treatment of women - one can sense the hurt she experiences as scouts seem to dismiss her in favor of Britney and Christina, like she's the bronze. Reading this book, I got the impression at times there is more to tell. We get bits and pieces in various places, and Simpson's voice spoke to me of a person who tries her damnedest to be good when she'd rather be bad -- as if to prove nice girls don't have to finish last. There's a lot bubbling on the surface, but just when you think you're going deep you're taken to another place in the story.</div><div><br /></div><div>Though I may never purchase anything from Simpson's clothing line or listen to her music, I can applaud her resilience and ability to move past years of ridicule and emotional abuse and come out a victor. Blaming Simpson for a football team's poor performance, for one... what the fuck? </div><div><br /></div><div>Also, J--n M---r is garbage.</div><div><br /></div><div><b>Rating: B</b></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>KLhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07228210286017448251noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5271430141159210170.post-75014334058532979642020-04-20T19:39:00.003-04:002020-04-20T19:49:58.413-04:00Anthem: Rush in the '70s by Martin PopoffFollowing friends and family via social feeds, I've seen a divide with regards to seeking comfort during self-isolation. Some people I know who knit, draw, or watch specific TV shows aren't doing so now, though they appear to have more time for it. They reason that they don't wish to associate things they love with a pandemic, and therefore risk losing their affinity for knitting, drawing, etc. once this is over.<br />
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Before the pandemic took hold, Neil Peart - drummer and chief lyricist of my favorite band - died of cancer. Many fans failed to find comfort in listening to the music. It served more to remind us of what we lost. I'll admit, too, I'd had a hard time getting through a few songs, much less an entire album the last few months. It's only recently that I've been able to listen to a Rush record in full.<br />
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This reluctance, thankfully, didn't extend to reading. After news of Neil's death broke, an online book club organized an impromptu read of his most recent travelogue, <i>Far and Wide: Bring That Horizon To Me </i>(<a href="https://booksthatrockus.blogspot.com/2020/01/far-and-wide-bring-that-horizon-to-me.html" target="_blank">review)</a>. More recently, I was offered the opportunity to preview the first in a series of Rush biographies. Journalist Martin Popoff, known for his books on Rush and other groups of the classic rock era, will release <i>Anthem: Rush in the 1970s </i>(<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Anthem-Rush-1970s-Across-Decades-ebook/dp/B083W2QWVB/" target="_blank">Amazon</a>) next month through Neil's publisher, ECW Press.<br />
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While the title provides a clear indication of content, <i>Anthem</i> also delivers the pre-history of the Hall of Fame lineup - Geddy Lee, Alex Lifeson, and Neil - as it evolved from the basement bands with names known among super-fans (John Rutsey, Lindy Young). Popoff relies heavily on interview content from band members and other personnel, notably manager Ray Danniels and touring crew Howard Ungerleider and Liam Birt - all of whom stayed with Rush for nearly the full span of their career.<br />
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Additional insight provided through interviews with family and friends, in particular "the boys'" parents - fan favorites in their own right - bring a fullness to the origin story.<br />
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If <i>Anthem </i>has an advantage over other Rush biographies, it's in the band's story as told by the people who lived it. While an avid fan may not discover anything they haven't already learned from the <i>Beyond the Lighted Stage</i> documentary or Popoff's other works, newer and fringe fans may welcome this very detailed introduction. I enjoyed this read, but will admit I'm looking especially forward to part three which presumably covers Rush in the 90s (ECW Press lists the second book as <i>Limelight</i>: <i>Rush in the 80s</i>) as it's the period where I not only discovered the band but don't have as much knowledge.<br />
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<b>Rating: B</b><br />
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<br />KLhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07228210286017448251noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5271430141159210170.post-29187488643774771602020-03-08T11:08:00.004-04:002020-03-08T11:08:37.646-04:00Idol Reading: Elton John and Leif Garrett<em>I rather like the tandem review format; it seems many books I read share a common theme, particularly those that aren't about the same subject. These memoirs are by two of the biggest names of the 70s.</em><br />
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<b>Me by Elton John</b><br />
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<b><br /></b>So I have an Elton John story. Sometime in the mid-00s I had a job with a web design firm. One of the firm's clients was an entertainment venue; we handled site updates and support, but a third-party server hosted the site. It came to pass that Elton was scheduled for a special performance there - a big deal since it wasn't a large venue and...well, it's Elton. The venue site was to sell tickets direct, which was important because it meant they'd profit more from those sales than from other vendors.<br />
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Well, you can guess what happened the day of the sale. Site crashes, go boom. Both of my bosses are away at a meeting to renew a contract with another client, and both decided to turn off their phones because...well, Important Meeting. I'm the girl who answers the phone and never touches the venue client, and on this day I'm answering angry phone calls that are coming every five minutes. It means nothing that the crash is a server issue we cannot control. I'm the only one in the office. It's my problem to solve. For every phone call I make to the server company, I get two back from the client. Tick tock, they're losing ticket sales and people are calling them.<br />
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When my boss turns on his phone, he discovers dozens of voicemails from me calling him every horrible name that comes to mind. My degree is in English; I know lot of words. Once we manage to get the site fixed the show is sold out. My boss told me later that our contact informed him that due to the botched sale, "Elton is so mad at you."<br />
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I can't tell you if Elton still bears a grudge. I did learn, while reading <i>Me</i>, that he makes no mention of this incident, so perhaps the hard feelings have softened. Or else, this story isn't worth mentioning in the same tome as Elton's lifelong journey to a good place. <i>Me</i> is a thoughtfully written history rich in insecurities and yearning for acceptance, white powder, and serendipitous fortunes. It's not without a few mysteries that remain so, either - Elton's reluctance to go deep into his brief marriage to Renate Blauel inspires questions, yet ultimately they give way to admiration for the way he protects those memories.<br />
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I must admit, I came into this book expecting more bravado and brag - attitude to match the costumes - but at the end you meet a person of great generosity and talent who, despite having the love of millions of fans, wants the love of family. The book surprised me and I'm glad I took the time to read it.<br />
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I'm also sorry about the tickets, even though I really had nothing to do...eh, forget it.<br />
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<b>Rating: A</b><br />
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<b>Idol Truth: a Memoir by Leif Garrett</b><br />
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<b><br /></b>I should have memories of Leif Garrett, but I don't. It's strange given that, although his tenure as a teen idol was brief, it happened in a time where other names I can recall were elevated. I remember the Cassidy brothers, Andy Gibb, Donny Osmond, and pre-<i>Thriller</i> Michael Jackson, and their music. I remember the blinding gaudiness of 70s variety television, which was Leif's milieu. I just don't remember seeing or hearing much.<br />
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Garrett wrote <i>Idol Truth</i>, as he explains in the foreword, to talk about what really went down during the handling of his teen idol career, basically negating some of what VH1's <i>Behind the Music</i> told us. Garrett delivers a personal history of minute details in very short paragraphs, and a searing indictment of his management team - people more concerned with profit than his well-being. We can tsk at Garrett's long stretch of drug abuse and womanizing, but considering the lack of authority watching out for the welfare of a child (yes, a person under 18 is a child, and this industry pushed Garrett into situations most adults never experience) may just leave you shuddering.<br />
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Be aware of a number of content warnings: underage sex, drugs, suicide talk. The brevity of chapters in <i>Idol Truth</i> make Garrett's story read like a long arc of vignettes and you may finish in a day. However, this did make the narrative a bit choppy for me, more so with a number of repetitions in the story.<br />
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<b>Rating: C</b><br />
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KLhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07228210286017448251noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5271430141159210170.post-70180313654836484972020-02-23T10:03:00.001-05:002020-02-23T10:11:42.576-05:00All Hail the Queens<em>Try as I might to conquer IRL stuff, it gets the best of me. I keep on reading, keep on chiseling away at this site. I read these a while back and let them linger in my mind. They seem to go together; you may want to read them in tandem yourself.</em>
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<b>A Song For You: My Life With Whitney Houston by Robyn Crawford</b><br />
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I didn't know what to expect going into <i>A Song For You</i>. While I didn't follow Whitney Houston's career, or the tabloid press that hounded her in life and death, I picked up things here and there. I'd heard lesbian rumors, I'd heard her family had her in a metaphorical headlock for much of her career, I heard her death might have been an Illuminati sacrifice (seriously, Google it but don't tell them I sent you).<br />
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With regards to the first two items, Robyn Crawford uses this opportunity to clear some air, and it's not done in a sordid way. This book reads in a sincere voice, one that almost breaks at the sad parts if you can hear it in your mind. I get that what Robyn felt for Whitney transcended friendship, camaraderie... and her frustration at watching the Houston family's treatment of the singer is palpable. It simmers, but I get the impression she is holding back a greater anger, and perhaps the sordid details people whisper on the Internet. It's like Crawford is caught between wanting to tell the truth and wanting to protect Whitney, even though nothing can touch her anymore, and in the end mourning her inability to prevent a tragic end.<br />
