Book Description

Robert Johnson's story presents a fascinating paradox: Why did this genius of the Delta blues excite so little interest when his records were first released in the 1930s? And how did this brilliant but obscure musician come to be hailed long after his death as the most important artist in early blues and a founding father of rock 'n' roll?

Elijah Wald provides the first thorough examination of Johnson's work and makes it the centerpiece for a fresh look at the entire history of the blues. He traces the music's rural folk roots but focuses on its evolution as a hot, hip African-American pop style, placing the great blues stars in their proper place as innovative popular artists during one of the most exciting periods in American music. He then goes on to explore how the image of the blues was reshaped by a world of generally white fans, with very different standards and dreams.

The result is a view of the blues from the inside, based not only on recordings but also on the recollections of the musicians themselves, the African-American press, and original research. Wald presents previously unpublished studies of what people on Delta plantations were actually listening to during the blues era, showing the larger world in which Johnson's music was conceived. What emerges is a new respect and appreciation for the creators of what many consider to be America's deepest and most influential music.

Wald also discusses how later fans formed a new view of the blues as haunting Delta folklore. While trying to separate fantasy from reality, he accepts that neither the simple history nor the romantic legend is the whole story. Each has its own fascinating history, and it is these twin histories that inform this book.

Reviews (6)

great book!
I just finished this book, and I have to say that it is the best history of blues I have ever read. It was full of facts, but written in a really readable style -- sort of like a conversation with someone very knowledgable about the subject, more than a lecture. It also made me think about a lot of the music I love in a whole new way.

I have been listening to Robert Johnson's music for years, and after reading Wald's chapters on his recordings I went back over them again. I can't say I agree with every single one of Wald's comments, but I heard so much that I had never noticed before. It really opened up Johnson's music, and made me understand what he was doing, and how he fit into the bigger picture.

I have to admit that I am not as familiar as I should be with some of the other people the book talks about, like Leroy Carr and Dinah Washington, but this made me want to go out and get their records, and learn more. And I guess that's really the point of any book on music.

Long haul to the Crossroads
When I saw this book, and the cover picture I was so excited. I couldnt wait to read it. I anticipated some insite into Robert Johnson, and the blues generally. Never judge a book by its beautiful cover....

I read the book, cover to cover. I have been an avid blues fan since 1967, still am, and listen to the stuff and play it on my guitar almost every day. I was familiar with 95% of the performers mentioned in the book. I owned the companion CD and have much of the material on other Lps and CD's. This is an area of interest, passion and comfort for me.

I would really like to meet Mr. Wald and play guitar with him-he is clearly knowledgable and stimulated by the genre.

But in a nutshell, this is a LONG READ, which I eventually found TEDIOUS. All of the five star reviews are accurate regarding its content and meaning, and I don't take issue with Mr. Wald's premise. The information on Robert Johnson, which interested me enough to buy this book was not comprehensive-the liner notes from The Complete Recordings of Robert Johnson are more informative. This has ALL THE THRILL OF A TEXTBOOK, with a bit LESS USEFULL information. But, thanks to Mr. Wald for his efforts on a subject not much delved into since the folk anthropology of the late sixties and early seventies.

Six stars. A required book to understand Blues & Culture
Every time I read this book I am emailing, making long distance and local telephones, going to parties, political meetings, music
performances and other gatherings that I would prefer to miss for
a quiet night at home reading and practicing my many instrument. I am calling and talking to, running out to meet with, scholars of the blues and African American music, performers of blues, jazz, and folk music, people who study culture, ideology, race, and class, crusading that they buy this book.

This book follows the reality of the invention of the blues and how it really spread and what it really is. This book tells the truth and not the ignoramus stereotype of the state of blues culture in the world that Robert Johnson, and for that matter, his parents grew up in. This book tells a story the moldy fig people the Johnson met the devil at the crossroads idiots, etc won't recognize, but if you are African American, you will recognize you grandparents and parents and great grands depending on how old you are and how musical the memory is, whether you come from Mississippi or Los Angeles.

This is a serious serious serious book clean and well written, a book that belongs in every home. This book is marketed as a book about Robert Johnson. However, the central thesis of the book is that blues is a creation of a black public that loved and desired the blues and that defined the reality of the blues and then seeks to find this music's history and how the conflict between it and the nature and business of commercial recording transpired, and how this is totally contrary to the folklorists image of the dustry field hand by day, and blues virtuoso of sad existential songs at night.

To the many researchers and divers into our past this book is sourced enough that if you are quick enough you can get to the primary sources he mentions that will help you be in the next generation of rational thinking papers, books, music collections, and discoveries will come from, at least if you share my hope that real scholarship and knowledge can pierce through the garbage oceans of stereotypes and thinking that serves dominant culture and the place of Blacks in its fantasies and nightmares.

For those who are into the blues as practiced by those on the earth as Blues People as Imamu would have said, this brings things wherethey are for you and where they should be.

As I have said in various places, this book is marketed as a
biography of Robert Johnson, but what this actually is is a condensed criticisms of the views of the blues foisted on blues people by the folk and post folk white blues industry, a concise and factual criticism of previous histories of the blues, and a lot of practical learning in a short readable book.

Not only if you are interested in blues, African American music, butif you are interested in the deformities of the culture by dominance in this society, you need to own this book and know what it teaches.

For those who see the blues as being ultimately represented by
isolated nearly African, primitive delta bluesmen, pouring out theirdeep Negroid souls about the existential nature of black suffering and founding the blues, this will show you that you are a complete fool or at least a victim misled by pervayors of ignorance.

