Reviews (7)

Key To My Heart
The one and only regret of purchasing this book is that I should have purchase it the time when it first came out. If I'm ever given a chance I would have rated it 10 STARS **********. It's not that I do not know everything about Madge after years of being a fan(I believe I'm not just 'some' fan), but after reading this book it gives me a revision of insightful aspect of what she has been doing to the(my) world and the kind of impact that she has had on me. All in all, it's an eye-opener only that it opens up my heart as well. (...)

Great Pictures
If you collect photos of Madonna...this is full of nice ones. As far as content it is not too extensive..but it fits its title! The style book has a lot of it!

GREAT BOOK
Awesome pictures, awesome text, AWESOME Madonna. The most famous woman on the planet...love her or hate her, you cannot deny her influence on pop culture. She is a TRUE ARTIST. If you're a Madonna fan, you must have this book!!!!

Book is alright for Madonna Wannabes
If you want to look like Madonna, then this is the book for you. It show's you the different styles of clothes Madonna wore from past to present. It's really a great book.

She's the best
Madonna is the very best! We all love her. great book ... Read more

Book Description

Updated with new material

Ronnie and Phil Spector made music history with the Ronettes, but as Phil's creative powers began to wane, their marriage soured. He became increasingly reclusive and violent, and Ronnie's life became a constant battle to fend off madness-both his and her own. ... Read more

Reviews (6)

The Best Music Bio I've Read!
I've been in love with this woman and her music ever since I saw The Ronettes live at The Brooklyn Fox Theatre in 1964. I was only 15 years old at the time. If you love Ronnie Spector as much as I do, then do yourself a favor and buy this book. It isn't only about music. It is about courage, and the ability to overcome barriers. Very inspirational. Trust me, you will not be disappointed.

Be My Baby by Ronnie Spector and Vince Waldron
Like so many other baby boomers I grew up listening to the likes of many girl groups, doo wop, early British and American rock as well as buble gum pop of both East and West coast origin. In high school I fell in love with the sound of one of these girl groups. The voice, the smooth moves and grooves of the greatest of these groups kept me longing for more. I couldn't buy enouph of anything relating to The Ronnets. When I stumbled on this book by accident, some 7 years ago, I thought hmmm, no accident, I am destined to read and know more about my musical Lady heroine.
In this read, I learned more about Ronnie than I ever dreamed I might. I took a trip back in time and found it difficult to put this book down. I felt her pains and gains, and I grew to know more about her than I probably wanted to, after all I had been in love with the likes of this Fabulous Ronnet for so long, that it was often cause for discomfort. I learned so much about other musicians and singers from that era as well, to think that Ronnie hung out with the likes of some of them.
This is a must read for someone who thought they knew a thing or two of a time gone by and its musical influence and the people who helped make it what it was. If ever Rock-101 were taught in any format, this book need-be included.

Worth 10 Stars-Required Reading for Ronnie Spector Fans!
This book is even more timely to read now that Ronnie's ex-hubby Phil Spector was arrested the other day for the murder of a woman in his house. It gives great insight not only into Ronnie's life story and rise to stardom but also into Phil's personality and temperament. While there is absolutely no doubt of Phil's musical genius, the man was(and possibly still is)mentally unstable(he claims to be bipolar and does not like to take his meds). I first bought and read this book when it first came out years ago but it is still a great read, one of the very best rock-bios around. It is also a great companion piece to Darlene Love's autobiography. If you are a fan of Phil Spector's Wall of Sound, both books are essential reading. Very highly recommended.

WOW: RONNIE AT LAST!
For Ronnie Spector fans everywhere, this book has it all. Her early days in New York City, the beginning of the Ronettes, their spectacular number 1 hit BE MY BABY, her nightmare of booze and obsession while married to that creep Phil Spector, and her triumphant return to her first love of music and singing. If you want a fascinating look at the girl groups in Rock and Roll history, then you want to read this book. She writes in a down-to-earth way that makes you feel like a good friend is telling you a heart-wrenching story of pain and loss, of fear and courage. Good going, Ronnie! We love you.

A wonderful book to read!
This book is all about the life of Ronnie Spector, the lead singer of the popular 1960's group the Ronettes. Here she tells her story of her life growing up in New York to her early days as a singer and her tumultuous marriage to producer Phil Spector. This is a very interesting autobiography and Ronnie does a super job of describing the events and people that changed her life as well as what the music industry was like back in the 60's. And she tells her story without any bitterness or resentment. You can tell that Ronnie is a real classy lady with a kind heart and a winning personality. After reading this book, one really feels like they know who Ronnie Spector is, just like she was an old friend. You really see Ronnie as a human being and understand her instead of just thinking of her as a pretty face on a record cover or a fantastic voice on a record. Buy this book today and read for yourself. The foreword was written by Cher and the introduction was written by Billy Joel. Also included are a lot of nice pictures of Ronnie as well as the Ronettes, her family and some of the people she's met. Highly recommended! ... Read more

Book Description

Straightforward biographies are fine for a group just making their mark in the pop world.But Bryan, Nicky, Mark, Shane and Kian are different, and this official book is far more than a straightforward biography.