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<b>Rating: B</b><br />
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<b>God Save the Queens: The Essential History of Women in Hip-Hop by Kathy Iandoli</b><br />
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I love that a book like this exists. Iandoli is a journalist with decades of immersion in the hip-hop scene, and the result of her knowledge and access to influential figures in the genre is this comprehensive history. Iandoli traces the timeline of women's involvement in rap from parties in apartment building common rooms to jaw-dropping response records (read: The Roxanne Wars - I hadn't realized there was more than one "Roxanne" out there) to the present day. Iandoli's style is loose and engaging, injected with a touch of humor - a quick jab to readers waiting to "get to the chapter about Nicki Minaj" made me smile - and acknowledgement that the book might not be 100% complete. It may only mean there are still stories to discover, and perhaps a revised edition will appear one day.<br />
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<b>Rating: A-</b><br />
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KLhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07228210286017448251noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5271430141159210170.post-46330858845064114942020-01-21T21:22:00.002-05:002020-01-21T21:22:56.623-05:00The Beautiful Ones by Prince<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Oh, where do I even begin?<br />
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Don't take that the wrong way, now. <i>The Beautiful Ones</i> is many things. It's a glimpse into the life of one of the most fascinating people of our time. It's a weighty delight, filled with snapshots in muted 70's colors. It's a revelation, a peek at the foundation of what we loved best about Prince.<br />
<br />
More than that, it's an attempt at something big, and a sad reminder of mortality. Prince's name is above the title, and his spirit is present here, but one can only wonder what we could have had if he lived long enough to put more of himself into this book.<br />
<br />
Prince was to have collaborated with journalist Dan Piepenbring on <i>The Beautiful Ones</i>. In reading Piepenbring's lengthy introduction, we learn that Prince had several handwritten pages and a specific vision for a book. Prince wanted to end racism with it, and in asking Piepenbring to define "racism" he got a textbook answer. Despite that, he agreed to work with the man.<br />
<br />
If you were to ask me what racism is, I would say fear. Fear is an amazing motivator that drives one to self-preservation. Fear of poverty, for example, might lead a person to hoard money and buy generic, rent movies from the library and pack lunches. I believe some take it further through aggressive behavior designed to keep certain people from succeeding, if only to maintain one's higher (safe) status. I can't speak for Prince, but maybe he wanted to eliminate that fear through his work, as though to say we can all stand in the same place without worry.<br />
<br />
We will never know the true content of this book. What we have is a story in four parts, one of which belongs to Piepenbring. I doubt we'd have seen such a long introduction had Prince lived, and in this intro is the concern that a book without Prince would become nothing more than a collection of things.<br />
<br />
That's what we have here, though. It's nice to see the pictures and the original treatment of <i>Purple Rain</i>, but I thought the heart of the book rested in the actual pages Prince wrote, which are presented here as scans of his handwriting and in text. This is a graphic heavy book, best read in print or in a good reading app, and once you pass this section you may be tempted to skim the rest if squinting to read cursive isn't your thing.<br />
<br />
I enjoyed what I read, but on the same note I mourned what could have been. That's why I find it challenge to rate <i>The Beautiful Ones</i>. An A for content and especially Prince's contribution and B- for execution, though I can't fault Prince or Piepenbring for that. I don't want to make a habit of not rating books, but in this case (like with Neil Peart's <i>Far and Wide)</i> I'm abstaining.<br />
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<br />KLhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07228210286017448251noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5271430141159210170.post-24784241602007486252020-01-19T19:42:00.000-05:002020-01-21T21:29:48.983-05:00Far and Wide: Bring That Horizon To Me by Neil Peart <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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We lost Neil Peart. Several days after the fact, I can think of very little to say about it except, "Fuck."<br />
<br />
Since the news broke almost ten days ago, I've read many lovely tributes from fans and close friends, musicians and industry people. There's a sad consensus in all of the eulogies: Peart was a professional in every sense, not necessarily a person who chased fame but acknowledged that much of what he had came from it. Even that wasn't enough to stop death. Rush fans grudgingly accepted the band was done as far as records and tours, but that didn't mean the actual end. I had known there were hopes to see film adaptations of some of Neil's books. <i>Ghost Rider</i> had been optioned at one point, and members of a fan board had Tom Hanks cast in the lead. That was years ago, though. Colin Hanks would be a more logical pick now.<br />
<br />
Neil was not as public as his bandmates, and that's okay. In life he slipped away from us after shows; a quick wave and off to the nearest exit to ride away while the rest of us stayed for the outro video. He kept it up until the very last day.<br />
<br />
There's a passage in his last travelogue, <i>Far and Wide</i>, that talks a bit of other drummers to whom Peart is compared and listed among best of the best - Dennis Wilson, John Bonham, Keith Moon. Each suffered an untimely end due to different excesses, none of them making it to 40. Rush fans, having followed the exploits of "our boys" for decades, wouldn't expect any of them to meet a tragic fate of the rock and roll variety, but I think it's safe to say nobody expected cancer to fell our drummer.<br />
<br />
At 67. Three years after retirement. In the <i>brain.</i> We call him The Professor for a reason, and for cancer to strike him there has quite a cruel edge to it. It fucking sucks.<br />
<br />
I've read most of Peart's books; not all are reviewed here. Some I've enjoyed, others I've critiqued. If I had to pick a favorite, it would be one of the <i>Far</i> series. I finished <i>Far and Wide</i> recently as part of a book group read, a spontaneous choice following Peart's death. It's an optimistic book, one that's almost painful to read given the context. <i>Wide</i> collects Peart's road essays covering the final tour, and is laced with wistful memories of roads already traveled and the revelation that he will enjoy the time spent with his young daughter more.<br />
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I said this fucking sucks, right? It's not entirely clear how long after the tour Peart learned of his illness, but it's safe to say he spent what should have been his well-earned retirement fighting it. <i>Wide</i> appears to have been produced as a work of promise for a new journey, but I worry it may be looked on more as a bittersweet coda. Like when Charles Schulz died after drawing his last strip.<br />
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It also happens that my reading this coincides with my own father's declining health. I was fortunate to have him around longer, but the loss is no less painful for me. A lot of memes circulating my social feeds implore us to not feel sad, but to smile for having breathed the same air as Rush, and having the music. I should feel the same way about my own dad, and perhaps the pain will lighten in time.<br />
<br />
For young Olivia, too.<br />
<br />
<i>I won't rate this book right now, but I do recommend it.</i><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />KLhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07228210286017448251noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5271430141159210170.post-7252871112276428132020-01-19T18:58:00.001-05:002020-01-19T18:58:41.904-05:00Anatomy of a Song: The Oral History of 45 Iconic Hits That Changed Rock, R&B and Pop by Marc Myers<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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If you aspire to write songs, you may look on <i>Anatomy of a Song</i> as part guide and part inspiration. This book is a collection of select columns penned by Marc Myers for <i>The Wall Street Journal</i>, which - if they are produced intact here - feature more input from the songwriters than the columnist. The 45 songs chosen, as noted in the introduction, aren't offered as a "best of" list of popular songs but an assortment from which readers can learn of different processes and perhaps discover a new-to-them artist.<div>
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It's definitely an interesting lineup. You'll hop from the harmonious early 60s hit "Chapel of Love" to the Kinks' "You Really Got Me," on down through the decades to land on REM's "Losing My Religion." Depending on your tastes, you'll be drawn to some stories more than others - I paid more attention reading up on Steely Dan, Aerosmith, and other acts toward the end of the rock spectrum. I don't which columns didn't make the cut, but I had few quarrels with the table of contents. I mean, I like Bonnie Raitt fine, but I'm not sure how "Nick of Time" qualifies as a song that changed rock. It certainly changed the course of her career, but maybe that was the point.<br /><br /><b>Rating: B+</b><br /><br /><b>About the Book</b><br /><br />Every great song has a fascinating backstory. And here, writer and music historian Marc Myers brings to life five decades of music through oral histories of forty-five era-defining hits woven from interviews with the artists who created them, including such legendary tunes as the Isley Brothers’ Shout, Led Zeppelin’s Whole Lotta Love, Janis Joplin’s Mercedes Benz, and R.E.M’s Losing My Religion.<br /> <br />After receiving his discharge from the army in 1968, John Fogerty did a handstand—and reworked Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony to come up with Proud Mary. Joni Mitchell remembers living in a cave on Crete with the mean old daddy who inspired her 1971 hit Carey. Elvis Costello talks about writing (The Angels Wanna Wear My) Red Shoes in ten minutes on the train to Liverpool. And Mick Jagger, Jimmy Page, Rod Stewart, the Clash, Jimmy Cliff, Roger Waters, Stevie Wonder, Keith Richards, Cyndi Lauper, and many other leading artists reveal the emotions, inspirations, and techniques behind their influential works.<br /> <br />Anatomy of a Song is a love letter to the songs that have defined generations of listeners and “a rich history of both the music industry and the baby boomer era” (Los Angeles Times Book Review).</div>
KLhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07228210286017448251noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5271430141159210170.post-70700106931413122522020-01-04T20:46:00.002-05:002020-01-19T19:52:53.976-05:00Janis: Her Life and Music by Holly George-Warren<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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It didn't hit me until reading the acknowledgements section of this biography that Janis Joplin didn't have a long career. Yeah, I know all about the 27 Club, yada yada, but she joined that only after four years of professional work. Three albums in her lifetime, followed by decades of posthumous releases that stand testament to quite a legacy. A good third of the hardcover edition of <i>Janis</i> is notes and the index, indicating that what remains in actual biography is thoroughly detailed.<br />
