Book Description

As products of the same urban landscape, Pete Hamill and Frank Sinatra have both been credited with giving the American city a voice. In this widely acclaimed and bestselling appreciation--now available in paperback for the first time--Hamill draws on his intimate experience of the man and the music to evoke the essence of Sinatra, illuminating the singer's art and his legend from the point of view of a confidant and a fan. ... Read more

Reviews (23)

A wonderful read--like an old song
Pete Hamill, beyond a doubt, is an excellent writer. He does a wonderful job here. The book is part bio, part history of immigrants in America, and part memoir. It works on all levels. Hamill treats Frank with the respect he deserves. The book is not a gossipy memoir--Kitty Kelly fans should look elsewhere. Instead, he makes the important arguement that Sinatra gave voice to first, a generation, and then an entire country. His artisty is what matters. The myth of the man is fun and gets most the attention, but that is besides the point for Hamill. And he is right. We all talk about the "Sinatra in a hat" (as Hamill dubs him) and the Rat Pack--but the music endures. It is, argues Hamill, what matters in the Wee Small Hours of the Morning. It is what will stand the test of time and give voice to a thousand broken dreams, hearts, and help us--like Frank after the Fall--get back up and start all over again. Thanks, Pete Hamill for getting it right.

There will never be another...
I only saw my hero, Frank Sinatra, perform once. It was at the end of his career - and his life. It was a strange evening; he was obviously at the end - he couldn't remember the words to his songs or read the teleprompter. Few people left however - the evening soon became about us - his fans - letting him know that we still loved him. "I LOVE YOU FRANK!" a huge, middle-aged, rough-looking man yelled out during a pause. Sinatra, taken aback by the violence of the outburst, chuckled and replied, "I love you too, pal." As Pete Hamill once pointed out, "Seeing Sinatra in ruins is like seeing the Coliseum in ruins - it's still magnificent."

Why Sinatra Matters is a must-read for any Sinatra-phile. In the Overture, Hamill cites Sinatra's death as the impetus for writing this book. He saw all these young reporters from MTV and VH1 doing stories on Sinatra (obviously prepared in advance) telling the world Sinatra was important, without really understanding why. It certainly wasn't just because he did it "his way."

This is a very short book. As Hamill points out it is not a "definitive biography" - although once he was in talks with Sinatra to write just that. It is, as the title plainly states, an explanation of why Sinatra matters - artistically and culturally - and why he always will. In terms of Culture, Hamill reminds the reader of a time when America felt it was morally obligated to persecute Italians - Sinatra helped change all that. Musically, the reasons are more complex. To put it succinctly, no one ever sounded like Sinatra before.

The book is great because it also sheds light on Sinatra the man, who is often lost in the obscurity of his own public image. He was not just some gruff tough guy - a kind of idiot savant who could churn out a great recording in one take. He was a fiercely intelligent, well-read, well-cultured, self-educated man who worked hard at his craft. The most enjoyable parts of the book are the conversations Hamill recounts between himself and Sinatra. Most shocking of all - to me at least - was to imagine Sinatra using the F-word!

Great book, horrible book-on-tape
Do not buy the book on tape! Get it in hardcover or paperback.

This is a fine little book, but it's the first book on tape I have had to turn off because the narrator's voice was too grating (and I've listened to tons of books on tape). Had it been read by the author himself, certainly allowances could be made. Instead, the publisher went out to find a professional reader and chose someone who speaks in an harsh, barking monotone, one part Howard Cosell, one part Rain Man, one part the guy who does the Moviephone listings. When the voice first came on, reading the copyright information and other technical details, I assumed that, well, that's just the preliminaries, surely someone else will narrate the rest of the tape. Nope. Amazing.
I have switched to the print version, which is excellent.

"It's a quarter to three and there' s no one in the place...
I've read several books on Sinatra;But this one is really different.Hamill is an excellent writer and shows us why Sinatra matters;this was not done in other books.He has also shown what made Sinatra so popular,what influenced the changes in his audiences and without coming right out and saying so;why there won't nor can't ever be another one like him.He also reveals the art form that Sinatra perfected in his voice.
As great as Sinatra's music was;it was Sinatra as a man,and all that he represented, as well as the use of the microphone like a painter uses a brush;that made him so great.
Read this book;it will give you a deeper appreciation of Sinatra.

Why Sinatra Matters is a fine book.
Pete Hamill is a fine reporter who knew Frank Sinatra as a friend. Sinatra was an enigmatic, charismatic and complex singer of the American soul. Perhaps no singer in 20th century America popular song could get inside a lyric and make it his own like the great "ole blue eyes."
Hamill's opening chapter in which we sit beside Sinatra and his cronies in a Brooklyn bar in 1970 is like something out of Hemingway in its description of a man, era and city.
Hamill points out that it was Sinatra in music, Laguardia in politics and Joe Dimaggio in sports who raised the immigrant Italian ethnic group to greatness in insular, xenophobic America of the 1940s.
Sinatrta could be obnoxious and cruel but he could also be
generous and kind,
This book reminds me of the Penguin Lives series as it is a good starting place for anyone who wants to learn more about Sinatra, his women, his era and most importantly his music. The music will live forever in the American soul.
Sinatra did it his way and Hamill does a fine job of writing in this interesting little book. A good read to take on vacation or a long flight. I recommend it. ... Read more

Book Description

If you had to give America a voice, it’s been said more than once, that voice would be Willie Nelson’s. For more than fifty years, he’s taken the stuff of his life-the good and the bad-and made from it a body of work that has become a permanent part of our musical heritage and kept us company through the good and the bad of our own lives. Long before he became famous as a performer, Willie Nelson was known as a songwriter, keeping his young family afloat by writing songs-like “Crazy”-that other people turned into hits.

So it’s fitting, and cause for celebration, that he has finally set down in his own words, a book that does justice to his great gifts as a storyteller. In The Facts of Life, Willie Nelson reflects on what has mattered to him in life and what hasn’t. He also tells some great dirty jokes. The result is a book as wise and hilarious as its author. It’s not meant to be taken seriously as an instruction manual for living-but you could do a lot worse. ... Read more

Reviews (20)

Liked the lyrics
Willie Nelson is a great singer and pretty good guitar player. Now for the book: Most of the book consists of his song lyrics. That's the best part. As to the jokes, a few of them made me chuckle. The "keep breathing" and "long liver" lines on page 22 are ancient. Willie admits to being 68. As to the slang language, those same old "s" words and "f" words and a few others might be OK for emphasis, and if you like repetition, there's a bit of that. The joke about AIDS on page 64 is modern, but. Stick to music, Willie.

ON THE ROAD WITH THE MAN!
If you are a fan of Willie Nelson ... as most folks are ... you'll want this book.

It's spoken in town-to-town musician-bus language and it's simply what Willie intended for the book to be --- a no-holds-barred bit of chit-chat placed into print by utilizing the casual talking style of the author.