Nice job

Click on the about me blurb above my name and then procede to my comments on the complete Robert Johnson set to see description of the realities of Bob Johnson that this book reflects even though I wrote it before this book came out. Then buy this book because it says so much more than I could have imagined along the same lines.

The Blues and Romantic History
Many Americans have shown a great interest in "roots" music as part of a highly commendable effort to understand our country's life and culture. Much of this interest has, over the years, focused on the blues of the Mississippi Delta and, in particular, on the recordings of singer and guitarist Robert Johnson (1911 -1938). Johnson was an obscure figure in his day and his life and music remain the stuff of legend. He had two recording dates in 1936 and 1937. His music was rediscovered in the 1960s and since that time the sales of his collected recordings have numbered in the millions.

In "Escaping the Delta: Robert Johnson and the Invention of the Blues" (2004), Elijah Wald offers a compelling study of the blues and of blues historiography focusing on Robert Johnson. Wald tries to correct what he deems to be the prevailing myths about Johnson: that he was a primitive folk artist caught in the Mississippi Delta who recorded and perfected a local traditional form of blues. Wald finds Johnson an ambitious young singer who had studied the blues forms popular in his day. Johnson, Wald argues, wanted to escape the Mississippi Delta and pattern himself on the urban blues singers, in particular Leroy Carr, emanating from the midwest and Chicago.

Wald finds that Johnson displayed a variety of blues styles in his recordings and that he was largely ignored by black music listeners of his day because Johnson's early efforts to capture an urban blues style were basically copies of more successful singers and because his songs in the Delta blues style lacked appeal to the urban and sophisticated black audience of the time.

Johnson's music only became well-known, Wald argues, with the rise of English rock, and with his rediscovery by a largely white audience. The tastes of black music listeners had moved in a mostly different direction towards soul, funk, rap, disco and did not encompass rural blues singers. The fascination of modern listeners with Johnson, according to Wald, is due to a romantic spirit -- a boredom with the life of the everyday -- and a search for a past full of authentic individuals who knew their own wants and needs and who projected themselves in their art.

Wald's book begins with a history of the blues before Robert Johnson focusing on the commercial character the music had at the outset. He gives a great deal of attention to the Blues queens -- Bessie Smith and Ma Rainey -- and to their smooth-voiced male sucessors, particularly Leroy Carr, as mentioned above, and Lonnie Johnson. These singers profoundly influenced Johnson's music and his ambitions to become a popular entertainer and not a cult figure.

The central part of Wald's book consists of a brief biography of Johnson -- summarizing the various speculations on his life -- and of a song-by-song discussion of his recordings. In this discussion, Wald discusses the music with a great deal of intelligence and understanding. He shows very clearly Johnson's debts to his more commercially sucessful predecessors and explains as well the variety of blues styles Johnson encompassed in his songs.

The final portion of the book carries the story of the blues forward beyond Robert Johnson's death. It shows how the music at first evolved into a combo style, again approaching popular music, which took blues into a different direction from Johnson's recordings. The book concludes with a discussion of Johnson's rediscovery, and the discovery of other Delta blues singers, beginning in the 1960's.

Wald clearly knows his material. For all his criticism of the mythmaking cult over Johnson, Wald's love for this music shines through, as he is the first to admit. Upon reading this book, I spent considerable time relistening to Johnson's music and felt I came away with a better understanding and appreciation of it than I had before. The goal of every book about music should be to encourage its readers to return to (or get to know) the songs, or what have you, themselves. The book meets this goal admirably.

There are few books on the blues that manage to be both scholarly, critical, and inspiring and Wald's book is one of these few. I do not find Wald's thesis as unsusual as he claims it to be, but it certainly will be worth exploring by listeners and readers who do not have a large backround in this music.

In music, a fair and careful historical account will in the long run perform a greater service to the music and the artists than will legends and stereotypes. The Delta singers discussed in this book, Robert Johnson, Son House, Skip James, Charley Patton, were musicians of talent. Understanding their story can only increase the listener's appreciation of the blues.

Who was Robert Johnson?
This is an intelligent, thoughtful, informative book, with a unifying objective historical view. If you want the musical answer to the musical question I posed above, it's here. Wald puts Johnson in context in the history of the blues, and there's a great companion CD, Back to the Crossroads: The Roots of Robert Johnson, with 23 rare 78 tracks, so you can hear many of the hundreds of blues pioneers mentioned in the book.

My favorite suggestion in this book: What effect did Alan Lomax's 1941 Mississippi interviews with Delta blues players regarding Robert Johnson have on their assessment of "their one-time peer"? This thought made me put the book down and think about history and history writing, for about 2 days.

Very heady. I'll be looking for anything Mr. Wald writes. ... Read more

Book Description

Bruno Walter, one of the greatest conductors in the twentieth century,lived a fascinating life in difficult times. This engrossing book is the first full-lengthbiography of Walter to appear in English.