<br />
I like Joplin's work; I have <i>Pearl</i> and a greatest hits album. I liked this book as well. It's the first Joplin bio I've read, and it's written in a loving manner. It's appropriate, I think, and you'll appreciate it given what Joplin endured in her short life. Hers is a story people should know, particularly in this time of questioning gender norms and supporting people in marginalized groups. Knowing Joplin's story helps my appreciation of her music as well; George-Warren shows us a woman who readily credited the people who influenced her (Bessie Smith and Lead Belly for two) and lifted them up through her voice.<br />
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She packed a hell of a lot of living in 27 years, too. It's not a life I could live - Joplin is quoted as saying she'd rather check out after an explosive decade than live to be 70 and boring. I'm fine with the latter - it gives me time to read. In a way, I suppose I'm living the quiet part of life Joplin craved at one point.<br />
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That aside, I enjoyed <i>Janis </i>for it's objective storytelling and detail. It's a microcosmic history, a nice puzzle piece fitting into the overall 60s scene.<br />
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<b>Rating: A</b><br />
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<b>About the Book: </b>Janis Joplin’s first transgressive act was to be a white girl who gained an early sense of the power of the blues, music you could only find on obscure records and in roadhouses along the Texas and Louisiana Gulf Coast. But even before that, she stood out in her conservative oil town. She was a tomboy who was also intellectually curious and artistic. By the time she reached high school, she had drawn the scorn of her peers for her embrace of the Beats and her racially progressive views. Her parents doted on her in many ways, but were ultimately put off by her repeated acts of defiance.<br />
<br />
Janis Joplin has passed into legend as a brash, impassioned soul doomed by the pain that produced one of the most extraordinary voices in rock history. But in these pages, Holly George-Warren provides a revelatory and deeply satisfying portrait of a woman who wasn’t all about suffering. Janis was a perfectionist: a passionate, erudite musician who was born with talent but also worked exceptionally hard to develop it. She was a woman who pushed the boundaries of gender and sexuality long before it was socially acceptable. She was a sensitive seeker who wanted to marry and settle down—but couldn’t, or wouldn’t. She was a Texan who yearned to flee Texas but could never quite get away—even after becoming a countercultural icon in San Francisco.<br />
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Written by one of the most highly regarded chroniclers of American music history, and based on unprecedented access to Janis Joplin’s family, friends, band mates, archives, and long-lost interviews, Janis is a complex, rewarding portrait of a remarkable artist finally getting her due. KLhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07228210286017448251noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5271430141159210170.post-43919898027035400542019-12-31T20:46:00.000-05:002019-12-31T20:46:02.345-05:00Reading in Rock 2018-2019Nobody will be happier than I to see this decade end. While I realize the next set of ten doesn't officially begin until 2021, I'm calling it here. The Tweens were okay, but the Teens for the most part can go soak. Stuff happened, and stuff kept me from things that gave me joy. Some of this stuff remains in my head, and it's my goal in the 20s to shake away the stuff and get my groove back.<br />
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What peeves me at the moment is that some of this stuff currently clings to the wings of the plane flying us the eff out of this year. I won't elaborate because I'd prefer not to speak bad juju into this space. Know that I intend to reclaim daily joy, and it starts here.<br />
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First, I had to discern where my joy truly lives. Is it in writing, publishing, general creativity, where? A good chunk of it, I realize, comes in reading. I feel happy knowing a book on hold at the library is available. I feel happy when I check my library hold queue and see my position moving up on the titles I want to read. Check this out:<br />
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I'm third up for the Prince book. I was 9th for the longest time. The Elton John book...still first in line but it seems like months. I don't know if somebody is sitting on the book, or if the librarians are passing it around first or what. I had other books leapfrog it in line. Something has to give soon.<br />
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As you see, three of these titles are relevant to this blog. I will review them there as I read them. I did note on my home site the reasons why I stopped reviewing, but you know what? Eff that noise. There is a movement in a specific genre where a spirit of doxxing and harassment has clouded the community. Some people now view critiques of books as personal attacks, and as such reviewing has suffered.<br />
<br />
I love books. I love to talk about books. I do not believe a negative or unenthusiastic review destroys careers or discourages sales. I've purchased books despite negative reviews. I have written books. Some people hate them. Whatevs. Certain people have given me grief for years; I didn't die.<br />
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Consider this a toxic cleanse. I want to talk about books in 2020, but as I am chronically early why wait?<br />
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<b>While I Was Out...</b><br />
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I may come back and talk about these in depth later, but perimenopause brain fog is a bitch. While you were watching Bojack Horseman and/or writing thinkpieces about the Star Wars, I spent the last two years reading over 150 books, including these seven:<br />
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<b>Paul McCartney: The Life by Philip Norman</b><br />
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I noted on Goodreads that I enjoyed this bio more than I did the other McCartney book I've read (<a href="https://booksthatrockus.blogspot.com/2011/07/fab-intimate-life-of-paul-mccartney-by.html" target="_blank">it's reviewed here</a>). Norman's bio of John Lennon has stayed with me somewhat as well, and at times I've had his books on Jagger and Clapton on hold. I may be due for a general re-read of Norman's works to refresh my memory, but what I can recall of this: it didn't come off as a character assassination piece. Granted, Paul's no angel, but I recall some objective atmosphere with this book.<br />
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<b>Rating: B+</b></td>
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<b>Thanks a Lot, Mr. Kibblewhite by Roger Daltrey</b>
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<b><br /></b>
This was my first read of 2019. It's not as long as Pete's brick of a memoir, and from what I recall it's not as meticulously detailed. Still, I learned new things from Roger's story and remain amazed that I can be charmed by people who do not always deserve the attention.<br />
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These are rock stars who do rock star things, and shrug off what causes most of us vanilla peeps to clutch our pearls. Anyway, if you're a fast reader this is a two-day splurge at best.<br />
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<b>Rating: B</b></td>
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<b>Geddy Lee's Big Beautiful Book of Bass</b>
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<b><br /></b>
I do wish I could have attended a signing. This is a coffee table book, beautifully photographed and presented as a practical bible of the instrument. It's not solely for Rush fans, but any person who appreciates the bass. I like the idea of this book, because you find the bass - any instrument - is artwork, and offers diversity in a song as much as it is a stable line the lead guitar can wrap around.<br />
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<b>Rating: A</b><br />
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<b>The Roof: The Beatles' Final Concert by Ken Mansfield</b>
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<b><br /></b>
When I need cheer, I go to YouTube and search for this concert. I wondered what a book like this could tell me that I couldn't discern from the actual footage. I read this over a day and a half in March, and honestly the memory of it didn't stick. Author Mansfield worked for Apple at the time, so that got him upstairs. Awesome for him, but otherwise the book in my memory is a stretched-thin memoir.<br />
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<b>Rating: C</b><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiPiEqCg3VaIqJ9R3NehBUoLKVNNiK23w3G_D0a8y1bJaKQFVm76QHPZtG-Pzdu9_7J_6S21SAMKdSNb46sM0qoK0alEQkl_GdCiQHpdAbG8JmAiqI6ak6kdU8ZIanN18YYg7xdRaF9e0/s1600/daisy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="312" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiPiEqCg3VaIqJ9R3NehBUoLKVNNiK23w3G_D0a8y1bJaKQFVm76QHPZtG-Pzdu9_7J_6S21SAMKdSNb46sM0qoK0alEQkl_GdCiQHpdAbG8JmAiqI6ak6kdU8ZIanN18YYg7xdRaF9e0/s320/daisy.jpg" width="210" /></a></div>
<b>Daisy Jones & the Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid</b>
<br />
<b><br /></b>
This was one of the 'it' books of the year, the celebrity book club darling. It will probably become a film with Brie Larson and Chris Pine or whoever is hot in the next two years. I liked it from the standpoint of the story - 60s-70s L.A. music scene, romantic drama and a woman at the forefront. It's told in oral history style, much like <i><a href="https://booksthatrockus.blogspot.com/2017/04/kicking-and-dreaming-story-of-heart.html" target="_blank">Kicking and Dreaming</a></i> and a few other books reviewed here. So if that type of book rankles you, be warned. Other readers speculate the story is inspired by Fleetwood Mac; it may be true, but I got some Joni Mitchell/Graham Nash vibes.<br />
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<b>Rating: B+</b><br />
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<b>Face It by Debbie Harry</b>
<br />
<b><br /></b>
In the non-Rush category, I would rank this my favorite of the books listed here. I see some Blondie die-hards have dismissed it as derivative of earlier books about the band, but I never followed Blondie beyond the one greatest hits CD I own. Well, that and <i>The Muppet Show.</i> I look at a book by a newish to me group as a learning opportunity, and what stories Debbie told interested me.<br />
<br />
Word of warning, you'll enjoy this more in print. It's graphic heavy and that doesn't always translate well to digital.<br />
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<b>Rating: B+</b><br />
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<b>Backstage Pass by Paul Stanley</b>
<br />
<b><br /></b>
I don't dislike this book, but I liked <i><a href="https://booksthatrockus.blogspot.com/2014/04/face-music-life-exposed-by-paul-stanley.html" target="_blank">Face the Music</a></i> more. By and large, this is a TED talk, perhaps a companion to what self-helpish books Gene has written. It's short and basically boils down to Paul telling you that people who try to bring you down can go eff themselves. He adapted "the Secret" to his own terms and now look at him.<br />