Like his many musical compositions that have been released on records, CDs and cassettes during the past 40 years or so, this is a work of art by an artist who has lived the life and is, therefore, qualified to talk about it.

Willie sent me the beginning pages of the manuscript as he was creating it on his bus while riding from city to city for various appearances. After reading what was submitted to me, I knew it would be a "winner". Reading the completed book was a genuine delight.

Some of the jokes told by Willie are not the type you would tell to your mother (who made have already heard them if she knows Willie), but are not offensive unless your head has been buried in the sand during the past couple of decades. Like a good movie, the hilarious attachments just add to the atmosphere.

While you are reading this book, you get the feeling you're sitting on Willie's smoky bus, listening to the genius as he laughs and relays numerous stories of the road, discusses some personal friends and speaks with a tongue in cheek manner about the somewhat complex music/entertainment scene. There are also some bits that are to be taken as serious statements from time to time.

Although he needs no introduction to his talents as a singer, actor, extraordinary guitar picker and songwriter, it's the "common" connection that makes this an authentic piece of literary art.

Willie caps it all off with many photos and lyrics for songs, most of them composed by a man who is looked upon by his many peers and countless fans as being unsurpassable in the business of entertainment.

You might put Willie's new CD, "THE GREAT DIVIDE", in the player unit while you lay back and enjoy this very good book written by a dear old friend.

Willie can do no wrong, but this is close.
First, let me state emphatically that I am a huge Willie Nelson fan. He is, by far, my favorite recording artist and I have seen him in concert three times. That said, there is not much in this book to recommend it. There are a few very funny jokes, although not that dirty. There are dozens of song lyrics, many of them his lesser know works. Upon reading, you discover the lyrics are indeed mostly simple, yet profound, and you wish Willie was singing them instead of you reading them. Willie tells you he is in favor of the family farm, God, marijuana, less government. He is against smoking. He plays golf and jogs. Everybody seems to be his best friend. But, if you are a Willie fan, you already know that. And there's the problem. I didn't read anything about him I didn't already know. Damn, I wish he would really get serious about writing an autobiography. There is so much I would love to learn about Willie, but it's not here. Save your money and buy another Willie CD.

He can do better
Willie Nelson is a great performer, a talented singer and guitarist, a decent actor, and one of the best songwriters this nation has ever produced.
If he really tried, I'm sure he could write a pretty good book, too.
On this one, he didn't try. Just a series of disjointed, low-class, rambling tales. If this is the real Willie Nelson, we've been had.

Classic Willie Nelson
He has such a great sense of humor. This is a funny, quick read, perfect for summer! ... Read more

Book Description

Contains nearly 500 jigs, reels, rags, and hornpipes from all the major fiddling traditions. Special introductory materials on regional styles, bowing, and ornamentation. Includes an extensive discography. ... Read more

Reviews (9)

Fakebook Tunes (Including Reels)
Brody provides a good background on fiddling and fiddle tunes in this wonderful selection of music.The book appeals to fiddlers, and it also provides violinists interested in old-time tunes with sufficient resources to begin playing in styles different from classical music.The large selection of musicprovides great versions of mazurkas, waltzes, hoedowns, reels, jigs, hornpipes, airs, marches, and numerous other genres.Although the focus is on tunes commonly played by old-time fiddlers in the USA, the selection is international in scope, and the book includes tunes from Scotland, Ireland, America, Canada, and other countries.Each tune is annotated with a description of where the tune originated and a listing of various musicians who recorded the tune.These annotations will be especially helpful for musicians interested in the history of fiddling and for fans who wish to hear how the tunes sound prior to learning them from the printed page.The book should appeal to fiddlers of all skill levels; there are simple tunes for beginners as well as more numerous tunes that are a challenge more advanced players.

An indispensable resource!
Printed in 1983, the Fakebook remains the undisputed champion of music references for fiddlers, and it's aided a fair number of other non-fiddlers as well.

Inside its broad covers you'll find nearly 500 tunes from the various fiddle traditions. Jigs, reels, hornpipes, rags and breakdowns, each clearly labeled for origins (Irish, bluegrass, French-Canadian, old-time, etc.) and including a short list of recordings where the tune can be heard. Just flip it open randomly for a taste of its contents, and imagine the sound of tunes like "Haste to the Wedding," "Leather Britches," "The Munster Buttermilk," "Drowsy Maggie," "The Wind That Shakes the Barley," "Hanged Man's Reel" and "Great Big Taters in Sandy Land."

Eight pages of textbook materials -- music theory, history and culture, style and genre -- give a wonderfully brief overview of the things you'd like to know without loading the book down with endless information which, frankly, can get in the way of the tunes and make it too bulky for carrying. Better still, the book is held together by a sturdy plastic binding which allows you to plop it down on your music stand with ease. There's nothing so frustrating as a music book with tight bindings which make it impossible to play straight from the page.

EXCELLENT!
Great book-has info on each song - country of origin, style, albums including the song, etc... Easy to read notation including chords.A Must!

AWESOME
This is the third and LAST "fakebook" I will buy.
It should be called "the Fiddler's Realbook"
While the other fakebooks are just that, this one actually uses sheet music rather than tab.Now I can play the tunes with any instrument, or any other musician (who can read sheet music) I very much recommend it.

The one to get!
This is the tune book to get.It contains most of what is being played, and in the key and style and version you are most likely to hear it.Sure there are other tune books you will want, but this one will always be the core of your collection.

I am on my second one, the first one got so weathered and beaten, and the binding eventually broke and fell away, and I carried the pages held together with a large binder clip for awhile, hesitating to buy a new one because I did not want to lose all the hand written notes I had scribbled.Ok ok, I also did not want others to see the shiny pages free of the coffee stains and sun dried water stains. ... Read more

Amazon.com

The Chairman of the Board has inspired a great many emotions--from hero-worship to withering contempt--and you'll find most of them documented in this intelligent compendium. The editors have dredged up some wonderful relics, like Bruce Bliven's 1944 rumination on what makes the Voice so magical in the first place ("Undoubtedly, just plain sex has a great deal to do with the whole matter"). But the essays, reviews, and memoirs cover every segment of Sinatra's career, including the end-game triumph (or travesty) of the best-selling "Duets." ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Great Inside View of the #1 Megastar of them all!!
From Bobby Sox fave to Sultan of Swoon to the Fall and Great Comeback, it is just about all here, except for the very last years from the mid-1990's to the end. This volume is a collection of essays surveying the vast realm of an incredible career. The clear links between his peerless Capitol recordings,and his own life are explained,as are the demanding sessions themselves, his always being in charge with a lot of help from his friends. Every piece here is worthwhile, my favorite being Gay Talese's FRANK SINATRA HAS A COLD (1966)To quote:"Sinatra with a cold is Picasso without paint,Ferrari without fuel..A Sinatra with a cold can, in a small way,send vibrations through the entertainment industry and beyond as surely as a President can, suddenly sick, shake the national economy." A great fun of a read! Not for Frank fanatics only.