Through in-depth interviews, each of the boys reveal what it is really like to be living the Westlife dream.Backstage photographs from every stage of Westlife's amazing career so far capture the guys as they travel from show to show, giving interviews and press calls, trying to catch some sleep where they can, but loving every minute of the lifestyle they've always wanted. ... Read more

Reviews (9)

Glossed Over
Marc Shapiro's book on Mariah Carey is pretty well written with a few exceptions. There are a few misses. I felt that while he did pay specific attention to her beginnings and various stages of her careers, he rather mulled over her relationships with Tommy Mottola, Derek Jeter and Luis Miguel. He's explaining her start in her career then boom all of a sudden its just that she was in love with Tommy Mottola, and he describes their wedding and shortly their marriage from there after, then suddenly their break up, which he barely even covers. I mean yes of course their relationship was short lived and these things did happen rather quickly, but it would have been nice for a little more detail. He explains how Mottola became controlling at the end of their marriage, then suddenly they are just seperated. A few more details would have been nice too for the time spent on Derek Jeter or Luis Miguel, glossed over and didn't really delve into anything.

His writing is good though, for the most part. The career notes are very well written, you really get a sense of what Mariah may be like (since this is just one author's version of what may or may not be the truth). He starts at the very beginning, background on Mariah's family, her childhood, what she did, her love for music. Moving along to when she moved to New York and how she found success.

Although I found some of his information was a bit off track, which isn't the best when you consider a biography should be an accurate depiction of the person it's being written about. For example, he talked about her MUSIC BOX album and how there were three singles, "Dreamlover", "Without You" and "Anytime You Need A Friend". Yes they were singles, but what about "Hero"? That was one of her biggest hits, and it's pretty alarming that an author would forget such a fact. He only mentioned that she wrote the song and it ended up on the album, not that it was a hit song that changed many fans lives. Same goes for "One Sweet Day", that song was her biggest hit and had a huge global impact, but it was really just an afterthought in the book. He talked about her BUTTERFLY album as controversial in the sense that she was spreading her wings and doing music with a bit more R&B and hip hop, which was true, but it wasn't such a drastic change from her other music, an evolution that started with DAYDREAM in 1995. Her real hip hop and R&B music was truly realized when RAINBOW was released in 1999, which was a very collaboration heavy project, whereas BUTTERFLY only had two vocal collaborations, the other collaborations being of the producer sort. He also mentions a song on BUTTERFLY he quoted as being called "Shook Ones", last time I checked there was no song titled that, but there was a cover of Prince's 1984 song "The Beautiful Ones". Someone should get their facts straight.

Nevertheless, it's decent enough I suppose. There are baring omissions but that's to be expected I suppose, until Mariah writes her own book. He did explain about media reaction to her music quite a bit, which was a nice touch. Overall it's an easy read, interesting, but there is definately room for improvement here.

A Great Book !
If you don't know anything about how great Mariah's story is .. then this book is for you, and if you know everything about Mariah's story except the little details .. then this book is for you too :)
Buy it im sure you're gonna love it!

Best Mariah Biography Yet!
I am a huge Mariah Carey fan and I own just about every book and biography on her. This particular one by Marc Shapiro is by far my favorite of them all! It's so full of detail and has many many behind the music type stories in it that keep your interest to its fullest. Also there are many great pictures inside that are cool to look at! I like this book so much that I had Mariah sign it when I got the chance to meet her a couple of months ago. She said she didnt particularly like the book, but she'd sign it anyways. I think its because it goes so deep into personal issues that maybe she didnt have a say in what was being written since it is "unauthorized." Its still my favorite by far!

Great Mariah Book.
I got this book as a gift from a friend. It talks about mariah's life from when she was born until she started with the whole Glitter thing. This book has some nice full page color pictures but they could be better and some great other ones. In this book there is also her discography, videography, and has a list of all the awards she won. Every Mariah fan should buy this because it may have a bit of information you don't know. GREAT BOOK BY A GREAT AUTHOR.