<br />
Seriously, you see <i>Backstage Pass</i> and think it's a deep dive into the world of KISS, but it's more of a backstage pass into Paul as Starchild the guru, and you may take something from his experiences.<br />
<br />
<b>Rating: C</b></td>
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Watch for more reviews in 2020. I hope to add more diversity to this archive - stories about female artists, artists of color, and musicians who aren't necessarily big with Western audiences. Of course, if I see a Rush book I'll be on it like By-Tor on the Snow Dog. Peace.KLhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07228210286017448251noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5271430141159210170.post-76404800031262894632017-11-27T22:21:00.002-05:002017-11-27T22:28:31.473-05:00Once There Was a Way: What if The Beatles Stayed Together? by Bryce Zabel<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b><i>Buy <a href="http://amzn.to/2jrgSPU" target="_blank">Once There Was A Way</a> at Amazon.</i></b><br />
<b><i><br /></i></b>
Read author Zabel's biography on Goodreads, and you'll find an impressive resume steeped in sci-fi and speculative fiction, and it's not limited to book format. <i>Once There Was A Way </i>is an alternative history, and while it is a work of fiction I hesitate to call it a novel. It's not a narrative in the traditional sense, like previous Beatle-related fiction reviewed here. Ian R. MacLeod's <i>Snodgrass</i> stands out in my mind because it also asks "what if?" That story followed John Lennon in a life of near squalor, having left The Beatles before reaching any level of international fame. <i>Once</i> offers not just a "what if" but "what could have been."<br />
<br />
The book begins in 1968 at the dawn of the Apple age, with John and Paul about to announce its genesis on <i>The Tonight Show. </i>Immediately the trajectory veers from actual history. Reality shows (or it would, if the full footage still existed) John and Paul had to settle that night for a substitute host, Joe Garagiola. Book John and Book Paul have enough sense to hold out for the real thing, and Carson jumps.<br />
<br />
From there we're treated to a story laid out in lengthy <i>Behind The Music</i> style as The Beatles flirt with divorce but ultimately agree to probationary periods of togetherness for the sake of keeping Apple viable and solvent. They agree to completing film and album commitments, yet take turns gazing longingly at the exit. Unlike bands that stay together for the paycheck despite passing their prime, The Beatles continue to spin gold.<br />
<br />
Zabel threads in non-events ingrained in band lore (the invitation to Woodstock, the <i>Lord of the Rings</i> adaptation) and makes them happen. As the band's life span lengthens, so some of the individual achievements in song become those of the group. Some moments in the story seem almost too far-fetched and <i>Forrest Gump</i>, even for speculative fiction, but as escapism it inspires a smile.<br />
<br />
My big issue with the book was the style. Once I realized I didn't have a straight narrative story I felt apprehensive about following through. The strength of <i>Once There Was A Way</i> comes in the characters. If you're big on The Beatles you're more likely to enjoy this than a non-fan. After getting through the initial chapter about <i>The Tonight Show, </i>I found my groove and finished this with good speed.<br />
<br />
As for how long The Beatles remain together in this book, and who survives to the end, I won't spoil it. I will say Zabel's ending probably reflects the feelings of a number of fans who had hoped for more after 1970.<br />
<br />
<i>An ARC from Netgalley was received from the publisher for the purpose of this review.</i><br />
<br />
<b><i>Rating: B-</i></b><br />
<b><i><br /></i></b>
<i><a href="http://www.kathrynlively.com/" target="_blank">Kathryn Lively</a> is looking for her next book to read.</i>KLhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07228210286017448251noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5271430141159210170.post-68516246742748335342017-08-05T16:53:00.001-04:002017-11-13T20:36:10.392-05:00Summer Reading in Rock<br />
Every summer I say I will read more, and every summer I flop on the couch and pray for winter to hurry up. If it's possible to feel too hot to read, I've achieved it. I fear I've reached a point in my life where I have to psych myself not only to read a book, but discuss it. Typically I pledge to read 150 books a year on my Goodreads account. This year I shot low - 50 - but I'll surpass that number. By how much, I can't say.<br />
<br />
I've bought rock books, reserved them at the library, and put them away. I apologize for hitting the low curve of the cycle once again, but I have finished a few titles and have thoughts. I look forward to the later half of this year when biographies of Stevie Nicks and Artimus Pyle are released. In the meantime...<br />
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<a href="http://amzn.to/2fioiGM" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="346" data-original-width="218" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSnNS9HfijKLEfrJuG5Nr4ss9NPbxz_Z-xBr45cyp_IenDyaemN3NLFamQViKGB6aUjigzB-1tcC4dlDhqF6fPgj-7HxSqcTOJZ6GlmAcNv75k1oL8h0yeRnb6c1IzDSZA1CAl7eG_w04/s320/BeatlesShea.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<b><i>The Beatles Play Shea</i> by James Woodall<br />a Kindle single - <a href="http://amzn.to/2fioiGM" target="_blank">buy at Amazon</a></b><br />
<b><br /></b>
This title is short. I picked it up during a Kindle Unlimited trial that included <i>The Handmaid's Tale</i> and a Fred Stoller memoir. The sub-title on the cover misled me at bit. I had expected to read an actual history of the landmark concert at Shea Stadium and instead came away learning very little. There's buildup to the event but little substance, and at times the narrative strayed to other topics distantly relevant to the event.<br />
<br />
Most Kindle singles tend to be essays that may appear in parts in magazines, or long chapters of current or future works. I get the impression it's the case here. Had I purchased this title instead of taken advantage of it during the KU trial, I would have been more disappointed.<br />
<br />
<b>Rating: C-</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
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<b><i>Altamont: The Rolling Stones, The Hells Angels, and the Inside Story of Rock's Darkest Day </i>by Joel Selvin<br /><a href="http://amzn.to/2v9pArB" target="_blank">Buy at Amazon</a></b><br />
<b><br /></b>I can't explain what it is about the Altamont concert that attracts me. I've seen <i>Gimme Shelter</i> and read other accounts of the day (there's a Kindle single about this, too, <a href="http://booksthatrockus.blogspot.com/2013/02/the-rolling-stones-discover-america-by.html" target="_blank">reviewed here</a>). Somebody even made a short documentary about Meredith Hunter, the man stabbed by a Hell's Angel security guard. It's all history seems to tell about the day, but if the topic is new to you this book covers everything from the initial plans for the concert to its multiple tragic aftermaths.<br />
<br />
I hadn't realized Hunter wasn't the sole casualty at Altamont, and I won't spoil the book's contents. It's an engaging tangle of ambition and opportunity in a time when the Stones struggled to compete for face time - with the Beatles fading from the picture, now they had to deal with the California sound and recent Woodstock alumni. Altamont was to have been the West Coast answer to the festival, and this book offers up a nice guide on how not to plan a free concert. It's a story that may make you angry as well, particularly when you read of Hunter's story and that of friends and family after the show.<br />
<br />
<b>Rating: B</b><br />
<br />
<br />
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<br />KLhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07228210286017448251noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5271430141159210170.post-82994751876745757912017-06-20T19:32:00.001-04:002017-11-13T20:35:12.511-05:00The Most Beautiful: My Life With Prince by Mayte Garcia<!-- JSON-LD markup generated by Google Structured Data Markup Helper. -->
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"reviewBody" : "Super-fandom exists for pretty much anything - sports, musicians and entertainment franchises. If you were close to the object of affection and release a memoir to coincide with a landmark moment - say, the anniversary of the object's untimely passing - you're certain to get some side eye and murmurings of \"cashing in.\" Because fans desire to keep their connection alive through new information, you'll also get sales. Look at this blog, I've read over a dozen books about the Beatles. Surely by now I know everything there is to learn about them, right? You'd be surprised, and I'll read a dozen more Beatles books in the future, I'm sure. On the spectrum of fandom, I am probably a step above casual fan status where Prince is involved. I keep the songs playing when they come on the radio, and I watched the award show/Super Bowl performances. I even watched his guest spot on that sitcom I'm too lazy to Google right now. More avid fans do have opinions on The Most Beautiful: My Life With Prince (AMZ), some questioning Mayte Garcia's decision to discuss intimate moments about a man who valued his privacy. Knowing so little about Prince the man, aside from what I found in the other Prince book reviewed here, I am grateful for the opportunity to read Mayte's story, and it's encouraged me to seek out his post-Diamond and Pearls material for a listen. So, if you're a huge fan, know this book is exactly what it advertises. Garcia, the first Mrs. Nelson, chronicles a near fantasy tale about a young, in-demand dancer with admiration for a world-famous superstar. An ambitious parent gets a demo tape to pass into the right hands, hoping at the very least it will inspire the casting of her daughter in a music video. Instead it ignites a friendship that slow-burns into a love story. (By the way, if you think it's that damn easy to get in with a rock star, it doesn't always work. A friend of mine gave a copy of one of my books to a technician working for a particular prog trio. The guy said he'd put it on the bus, but for all I know the pages are lining a bird's nest in Jones Beach.) As part of Prince's inner circle, Garcia picks up quickly on signals. She learns which women interest Prince, what's expected of her as an official employee of the New Power Generation, and that the squeaky wheel gets the grease - especially where a living wage is concerned. What she originally anticipated as a once in a lifetime opportunity to perform in a Prince tour becomes a long-term backstage pass, acclimating to Prince's eccentricities and sharing in his accomplishments and failures. Following a brief marriage and personal tragedies, the story takes a bittersweet All About Eve turn as she recognizes the signals that forewarn of her eventual dismissal from Prince's life. The Most Beautiful is a short book. One could read it in a long day, but by no means is it an exhaustive biography of Prince. It's a glimpse into a period of romantic gestures, sadly lacking an HEA, and one - like the other Prince book reviewed here - that strives to be kind to its subject. I've noticed on Goodreads how some fans have taken Garcia to task on a few observations of Prince, and her mother loses points with some for \"foisting\" her underage child on a man they know only from Purple Rain. This isn't Bill Wyman and Mandy Smith, though - Prince and Garcia were not a conventional love story, but the book doesn't turn lurid. I'll continue to seek out an objective Prince bio, but I do find The Most Beautiful provides a fascinating portrait."