Erik Ryding and Rebecca Pechefsky describe Walter's early years in Germany, where hissuccesses in provincial theaters led to positions at the Berlin State Opera and the ViennaState Opera. They then tell of his decade-long term as Bavarian music director and hisromantic involvement with the soprano Delia Reinhardt; his other positions in themusical community until he was ousted from Germany when the Nazi Party came topower in 1933; and his return to Vienna, where he was artistic director of the OperaHouse until he was again forced out by the Nazis. Finally they trace his career in theUnited States, where he led the New York Philharmonic and other orchestras and in hislast years made numerous recordings with the Columbia Symphony Orchestra, anensemble created especially for him. Ryding and Pechefsky are the first biographers tomake extensive use of the thousands of unpublished letters in the Bruno Walter Papers,now in the New York Public Library for the Performing Arts. In addition to interviewingmore than sixty people who knew Walter, they examined countless reviews to assess thepopular and critical impact he had on his times.Authoritative and even-handed, thisbiography sheds new light on Walter, one of the great formative influences in musicalinterpretation. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Bruno Walter:A World Elsewhere
To say that the book "Bruno Walter: A World Elsewhere" is both a godsend and a delight would be an understatement-I cannot say enough good about this work. "A World Elsewhere" is a detailed and concise look at the conductors' life and career from birth until death-and in English.(My definite language of choice) It offers a style that is smooth and a pleasure to read and obviously involved alot of meticulous research. I have been an admirer of Bruno Walter for many years, and this biography is the perfect companion to my collection of Walters'recordings.It is an even-handed, multi-faceted depiction of the conductors' experiences. In reading "A World Elsewhere", I have learned much about the man that has enabled me to understand his life better; although the book does not go into alot of detail about Bruno Walters' connection with Anthroposophy, it has still inspired me to investigate this movement further. "A World Elsewhere" is a definite "must read" for anyone who admired Bruno Walter- a great conductor whose involvement with music touched and enriched many people's lives, and still does today.

Doug Rea

A gentle reader opines
I probably qualify as a representative of the tribe of general readers, being mostly an interested amateur in what this book covers. As such, I found "Bruno Walter: a World Elsewhere" a very satisfying window into an era of music (and my childhood) that I was heretofore only vaguely aware of. In other words, it helped me fit together and fill out a picture of the musical and political and social history of the twentieth century, and that alone made it worthwhile.

But aside from that, it was simply great fun to read personal vignettes about so many eminent musicians, composers, conductors, and others. I found the book entertaining reading too, I mean to say--a dandy thing, in the summer (or any other time as well)!

While I may be an amateur as far as the contents of the biography go, I am also a professor and teacher of writing, and it was gratifying to find a biography written so smoothly that reading it was a pleasure, which is by no means the rule in scholarly biographies. There are notes and indeces aplenty for the scholars, but these should not dissuade the general reader--they do not get in the way in the least.

Add to this the fact that the volume is a handsomely designed one, with splendid pictures and an attractive typeface, and you have a book truly worth owning--or giving, for that matter.

Vindication for a neglected master
Finally, a full-length biography of Bruno Walter in English that devotees of his work can savor. Walter was widely recognized in his time as one of the master conductors, but his lack of flashiness, and sometimes fake air of saintliness, are off-putting to our star-obsessed age, so he hasn't received the recognition he deserves. SONY is sitting on a large back-catalog of important mono recordings by him that may never see the light of digital distribution -- or perhaps the imminent changes in music distribution wrought by the internet will eventually make it all available. Meanwhile, this very well-done, comprehensive biography will have to do. My biggest complaint is the lack of a complete discography as an appendix to the book - referring people to websites won't cut it yet, as too many folks still don't have regular internet access. Apart from that failing, this is a model of what an arts biography should be, a well-researched life, a serious consideration of issues of personal performing style, and decent pictures. ... 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

Book Description

After cutting his teeth as a drummer with the musical misfits of his high school, Jacob Slichter formed a bond with two other friends that would eventually grow into the band Semisonic.Who could forget the smash single "Closing Time," a runaway hit in 1998 that thrust Jacob and his band into the international spotlight and helped them sell over two million albums?But with instant fame came instant musical and personal chaos, during which Jacob Slichter had to learn several essential things: how to pose for the mandatory "in front of brick wall" photo shoot, how to look angry and unapproachable for the A&R guys, how to answer a German radio interview question, and how to deal with the feudal system that is the backstage tour hierarchy.

So You Wanna Be a Rock & Roll Star is a hysterical and witty look at what happens just before and during one's fifteen minutes of fame.Jacob Slichter takes readers on a step-by-step journey of his evolution from fledgling drummer toworldwide performer and proves to be the perfect guide—feisty and humbled — to the inner workings of the music industry and instant celebrity.So You Wanna Be a Rock & Roll Star speaks to all of us who dream again and again of rock superstardom and shows how one kid can go from picking up a pair of drumsticks to picking up a platinum record.

Reviews (13)

Hilarious, fascinating, and heartfelt
I loved this book!! Slichter draws you right in to his life, and you feel like you are with him every step of the way on his rise from dead-end day jobs and musical dreams to rock stardom. He exposes the good, the bad, and the downright ugly of the music and radio industries and how they *really* work, something most people don't know (I didn't). Most importantly, though, he weaves his tale both with deliciously sly humor that will make you laugh out loud and with a self-effacing style that makes you feel connected to him. When I read this book, Slichter made me feel as though I were right there in the action; it could easily have been me in his place, I felt, just because he comes across as being so human, like you or me. There is no rock-star preening in this book. You feel the thrills and the disappointments that Slichter feels. You share his astonishment at the byzantine workings of the system. And from cover to cover, you will laugh uproariously as he takes you on the roller coaster ride of rock and roll. I highly recommend this book!