Marc Shapiro's book on Mariah
This is a good, well-written current book on Mariah. it has good pics, and its fun to read. It's worth the money!! Buy it!! ... Read more

Book Description

The definitive biography of the Scottish singer who graduated from The Tourists to The Eurythmics and went on to international solo stardom. From Love is a Stranger through Diva to the reformed Eurythmics 1999 album Peace, this is the revealing story of an extraordinary female singer. ... Read more

Reviews (7)

Good as a description of Annie's work, a Drag as a bio.
I found this book tedious, to say the least. I have followed Annie Lennox's career since the early eighties, and having read plenty of interviews all through these years, I expected to read a book that might shed new light on this wonderful performer. Instead I found a comprehensive body of work regarding the description of every single song and video performed by her. That is great for die-hard fans thirsty for details, but fails to grasp the reader's attention for long and should by no means be the final goal of any biography! Besides the authors failed to bear in mind that most A.L.'s fans are over their 30's and that the biography was Annie Lennox's and not Shakira's, for the use of storytelling-like idiomatic expressions (e.g. "...at the tender age of six...") and the lack of depth in the subject matter of the book is more suitable for a teenage pop idol biography! All in all, buy the book if you crave for the info, otherwise avoid it!

Best For Serious Fans
In my view, this bio will be best appreciated by very serious fans of Annie Lennox and Eurythmics. The authors are extremely thorough, describing at length practically every song ever sung, every video ever shot, every costume ever worn, every photo ever taken, etc. As someone who enjoyed Eurythmics and Lennox's music and thought a Lennox bio would be an interesting read, this level of detail quickly became tedious. The book also suffers from not having the direct cooperation of Ms. Lennox, lacking the life that comes from in depth interviews specifically for the purpose of a biography, as opposed to various previous interviews put in the context of a biography. Finally, at times the authors made sweeping and grand statements, which left me with the impression that perhaps they were too in awe of Ms. Lennox to write a truly objective biography. Still, for those who are serious fans, they will likely appreciate the level of research and detail that went into this comprehensive bio.

Extraordinary book!
This book is a MUST for anyone who has followed Annie Lennox throughout her entire career! With mind boggling research, some never before published photos and incredible insight, you find yourself unable to put it down. It leaves no question unanswered, and gives insight into this enigmatic woman, like no other biography has been able to. All holes in stories of the past are quickly filled in in this book. There are very intelligent commentaries on every song Annie has ever recorded, with and without Eurythmics. The authors talk to ex-lovers, friends and co-workers in Annie's life, and uncovers literally everything you could want to know. Highly recommended.

Interesting Reading
I loved this book as it really captured Annie Lennox for me. She's such an extraordinary woman who on one hand likes to keep herself to herself and on the other writes all her experiences down in her songs. It's amazing that she's managed to juggle family and a pop career and I hope she makes another comeback soon!

What a woman
I'm a relatively new Annie Lennox fan and I really enjoyed this book. I disagree that this is just 'rehash' - as the authors couldn't speak to Annie (and let's face it, she's never going to write her own memoirs), they've put her quotes in context with the events and opinions and memories from other people who were there at the time. This is what most biographers do when the book isn't authorised. I think it's a really interesting read and certainly lets us get as close as we ever will. I also enjoyed the music and video breakdown - I never realised she wrote so much about her life in her songs. ... Read more

Book Description

The first book to analyze Joni Mitchell's controversial life, career, songs and the strange times they so exactly chronicle. ... Read more

Reviews (8)

Watered-down idolatry...and not much more
Because Hinton's is the first Joni Mitchell biography I've digested, I was hoping for something that didn't leave a cheap, plastic taste in my mouth. The known parts of her life that are inspiring to me were reduced to banal fodder mentioned in passing, while darker aspects became reasons for the author to step up to her vehement defense--these outbursts were nauseating and usually at the expense of someone else, leaving many questions largely unresolved. Hinton tends to shuffle back and forth between regurgitation of objective fact and jarring personal opinion. Incidentally, I like what one reviewer said about this book reading "like a last-minute book report". The fact that he completely destroys my favorite JM album in his woefully amaturish musical critiques doesn't help either. This book does not do justice to an artist such as Mitchell.

an incongruous and pitiful effort
In starting this book I had such high hopes and expectations - especially given its billing as the "first" full length book to examine Joni's art and life. But almost immediately I was disappointed, confused, and even offended by what a disgraceful work this is.
There are many reasons to fault this book but chief among them are its virtually endless stream of gratuitous (and obnoxious) opinions, its numerous irrelevant passages, and its many erroneous or questionable "facts". What was often most difficult to read were the "critiques" of the selections on each of her albums. More often than not it seemed hard to believe that this man had any appreciation of, knowledge of, or feeling for her music; at times one wondered whether he was just making up these "analyses".
His sense of the historical background and cultural milieu was comparably incredulous. Either he hates most of what the epochs (from the sixties onward) represented and/or he managed to live through them basically clueless all the while.
He seems to have a rather jaded attitude toward Joni herself. A biography need not be favorable to be accurate or fair. Yet he seems to have managed to craft a rather jarring triumverate of failings: he's inaccurate, unfair, and unsympathetic!
The photos comprise one of the few positive aspects of the book. Despite all the negative aspects I've enunmerated, I've kept my personal copy. Maybe I'll eventually reread it.....at which time I will hope to find it less obnoxious, offensive, and uninformative.