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<a href="http://amzn.to/2sKK5fo" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="328" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj49fP6vNFaL52zZbXi4X8lZbP09SiaEH-q8VvELH3ZGSp5a7YIT11wcfIHpvkNmq9ky2FE4RKr78_xU1U1rlQQAAO8oFDqgfR74HQI9zkvYRH0onJJUiNOZt3oLPa1sAqdWKOKNnKS0NI/s320/51752TFkJAL.jpg" width="209" /></a></div>
Super-fandom exists for pretty much anything - sports, musicians and entertainment franchises. If you were close to the object of affection and release a memoir to coincide with a landmark moment - say, the anniversary of the object's untimely passing - you're certain to get some side eye and murmurings of "cashing in." Because fans desire to keep their connection alive through new information, you'll also get sales. Look at this blog, I've read over a dozen books about the Beatles. Surely by now I know everything there is to learn about them, right?<br />
<br />
You'd be surprised, and I'll read a dozen more Beatles books in the future, I'm sure.<br />
<br />
On the spectrum of fandom, I am probably a step above casual fan status where Prince is involved. I keep the songs playing when they come on the radio, and I watched the award show/Super Bowl performances. I even watched his guest spot on that sitcom I'm too lazy to Google right now. More avid fans do have opinions on <b><i>The Most Beautiful: My Life With Prince </i>(<a href="http://amzn.to/2sKK5fo" target="_blank">AMZ</a>), </b>some questioning Mayte Garcia's decision to discuss intimate moments about a man who valued his privacy. Knowing so little about Prince the man, aside from what I found in <a href="http://booksthatrockus.blogspot.com/2015/02/lets-go-crazy-prince-and-making-of.html" target="_blank">the other Prince book reviewed here</a>, I am grateful for the opportunity to read Mayte's story, and it's encouraged me to seek out his post-<i>Diamond and Pearls</i> material for a listen.<br />
<br />
So, if you're a huge fan, know this book is exactly what it advertises. Garcia, the first Mrs. Nelson, chronicles a near fantasy tale about a young, in-demand dancer with admiration for a world-famous superstar. An ambitious parent gets a demo tape to pass into the right hands, hoping at the very least it will inspire the casting of her daughter in a music video. Instead it ignites a friendship that slow-burns into a love story.<br />
<br />
(By the way, if you think it's that damn easy to get in with a rock star, it doesn't always work. A friend of mine gave a copy of one of my books to a technician working for a particular prog trio. The guy said he'd put it on the bus, but for all I know the pages are lining a bird's nest in Jones Beach.)<br />
<br />
As part of Prince's inner circle, Garcia picks up quickly on signals. She learns which women interest Prince, what's expected of her as an official employee of the New Power Generation, and that the squeaky wheel gets the grease - especially where a living wage is concerned. What she originally anticipated as a once in a lifetime opportunity to perform in a Prince tour becomes a long-term backstage pass, acclimating to Prince's eccentricities and sharing in his accomplishments and failures. Following a brief marriage and personal tragedies, the story takes a bittersweet <i>All About Eve</i> turn as she recognizes the signals that forewarn of her eventual dismissal from Prince's life.<br />
<br />
<i>The Most Beautiful</i> is a short book. One could read it in a long day, but by no means is it an exhaustive biography of Prince. It's a glimpse into a period of romantic gestures, sadly lacking an HEA, and one - like the other Prince book reviewed here - that strives to be kind to its subject. I've noticed on Goodreads how some fans have taken Garcia to task on a few observations of Prince, and her mother loses points with some for "foisting" her underage child on a man they know only from <i>Purple Rain</i>. This isn't Bill Wyman and Mandy Smith, though - Prince and Garcia were not a conventional love story, but the book doesn't turn lurid. I'll continue to seek out an objective Prince bio, but I do find <i>The Most Beautiful</i> provides a fascinating portrait.<br />
<br />
<b>Rating: B-</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<i><a href="http://www.kathrynlively.com/" target="_blank">Kathryn Lively</a> is just like her father, too bold.</i><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />KLhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07228210286017448251noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5271430141159210170.post-13731160257721589542017-04-23T18:22:00.003-04:002017-11-13T20:34:32.901-05:00Kicking and Dreaming: A Story of Heart, Soul, and Rock and Roll by Ann and Nancy Wilson with Charles R. Cross<a href="http://amzn.to/2oJxV3B" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji4VX_SHyZbB7eeKm79hls0_FiqcyZz_n8L-oI_MUDBLvml8MWf3mdJZhAkU4W3St2gUKVfsUlns2Mcu9-gEHylrMWzKkMhHcpvrP1wFdQ_SRKOLO41tomJqSVkBKjOZAtMxgLnb2sOxg/s320/Kicking.jpg" width="212" /></a>Once upon a time I had about a hundred eBooks housed in a library connected to an online retailer. If you know the site of which I speak, you know they folded at the turn of the year and gave customers a short window of opportunity to download and save. I managed to get twenty books to safety but unfortunately one of them wasn't my copy of <a href="http://amzn.to/2oJxV3B" style="font-style: italic;" target="_blank">Kicking and Dreaming: A Story of Heart, Soul, and Rock and Roll</a>, which I had purchased a few years back with the intent of reviewing here. I'm slowly working to replace what I lost, what I remember buying, anyway.<br />
<br />
Not unlike the reading of the book, I seem to fall behind where Heart is concerned. I had become aware of their existence in the early 80s but didn't give thought to the singles out at the time. "Tell It Like It Is" and "This Man is Mine" were a bit too doo-wop and ballad-y for my tastes then, despite Ann's killer vocals, and I hadn't realized these songs weren't necessarily representative of the overall Heart sound. Then by the mid-80s they'd launched into this MTV, male-gaze video era with the gold corsets, big hair, and bouncing boobies before a backdrop of flashpots and lightning. It appeared a bit much, but that was the point of the 80s - excess for success, and Heart was a 70s band pushed to take those extremes to stay relevant and solvent. In a way it worked, because the frequent radio play encouraged me to seek out their earlier hits. It wasn't until a few years ago, though, I took the opportunity to see them live - both shows post-Hall of Fame victory laps. My daughter and I loved them, but with these recent family fallouts happening I fear there won't be other concerts.<br />
<br />
Well, I got a replacement copy of the book. Upon finally reading it I find it's presented in "oral history" format with Ann and Nancy on a round robin storytelling pattern. There are a few books reviewed here that employ this writing method (<i>VJ, Starting Over, Nothin' To Lose</i>) and while it's not my favorite style I find it's effective when you have several voices in the chorus. Oral history books risk a breakdown of cohesion in telling a story, but more perspectives help to create a large picture and a better sense of time and setting, even if dates aren't exact. But for a few "guest shots" in this book - collaborators and former bandmates - the book is mostly Ann and Nancy, which is appropriate in a way, considering they are the most visible faces in Heart. For years I used to think Heart was strictly a duo. Shows what I know.<br />
<br />
<i>Kicking and Dreaming</i> tells the evolution of the Wilson sisters' career in their own words, starting with a shared mobile military-family childhood, through thankless gigs in Canadian bars and early battles with their first label. Similar to points in lives like Lita Ford's, the sisters contended with sexism in the industry (even from female execs - e.g. the corset years) and not-always faithful companions. They have great anecdotes to share, particularly about early touring years and the struggle to become known for original work rather than covers. One such story about John Mellancamp may encourage you to whack him upside the head when you see him next.<br />
<br />
For everything interesting in Ann and Nancy's journey, though, I tended to be pulled away from it at times due to the book's presentation. I note there's a third author listed and I'm not sure of his purpose, given the spots of spelling and syntax errors throughout the book. Other reviewers have noted continuity errors - incorrect release dates and such - but if I don't intimately know a band's discography I'm willing to forgive such things. Memories may challenge us, and I got the impression <i>Kicking and Dreaming</i> came out as a transcript with a perfunctory polish.<br />
<br />
I appreciate Heart more than I did in my youth. Rock music is a male-dominated industry and I suppose we're conditioned to gravitate more toward male artists. Ann and Nancy challenged that norm early on by fronting a band, writing songs and playing their instruments. We see more women leading groups as a result, and if more are able to catch breaks in this business they may have the women in Heart to credit. <i>Kicking and Dreaming</i> is a rich history with rough spots, but worth reading.<br />
<br />
<b>Rating: B-</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<i>Kathryn Lively is slowly recovering.</i>
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"reviewBody" : "Once upon a time I had about a hundred eBooks housed in a library connected to an online retailer. If you know the site of which I speak, you know they folded at the turn of the year and gave customers a short window of opportunity to download and save. I managed to get twenty books to safety but unfortunately one of them wasn't my copy of Kicking and Dreaming: A Story of Heart, Soul, and Rock and Roll, which I had purchased a few years back with the intent of reviewing here. I'm slowly working to replace what I lost, what I remember buying, anyway. Not unlike the reading of the book, I seem to fall behind where Heart is concerned. I had become aware of their existence in the early 80s but didn't give thought to the singles out at the time. \"Tell It Like It Is\" and \"This Man is Mine\" were a bit too doo-wop and ballad-y for my tastes then, despite Ann's killer vocals, and I hadn't realized these songs weren't necessarily representative of the overall Heart sound. Then by the mid-80s they'd launched into this MTV, male-gaze video era with the gold corsets, big hair, and bouncing boobies before a backdrop of flashpots and lightning. It appeared a bit much, but that was the point of the 80s - excess for success, and Heart was a 70s band pushed to take those extremes to stay relevant and solvent. In a way it worked, because the frequent radio play encouraged me to seek out their earlier hits. It wasn't until a few years ago, though, I took the opportunity to see them live - both shows post-Hall of Fame victory laps. My daughter and I loved them, but with these recent family fallouts happening I fear there won't be other concerts. Well, I got a replacement copy of the book. Upon finally reading it I find it's presented in \"oral history\" format with Ann and Nancy on a round robin storytelling pattern. There are a few books reviewed here that employ this writing method (VJ, Starting Over, Nothin' To Lose) and while it's not my favorite style I find it's effective when you have several voices in the chorus. Oral history books risk a breakdown of cohesion in telling a story, but more perspectives help to create a large picture and a better sense of time and setting, even if dates aren't exact. But for a few \"guest shots\" in this book - collaborators and former bandmates - the book is mostly Ann and Nancy, which is appropriate in a way, considering they are the most visible faces in Heart. For years I used to think Heart was strictly a duo. Shows what I know. Kicking and Dreaming tells the evolution of the Wilson sisters' career in their own words, starting with a shared mobile military-family childhood, through thankless gigs in Canadian bars and early battles with their first label. Similar to points in lives like Lita Ford's, the sisters contended with sexism in the industry (even from female execs - e.g. the corset years) and not-always faithful companions. They have great anecdotes to share, particularly about early touring years and the struggle to become known for original work rather than covers. One such story about John Mellancamp may encourage you to whack him upside the head when you see him next. For everything interesting in Ann and Nancy's journey, though, I tended to be pulled away from it at times due to the book's presentation. I note there's a third author listed and I'm not sure of his purpose, given the spots of spelling and syntax errors throughout the book. Other reviewers have noted continuity errors - incorrect release dates and such - but if I don't intimately know a band's discography I'm willing to forgive such things. Memories may challenge us, and I got the impression Kicking and Dreaming came out as a transcript with a perfunctory polish. I appreciate Heart more than I did in my youth. Rock music is a male-dominated industry and I suppose we're conditioned to gravitate more toward male artists. Ann and Nancy challenged that norm early on by fronting a band, writing songs and playing their instruments. We see more women leading groups as a result, and if more are able to catch breaks in this business they may have the women in Heart to credit. Kicking and Dreaming is a rich history with rough spots, but worth reading."