A must for anyone who loves Ole Blue Eyes
This book is like an almanac of information on Frankie. I had the pleasure of reading it at a friends house, and it was just great. I highly recommend it. Another good one, is "Why Sinatra Matters." Both give a glimpse into a man that we all love. ... Read more

Book Description

Willie Nelson says "Billy Joe Shaver may be the best songwriter alive today," and legions of fans agree that Billy Joe is the real deal. Many describe his songs as pure poetry. Shaver sings about a life that's been full of hard times, wild living, and a forty-year-long passion for his late wife Brenda. His songs are raw, honest, and so true that people hear the story of their own lives in his music. No wonder, then, that his songs have also been recorded by artists such Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings, Kris Kristofferson, George Jones, Bob Dylan, Elvis Presley, Patty Loveless, John Anderson, Tom T. Hall, the Allman Brothers, the Oak Ridge Boys, and Tex Ritter.In this compelling autobiography written with the assistance of Brad Reagan, Billy Joe Shaver looks back over a life that some might call a miracle of survival. His father abandoned the family before Billy Joe was born. Troubles in school and in the military turned him into a fighter, and a sawmill accident claimed two fingers and part of a third on his right hand. Yet his innate musical talent and the encouragement of an English teacher set him on the road to being a songwriter--and he never looked back. Shaver recounts his long struggle to break into the music business in Nashville and the success that came when Waylon Jennings recorded his songs on the 1973 album Honky Tonk Heroes, which became a landmark of outlaw country music. Shaver movingly describes his own thirty-year, up-and-down career as a singer-songwriter in Nashville and Texas, his bouts with alcohol and drugs, his pleasure in touring with his son Eddy and their band Shaver during the 1990s, and the pain of losing Eddy, Brenda, and Billy Joe's mother all within the year 1999-2000.As full of life, heartbreak, and drama as any of Billy Joe Shaver's songs, Honky Tonk Hero is the story of a man who not only walked on the wild side and lived to tell about it, but also got it all down in songs that many people consider to be some of the finest country music ever written. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Lingers on the Mind
Honky Tonk Hero is a MUST read for everyone from hometown Waco Willies to East coast city dwellers and West coast surfers~all will relate to this heart warming personal story.Through incredibly well written vivid descriptions Shaver's narration comes alive. Drama, heartbreak, and family troubles are highlighted through downhome recollections bringing the reader into Shaver's heart, mind and soul.A moving story of his personal struggles, battles and talented accomplishments. So superbly written it will linger on the mind long after the last page is turned ...just like the melody of his songs linger in the heart after the last verse is sung! ... Read more

Reviews (8)

If You Read Only One Book.....
If you read only one book in your life, you HAVE to read this one. I read it several years ago and just recently read it again. I've read a lot of biographies, and this one is the most sincere and most entertaining one yet. This book shows just how much today's country singers should thank their lucky stars that Waylon Jennings EVER came along. You can tell how very much he loved Jessi and his kids. READ IT!!!!

Sure that Hank Done it This Way
The book details how Waylon became used but not used up through a series of exploits--many shameful. Extensive womanizing back when he truly was lonesome, ornery, and mean left many good-hearted women heartbroken. Waylon didn't have to reveal so much dirty linen from his past, but at least now we can be certain he had always been crazy but it kept him from going insane. He could and probably should have shown more regrets for some erstwhile indiscretions, but most likely his legacy will not forfeit the love of the common people because country's fans are loyal to a fault.

Even if he thought he was too dumb for New York City and too ugly for L.A., he and many of his contemporary honky tonk heroes have considerably more talent than most of those warmed over rockers played on country radio today. The autobiography conclusively proves that we may have lost the wolf, but the wolf's music will survive.

The tale of a survivor and an innovator
This book is as colorful as Waylon's best songs, with an earthy reality that you can smell, taste and feel in your gut. He didn't have an easy life and the contrast between the good times and the hard times is evident. The straightforward yet discriptive writing makes it easy to feel you were there when it happened. But it's never easy to bring about change, which is what his life has been all about. Some may think he brags too much but the truth is he has plenty to be proud of. I bought the book because I wanted to see how he described his time with Buddy Holly and the evolution of outlaw country and found it to be interesting, illuminating and at times, surprising. Along the way, I gained a whole new level of respect for Jessi and was reminded again how important it is for a man to have a strong woman.

It seems that all autobiographies drag at one point or another but that's just a minor issue here. If I could, I'd give this 4 and 1/2 stars, only because I'm stingy with my 5 star recommendations. My guess is that, if you like the man's music, you'll enjoy reading his story.

Good story turned to disappointing drivel
I enjoyed reading about Waylon's experiences and relationships until he got bogged down in the drugs of which he is so proud. Those chapters truly made for boring reading. He could have condensed the experience, acknowledged how much he hurt those who loved him, and then moved on. Instead, he seems to revel in reliving those painful details and doesn't regret his behavior. Jessi deserves more gratitude than he expresses toward her. The book was often disjointed and it was hard to follow the chronology of events. With the last half condensed into 2-3 chapters, it would have been a great story.

great storytelling!!!
I was very pleased to read this book, told by Waylon himself. He's long been one of my favorites. However, there was a little too much cursing for my taste, but then, that's only my opinion! ... Read more

Book Description

Johnny Cash is one of the most influential figures in music and American popular culture today. While he was an icon to people of all ages during his life, Cash’s legacy continues after his death. His remarkable story is captured in this exclusive authorized biography, addressing the whole life of Johnny Cash—not just his unforgettable music but also his relationship with June Carter Cash and his faith in Christ. His authenticity, love for God and family, and unassuming persona are what Steve Turner captures with passion and focus in this inspiring book.

Different from other books written about him, The Man Called CASH brings Cash’s faith and love for God into the foreground and tells the story of a man redeemed, without watering-down or sugar-coating. Unquestionably one of the biggest book releases of 2004, The Man Called CASH will be a huge success with his millions of fans and will draw in many new fans with this inspiring story of faith and redemption.

The audio book, ISBN 084996377X, is narrated by Cash's close friend and musical partner, Kris Kristofferson.

Book Description

Will You Miss Me When I'm Gone? is the first major biography of the Carter Family, the musical pioneers who almost single-handedly established the sounds and traditions that grew into modern folk, country, and bluegrass music -- a style celebrated in O Brother, Where Art Thou?

A.P. Carter was a restless man, seemingly in a constant state of motion. On one of his travels across the sparsely settled mountains and valleys that surrounded his home in southern Virginia, he met and married a young girl named Sara Dougherty. Orphaned as a child, Sara was remote by nature but seemed to find release in singing the typically melancholy ballads that were a part of her home tradition.

For fun, A.P., Sara, and her cousin Maybelle (who married A.P.'s brother "Eck" Carter) would play and sing the hymns and ballads known in their Poor Valley community, occasionally adding songs A.P. had collected during his travels. Then, in 1927, they traveled to Bristol, Tennessee, to audition for a New York record executive who was hunting "hillbilly" talent and offering an amazing fifty dollars per song for any he recorded. These Bristol recording sessions would become generally accepted as the "Big Bang" of country music, producing two of its first stars: Jimmie Rodgers and the Carter Family.