Reads like a last-minute book report.
The bulk of this book is made up of quotes taken (and endlessly repeated - verbatim) from a great Cameron Crowe interview with Joni from 1979. Save yourself the trouble & just read that.

Both sides together!
Being a long-time fan of Joni, I approached this book with interest but quickly realised I should adopt caution. Not only was it constantly repetitive... (yes, you just told us the opening song of the tour gigs two pages ago!)... but it was full of contradictions: so who WAS Carly Simon's "You're so vain" written about? Most embarrassing of all was the author's misunderstanding of the American term "suspenders" (the British equivalent is "braces" - i.e. elastic supports for men's trousers (pants)).. and thus wrongly accused James Taylor of being a cross-dresser! And as for the 1996 report that Joni gave birth at the age of 52 in 1996.... really?

Perhaps Hinton should play Mitchell's 'Help Me'.
It's ironic (and perhaps moronic) that Hinton should choose none other than Joni Mitchell as a subject for a biography. Not only is Mitchell one of the most gifted and literate songwriters of the 20th Century, she is also one of the most iconoclastic, as well...shunning publicity that most 'rock stars' consume with a spoon. And its these circumstances which point out the failings in this dismal read: Hinton can't write and what he has written are quotes of Mitchell herself when she has deigned to submit to personal interviews. It's appalling that the publisher went ahead with such a shoddy and thoroughly uninformative book about one of the great pop icons of our century. ... Read more

Book Description

Book Description

An engaging, unique study of enigmatic pop star Scott Walker, charting his progress from the Walker Brothers to solo success, to post-modern purveyor of the recent Tilt. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Reveals nothing new about the artist or his music...
Funny thing about Scott Walkers voice-- it is so nuanced and heavy with subtext, it invites you to project on it your own feelings, memories, and experiences. This book is author Jeremy Reed's personal, subjective projections on the deeper meanings of Walker's art. When you're finished (if you make it that far), you'll have a good idea of where Jeremy Reed is coming from, but you'll have gleaned nothing useful about Walker.

Despite what the jacket description may lead you to believe, this is not the story of Scott Walker's life, nor an honest attempt to shed light on the creation of his music. Instead, we get a series of esoteric, rambling essays that attempt to trace the themes in the artist's work

In defense of this book, I suppose it should be noted that the subject is a recluse with very few published interviews. One also presumes he has few friends or associates from whom to obtain revealing anecdotes or funny Scott stories. Certainly Reed is unashamed about having done no real research on the subject. He complains many times in the book about the lack of available information on the man. Never does he seem to consider actually going out and getting some-- that would probably take away from his "me" time. In fact, the author makes no real attempt to piece together the existing information about the artist in a coherent way. Instead, he jumps around through time and barely touches on the events in Scott Walker's life that might have informed his music. We do get lots of meta-physical speculations on Scott Walker's personal psychology, none of which can be backed up by anything other than the author's opinion.

There are most certainly themes in Walker's music, and exploring them is definitely worthwhile. However, the author literally attempts to put himself in Walker's brain, explaining on behalf of the artist what he really means in an incredibly pompous and utterly baseless way. At times, his observations and assumptions are laughable, other times annoying.

And, like this review, it just goes on and on...

Yawn... ... Read more

Book Description

Mysterious, profound, enigmatic, spellbinding in his performance, whether rock, soul, jazz, or folk.Hinton expertly addresses the music of this contemporary musical genius. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Not what I thought
It's a lovely book, but I thought it would be more discography, picture, and biography related. It's a collection of articles that have written before and now reprinted. It has a nice section of fan stories and they are the highlight of this book. There is NO new revalations on Olivia that any die-hard fan doesn't know or hasn't known in the past about Olivia. I was hoping for a book that would be useful in research on Olivia. Maybe Olivia's story will be told by Olivia herself soon and it will be the must have book on Olivia surely, not this one. Sorry about that chief :o(

A Nice Book for all Olivia fans to Own...
This book is a great book to have if you are an Olivia fan. Mr. Wincentsen does a fantastic job piecing together magazine articles, quotes and fan stories and artwork. I would highly reccomend this book to NEW Olivia fans who want to know more about this lady and how she's touched fans all around the world. I love how he used articles from the last 35 or so years to chronicle how Olivia has been covered in the press. There's some nice quotes in here that the lady has made too....all in all, I highly reccommend this book.

A "must" for all Olivia fans (and friends)
I am proud to rate this book because I had
supported the author's work by giving him
photos and reports of my 2 personal meetings
with Olivia Newton-John.