}
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</script>KLhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07228210286017448251noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5271430141159210170.post-70707254243022443742017-03-23T21:36:00.000-04:002017-11-13T20:33:40.990-05:00Spring Reading: Mama and JuniorRemember me? Yes, it's been quite a while since I last opined on a rock star memoir. Believe me when I say I hadn't intended to let Chez BTRU go stale, and though people who advise on the proper way to live as a blogger tell you not to explain long absences, I feel I owe one.<br />
<br />
Since starting this blog I've posted reviews every other month - sometimes the gap is wider, but I deliver something. After posting my last review in June I had another book in my TBR and plans for a summer vacation of reading. Then in July, on the day we woke to leave for our trip, we were told my mother-in-law died. Helping to settle her affairs took the rest of the summer.<br />
<br />
Fall brought school, more estate stuff, and the day job. During Christmas vacation I felt enough time had passed that I could resume reading and blogging...then I got laid off. The day after Christmas, no less. I lost January looking for work, and February and March dealing with two separate health crises in the immediate family.<br />
<br />
So 2016 took some family, a job I loved, and all the cool celebrities, and the gloom left me sliding into 2017 with little desire to do anything. We're almost into April and I'm once again working to resume a productive life - productive in the things I enjoy. This past week I went book shopping and found a few gems to share.<br />
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Book Riot clued me in to <i><a href="http://amzn.to/2nO7s5A" target="_blank">California Dreamin'</a></i> by Pénélope Bagieu, a graphic novel covering the first two-thirds of the life of Cass Elliot. As one fourth of the harmonious 60s group The Mamas and the Papas, Cass offered an amazing voice to the music scene. I'm not a die-hard fan, but I could probably name about a dozen hits off the top of my head as they were one of the more important bands of the era, bridging folk to pop and offering serious competition to the British invasion. Had Cass lived, I don't doubt she'd have continued a successful post-Mama career, if not in music then some hybrid of stage, cabaret and TV - hell, maybe a cartoon spinoff from that Scooby Doo special she did. She'd have been a riot on Twitter, too.<br />
<br />
Bagieu's illustrative biography is more of a serial in that Cass's story (from early to age to the cusp of TM&TP's breakthrough) is told from the perspectives of the important supporting players in her life. Her sister gets a chapter, then her school BFF, collaborators, would-be lovers and rivals chime in to reveal the evolution of Ellen Cohen to Cass Elliot. Bagieu's artwork is loose and lush, not completely detailed scene for scene, but she gives enough distinction for each person portrayed - Cass's wide-eyed awe, John Phillips' austerity, Michelle's pixie beauty, and Denny Doherty's shaggy hippie charm. It's like Bagieu sketched out Cass's story as gently as possible, as though to provide some comfort to the young woman who put up with so much BS throughout her short life. I enjoyed reading <i>Dreamin'</i>, but I would advise if you want to read this spend the money and buy it in print. Reading graphic novels via Kindle, even through the web reader, is a pill.<br />
<br />
<b>Rating: A</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
~<br />
<br />
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I picked up Matt Birkbeck's <i><a href="http://amzn.to/2nd0xA2" target="_blank">Deconstructing Sammy</a></i> after seeing it marked down through an eBook deal newsletter. It's not so much a biography of Sammy Davis, Jr. as it is a cautionary tale. I've read similar stories about entertainers, how one can generate millions of dollars over a storied career yet have nothing to show for it by the end. You can have an amazing voice, dance on ceilings without wires, and recite Shakespeare to make people cry, but if you don't have any money sense you're toast. TL;DR - If you want to major in drama, minor in business and read everything you sign.<br />
<br />
<i>Deconstructing</i> is the more the story of Albert "Sonny" Murray, a former federal prosecutor whose involvement in settling Davis' IRS entanglements came at the behest of family and friends on behalf of Davis' widow, Altovise. Similar to the aftermath of James Brown's death, as told in James McBride's <i>Kill 'Em and Leave</i> (<a href="http://booksthatrockus.blogspot.com/2016/03/kill-em-and-leave-searching-for-james.html" target="_blank">reviewed here</a>), Davis died with his estate in dire straits, and survivors fighting over rights to exploit. Altovise wanted her Hollywood lifestyle back, Sammy's daughter wanted a musical made, but until the IRS got theirs nobody got anything.<br />
<br />
Fixing the seemingly impossible fell to Murray, and as you read you may want to root for him the most, considering how the deeper he gets into Davis' "afterlife" the more unpleasant surprises await him. Davis proves as interesting in death as he did alive, in every sense surrounded by people stuffing their pockets. Birkbeck balances the timelines of Davis' life of extravagance and strife with Murray's determination to finish a job and frustrations in bringing his parents to financial solvency by helping to save their inn - the first in the Poconos to cater to black tourists. It's fascinating to read.<br />
<br />
As I write this I'm not yet finished with the book. I wanted to contribute to the blog, and these titles seem to go together in that each tells a bittersweet story, in that you wonder what could have been with a longer life for Cass and a broader legacy for Sammy, a huge star in his time who hasn't enjoyed the exposure of a Sinatra or Elvis after his passing, but certainly warrants it. For now I'm giving the book a <b>B </b>but that rating might change when I finish.<br />
<br />
<i>Kathryn Lively is back...for now.</i>KLhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07228210286017448251noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5271430141159210170.post-3220257303056910262016-06-24T22:36:00.000-04:002017-11-13T20:52:25.600-05:00Living Like a Runaway by Lita Ford<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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When it comes to band histories, I like to read differing viewpoints from band members. It's why you'll find reviews of 3/4ths of KISS here, and when I first heard about Lita Ford's book I couldn't wait for it. Looking back at my review of <a href="http://booksthatrockus.blogspot.com/2011/06/neon-angel-memoir-of-runaway-by-cherie.html" target="_blank">Cherie Currie's <i>Neon Angel</i></a> and thinking about the Runaways movie, I wondered if I might have been unfair to Lita. Aside from her two big hits I know little of her solo career, and that movie barely portrayed her as anything beyond an uncooperative banshee. Subsequent reading about The Runaways' history, in particular <a href="http://highline.huffingtonpost.com/articles/en/the-lost-girls/" target="_blank">a harrowing account by Jackie Fox</a> (TW: rape) left me willing to give Lita the benefit of the doubt when I read her book.<br />
<br />
Now, if you've followed up on recent news about Lita, you'll know this book had been delayed because reasons. Many speculate her ex-husband is involved, and toward the end of the book Lita touches on some of the conflicts that split her family. I don't know the real reason for the delay - be it post-marital gag orders or dissatisfaction with ghostwriters - but the book's out and nearly matches Cherie's in terms of explicitness and cautionary anecdotes.<br />
<br />
Unlike <i>Neon Angel</i>, <i>Living Like a Runaway</i> <b>(<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Living-Like-Runaway-Lita-Ford-ebook/dp/B009YM5EQA/ref=sr_1_8_twi_kin_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1490146364&sr=8-8&keywords=lita+ford" target="_blank">AMZ</a>) </b>devotes only half the book to the Runaways. We are guided through a very supportive family to guitar lessons and discovery by Kim Fowley to a brief period of hard work and little, if any compensation. Lita stresses in this time (and pretty much through the entire book) about how serious she is about playing the guitar and striving to shatter ceilings and stereotypes. In a way, that's good. Metal and hard rock needed Lita Ford, and aspiring female musicians needed to see Lita in a position where she could give the old masters like Iommi and Blackmore and (insert your guitar god here) a run for their money. Lita tells her story with pride, but I get the impression it comes at the expense of others. She claims to be the only member of The Runaways serious about music, and while she's welcome to that opinion one can argue for Joan Jett and her multi-decade career.<br />
<br />
The second half of <i>Runaway </i>covers the struggle to stay on top amid misogyny and apathy in the music business. I don't doubt Lita here. Cyndi Lauper's memoir covers similar frustrations with labels and managers who didn't necessarily have her best interests in mind. Even hiring a female manager - Sharon Osbourne, no less - didn't solve problems in this regard. You can't help but feel for a woman who can garner the Grammy nods and critic praise yet keeps tapping that ceiling. She claims people didn't know what to do with her. Uh, put her on stage and let her play?<br />
<br />
<i>Runaway</i> is also full of juicy, sometimes sexy and sometimes squicky, hell-yeah-rock-and-roll moments. I won't reveal the conquests - have to leave something to the imagination - but they come in spurts and asides as though Lita's trying to balance the business side with the glitter. You may come away with a lower opinion of certain people in her life; I certainly did.<br />
<br />
<i>Living Like a Runaway</i> is not a bad book, not a great book, either. Between the horrors of Kim Fowley and the ex-husband she doesn't name (Wikipedia it if you must know) and the <i>Spinal Tap</i>-esque road stories it will jerk your emotions. I still think Lita should go into the Hall of Fame as a Runaway, if not as a solo act. Maybe this will help.<br />
<br />
<b>Rating: C</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<i><a href="http://www.kathrynlively.com/" target="_blank">Kathryn Lively</a> is not the Queen of Metal. Maybe the Queen of Meh.</i>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5271430141159210170.post-17580533119719193792016-03-20T15:54:00.004-04:002017-11-13T20:51:38.245-05:00Kill 'Em and Leave: Searching For James Brown and the American Soul by James McBride<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim7cJPnBqshsNyRfiVInXFRodXxdDfA3s8wvNgVGvWPrT8weewPcBYXnI-QvZRHKc1LlBnXOYhRpOdjsv5HMS5F3HuybZcqdAasVMr5vRhxmG6zAkkbZl-oLxZA4YoXjFQxOU_Pp3qXgKo/s1600/1930389.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim7cJPnBqshsNyRfiVInXFRodXxdDfA3s8wvNgVGvWPrT8weewPcBYXnI-QvZRHKc1LlBnXOYhRpOdjsv5HMS5F3HuybZcqdAasVMr5vRhxmG6zAkkbZl-oLxZA4YoXjFQxOU_Pp3qXgKo/s1600/1930389.jpg" /></a></div>
First things first: James McBride wrote an excellent, excellent memoir called <i>The Color of Water</i>. Go read it.<br />