By the early 1930s, the Carter Family was the most bankable country music group in America, with total sales of more than a million records. By the late '30s, they were appearing regularly on high-power radio station XERA, which broadcast from coast to coast. A whole generation of country people could gather around the radio and hear the sound of music that came straight from their world. Johnny Cash in Arkansas, Waylon Jennings in Texas, Chet Atkins in Georgia, and Tom T. Hall in Kentucky all listened to the Carter Family. It was their formal schooling, Country Music 101.

Inside the Carter Family, however, things were hardly perfect. Though nobody outside the family knew it, Sara had left her difficult and quixotic husband in 1933. In 1936 she won a divorce. Even throughout the long and painful breakup, the Carters kept performing together, singing an ever-widening range of new songs they wrote or old songs they remade: songs of love, of betrayal, and of the death of fondest hopes. And they kept at it even after Sara married A.P.'s cousin Coy Bays in 1939. After fulfilling a final radio contract in 1943, Sara and Coy moved to California to settle near his family. The original Carter Family never performed or recorded together again.

With Sara gone, A.P. retreated home, opened a general store, and lived out the next two decades in obscurity, the odd man out in a new and reconfigured Carter musical clan. Meanwhile, Maybelle and her daughters (Helen, June, and Anita) went out and got themselves new radio contracts, working in Richmond, Virginia; Knoxville, Tennessee; and Springfield, Missouri, before ascending to country music's ultimate stage, Nashville's Grand Ole Opry. Nearly fifty years in the business won Maybelle the title "Mother of Country Music" and the adoration of generations of guitar players and just plain listeners.

The story of the Carter Family is a bittersweet saga of love and fulfillment, sadness and loss. Will You Miss Me When I'm Gone? is more than just a biography of a family; it is also a journey into another time, almost another world. But their story resonates today and lives on in the timeless music they created. ... Read more

Reviews (21)

Makes You Pine for Your Clinch Mountain Home
"Will You Miss Me When I'm Gone" represents a real step up from the typical celebrity bio it might have been. As you might expect, it chronicles the hard times and triumphs of the first two generations of the musical Carter family, starting with A.P. and his then-wife Sara, and Sara's cousin and sister-in-law Maybelle, and continuing on through Maybelle's daughters (Helen, Anita, and June Carter Cash), in-laws (Johnny Cash) and even granddaughters. The author(s) received the full cooperation of the surviving members of the family; the book has benefited tremendously, for example, from interviews with June Carter Cash and Johnny Cash.

Hirshberg and Zwonitzer's aim, however, goes beyond the tell-all. They are trying to convey not just the fundamental integrity of the Carters and their music, but also the rise of country 'hillbilly' music in the 20s and 30s and what it meant to the people that heard it. As a result the reader leaves the book wanting to hear more of the music, which to my mind is a mighty fine result.

A view from the top of "Mountain Music"
The singing Carter family have influenced American music for over 70 years, and this biography seeks to give them their due as one of the premier families of American musical heritage. While a little too soap-opry in parts, Mark Zwoniter does an impressive job tracing the Carter's early musical history, and spins some compelling tales of the original Carters (husband and wife AP and Sara, and sister-in-law Maybelle).
The book traces the Carter's over-300 recorded performances and legendary radio shows (a highlight to listeners of the Depression Era), but sometimes sacrifices musical legacy for back stories involving pregnancies, affairs and name dropping (particularly as the family grows, and ascends to their rightful place as stars on the country music scene). This problem is particularly noticable in discussions of June Carter Cash, whose story would make a phenomenal movie, but overshadows the simple pleasures of the Carters' music itself.
"Oh Brother Where Art Thou", and the continued importance of the Carter classic "Will The Circle Be Unbroken" ensure that this legendary family remains important in music history today, and should provide a solid fan base for reading this book. It's a very interesting (and easy) read, with some great stories about a musical family on the road in pursuit of the American dream.

Well worth the read
One rainy day while sipping Starbucks and staying out of the weather, I randomly strolled over to the music section at Barnes and Noble and began thumbing thru "Will You Miss Me When I'm Gone." My parents, having gone thru the Depression, often spoke of the Carter family and their original music in tones normally reserved for for our owned departed family members and I was interested to have found a book about the group. Two hours later, I had a much better understanding as to why this family had such an impact on my own and the nation. Not only is this book informative and interesting, but give great credit to the author who writes brilliantly. His tone and tales glide you thru the chapters and I felt compelled to read on and on. My biggest disappointment is that I wasn't aware of the book sooner, and that I personnaly never heard the Carters. Read this book if you want a greater understanding of the Depression Era and the workings of the early radio and record business.

About the people, not the music, still worth 5 stars
This book reminds me of the new book about Bill Monroe, Can't You hear me Calling. That book makes a lot of pretenses and some small errors and legions of overstatements about Bill Monroe and adds little to our knowledge of Big Mon the musician, but provides a rich and interesting and valuable addition to the literature by giving a well researched picture of his personal problems, his emotional outlook, and his life offstage from childhood on. In providing his true background, it dispels the usual mystifications and idiocies and stereotypes generated by Nashville.

This book does the same for the Carters, something harder to do when you are talking about three to 10 people depending on who you count as a Carter. This book is weakened by the absence of documentation, even of the type of documentation that has become standard in serious non-fiction books written for a non-scholarly audience now expects, let alone what those of us who would like to think of ourselves as scholars of the music and the culture demand.

Yes, I agree there are many gaffs here that a student of the music or a musician would find just plain ignorant. Yes, the book could have been better edited and fact checked. The publisher obviously didnt care to spend money to have competent editors go over the book, or to have it read by someone with any expertise in this kind of music or the history of music at all, such as one would expect. This speaks more to the current economics of the publishing industry where to get a book out, you have to offer a budget and a marketing plan like you were going to offer a new shade of nail polish.

What emerges here is the story of the Carters as people. Of course, this dashes away all of the mystification of the simple Carters living up in their Clinch Mountain home and resituates them as modern Americans like the rest of us with ambitions, emotional problems, sexual needs, affairs, divorce, and all the rest.

This is the real story that this book centers on. I wont regugitate it, you can do it yourself by buying this book.

I found it very very readable. Even though as a former editor, a sometimes published writer, and an English professor I can be a big stickler, the little errors and the big did not halt my desire to devour this book because of its easy and interesting writing style and because it told the lives of the Carters in a compelling way. This is done without creating phony melodrama. Apart from the breakup of the marriage of AP and Sara, which to happen as peacefully as one would expect this to happen, particularly for rural Virginia, and the brush of Maybelle's family with Hank Williams and Johnny Cash who both seemed to be enamored with June, the Carters seem to have lived reasonable lives with good opportunities and the normal surmountable dramas. To tell their story as honestly as this book seems and find a way to make it interesting and have the personal storm inform the music and our understanding of life in general is an achievement.