It is an unusual book because it is not a biography
but nevertheless describes Olivia's career by
using newspaper and magazines comments or the reports
of fans who described how they felt when meeting
Olivia or how they have been influenced by Olivia
and her music. ... Read more

Book Description

Bing Crosby was one of the most popular entertainers ever to appear on film. He was a symbol of an era, embodying an old-fashioned nostalgia and a golden age in cinema. His films, from the nostalgic charm of "White Christmas" to "Going My Way," which won him an Oscar, have a timeless and enduring appeal. Strikingly handsome, with a soft, crooning voice and a relaxed demeanor, Crosby was a natural heart-throb; yet behind the image of the all-American icon was a fierce, deeply complex individual. In this new biography, Michael Freedland writes candidly about his subject. Drawing on new material, rare photographs, and previously unpublished interviews, Bing Crosby: The Illustrated Biography is a long-overdue portrait of one of America's brightest stars. Among Michael Freedland's many books are All the Way: A Biography of Frank Sinatra, Irving Berlin, Sean Connery, and The Two Lives of Errol Flynn. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

An error on most every page!
In this book, we learn that, among other things, Bing's partner in the Rhythm Boys was named Harry "Berris"...... That Bing made "4000 different recordings"....... That Bing's famous singing rivalry known as the "Battle Of The Baritones" was with Rudy Vallee..... That another popular singer of the early days was Russ "Colombo"..... That Bing's mother was born in Canada..... That Bing's lung operation in 1974 was due to cancer..... That Bing's appearances on the "Hollywood Palace" TV show consisted of hosting "once a month, between 1968 and 1970 ...., sharing the role with George Burns, Martha Raye, and Judy Garland"........ That in 1962, Bing recorded "Let's Not Be Sensible" for a film soundtrack, "...but for reasons no one could adequately explain, the last word of the song, 'love', was mangled on tape...." and that Bing refused to re-record it because he was a "star", so .."Michael Holliday, a Crosby sound-alike, was brought in to finish the line for him......" This book further reveals that all of Al Jolson's legendary 1940s radio appearances with Bing were on Bing's series, "The Kraft Music Hall", and that Bing's very first TV appearance was "...as the guest of Jack Benny's first special in 1953...." WHEW!!!! What a bunch of junk! Folks, every single fact I've just related comes randomely from the pages of this half-baked un-researched hatchet-job, and is totally wrong!! What's more, These are just errors I picked at the last minute, thumbing through the book as I was composing this review: there are so many more! I've read hundreds of entertainment bios in my life (including others by Freedland), and NEVER have I encountered such a lame work with so many blatant errors of fact, chronology, and spelling (the spelling errors listed above for "Berris" and "Colombo", are not random typos, but are mis-spelled every time the names appear in the text!) How did this get published? Of course, the piece is also a hatchet-job, featuring alusions and conclusions re: Crosby's behavior that have absolutely no basis in fact. You want Crosby? Order Gary Giddins' new masterpiece "Bing Crosby- A Pocketful Of Dreams - The Early Years", and you'll get the REAL Bing, in a scholarly, analytical epic that makes this howler look like the misbegotten little essay that it is.

Filled with mistakes; nice photos!
This book is loaded with mistakes! Some are not even close to being accurate! Has some nice photos though, but not worth the money!

A Slightly Illustrated and Sometimes Inaccurate Biography
I was looking forward to an accurate biography of my favorite singer, Bing Crosby, and, as the title promises, this was supposed to be full of illustrations too. Sadly, I was disappointed on both accounts.

Upon reading Michael Freeland's version of Bing's life and career, I couldn't help but feel that Mr. Freeland gave The Old Groaner several digs along the way. I guess you don't have to be a fan of your subject to write a biography. There were several blatant errors in the text. Among these was a captioned picture of Gary Cooper presenting Bing with his Oscar while, on the same page, Mr. Freeland writes that Bing received that little statue from Bob Hope. Also, for some reason, the print is very large. Even though the book boasts 127 or so pages, it would have only been about 75 pages with regular print. I don't known if this was done because the author thought that older folks (with deteriorating eyesight?) would have more of an interest in this book. I am in my 30's so maybe I don't fit into the Mr. Freeland's concept of a typical Bing fan.

As for the illustrations, they were slightly spartan considering the title of the book. I was anxiously anticipated pages and pages of both color and black & white pictures depicting Bing in all stages of his life and career. Although there weren't enough pictures to suit me, I do have to say that the pictures included were of good quality ( althought none in color other than the one on the back cover) and many were ones that I had never seen before.