***** (5 stars)

tremendous book
I'd recommend this book to anyone who likes popular music and great writing. Jacob Slichter takes you backstage in huge arenas full of screaming fans, lets you watch as his band picks a manager, negotiates with record executives, endures photo shoots and slogs through endless promotional appearances. Slichter's writing is brisk, with a great eye for the telling detail and an absolutely devastating deadpan, self-deprecating wit. It was fascinating to learn that, with all the success that Semisonic had, they never really broke into secure stardom and in fact struggled with radio play, album sales, and plain old irrelevancy their entire career. Slichter leads the reader through the somewhat byzantine world of program directors, Soundscanning, "shipped but not sold", and the "Clearmountain pause" and does so with clarity, humility, intelligence and tons and tons of humor. I really appreciate that Slichter is a smart and normal guy who can write a book about being a rock star without boasting about tooting coke, going to jail, bar brawling, shagging strippers, and wrecking expensive cars. That kind of thing gets old so fast. This book is an absolute pleasure to read. I'm going to read it again and then start loaning it to friends.

a joy to read
Slichter's wit comes through with a wonderful self-deprecating style. Imagine a mix of a little Bill Bryson and some PJ O'Rourke. Few books are laugh-out-loud funny. This one is.

The book is so good that you can't wait until he writes something else--whatever the subject, you know it'll be good.

I didn't want to get to "closing time"
Like most music fans, I knew "Closing Time" but not any other Semisonic songs. Having read this book, I now understand why. Slichter's clear explanations of the machinations of the music industry (percentage points, independent promoters, Soundscan A&R guys) gave me great insight into what actually goes on behind the scenes of our favorite songs. He chronicles the signing process, the video making process, and what it's like to go on tour (even down to a detailed explanation of the tour bus) and why some songs "hit" and some miss. The book is neither gossipy (he meets Prince but doesn't give lots of details) or boring - Slichter is a Harvard graduate and writes very well. I wish he had given us an epilogue, telling what he and his bandmates are doing now, and what happened to Coco. It also would have been fun to see a "money count" detailing just how much was spent on the band and how much they actually made back. This book should be required reading for anyone interested in going into the music business.

so funny
This book is hilarious, but also fascinating. I thought I knew a lot about the stranglehold of media, but I really didn't know the extent of how bad it was. I hope everyone reads this book and goes out and supports local bands. You will laugh your butt off. Jacob Slichter is so smart and so wryly funny. ... 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

Reviews (12)

Wanting More
While this is an interesting read - giving readers a long listing of events in this short,tragic life. There is almost no "feel" for what made Gram tick -or how he came posess the unique powers and vision to be a pioneer in his musical genre. The events of his life are detailed - but without a feeling for how or why the events affected him the way they did. I still don't really know why he was so tormented or how it was such a tortured soul could feel his way clear to writing a song like Hickory Wind. I intuit that he was so much more than a "trust fund" hippie- A person such as this who had the vision to meld rock and country music and have a feel for the true essence of country - must have had a strong feeling for the essential purity of it - but this book offers very little insight. I still recommend the book for what I assume is an accurate telling of the facts.

ahem, there are no facts
this is not so much a review as a query/commentary on Michele Parker's review: morphine is a analgesic or pain killer, and i dont think it can have any theraputic or curative effect on heart trouble; in fact morohine (all opiates) suppress normal respiratory function, causing asthma and other ailments. however i am not very worldly, and it may be the case that a person, specifically a celebrity could be prescribed morphine for a eczema.
anyways, the book is informative and interesting. buy it and then buy some other stuff, then destroy it and buy it again.

Great subject matter, unfocused writing
Gram was a fascinating character, but this book didn't really hook me the way the music does, and that's a let down. While not worthless, the writing seems extremely well researched but carelessly assembled, almost as if it were a string of magazine articles. Facts are introduced and re-introduced in an inelegant fashion, the author descends to first person unnecessarily, and jarringly illogical metaphors are stretched to the breaking point. Even more disappointing, the well collected facts and perspectives surrounding Gram's death are hard to follow and make drawing conclusions an academic exercise.
Gram Parsons was a singer of rare quality and luminosity. It's a shame that such a well-researched book turns out to be so devoid of luster.

Lived fast, died young, left some great music
While there's a lot of his music that I've enjoyed, I've always been a little wary of the cult-of-personality that's surrounded Gram Parsons and his music. Ben Fong-Torres' biography about Parsons only reinforces this wariness; he had talent, sure, but he was also a grandmaster at screwing up the good things in his life. He had an enormous ego and an appetite for chemical recreation that seems upon reading to have been limitless. Who knows what could've happened if he'd partied a little less and moved music to the forefront of his life a little more? Fong-Torres may hold Parsons in high regard, but this doesn't prevent him from showing his subject's less admirable sides.

It also doesn't prevent him from showing that when Parsons really worked at it, what resulted was some of the best music that still resonates today. "Brass Buttons," "She" and the song that gives the title for this biography are today considered to be country ballad standards of the first stripe by many, and they deserve that honor. And if he wasn't necessarily the "father" of "country rock," Parsons certainly was one of the first to show that country with a rock attitude made for some great music. All you have to do is listen to his posthumous "Grievious Angel" collection for proof of that.