There is a lot of good fun description of things here. I particularly delighted in their description of Dr. Brinkley the quack who sponsored XERA the first border radio station the Carters played on. I was charmed by the portrait of the late Chet Atkins as well. Even a person with no special knowledge or interest of the music would find this book very enjoyable.

Of course, anyone who wants to have a knowledge and an interest in the music of the Carters must have this book.

Other than the bargain basement editing and fact checking job, the real weakness of this book is that it stands alone. We would not be bemoaining this books scant attempts to talk about the musical influences and musical style and changes in the Carters music if there were serious books written on those subjects. We would simply be placing this book where it belongs, an interesting personal history of the Carters' lives which should have been documented. I still give it 5 stars!

The real problem like the Monroe book is that we need more books about this and similar subjects. We do need a documented book by someone who can really understand the great list of musical and cultural influences that were represented by the Carters. Likewise, we need more books seriously written about the construction of the country music industry

A very interesting book about some classic musicians
This is a great book for fans of old time music who would also like to get into the history of this interesting family. It takes you along from the early days in the mountains through their extensive musical career. It was a very interesting, even tempered account of life in the music business. I really got a good idea of the personalities involved. Johny Cash fans may get some new insights into into his background in more "traditional" forms. There seems to be none of the sensationalism that sometimes plagues books of this sort.
Just a little tip...If, like me, you had not heard as many of the Carter Family classics as you would like, go to your area libraries and get out some of the Victor reissue recordings to play as you read this book. Their style set such a standard and it helps to have recordings around as the songs are mentioned in the book. ... Read more

Reviews (13)

Al Green Took Me to the River
Al Green's new autobiography, written in 2000, is a riveting story for anyone who has ever been curious about Al Green, how he came to be a famous soul singer, and the story behind his music. I was hooked on this book from the moment I picked it up. It was easy to read and very entertaining. He starts off describing his childhood and his experiences in Jacknash Arkansas as the middle child of a sharecropping family. He tells about his parents whom he loves very much and how they had the courage to sell everything they had and move north for a better life. "Al," he said, "go wake up your brothers and sisters. Tell them to get dressed and start packin." Al explains how much he learned from his parents and how much he respects them for taking this gutsy move. His childhood was hard but he pursued his dream of becoming a soul singer and when he teamed up with legendary producer Willie Mitchell, he was on his way. This autobiography tells of his rise to the top of the music industry, his attempted murder and suicide, his immense struggle between his religious side and his secular side, and how this struggle is reflected in much of his music. Al eventually chooses God over his million dollar career but left us with some of the best soul music ever recorded. I was very surprised at the candor with which Al told the details of his life, good and bad. He talked as honestly about the problems he had with drugs and money as he did about his numerous successes. It made his story sound very earnest and sincere. He covered all the bases of his life and answered all the questions I had about the artist that I have been listening to for many years. The only negative about this book was that it wasn't longer. I was not ready for it to end and have a strong desire to read as much more as I can about him. I am only 17 years old but have been listening to Al Green for over five years. This book was very well written and very interesting to me. I am sure it will be just as riveting for other fans.

Wonderful book for Al Green lovers, but NEEDS a copyeditor!!
I love Al Green(e). Almost everyone who knows me knows that. For Christmas I received two copies of this book: one from my husband and one from a girlfriend. My husband ordered the book from Amazon.com. My girlfriend, however, purchased hers and stood in line at a bookstore in Atlanta to have Al sign it and personalize it. It was the BEST gift I received this Christmas! I read it in a couple of days and thoroughly enjoyed it right from the Introduction to the last page. I have a deeper appreciation of my favorite male vocal artist (Aretha being my favorite female) and although he sounded boastful often enough, he owned right up to it -- admirable. HOWEVER . . . Being married to a copyeditor/indexer/proofreader it was almost impossible to put up with all the stupid and distracting mistakes. A publisher the size of HarperCollins should have staff that is at least literate! What an embarrassment! For example, throughout the book "or" is used instead of "of," "spent" instead of "spend," words beginning with a consonant are preceded by "an" instead of "a," and the reverse happens for vowels. I know this kind of slack attitude is rampant in e-mail messages, but I started getting angry at the apparent total disregard for the English language. I hope this was a case of rushing to have the book out in time for holiday season sales (although there's NO excuse for such a sloppy job), but I started to wonder at one point if some misguided editor was trying to make the book have more of an ethnic sound to it. If that is the case, Mr. Green and Mr. Seay should have that editor's hide because it was downright insulting. And since that is probably not the case, I would advise future authors to think twice before allowing HarperEntertainment to publish their work using their current staff of copyeditors and proofreaders. By the way, I have the name of an excellent person if you want it!

Take it to the river, Leave it there!
Huge Al Green fan, yet greatly disappointed in this book. For some reason, I did not feel total truth and sincerity was put into writing this book. And who was the editor! The numerous typos only led to further frustration. I have always respected Al Green for who he was- the church boy gone secular who never lost his ability to interpret any tune with gospel fire and conviction. The Hollywood side of Al has always been visible- to everyone but himself- and it is still prevelant as I watch him on numerous television events singing his hits of old. I was not fascinated by this read and I would suggest that you borrow this book from the library or a friend before making the purchase.

Thoughts on Take Me To The River
I believe that one of the most interesting aspects of the book is Al's discussion about his upbringing in an intensely religious home, and how this conflicted with his worldly aspirations. His story in a sense is not unlike many of the stars of his generation who were brought up in the church, and found themselves at odds with their parents world view. The chapter that illuminated on the Hi recording sessions at the Royal Studios in Memphis was spectacular. The book even provides a great run down of the stars on the Hi label - a record label that has not received the respect it is due. By the way, Al Green's producer Willie Mitchell is a genius. He turned Al Green into a superstar. However, I must say I found the book wanting. I thought the pictures in the book were one's that most of us who have followed his career have seen over and over. In addition, there are no pictures of him as a child, or even of his own family (wife and children). If you expect this book to be reveal any of the struggles that he has dealt with on a personal level, you will be sorely disappointed. He glosses over his own personal family life. The book paints a nice surface potrait of Al, but really does not go much beyond that.

Fascinating, but...
I found "Take Me To The River" to be very eye-opening, in terms of the amazing range of experiences that Al Green has had, and as to his development as an artist. It was the later part, that interested me the most. Having been a fan of his, since "Tired of Being Alone" changed the course of soul music, in 1971, I was most fascinated by his accounts of his working relationship with Willie Mitchell (who I consider an unsung genius of popular music), and with the Hi Records rhythm section, one of the greatest groups to ever make a record.

I also found the book to be very well written. I have two major complaints though. First of all, as another reviewer has pointed out , (and I'm amazed that it's only been one), the book looks like it wasn't edited. I have never read a book with so many blatant typos, in my life! Harper Collins should be ashamed (and should make a recall, have the book edited, and send everyone new copies.)