All in all, I did gleen some additional information concerning Mr. Bing Crosby but I would certainly take much of what was written here with a grain of salt. The 40+ black & white pictures will be a continual source of enjoyment for me. ... Read more

Book Description

These audio biographies chart the lives and work of some of rock's most memorable acts, from their early days to their rise to fame. Each CD includes comments and interview material by the artist and is accompanied by an eight-page illustrated booklet and fold-out poster. ... Read more

Book Description

Born in poverty in the 1930s, Don Black quickly grew accustomed to "wrestling with elephants" — doing the hard work necessary to survive, or to write a good lyric. Black should know. An acclaimed songwriter responsible for "Born Free" and a trio of James Bond title songs, among hundreds, he has won every possible award and worked with the top talent, from Andrew Lloyd Webber to Michael Jackson. Dozens of photographs are included in this book on the life of a master lyricist whose successes include the musicals Bombay Dreams, Romeo and Juliet, and Tell Me on a Sunday. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

This forum is designed to help people choose a book...
...not to make an opinion on whos guilty or inocent. Have some common sense and find forums for this matter and don't waste valuable space in this webpage...and no Im not racist I AM 100% MEXICAN but a Mexican that knows what "Review this book" means.
thank you.

THE TRUTH''SPEAKS
THIS BOOK WILL OPEN THE EYES OFF ALL THE PEOPLE;'I JUST HOPE THAT GLORIA WILL BE SET FREE;; CAS SHE IS JUST A VICTEM OFF ALL THE LIES THAT MONEY HUNGRY GIRLS THAT ARE LOOKING FOR FAME;;;;

STOP THE INJUSTICE TOWARDS GLORIA TREVI
THE BOOK GLORIA WILL AID MANY PEOPLE IN MAKING A BETTER JUDGMENT ON GLORIA TREVI CASE. THE BOOK WRITTEN BY GLORIA IS EVIDENTLY A SCREAM TO STOP THE INJUSTICE SHE IS RECEIVING. MOST OF HER EX FANS AND MANY OTHER PEOPLE UNFORTUNATELY AND IGNORANTLY STOPPED SUPPORTING HER DUE TO THE PRESUMED ACCUSATIONS OF ALINE HERNANDEZ AND KARINA YAPOR. PEOPLE BASED THEIR OPINIONS WITHOUT HAVING ANY PROOF THAT SHE MALESTED THESE AND OTHER GIRLS. FINALLY, GLORIA HAS THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK UP AND REVEAL THE TRUTH ABOUT THIS UNFORTUNATE CASE. EVIDENTLY, THESE GIRLS ARE USING GLORIA'S SUCCESS TO EXPLOIT THEIR CHARACTER THAT LACKS TALENT IN EVERY ASPECT. ... Read more

Book Description

SUGAR RAY: AN UNAUTHORIZED BIOGRAPHY

These five fly guys are part of today's hottest band!

Hailing from Southern California, Sugar Ray-including hunky frontman Mark McGrath, guitarist Rodney Sheppard, bassist Murphy Karges, DJ Craig Bullock and drummer Stan Frazier-shot to the top of the charts with their sophomore album, Floored featuring their irresistibly upbeat single Fly.Today they're one of the hottest bands around, producing hit after hit and charming audiences with their cover-boy good-looks and infectious sense of fun.Find out what goes on off the record and behind the scenes, as author Anna Louise Golden reveals all the awesome answers and fabulous facts about your favorite band!

WITH EIGHT PAGES OF FLY PHOTOS!

FUN FACTS ABOUT SUGAR RAY...

* Mark sports a tattoo of the Cadillac logo on his right butt cheek
* Rodney played Chaka on "Land of the Lost" for six episodes
* Murphy was studying to be an orthodontist before joining the band
* In his spare time, Stan likes to cook
* Mark has the hots for Winona Ryder
* Before they were Sugar Ray, the band called themselves the Shrinky Dinx
* Mark's favorite sports are basketball and hockey
... Read more

Reviews (11)

Can't Believe I Hate a Buffett Book
This book is downright awful. Let me warn you - stay away. I agree with the other reviews. There are detailed facts about things totally unrelated to Jimmy Buffett or even the point that the author is trying to make. I guess if you took out all of the irrelevant lines, the book would be only 20 pages of nothing new.
*You have been warned*

Cheap Imitation
Eng has a lot of facts about the life of Jimmy Buffett but that's about all. Those of us who have been fans of his since the very beginning already knew most of them. Too much rambling speculation about Jimmy's possible ancestors. Eng does not have near the writing talent that Jimmy does so he should not have done this bio. His motivation seems to be celebrity and riches. If you want to read a really good book about the life of Jimmy Buffet up to age 50, "A Pirate Looks at Fifty" is the best book I have read in many years. But what would else would we expect from a master storyteller?

Tough Reading
I found the book very confusing. The author leaps from past pirate adventures to modern day Jimmy Buffett and back. I have had this book for over a year and have not been able to get past page 50. When Jimmy urges Mr. Eng not to continue the book, I think it was more for the reader's sake and not for his own. Fins Up!

zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
i have had this book since it first came out and i havent finished it yet!!go to your local bookstore,find this book,if its still out there.read jimmys letter to the author.close the book and go home knowing you have read the best part!!true parrotheads will find A PIRATE LOOKS AT 50 the true JIMMY BUFFETT bio.