Fong-Torres spends less time on Parson's music than on his personal travails, but that's probably because the latter managed to undermine the former more often than not. That said, HICKORY WIND effectively displays the life of a guy who could've been a contender and, as it is, remains a lasting presence in the world of music.

good info of minor star
Biography of minor rock star Gram Parsons who influences many more past his death than while he was living The book does include alot of information and is not exactly focused he led an interesting life and his circumstances such as his "trust fund" being around the Stones and Emmylou Harris are interesting ... 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

By now the story has become music-industry lore--part cautionary tale, part barometer of the times. When alt-country-cum-experimental rock indie heroes Wilco turned in their 4th album (Yankee Hotel Foxtrot) to its label, Reprise, a division of Warner, fans looked forward to the release of another challenging, genre-bending departure from their previous work. The band hoped to build on their previous, modest sales and critical acclaim but was instead asked to compromise its artistic integrity for what the Reprise record execs promised would be "radio-friendly" success -- and higher record sales. When Wilco wouldn't give, they found themselves without a label.The ultimate irony?Nonesuch, another division of Warner, bought the record for three times the money and the album debuted at 13 on the Billboard charts, posting its strongest sales to date.

Already the subject of I Am Trying to Break Your Heart, a music documentary released to glowing reviews at the L.A. Film Festival, Wilco is the band that critics have called both "the greatest band you've never heard" and "the greatest band of its generation." But its reputation is growing.Since the band's humble inception in southern Illinois over ten years ago, it has built a national following of underground followers—more reliant on word-of-mouth recommendations, the indie club scene, and free internet downloads.But their story is not just one of the David-and-Goliath struggle against corporate influence on musicians, it is also a compelling, intimate look at making music and the difficult but wonderful collaborative process of being in a band.

Reviews (10)

A good read for the fans
I really enjoyed Greg Kot's book about Wilco. I've read many of Kot's articles in the Chicago paper about the band, and I was looking forward to reading this book as soon as I heard about it. As a big fan of Wilco, I found this to be an interesting read with a lot of insight into the early days of the band, and the dying days of Uncle Tupelo (Jeff's seminal pre-Wilco band). At times, the book reads a lot like the newspaper articles that Kot wrote about the band for years, but that's not a bad thing. Kot is a rock journalist, so it shouldn't really surprise anyone that his book comes across that way. He is essentially writing a journal of the history of this band, from their early pre-Wilco days all the way up through the Yankee Hotel Foxtrot debacle...and beyond. I was especially interested in the things Jay Farrar and Jay Bennett had to say (what's the deal with Jeff's problems with guys named Jay anyway?). I highly recommend this book for fans of the band, you won't be disappointed.

A great book about music--a great book about people
As someone who likes Wilco, but is not a die-hard fan, I really appreciate the book for what it is: It is not a critic's review, it is not a fan-oriented biography-it is simply a superbly written, well-researched book about all that goes into the loaded concept that is "making music." Through his elegant prose, Kot delves into human relationships, band dynamics, artistic struggles, and identity-both personal and public. If you like Wilco, read this book. If you like music, read this book. Or, if you admire those moments when the creative process manages to overcome life's obstacles, read this book.

stellar biography of a very complex band
What a great read! It would have been very easy for this book to have simply been a valentine to Wilco. However, this book gives us a balanced (sometimes brutally honest) portrait of a very complicated, brilliant songwriter (frontman Jeff Tweedy), the intricacies of inter-personal relationships within the band and the larger organization surrounding them, and the creative process. Highly satisfying, very illuminating.

For Diehards Only
Greg Kot's biography of the great band Wilco - and more specifically, the extraordinary musician, Jeff Tweedy - is nothing if not a competent work. Kot writes with clarity about the history of the band, the players involved, and sheds a fair amount of light on their creative process. His level of hyperbole is actually very restrained by rock critic standards, and this really is more than just a glorified set of liner notes. In other words, it's a book that huge Wilco fans (like myself) are likely to enjoy, both for a few new details and for the pleasure of retracing the band's rise to recording security.

What the book doesn't do, I think, is provide a story so dramatic or important that anyone who's not a diehard should feel compelled to read. The story of the band's "Yankee Hotel Foxtrot" record, and the accompanying label fiasco, is certainly an episode worth any music fan's study/outrage, but there's nothing here which truly enlightens the band's content, or attempts to treat the fascinating question of why this strange and powerful songwriter from Belleville, Illinois has captured the adoration and imagination of so many listeners, critics, and journalists.

Like I'm Part of the Band
That's how I felt reading this rich, wonderfully researched and intimate portrait of one of the most vital bands around. Yes, I'm a Wilco fan and perhaps predisposed to like the book -- no, strike that, I could very well dislike it intensely for that reason -- but even if you're not, if you're simply a lover of great artists and great music and fascinated with the creative process, this is necessary reading. Gret Kot captures not just the sights and sounds, but the desires and heartbreaks, along with the occasional triumph. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Each One Believing isn’t your standard tour memento, but then the tour it chronicles was pretty extraordinary, too. Paul McCartney’s 2002-2003 world tour demonstrated just how much mania an ex-Beatle could trigger more than three decades after the demise of the Fab Four. McCartney, who was approaching his 60th birthday when the tour began, headlined a rapturously received extravaganza that took him from Milwaukee to Moscow, from Tokyo to Tacoma. Each One Believing attempts to capture the tour from all angles via numerous on stage andbackstage photos, interviews,and press quotes (no need to toot ones own horn when you have a Mexico City newspaper tagging a performance "the most legendary in history forever"). Don’t expect anything in the way of grit in this road tale; the clean-living superstar and his entourage dine on the best vegetarian food money can buy and the youngish sidemen are simply delighted to be performing "She’s Leaving Home" with the legendary Sir Paul. Each One Believing isn’t revelatory in the least, unless one is desires how many crewmembers it takes to construct a stadium-sized rock stage these days (some 140, it seems). But the many who saw McCartney on the triumphant excursion (or Back in the U.S. DVD) and diehard Beatles fans will find it to be a breezy, eye-catching coffeetable book.--Steven Stolder ... Read more