My second objection is much less cut-and-dried: I was recently involved in the production of an event at which Mr. Green was given a Lifetime Achievement Award, and not only did he not show up, but didn't notify anyone until the day of the event, that he would not be there, leaving many people in a very awkward position-and leaving a very unsatisfied audience at the Apollo Theater. He had been aware of the award and of the event, for at least a month, and had confirmed the fact that he would attend.

The fact that he didn't show up was an insult to the organization making the presentation, as well as to the house full of people who were expecting to see him...Even worse, this isn't the first instance of his not showing up for a scheduled appearance, that I know about. I must say, that knowledge of actions like these, made me read certain sections of "Take Me To The River" with more than a grain of salt... ... Read more

Book Description

The Soul of an American LegendWho Was Johnny Cash? Rock star? Preacher? Drug addict? Saint? In truth, the Man in Black lived long enough and hard enough to embody all of the above—and much more. He was a musical legend, a one-of-a-kind communicator, an American icon—but someone that could never be pigeonholed.

Cash's faith in God was no different: "I'm still a Christian, as I have been all my life," he once said. "Beyond that I get complicated." Cash's faith was raw, challenged, broken and messy. But it was real. Unlike any other book written about Johnny Cash, The Man Comes Around explores with vivid detail the wild highs and lows that took place during this man's lifelong spiritual journey. It illuminates the deep, unending love he had for his music, his wife and his God.

Painstakingly researched and adorned with vivid, narrative detail, The Man Comes Around shows the impact this American legend has made not only in American music, but in eternity. After hearing his story, you'll never hear his music the same again ... Read more

Reviews (9)

The Man Comes Around...
I'm not sure why everything written about Johnny Cash is so entertaining. This book is no exception. It is a quick runthrough of his career and the spiritual journey underlining it all. It is very informative and very inspiring! The book is for any fan of Johnny Cash's. You don't have to be a religious person to get a lot out of this book.

Puts you right in the middle of Cash's raw existence
I truly loved this book. I learned so much and was glued to the drama of
Cash's life with every turn of the page. The author goes beyond merely
regurgitating facts and quotes; instead he chronicles the events that shaped
Cash's life with a technicolor writing style that puts you right in the middle
of Cash's raw, full-throttle existence. When my co-workers saw The Man Comes
Around on my desk, they were intrigued enough to order copies for themselves;
they were so moved that they got more copies for their friends and
family...obviously a big hit around here! I now know that a ton has been written
and said about Johnny Cash through the years, but I also now know that The Man
Comes Around goes further in thoroughly detailing what was arguably the most
important part of Cash's life...his soul and his spiritual journey. An inspiring
read!

Skip this book and read the autobiography
I had hoped the author would have some true insight to Mr Cash's life and work, but this most definitely is not the case. The book reads like a school term paper, no real insight just a gathering of quotes providing a workman-like overview of Mr Cash's life and work with emphasis placed on the religious aspects. Not a bad book, but definitely not good either. A reader would be much better served with Mr Cash's autobiography.

Required Reading for any Cash Curriculum
Do not begin this book if you have other commitments. It demands to be devoured in great gulps, not unlike the Man in Black's approach to life. Urbanski effectively chronicles Cash's thundering full-throttle trek through 71 years with both feet on the gas. This book drags the reader over Cash's rocky road, with no protection from the bumps and bruises but with full access to the amazing scenic turnouts. Cash's journey often embraced extremes and excesses but it also resulted in a life full to the brim with victory, failure, tragedy, love, sin, grace, and forgiveness.

As Urbanski pulled me from one page to the next, a quote I remember as Gandhi's continually came to mind: "I have often considered being a follower of Christ except for Christians." Had they known each other, Cash would have given Gandhi ample cause to reject Jesus. Cash was a man who knew first-hand the depths to which humanity can sink. Urbanski's research brings these depths to life with rage, chronic substance abuse, collapsed relationships and other failures splattered across the pages.

These dark inconsistencies of Cash's life, however, make a stunning backdrop for the brilliance of his many successes. What shines through the pages most clearly, however, is the fact that Cash readily owned his failings and gratefully fell on the grace of a God willing to save him anyway. In this, Cash saw what Gandhi apparently did not: that Christ came for sinners, failures, and losers, not for perfect people who needed no Savior.

This book uniquely strikes the heart of what Johnny Cash held most dear, rendering it required reading for anyone wishing to know the man. With artful attention to detail, Urbanski covers his canvas with an extensive array of colors that blend to a truly rich, deep shade of Black. The book's strong focus on musical review may at times distract those with less interest in Cash's songs and more interest in his soul. (Music aficionados, however, will enjoy the feast.) Still, every reader will be truly inspired by the life of this broken man who lived with his feet in the dirt, his eyes on Heaven, and his hand in God's.

Good look at a very real Christian.
I was very inspired by this transparent view of Johnny Cash's Christian walk. This book is great for people who don't feel like they are Christians because they don't fit the mold of the right-wing, conservative evangelical too well. Neither did Johnny Cash, but after finishing this book, it seemed to me like he had an insight into what it truly means to be a Christian than most of us will never attain.

If I had to criticize the book for anything, it would be the detail the author goes into on Cash's musical career. It is clear that the author is a music buff, and fellow music buffs will no doubt enjoy this aspect of the book. However, for those who pick up the book solely to gain a glimpse into Cash's spiritual journey and faith struggles, some sections of the book which cover Cash's musical genius and innovation will become rather tedious.

Overall, highly recommended. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Tales from Margaritaville (stories) and Where Is Joe Merchant? (a mystery) secured songwriter Jimmy Buffett's niche reputation as an affable, poetic beach bum. A Pirate Looks at Fifty, a travel-diary-cum-autobiography, features Buffett behind the wheel of his Grumman Albatross seaplane, safely piloting family and friends through a three-week trip around South and Central America and the Caribbean. He blends gentle scenic narration with rambling, unplugged life stories meant to convey that he's made peace with the whole aging process. For Buffett, turning 50 "can be a ball of snakes that conjures up immediate thoughts of mortality and accountability. (`What have I done with my life?') Or, it can be a great excuse to reward yourself for just getting there. (`He who dies with the most toys wins.') I instinctively chose door number two."

On this tack, Buffett plans an opulent, laid-back trip for his brood and goes into so many details about his favorite possessions (three pages on knapsacks!) that the cheerful vagabond in flip-flops is nearly eclipsed by the rich, domesticated businessman/dad he's become. In addition, stinging losses and limitations--his dad's Alzheimer's disease, his own terrifying solo plane crash in 1996--creep into his cozy yarns. Yet Buffett's infectious, grinning attitude towards life eventually finds resurrection in extended riffs on fly-fishing, solo piloting over water, and surfing. In such passages, he earns his claim to a "saline psyche," a legacy inherited from his grandfather, skipper of a five-masted barkentine that ferried lumber from New Orleans to the Caribbean. Sailing and soaring over Atlantic, Caribbean, and Pacific seas, Buffett looks at 50 and sees a very good life. ... Read more

Reviews (224)

I gotta go where it's warm!
This is an unassuming book that sneaks up to you with a warm enjoyable feeling. I've always wanted to know what Jimmy Buffett is like when he's not on stage, and I'm happy to find out that he's a genuine person with enough flaws to make him interesting.