I gave up.
After a year and a half I finally gave up reading it. This was the worst written book I have ever read, I couldn't get into the book some of the facts were interesting but give me a break. The best part of the book was Buffetts letter to the author. I am reading Currently reading a "Pirate Looks at Fifty" and I am already as far as I got in this book after reading for three days. ... Read more

Book Description

For two decades, Mike Douglas's name was synonymous with television entertainment in America. The Mike Douglas Show, which aired each weekday, became the prototype for all future talk shows that sought to combine spontaneous conversation -- on virtually any subject -- with the best in entertainment. In those twenty years and more than four thousand shows, virtually all the great performers -- actors, singers, comics -- and many outstanding sports figures and prominent statement, Presidents included, appeared with Mike, performing and chatting informally in front of the show's many millions of viewers.

Today, almost twenty years after the last show aired, both Mike Douglas and The Mike Douglas Show have been introduced to a whole new audience as such cable networks as VH-1 rerun those shows that featured such musical legends as John Lennon and Yoko Ono, and Sonny and Cher. At the same time, a whole new generation of talk show hosts, most prominent among them the extremely popular Rosie O'Donnell, have acknowledged the debt of gratitude they owe Mike Douglas for pioneering in the field of talk entertainment and for setting so high a standard.

Now, in I'll Be Right Back, Mike Douglas shares his memories of more than fifty exciting, challenging years in show business. In a style that is as breezy, witty, and intimate as the conversations that made his show so delightful, Mike delivers delicious -- and occasionally mischievous -- anecdotes about the exciting personalities who made his show so much fun.

The list of the show's guests and co-hosts (Mike's method was to find a celebrity "co-host" who would sit with him for several shows and help interview all the other guests, as well as entertain each day) reads like a virtual "Who's Who" of American and international celebrities. Among the many famous personalities to appear on The Mike Douglas Show -- and about whom Mike has stories to tell -- are: Barbra Streisand, Marlon Brando, Fred Astaire, Malcolm X, Mother Teresa, David Letterman, Richard Mixon, John Wayne, Phil Donohue, Goldie Hawn, George Wallace, Judy Garland, Mickey Mantle, Groucho Marx, Jimmy Hoffa, Sophia Loren, Sammy Davis Jr., Martha Mitchell, Jackie Gleason, Barbara Walters, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Bette Davis, Rose Kennedy, Muhammad Ali, Joan Crawaford, Jimmy Carter, Mel Brooks, Bill Cosby, Jack Benny, Dustin Hoffman, Bette Midler, Ronald Reagan, and Jay Leno.

When these personalities sat next to Mike Douglas, the outcome in virtually every instance was outstanding television. Now, in looking back on those years and the famous and infamous with whom he worked, Mike Douglas delivers a memoir that is filled with terrific stories, each one told with wit, nostalgia, and more than a touch of class. ... Read more

Reviews (13)

Dishing the Dirt with Tact
"I'll Be Right Back" is a great trip in the 60's/70's Way Back Machine. I was fearful of a milquetoast account after reading Mike's initial disclaimer that he would avoid descending to depths of current media dirt merchants. Mike's does dish the dirt but he is subtle and discreet. However, it doesn't take too much insight to read between the lines on many performers and public figures. I was pleasantly surprised by the book. Although I still harbour a secret pleasure for watching the Jerry Springer circus, I really wish Mike Douglas would be right back sometime soon.

I'll be right back
This book should be getting more attention. Mike writes a very interesting book on his feelings about past and present talk shows. His show was such a FUN show. It is a fast read and enjoyable.

good book
i watched old Re-Runs of Mike Douglas's show&thought He had a laid-back quality to what he was doing.I enjoyed the fact that so many acts could come&go on His show&He was Classy about How He handled various details.this was a Guy who had his thing on Tv.a Good Book&reflects a different era&time period.

Mike, I'LL be right back
As a kid, I used to watch Mike's show, marveling at the cool sets in what was apparently a tiny studio in Philadelphia. Unfortunately, this book does not duplicate the mood he conveyed all those years ago.

If you hadn't seen his show and picked up this book, you'd swear Mike was dillusional. I mean, if this guy was so connected, why wasn't he Carson? It got to the point I expected to turn the page and see, "... then when President Roosevelt did that cameo, Genghis Khan almost fell on the floor. I laughed until Jack Benny and Nero did a poignant violin duet. That was just too much for the three former popes to bear." By the way, his memory must be failing him on Muhammad Ali, because the facts don't check out.

If I ever see Mike is doing a TV show, I am there. But if he ever writes another book, I'm afraid I'll have to turn the channel.

High quality, like his show
Yep, I also remember watching Mike after school, like so many others.

You are not getting controversy from him, not getting hard edges. Mike will never say anything bad about anyone else.

However, when you look at the guest list, wow!!!!!