<br />
Second, don't expect a traditional biography when you open <i>Kill 'Em and Leave</i> <b>(<a href="http://amzn.to/1pCRhFv" target="_blank">AMZ</a>)</b>. Authors of biographies concern themselves with facts, typically in chronological order. That's not to say McBride isn't interested in the truth about James Brown; this book features input from many people involved in Brown's inner circle and some on the fringes: musicians, money men, friends and family. How McBride presents what truth he finds happens in a narrative that's personal and evokes an almost spiritual journey.<br />
<br />
Explaining James Brown equates, one could argue, to trying to explain what Jesus actually looked like. Different versions of the Brown story/legend exist because, as we see in McBride's book, it's how Brown wanted it. For a man who enjoyed the spotlight, he craved the mystery and privacy just as much. The title of this book comes from advice Brown was fond of giving and sticking to: knock their socks off, and go. Kill 'em and leave. As McBride writes, "James Brown's status was there wasn't no A-list. He was the list." Watch any clip of him on YouTube and try to argue.<br />
<br />
McBride's narrative reminded me in part of <i>Citizen Kane</i> and <i>Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil</i>, in the respect that you have a person searching for story, looking for an answer (What was Rosebud? Who was the real James Brown?) and in the process you come across a variety of people whose interpretations not only magnify the legacy of the subject, but make them people you want to know better. McBride talks to the last surviving member of The Flames, Brown's early group; his first wife Velma; the man who helped save Brown from the IRS; surrogate son Al Sharpton; and Miss Emma, a devoted friend for decades. Their stories are raw and engaging and bring pieces of Brown's life together like a puzzle we're amazed to see at the end. It's more than a story about one the great soul singers, it's a history of black music and a social commentary about how we treat people, and how we revere some after death...and how greed makes us blind to the need of others. The story of James Brown <i>after</i> his death - the multiple funerals, the fight over his estate, the midnight visit from Michael Jackson - would make one hell of a movie on it own.<br />
<br />
This is a book that will stay with you. It's awesome. Just read it.<br />
<br />
<b>Rating: A</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<i>ARC received from NetGalley.</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i><a href="http://www.kathrynlively.com/" target="_blank">Kathryn Lively</a> feels good, like she knew that she should.</i><br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5271430141159210170.post-18636869030786785422016-02-05T22:22:00.000-05:002017-04-08T22:30:07.088-04:00Interlude: Read and To ReadIf you're curious about the inner workings here at Chez BTRU, I'm happy to take a few moments to talk/write about it. If you've hung out for a while, you realize it's not a regularly updated blog. I stick to reviews of books about popular music and artists here, but as a reader I don't limit myself to this type of non-fiction. I tend to choose books that interest me as a reader and wannabe historian, and as I work in the industry I read to keep up on current releases and "buzz" books. Often that takes me into fiction, outside of this realm. Once I get my hands on a book fitted for this blog, I'm going to give it my full attention.<br />
<br />
With this blog, too, I strive to review recent releases - books no more than a year old. So if you've wondered why I haven't reviewed a certain title, say Neil Peart's first books or something else, that's why. In time, though, I'd like to look into older books maybe for round-up posts about a particular topic/artist. There are a few things I'd like to do with this blog to make it more interactive.<br />
<br />
For now, though, here's what I've read lately and what you can look forward to in the future:<br />
<br />
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<b>Read: <i>Frank: The Voice </i>by James Kaplan</b><br />
<b><a href="http://amzn.to/1oec3Kz" target="_blank">Amazon</a></b><br />
<br />
I read the second book of Kaplan's two-part Sinatra bio first (<a href="http://booksthatrockus.blogspot.com/2015/12/sinatra-chairman-by-james-kaplan.html">reviewed here</a>). Having done this, I think if you haven't read either book you should read <i>The Voice</i> first if you want to better appreciate it. Reading <i>Sinatra: The Chairman</i> first, I found I enjoyed the second book more because I saw this era of Sinatra's life as more interesting - this despite the rapid drop-off in 80-90s Sinatra history. <br />
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In <i>The Voice</i>, there's so much to muddle through and it's not all happy. To me the book didn't really start rolling until he met Ava, and right when it gets to a pivotal moment in his life, the book's over.<br />
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If you're really that interested in Frank's first thirty years, pick it up. You may appreciate The Chairman more for it. <b>Rating: C+</b><br />
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<b>To Read: Kill 'Em and Leave: Searching for James Brown and the American Soul by James McBride<br /><a href="http://amzn.to/1Kw31T5">Amazon</a></b><br />
<i>I read McBride's </i>The Color of Water <i> many years ago. Excellent book. Pick it up if you haven't yet.</i><br />
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From the blurb: Kill 'Em and Leave is more than a book about James Brown. Brown's rough-and-tumble life, through McBride's lens, is an unsettling metaphor for American life: the tension between North and South, black and white, rich and poor. McBride's travels take him to forgotten corners of Brown's never-before-revealed history: the country town where Brown's family and thousands of others were displaced by America's largest nuclear power bomb-making facility; a South Carolina field where a long-forgotten cousin reveals, in the dead of night, a fuller history of Brown's sharecropping childhood, which until now has been a mystery. McBride seeks out the American expatriate in England who co-created the James Brown sound, visits the trusted right-hand manager who worked with Brown for forty-one years, and sits at the feet of Brown's most influential nonmusical creation, his "adopted son," the Reverend Al Sharpton. He reveals the stirring visit of Michael Jackson to the Augusta, Georgia,funeral home where the King of Pop sat up all night with the body of his musical godfather, spends hours talking with Brown's first wife, and reveals the Dickensian legal contest over James Brown's valuable estate, a fight that has destroyed careers, cheated children out of their educations, cost Brown's estate millions in legal fees, sent Brown's trusted accountant, David Cannon, to jail for a crime for which he was not convicted, and has left James Brown's body to lie for more than eight years in a gilded coffin on his daughter's front lawn in South Carolina.<br />
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<b>To Read: <i>Fleetwood Mac on Fleetwood Mac Interviews and Encounters </i>by Sean Egan</b><br />
<b><a href="http://amzn.to/1Kw3CEf" target="_blank">Amazon</a></b><br />
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<i>I've wanted to get in a Fleetwood Mac book here for some time. I had my hands on Mick Fleetwood's memoir a while ago but for some reason didn't finish it. Will have to try again.</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
From the Blurb: Fleetwood Mac was a triumph from the beginning—their first album was the UK’s bestselling album of 1968. After some low points—when founder Peter Green left, some fans felt that the band continuing was sacrilege—Lindsey Buckingham and Stevie Nicks joined, and the band’s 1977 album Rumoursbecame one of history's immortals, a true classic that remained in the charts for years and public affection forever. In the press, the ethereal Californian Stevie Nicks, the tormented rocker Lindsey Buckingham, the dignified English rose Christine McVie, the blunt-speaking John McVie, and the loquacious Mick Fleetwood have all regularly been astoundingly candid. This collection of interviews across the entirety of Fleetwood Mac’s career features articles from such celebrated publications as Crawdaddy, New Musical Express, Circus,Creem, Mojo, Goldmine, Classic Rock, Blender, and Elle, as well as interviews that have never previously appeared in print. In it, readers will learn the Fleetwood Mac story from the band members’ own mouths, and experience it contemporaneously rather than through hindsight.<br />
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~<br />
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So that's what I have on deck, and of course I'm still waiting for Lita Ford's book...if and when.<br />
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<b><br /></b>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5271430141159210170.post-31360405877533664332016-01-01T01:00:00.000-05:002017-11-13T20:42:46.620-05:002113: Stories Inspired By the Music of Rush by Kevin J. Anderson and Josh McFetridge, eds.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b><i>Buy <a href="http://amzn.to/1NHsVRU" target="_blank">2113</a> on Amazon.</i></b><br />
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Andy Rooney said, "Writers never retire." Drummers...well, it happens and it's not always voluntary. We know Neil Peart can't rock the solos forever, short of having bionic arms installed (don't think somebody hasn't suggested it), and if you've read recent interviews you know what's on his mind. Family. Writing. Somewhere he's said he hoped to adapt <i>Clockwork Angels</i> the novel to film. So yeah, he's not going anywhere in a sense.<br />
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While I didn't love the <i>Clockwork Angels</i> novel, I think there's strong potential in a film. Tighten the story and give it to right director, and I'll go see it. I haven't yet read the followup, because to be honest <i style="font-weight: bold;">2113</i> intrigued me more. Multi-author anthologies, for me, are a mixed bag in terms of quality, but this being a collection of stories - 16 of which are inspired by Rush songs - proved too tempting to resist.<br />
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Of the 18 authors included in the book, I've read three prior, including Kevin J. Anderson and Mercedes Lackey (I'd read somewhere she based the character Dirk from the Valdemar novels on Geddy Lee). Most die-hard fans have searched the Internet to read "A Nice Morning Drive" by Richard S. Foster, which inspired Neil to write "Dead Barchetta." It is part of this collection, and Fritz Leiber's "Gonna Roll the Bones" is the other reprint.<br />
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So we have 18 stories, each connected to a specific Rush song. The cover and roster suggest all science fiction, and you'll find everything from hard SF to futuristic drama here, but <i>2113</i> also showcases some paranormal mystery and noir. For the most part, Easter eggs of Rush lyrics are scarce - which suits me fine. The stories flow nicely, much like in Rush albums where the individual songs connect to form an all-encompassing concept.<br />