I was particularly pleased to see that Jimmy didn't do a Jerry Springer spill yer guts kind of tale, but instead just related stories as they came to mind. Jimmy comes across as a man who's found his niche. You have to have respect for a guy who hasn't had more than 1 or 2 top ten records and still manages to sell out every concert.

Some people may not enjoy all the fly fishing stories and the flying descriptions. I did, but I'm one of those types who reads everything including the back of cereal boxes. (Sick I know, but hey there's probably a 12-step program for it somewhere!).

This book is like a comfortable afternoon in the hammock...not much gets accomplished, but it's a wonderful way to spend the day.

A Typically Unique Buffett Experience!
This was a typically unique Jimmy Buffett experience whereby he weaves his personal "songline" into an entertaining narrative to be enjoyed by Parrotheads, fishermen, "flying boat captains", and anybody with an adventurous spirit! I gave this 5 stars for the sheer entertainment value...it may not be a literary masterpiece, but it's a lot of fun!

I especially enjoyed the vivid explanations of Caribbean history. As a high school social studies teacher, I think some of Jimmy's descriptions would be very motivating for some of my students and I plan to incorporate some of them into my Global Studies lesson plans.

In an earlier review, I read that this is more of a man's book since most women wouldn't be interested in fishing or seaplanes. As a woman, I found these sections very interesting. Granted, flying planes and fishing aren't my hobbies, but learning something new is always fun. I don't think gender should influence one's decision to read this book - just keep an open mind!

A big kid's fantasy
Each time I read this book, I pick up previously missed "words of wisdom", and am transported along with him to all the adventures he describes so intimately, all over the world. Here is a man who went for his dreams, freely admits when he screwed up, and made it in a way we can only imagine. I absolutely loved this book.

Another Caribbean Soul
I first read this book on my honeymoon on the Great Barrier Reef in Australia, and it has truly inspired me. A fellow sailor from childhood, I had lost touch with my ties to Mother Ocean as I pursued a career in engineering that was successful by conventional standards but left me feeling like something was missing. This book reminded me what it was. Jimmy Buffett is an incredible storyteller, and has lived a life many (like me) only dream of. He makes you want to visit each and every place he describes. Some may claim that this book does not deserve 5 stars because it is not a literary masterpiece, and if you want a literary masterpiece, this book is not for you. If you are looking for an enjoyable vacation read, or for inspiration to truly live life instead of following the status quo, then this is a 5-star book for you!

The man behind Margaritaville
Playing on his classic song "A Pirate Turns Forty", Jimmy Buffett weaves an autobiographical tale that takes you to that mystical place in our minds called Margaritaville.

The book is long on facts, going through Jimmy's life as a youngster, covering the famous story of how he picked up the guitar to meet girls, and through the life as a family man and musician.

An interesting point that comes across is that Jimmy Buffett is not just this carefree guy who sings on stage all day long. He has his own nuances, such as a need to overpack. How does that fit into the life of the troubador? It doesn't, and that peek behind the illusion makes this journey a personal one.

The one downside is that if you're not a Parrothead, the book is probably not for you. If you are a Parrothead, get out the blender, set the chair just right on the deck, and enjoy the book on a lazy sunny afternoon. ... Read more

Book Description

Rap and hip hop, the music and culture rooted in African American urban life, bloomed in the late 1970s on the streets and in the playgrounds of New York City. This critical collection serves as a historical guide to rap and hip hop from its beginnings to the evolution of its many forms and frequent controversies, including violence and misogyny. These wide-ranging essays discuss white crossover, women in rap, gangsta rap, message rap, raunch rap, Latino rap, black nationalism, and other elements of rap and hip hop culture like dance and fashion. An extensive bibliography and pictorial profiles by Ernie Pannicolli enhance this collection that brings together the foremost experts on the pop culture explosion of rap and hip hop. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

A rather good book
Very interesting, with opinions that don't always duplicate what the last person said. I really enjoyed some of the essays of this book. It challenges white patriarchal assumptions about Black music, its relevance, and those who are trying to appropriate it for their own financial gain. Tricia Rose's book is also a good one.

A plethora of intellectual and dynamic thoughts on hip hop.
Droppin science is a collection of insightful essays from a variety of intellectuals about the social dynamics and history behind the music now known as hip-hop. Every hip-hop head or any music lover in general could benefit from this insightful collection. From the influences of the island cultures on rap to the history of dance, this book illuminates and expands the present discourse on rap. This is a book I will surely pass onto others in the hip-hop community. ... Read more

Book Description

Arranged by Dan Coates. Contains: Angel Eyes * Because You Loved Me * Desperado * From a Distance * The Greatest Love of All * (Everything I Do) I Do It for You * I Can Love You Like That * I Swear * If You Believe * Stairway to Heaven * Un-Break My Heart * Valentine and 10 more. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Great songs, challenging arrangements...
This arrangement of songs by Dan Coates is definately challenging. I actually have to practice to get through these. Not for the beginning piano player. This book is for moderate to advanced talent levels. Great songs like Desperado, Angel Eyes, The Rose, Open Arms and more. My only complaint is that delivery time was VERY slow. Took nearly a month to receive.

Wow! This book is GREAT!
For some time now I have been looking for a book that would challenge me and make me practice! Most of my books I have played for years and as a result I don't have to work to play any of my music. So, I started looking for some advanced books and came across this book by Dan Coates. I've had it just over a month and love it! I've love all the "extras" that have been added! I'm back on Amazon looking for more books by Dan Coates! If you are looking for a book to challange you, and a book that you will enjoy while learning each song, then you need to buy this book!!! You won't be disappointed!

One of the best I've seen
This book almost single-handedly got me back into piano playing after a 20-year hiatus. I've never been happy with the arrangements in most popular sheet music, especially "PVG" and "Easy Piano" sheets -- they are too simple and have almost no left hand accompaniment to speak of. Generally, there are no chords or arpeggios -- just single note "plink, plink, plink" etc. while the right hand has to carry the whole song.

On the other hand, many of the arrangements in this book (and in Dan Coates "Advanced" and "Professional Touch" books in general) have *wonderful* left-hand accompaniments and dramatic chording and other nice touches for the right-hand. Difficulty ranges from intermediate ("The Rose", "Open Arms") to advanced ("I Will Always Love You").

Sure, if you're talented enough to arrange for yourself you might find fault, but for those of us who just read and play and like to play popular music, this is an exceptional book.