Amazon.com

A blend of rambling biography and encouraging success story, Gut Feelings will take you right into the nitty-gritty of Carnie Wilson's life and the mysteries of gastric bypass surgery. If you think a similar surgery may be in your future, there is a lot to learn from this book--Wilson presents the gory details unflinchingly, and separate appendices from four specialists address more general questions and answers. Wilson's casual tone and conversational asides will make you feel like you're getting to know a new friend; that is, a new friend with a roller-coaster life and a habit of using curses as adjectives. She's frank and animated, with no real illusions about her strengths and weaknesses, but the repeat discussions of matter-of-fact drug use may distract some readers from the real story. Ultimately, the surgery is an interesting success, and professionals in health-related fields, as well as prospective patients, may find the specifics of one person's experience useful. --Jill Lightner ... Read more

Reviews (35)

A great book for patients and caregivers
Most of us know the plight of Carnie Wilson's weight. Now she has finally written the book we all have been waiting for. Her book tells about her successful journey, warts and all. As a mental health counselor, I applaud her and Spotlight Health with presenting a most informative book which includes interviews with both a bariatric surgeon, nutritionist, endocrinologist and psychologist. Some people see gastric bypass as an easy way out to loose weight. Believe me, as a patient, it is not. She avidly describes this and how life will change for the patient and their loved ones. I greatly appreciate the important emphasis on the psychological aspects. They go hand in hand. Also, this book gives your support and caregivers an idea of what you will be going to go through and how they can better support you. I would like to see every doctor, patient, and candidate for surgery to read her book before either making the decision for surgery or as a guideline for post-op conditions that may come up. It is even indexed for ease of looking up something. A trendsetting book and a wonderful read .

very interesting autobiography
I don't usually read autobiographies, but this is one I couldn't put down. Carnie was so open and honest about her life.
Some people may find her language offensive, but if you aren't bothered by a certain 4 letter word, then you should be okay.
This book will open your eyes to what Carnie and millions of other overweight individuals have to deal with every day. Her surgery was certainly not the easy way out. After the surgery it takes hard work and dedication to acheive the goal of weight loss. My only drawback in rating this book is that there is more of Carnie's story to tell. And since I am not interested in the surgery I found the Q&A section to be something I didn't need to read. If Carnie writes a follow up to this book, I will certainly take the time to read it.
Buy this book if you are interested in Carnie, and/or interested in bypass surgery!

Loved It !
Funny, intelligent. Carnie is a true inspiration. Creative, and wonderfully written.

Uplifting, Humorous & Heartfelt Book
Especially for someone who has gone through WLS, this book is a wonderful read. Carnie Wilson's writing style is down to earth, never too technical, and always heartfelt. I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Even for people who have merely struggled with weight and not had WLS, I highly suggest reading this book!!

Wow! A look into Carnie's life is very intriguing!
The instant I got this book, I began to read it, and I finished it in less than a day. This is a great autobiography because she doesn't really censor or edit, and that's what I loved about it! It's a great read!! look into it! ... Read more

Book Description

The Band, who backed Bob Dylan when he went electric in 1965 and then turned out a half-dozen albums of beautifully crafted, image-rich songs, is now regarded as one of the most influential rock groups of the '60s. But while their music evoked a Southern mythology, only their Arkansawyer drummer, Levon Helm, was the genuine article. From the cotton fields to Woodstock, from seeing Sonny Boy Williamson and Elvis Presley to playing for President Clinton, This Wheel's on Fire replays the tumultuous history of our times in Levon's own unforgettable folksy drawl. This edition is expanded with a new afterword by the authors. ... Read more

Reviews (18)

If You're A Fan of The BAND, There's No Doubt...
...you must read this book.

Levon's down-home personality floods every page, and makes you wish you'd known him and his family growing up. Honestly, I probably enjoyed the chapters about his childhood as much or more than the chapters about being in one of my favorite groups--The Band.

There are some self-serving moments, but hey, they're illuminating too! Check out how casually Levon dismisses his own drug addiction in the early 70s, and completely ignores the fact that THAT might have contributed to the rift between the rest of them and Robbie (Rick and Richard were addicts too). He blames the rift primarily on Robbie's receiving most of the writing credits, but if everybody else was strung-out, SOMEBODY needed to write the songs!!! Oh yeah, and Levon devotes a few paragraphs too many to an incident in which Ronnie Hawkins claimed that Levon had a large genital appendage...not really the sort of information I was looking for... Apparently these guys were knee-deep in the hedonistic lifestyle too, but Levon doesn't much go into that...which is probably for the best.

And oh boy, there are shades to the relationship between Robbie Robertson and Levon Helm that go far beyond what I previously realized...after reading this, you'll NEVER watch "The Last Waltz" the same way again. Man, oh man! Robbie comes off as less than likable, to put it kindly. And I gotta say, this isn't just a one-sided account, because Rick is quoted extensively too. Seems like money and fame can really wreck the best of friendships. Here's how.

If you'd prefer to think of the Band as a bunch of kindly guys who simply had fun recording good albums, you might want to stay away from this book! But if you'd like to see what sort of stuff was going on behind the scenes, and what fuels the continuing bitterness between the surviving members, or if you want to know more about Richard Manuel's untimely death, this book is your best source.