His editors must have had a miserable time deciding what to leave out.

Am I imagining things or wasn't he based in Philadelphia for much of the show's run. Mike ignores that in the book and he ignores other things as well.

Still, I have extremely fond memories of him and wish he would come out of retirement. He is amazed that people remember him so well? ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Interesting, but Dorothy Lee needed to be mentioned more!
This book was very interesting however, it hardly covered Fred Waring's long relationship with 1930s actress Dorothy Lee. Dorothy was a very talented and vivacious actress.

Dorothy Lee was engaged to Mr. Waring on and off over the years and they were a pretty hot item back then. She also toured all over America and Canada with him and the Pennsylvanians, and did many stage shows with them. She and Fred also remained very good friends for the remainder of his life.

They were very much in love in the 1930s and I feel it's a travesty that their relationship was not mentioned in more detail and she was definately a significant part of his wife to be mentioned more!

Interesting, but one sided view of the man
This book is a facinating read about the famous choral conductor and his Pennsylvanians, during the early days of radio, television and film. Many amusing and interesting anectdotes punctuate the book throughout. Written by his wife, so it is a rather one-sided (positive) view of the man who many saw as a cold task master....but in whom no one could argue with the fine product he produced. This man truly "taught America how to sing". ... Read more

Book Description

The fully illustrated story behind Britney's search for stardom, a modern day fairy tale that began when she was just six years old.

This biography follows Britney all the way on her journey and includes many stunning and rarely seen photographs from every stage of her career. Includes stories behind her most recent hits and many awards. An exciting and unique portrait of one of today's brightest stars. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

"Britney": The Book
This has to be one of the best Britney Spears books i have ever read. The book was written mostly for the U.K., because, it has everything from her single peakings to the overseas news stories. It is also divided into sub sections which was a very good idea. The pictures which were included were rare and very beautiful. This book is the best for Britney fans!

GORGEOUS BOOK ON A GORGEOUS TALENT!
GOOD THUMBNAIL SKETCH ON BRITNEY AND HER CAREER BUT, ABOVE ALL, THE MAIN ATTRACTION IS THE BEAUTIFUL PHOTOS THROUGHOUT OF THIS BEAUTIFUL AND TALENTED SINGER. HIGLY RECOMMENDED FOR "NEW" BRITNEY FANS AND FANATICS (OF WHICH I AM ONE!) ALIKE! BRIT, I'M A SLAVE 4 U! ... Read more

Book Description

Hace años que los entendidos venían pronosticando el exitoso crossover de Shakira. La cantante firmó su primer contrato discográfico a los trece años, grabó su segundo álbum a los quince y actuó en una telenovela popular en su Colombia natal. Tenía solamente diecinueve años cuando su tercer álbum, Pies descalzos, la convirtió en la artista de mayor venta en Latinoamérica. Si bien su siguiente álbum, Dónde están los ladrones?, ganó ocho discos de platino en Estados Unidos, no fue hasta su actuación electrizante en la primera entrega de los Premios Grammy Latinos que llamó la atención de todo el país.

Aunque el éxito le llegó a una edad tan temprana, a los veinticuatro años Shakira tiene los pies firmes sobre la tierra y rechaza los estereotipos que rodean a las estrellas de rock. Ella es una católica devota, vive con sus padres y cuando no está grabando o de gira prefiere pasar el tiempo con su familia. Esta rockera es una de las pocas estrellas que combinan talento, carisma y sensibilidad, y que además saben muy bien lo que quieren.

Para la cantante más fascinante de América Latina desde Ricky Martin, las posibilidades son ilimitadas. Para los millones de personas que ya compran sus discos, Shakira representa la voz de la nueva generación. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

shakira madness!
GREAT BOOK TO LEARN MORE ABOUT SHAKIRA. SHE IS AN AMAZING ARTIST AND UNIQUE (BEFORE SHE DIED THAT HAIR BLONDE). sHE IS NOT JUST A FAD, SHAKIRA IS AND INTELLIGENT SONGWRITER AND THIS BOOK WILL GIVEYOU AND INSIGHT.

Está bien ;)
Hey, this book is pretty good. I find it interesting to read about where she comes from, her blended family and etc. It is a good book to build your Spanish vocab. Espero que lo leas!

What a role model!
I loved this book. Loved reading about the integrity and hard work and perfectionism this artists brings to her music. Shakira's the real deal. We can all learn from this kind of dignity and sense of self. What a hero -- especially in this age of inflated egos and marketing hype.

Not the best but not that bad either...
As a big Shakira fan I bought this book the minute I saw it. This book is fairly good. If you are a new Shakira fan, I reacommend it. It tells the story of how this Latin Pop/Rock Icon became the huge star she's today. It tells the struggles and problems she had to overcome for reaching her goals and dreams. If you have known Shakira for a while you'll have already herad almost they say here... ... Read more