Not a good idea
Sheet books of contempoary music, I have found, are generally a bad idea. They are usually mediocre arrangements that take away the beauty of a song that was never intended for a solo instrument. This compilation is no exception and many of the arrangements are unacceptable rips. I found many of the arrangements in this collection are "light" and unappealing. But admittedly the fault is more in the genre of music than in the arrangements per se.

The musician advanced enough to read this music will gain more satisfacaction trying to arrange the songs himself from a public domain chord sheet! If you're desperate and really need to play some popular music on the spot, it might be worth investing in this book.

wonderful
This book had such a wonderful variety of sheet music from the calssical eighties pops to modern day hits. it is wonderful just to sit around with the family on a sunday evening and sing together. with easy to read lyrics and easy to read notes, the whole family can join in on the fun. thatnmks amazon, this is a great book! ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Charming
This book is an eccentric, highly personal appreciation of "The Great American Songwriters and Their Songs." It is an easy read, as it is composed of short chapters with titles such as "George and Ira Gershwin," "Anatomy of the Popular Song," "Sheet Music, "Writing for Fred Astaire," and "Made in Hollywood: 'As Time Goes By' and 'Laura'." I found it extremely informative and charmingly written. The lists at the back are fun and provocative. Zinsser provides extensive (and entertaining) notes on his sources as well as a thorough index. This is a very subjective book with a highly personal viewpoint, but I would nonetheless recommend it to anyone with an interest in American popular song. I enjoyed this book a lot.

Can I give it a "6"?
What a wonderful book! This is a book I wish I had written, if only to write the sentence "Seeing Guys and Dolls on opening night in 1950 was my nirvana as a musical comedy fan"! It's one long love letter to the great American songwriters, both composers and lyricists: the oft-written about Kern, Hammerstein, Berlin, the Gershwins, Porter, Arlen, Sondheim, Lerner, Loewe, Ellington, Rodgers and Hart, and the less-written about Dorothy Fields, Harburg, Youmans, Schwartz, Dietz, Warren, Weill, Styne, Comden/Green, Loesser, Cahn, Van Heusen, Kander, Ebb, Bock & Harnick. Though Zinsser is a pianist himself, he keeps the technical discussion to a minimum. He's dug up photographs I've never seen before: Frank Loesser sweating on a New York park bench; Barbra sitting on Jule Styne's lap; Johnny Mercer recording (I didn't know he was popular singer as well as gifted lyricist.) And the sheet music! He's included b&w pictures of dozens of vintage sheet music cover art: the Art Deco "Roberta"; "Just in Time" with '50's linear design motifs; a Toulouse-Lautrec knockoff for a '20's Rodgers and Hart song. Zinsser very interestingly keeps the biographical info to a bare minimum, concentrating on the melodic structure of the tune, the "rules" of song structure and how the rules were effectively broken; and the lyrics which are central to his appreciation of a song. He has lovingly captured an era I was born too late for but which lives on.

A loving look at a lost world
William Zinsser's survey of the American popular song is an exceptional work, it revists and evokes the lost world of the popular song - when songs bridged generations and spoke of love and loss with grace, joy, sorrow, and occassionally, grandeur.

Not only does Zinsser give us the lives of the composers and lyricists examined, but he places their work in the context of its time, and for those who lived through the great age of American songwriting, he recreates the meaning of that music to Americans, and for those unlucky enough to be born later, he offers a guide to its many delights and pleasures. A winner of a book on every level. A must read for anyone who loves American popular music pre 1960.

A "Must" Book For Those Who Enjoy Great Songs
What enjoyment I find in this book!! It tells me all about the lives of the greatest songwriters the world has ever known...where they grew up, how they got into songwriting, what they wrote, who they wrote with, the movies and shows they did, and so much more. The era described extends from 1927 to the mid-sixties when rock arrived. During that period the greatest American songs were written. It is doubtful that the world will ever know another such a wonderful period or such songwriters. This is a book to treasure; to be read and reread if you remember the classic songs of that era.

A Loving Look at the Creators of the Great American Songbook
William Zinsser has had a lifelong love affair with the music of Tin Pan Alley, Broadway and Hollywood. This book reflects that love. Rather than a scholarly treatise, what Zinsser creates is a casual but quite complete stroll through the catalogue of the Great American Songbook using the great lyricists and composers as jumping off points. Occasional sidebars on such related topics as the structure of the classic song or the importance of sheet music add to the enjoyment and the wide scope of Zinsser's historical approach. Filled with wonderful photos of composers, lyricists and sheet music, this book is a treasure to read through and look at

A wonderful, kind book ... Read more

Reviews (5)

A Snapshot of the King of Bluegrass
Tom Piazza has written a piece which captures with photographic detail several hours spent in the company of the Mad 3-chord Genius (as Marty Stuart writes in his forward) and Self-Proclaimed King of Bluegrass, Jimmy Martin. This "book" is essentially a fleshed out magazine article, but it's a good one. Less than 100 pages and written in a style that moves right along while giving you a "you are there" first person sense, it's an enlightening way to pass an hour or two.

Mr. Piazza has a keen and insightful sense of Jimmy Martin's musical genius and place in Bluegrass History, and to me the most poignant moments in the book are when the writer is moving to shield or protect the intoxicated, loud-mouthed King of Bluegrass from injuring his already mussed reputation. As he observes, much of what makes Jimmy Martin "great" also dooms him to the edges of the limelight and that Grand Ol' Opry Membership that Jimmy Martin yearns for so badly will likely never happen, exactly for the reason of his unwillingness to back down or compromise.

This isn't a "biography" so much as a thumbnail sketch of who Jimmy Martin is framed in a skillful depiction of a few volatile hours spent with a prime example of the "Tortured Artist".

I can't help but wonder if a well-written first-person account of a weekend spent with Van Gogh would have been eerily similar.

sequel please!!!
What a great little book!

Marty Stuart's introduction is fabulous and makes me want to read his book as well.

This is one of the few books I've ever read where I'm audibly laughing. It is a hilarious, frightening, and sad ride. I just wish it was longer.

What a Waste!
Tim Piazza and Marty Stuart should have limited their ramblings to an article in Bluegrass Unlimited. Not enough here to make a book and certainly nothing we haven't heard before... The book covers the details of a couple of road trips but provides very little else. I was disappointed.

True Adventures With The King Of Bluegrass
Double thumbs up to Tom Piazza. Looking forward to a sequel. Love this Bluegrass Artist. A must read for Jimmy Martin fans. Thanks Tom for showing the sensitive caring side of this great artist who stands firm for what he believes in (his music).

Best Bluegrass Biographical Piece Ever!
Tom Piazza has captured Jimmy Martin to a T! This story was originally published in the Oxford American and was copied over and over by bluegrass fans and mailed all over the world. It was such an underground hit that it was published in book form along with some additional musings by the author. Piazza recounts a visit he and Martin made backstage at the Grand Ole Opry. It's the kind of thing you will never read in Bluegrass Unlimited. It is just too real! If you've ever seen Jimmy in person, you know what an outreageous character he is, and you'll love this book. Don't miss it. ... Read more