True American Folk Artist
I loved this book! Levon Helm is truly a classic American musical figure. So deeply rooted in tradition and yet part of such a ground breaking musical group. Amazing stories for fans of The Band and Rock and Roll in general. Too bad about so much bad blood between Robbie Robertson and Levon. They both complement each other so well, musically. A fascinating read!

The grand realization of what was under Neil Young's nose
Let's get one thing straight: I don't have anything against drug-taking rock stars (are there any other kind?), but the degree to which Levon Helm matter-of-factly celebrates his and his band mates' absolutely industry-record-setting pace of cocaine and heroin abuse is hardly worth my time reading this book. And it's not just the drug admissions that get me, but the crumby admissions of how the band disintegrated partly because they couldn't collectively figure out what to do with all of their real-estate investment profits. The claim that Helm makes about wanting to "disengage" from the group because they decided not to invest in vacant land in Arkansas that now houses a Holiday Inn is hilariously embarassing. I mean, stripped of the veneer, yeah, it's a dose of reality, but that doesn't mean I have to actually like the result of Helm's iconoclastic prose. I mean, anyone who calls Levon Helm "homespun", "down home" and "laid back country" after reading this book must not have been paying attention. If Levon Helm wasn't a rock musician, he'd be Ivan Boesky, or another typical money-drugs-greed obsessed footnote in American cultural history. Oh wait, he is.

Honestly, I started this book with "Stage Fright" and "Music From Big Pink" being among the sacrosanct albums I owned, and left the book wondering just what the fuss was all about. Totally turned off by now, I don't care to ever read it again, and my distaste for these creeps is so huge I honestly doubt I'll ever think of these guys the same way again. After Rick Danko's death, I'd like to ask Levon Helm what he feels the entire "business" of being in a band really is. Sad, really sad.

Laughed out loud!!!!
Although Levon Helm's anger very apparent this is one of the funniest books I've read. His story telling is great.

the book of the band
i would have liked to have seen a contribution by robbie included and some reflection from richard. levon's time away is moved thru too quickly when he was away. i would have liked to have read more detail of his life away from music. i enjoyed the criticism of neil diamond which everyone always had of his appearance in the last waltz. ... Read more

Book Description

The softcover edition examines the turbulent relationship between legendary Doors frontman Jim Morrison and his common-law wife, Pamela Courson, tracing the lives of Courson and Morrison before their fateful meeting in 1965, their lives together until Morrison's death in 1971, and Coursin's life without Morrison, including her fight to gain the rights to his estate until her death from a heroin overdose on April 25, 1974. ... Read more

Reviews (82)

The best book about Morrison to date..
After reading "No One Here Gets Out Alive" in 1980, a book that(with my recollection)falsely lead people to believe that Jim Morrison could possibly be "alive and well and living in Africa", and John Densmore's book "Riders on The Storm", a book that I found to be depressing, I found Patricia Butler's obviously well researched book to be wonderfully written. She captures the funny, emotional, and tender side of both Jim and Pamela with the help of friends, family, and collegues of both subjects. The stories that Jim's college buddies told her about him while he was a college student are absolutely hillarious. As a Doors fan, I was tired of hearing "horrible" Jim stories. Everyone has a bad and a good side to them. Although the author does portray a little bit of their drug, alcohol use etc., it is not focused entirely on those issues, which to me, is a welcome breath of fresh air. If any of you reading this has been to Patricia Kennealy's web site, this book does not trash Jim. I think PK is upset because the book was not about her. I recommend this book highly.

Extensive research and genuine heart makes this a keeper.
If the fact that Patricia Butler spent hundreds of hours researching ANGELS DANCE AND ANGELS DIE does not impress you, if the fact that she endured a swell of death threats and hate mail doesn't intrigue you, if the thought of the ill-fated romance of Doors front man Jim Morrison and his "cosmic mate" Pamela Courson doesn't at least make you curious, breeze by this deftly written work.

If those three elements send your mind drifting towards a craving for nostalgic discovery, you'll consider the $27.00 cover price money well invested.

Butler not only explores the obvious --- how ego and illegal substances can really put a kink in your romantic radar --- she delves into the how and why behind the excess, shattering some myths, laying new ground work for others.

Morrison fans will love or hate ANGELS DANCE AND ANGELS DIE. But they'll be well fed, no matter how the toss of the Doors dice lands. And either way, it's a book not to be missed.

A Satisfying Read
I have read many books on Jim Morrison, some better then others. I always found most of these books lacking in their depth of his most intimate and profound relationship, Pamela. For this I found the story very satisfying and seemed to ring true. Patricia Butler does a excellent job of collecting hard evidence to support the story she tells with all its craziness and romanticism thrown in for good measure. I thoroughly enjoyed the pictures too.