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Highlights for me in <i>2113</i> include:<br />
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"On the Fringes of the Fractal" by Greg Van Eekhout - Futuristic YA about loyalty and friendship, a willingness to sacrifice social standing for a friend.<br />
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"A Patch of Blue" by Ron Collins - Another theme of "deviating from the norm," as one Rush song goes, where creators in two different realms take similar paths for what they believe is right.<br />
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"The Burning Times, V2.0" by Brian Hodge - Like <i>Fahrenheit 451</i> crossed with Harry Potter; a young fights censorship and as a result has to save himself.<br />
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"The Digital Kid" by Michael Z. Williamson - A dreamer's journey to overcome disability.<br />
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"Some Are Born to Save the World" by Mark Leslie - The story of a superhero's mortality.<br />
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I won't reveal which songs inspired which stories. As noted in the book's introduction, one doesn't need to be familiar with Rush's music to enjoy the book. That the majority of the contributing authors have backgrounds in SFF keep the stories cohesive. A fair number of Rush fans I know enjoyed <i>Clockwork Angels</i>, but I think they will appreciate this book as much, if not more.<br />
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My only nitpick with this collection: only one female author in the bunch. If the boys sanction this as a franchise, perhaps <i>2114</i> could feature a few more women writers. Lady Rush fans do exist.<br />
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<b>Rating: A-</b><br />
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<b><i><a href="http://www.kathrynlively.com/" target="_blank">Kathryn Lively</a> is a lady Rush fan.</i></b><br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5271430141159210170.post-90982499936667246112015-12-24T15:28:00.000-05:002017-11-13T20:42:06.793-05:00Beatlebone by Kevin Barry<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Somewhere in the middle of <b><i>Beatlebone </i>(<a href="http://amzn.to/1m7ULOm" target="_blank">AMZ</a>)</b> the author squeezes in an interlude which explains the research that went into authenticating John Lennon's voice for this story, and the history behind <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dorinish" target="_blank">Dorinish Island</a> as once owned by the singer. Once you get to this part of the book you may think one of two things: 1) Uh, shouldn't something like this appear at the tail end of the story, like an Afterword?, or 2) Oh, thank God.<br />
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This is not to say the prose of <i>Beatlebone</i> will leave your eyes crossed. It's uniquely told, stream of conscious narrative married with rapid exchanges of dialogue, and given the focus of the book it's an appropriate presentation. I think that Barry's interlude in the middle works because it's unexpected, much like the things John experiences in this story, and perhaps unconsciously Barry tipped toward a similar "intermission" gag in the movie <i>Help!</i><br />
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So it's 1978. Lennon hasn't cut a record of original material in about four years. He has a toddler at home and an island on the Western coast of Ireland, bought in the late 60s. He gets the idea if he spends a few days on this deserted floating rock and employs some Primal Scream therapy and chain smoking he'll rejuvenate his creativity. Getting there, though, is half the battle, most of the headache, and all over a trip more surreal than the back-masking on "Strawberry Fields Forever." Seems some of the locals are in no hurry to help John get to where he wants to go. In his de facto guide Cornelius, John find camaraderie and irritation in the same package. Cornelius wants to feed John blood pudding (not on a macrobiotic's menu) and drag him to a pub and help him dodge the press with a quick hideout in a hotel full of "ranters."<br />
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John just wants to get to the "fucken" island. What happens from there, a lost "album" spilling from John's mind like coming down from a magnificent high, is at once lyrical and bizarre. Makes you want to go back and find <i>In His Own Write</i> and <i>Spaniard in the Works</i> to see how they compare.<br />
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Barry writes in his interlude how he sees most Lennon-centric fiction as "character assassinations." It's easier to do when your subject can't speak up, but <i>Beatlebone</i> aims for an introspective John who doesn't treat everybody like crap. If you're looking for a more traditional narrative this book might drive you nuts, but it's worth the read if you can hold on.<br />
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<b>Rating: B</b><br />
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<b><i><a href="http://www.kathrynlively.com/" target="_blank">Kathryn Lively</a> did get to cross Abbey Road, but doesn't Scream.</i></b>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5271430141159210170.post-30685531363476153692015-12-19T17:09:00.001-05:002017-11-13T20:41:30.254-05:00Sinatra: The Chairman by James Kaplan<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I hear the term <i>problematic fave</i> often now. It's applied to people largely admired for their achievements, talents, etc., yet for all the praise comes the reminder these people aren't saints. Oh, you like Joe Rock Singer, don't you? You realize he'd trade his first born for a bag of crack in a heartbeat, right? I'm not saying Sinatra would have done that, but as we celebrate the 100th anniversary of his birth it's interesting to see all the tributes and memorials when in the back of some minds there's that voice, and it's not booming out "Come Fly With Me."<br />
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It's saying, <i>Well, you know what he was like...</i><br />
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Problematic fave.<br />
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I can't say Frank Sinatra was a bad person. He did bad things, many of which are documented in <b>Sinatra: The Chairman (<a href="http://amzn.to/22gH4gD" target="_blank">AMZ</a>) </b>and in other bios. He also did many great things, acts of charity and kindness to friends and strangers. After another hundred years I doubt we'll have the man completely figured out.<br />
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My mother's family was Sicilian. I grew up with Sinatra on the stereo during the holidays. Beyond that, my knowledge of the man amounted to sensationalist bytes read in the supermarket tabloids found in my grandmother's house - each anecdote involved Frank in some night club or bar and a waitress getting his drink order wrong.<br />
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<i>"I want that broad fired!" he said. And she was. </i>That's how every story ended. I, young and newly feminist, even with little background on the circumstances that resulted in this juicy gossip, sympathized with the women who lost jobs over this and pictured a winding line of sequined dresses and ostrich plumes wrapped around the unemployment office on The Strip. I pictured children of single moms, reliant on tips for food and clothing, wondering over their next meal because some guy who hadn't had a hit record in years got all pissy about extra ice and Jim Beam in his rocks glass instead of Jack.<br />
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I vowed if for some reason I got a job as a cocktail waitress I would never serve the man a drink, ever. I take that back. I wanted to purposely get a job as a cocktail waitress and wait for my time. <i>Come at me, old man. </i><br />
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Closest I ever got to Sinatra was in 1993 at the Coliseum in Jacksonville for one of his last concerts. Still ambivalent about the man and music (come on, early 90s, we were trying to get REM tickets), but we went because Sinatra.<br />
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Jon Pinette (RIP) opened with his uproarious act. Shirley Maclaine followed and killed. The Voice finished and it held up, although haltingly. He was slightly stooped and relied on teleprompters, but the crowd cheered him all the while. My mother later said of the show that she saw him tearing up at the last ovation. What the crowd gave, he needed.<br />
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And just like that, I felt for <i>him</i>.<br />
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~<br />
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When I picked up <i>Sinatra: The Chairman</i> I didn't realize it's actually a Part Two. I opened the book to the aftermath of Sinatra's Oscar win for <i>From Here to Eternity</i> and am thinking, "Um, there was stuff before this, right?" Author Kaplan had written <i>Frank: The Voice</i> several years prior, and that book covered the life from birth through his first official "comeback" in the early 50s. What you get in <i>Chairman</i> is the rest of the story, of which twenty or so years are meticulously detailed. This is the genesis of the Clan, what later became the Rat Pack. This is the juxtaposition of professional successes in film and music and personal turmoil (losing Ava, Kennedy snubs). Every drink toasted, every woman romanced, every nerve set on edge due to Sinatra's impatience for retakes and rehearsals.<br />
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<i>Chairman </i>clocks in at close to a thousand pages, of which a hundred or so comprise the appendix. I'm reading at a steady clip, more than halfway through and curious how Kaplan handles the rest of Sinatra's life and is there room. If you want to read up on exploits post-<i>Eternity</i> through the mid-60s - struggling to stay relevant during Beatlemania, mediocre vanity film projects, Mia Farrow - you have a goldmine here. It's once the next decade begins, though, Kaplan seems to run out of gas. We go from a steadily detailed bio to a summary of Frank's sunset. Granted, one wouldn't consider the last twenty years of his life the peak of his productivity, but the bio at that point reads like a rapid downhill roll and gives it an all-too abrupt end. Did Kaplan strive to meet the centenary deadline or did he figure we weren't interested in the later years?<br />
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I did enjoy this book. My rating would be higher if not for the drop-off in the last quarter of Sinatra's life. I'm sure there's enough material to warrant a third part of the story if Kaplan were willing to commit to it.<br />
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<b>Rating: B-</b><br />
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<i><a href="http://www.kathrynlively.com/" target="_blank">Kathryn Lively</a> once visited Sinatra park in Hoboken. It's nice.</i><br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0