Worth a look....mostly for the pictures!
The research in this book is mostly impressive. Everyone she interviews is listed, and there are many! I'll give the book three stars for that. However, the book falls flat because it doesn't have enough on the relationship of Jim and Pamela, which is supposed to be the whole point (I thought). What you do read about their relationship is really no surprise. Everyone knew Pamela was Jim's #1 squeeze, even though he fooled around with other gals. Everyone knew they fought and made up. You get more insight into their relationship looking at all the lovely pictures than you do reading this book. The fact Jim was photographed so many times with Pamela tells you something about Pamela vs. "other gals", more than this book will tell you. Pamela was "Queen of the Highway", but there's not enough of her here. It's still worth a read, just not what it could have been.

a poet & his muse
at first i wasn't too impressed with this book because i felt it was poorly written & found it difficult to read... but i chose to continue & am glad i did. finally, some justice for pamela. & to those upset that it didn't mention jim's other lovers, or patricia... have you forgotten this book clearly states ON THE COVER it's about the two of them? ... Read more

Book Description

Worldwide, ABBA is the second biggest–selling band of all time, surpassed only by The Beatles. Now, ABBA: The Book presents the incredible story of four Swedish folk singers who went on to become one of the most influential pop groups of all time. Spanning their entire career, and featuring 250 color photos, this is the definitive book for all fans. ... Read more

Reviews (8)

A celebratory tribute
Abba remain hugely popular in Britain and many other countries more than twenty years after they disbanded. This book is not an in-depth study of the different personalities and their difficulties, but it gives plenty of information about the members of Abba and their manager, including their lives before and after Abba. And (at least in my hardcover edition) there are pictures - plenty of them.

Regarding the four members of Abba, three of them (Benny, Bjorn and Agnetha) were born and raised in Sweden, all apparently having fairly normal childhoods, only their musical talent setting them apart from others. All three became hugely successful in the Swedish pop charts, Agnetha as a solo singer, Benny and Bjorn as members of separate groups.

The odd one out was Anni-Frid, better known as Frida. She was born in Norway as the illegitimate child of a German father and Norwegian mother. Frida was mainly raised by her grandmother, who took her to Sweden, where her mother joined them but died of illness a few months later, aged just 21. Frida also found it much harder than the others to achieve success in music, but she did eventually have some big Swedish hits of her own.

The author presents the main years (1969 to 1982) on a year-by-year basis, explaining the different events that occurred in each year - records, tours, TV, their personal lives - in a semi-diary format.

As far as the music is concerned, the story is quite complicated and not always easy to follow, but that is no fault of the author. Before they became Abba, they were four separate acts, each with their own careers and signed to different record companies. Once they came together as Abba, different things were happening in Japan, Australia, Germany, Sweden and elsewhere with different records - even before 1974. That was the year that Abba won Eurovision and charted for the first time in Britain and America.

There have been many books on Abba and will surely be many more. Despite being a huge Abba fan, this is the first I've read. If you're only going to have one book on Abba, it might as well be this one.

THEY CAME, THEY SANG...AND THEY CONQUERED!
Did you ever come across a favourite song and say, "I wonder whatever happened to....? Abba took the world by storm back in the 60's when a quarter bought you an afternoon matinee at the movies, and minimum wage in my home town was $1.00 per hour. If you earned $1.25 or more, you had it made!

Abba possessed a unique blend of charisma, talent, and originality. Who can forget the sentimental lyrics of ,"I Had A Dream", the gentle flow of "The Rivers of Babylon", the melancholy strains of "Fernando" or the upbeat dance-hit, "Dancing Queen"? The list of hits went on and on.

What I particularly liked about this book was the numerous photographs all depicting Abba at their finest. Many photographs are ones not often, if ever, published before, at least not on this continent. In addition, the book reveals a lot of factual, personal information about the individuals themselves. The road to fame and fortune is not an easy one as readers will discover through the pages of this book. Some facts have been printed before, but other aspects of their career are presented here in a more complete, in-depth light. Fans of Abba, will no longer need to wonder, "what ever happened to..." because the epilogue tells you just that. Of all the books on the group, this is one of the best in print.

Well done coverage of the early years
This book covers mainly the early years of ABBA's career. Most of the pictures we have seen before, but never in one place and packaged so nicely. The pictures here are different than the ones you will find in "From ABBA to Mamma Mia", so if you want to have a collection of pictures spanning ABBA's entire career, you really need to own both.

absolutely excellent
THIS IS AN EXCELLENT BOOK! FROM BEGGINING TO END! WONDERFUL PHOTOS, FUNNY ANECDOTES, INTERESTING NOTES, QUOTATIONS, INTIMATE FEELINGS PARTICULARLY FROM FRIDA, ETC. THIS IS A MUST FOR ANY ABBA FAN IN THE WORLD. I AM SO GLAD I BOUGHT IT, PLEASE DONT TAKE LONG TO BUY ONE, IT IS WORTH THE MONEY, IT IS A TREASURE IF YOU ARE AN ABBA FAN. TWO FINGERS UP !! LOVE TO ALL CLAUDIO

Your coffee table needs this book.
Jean-Marie Potiez has produced a wonderful book. The fantastic photos (many of which have not previously been published) are worth the price of the book alone. The photos must have been very carefully selected: they are all, unfailingly, flattering and the band never look less than achingly glamorous. The informative and enjoyable commentary, pieced together from a mind-boggling number of interviews, is clearly a labour of love and there are many surprisingly revealing and poignant quotes. Particularly sweet (and, ultimately, sad, given the couple's subsequent history) is Frida's statement that the best thing that ever happened to her was Benny, not ABBA. The history of the ultimate pop group is traced on a year-by-year basis, from the mid 1960s, following the pre-ABBA careers of each member, through the romantic encounters, to the Eurovision win, to the will-we-ever-have-another-hit? tension, to (phew!) world domination. Every step is lavishly illustrated with great photos. ABBA's story reads like a film script - humble beginnings, beautiful people in love, amazing talent, runaway success leading to a heartbreaking denoument. There is even a 'where are they now?' epilogue. This book wipes the floor with Potiez's video documentary of the band ("Thank you ABBA"). While it will certainly be a treasured luxury for ABBA's huge army of fans, this excellent book will also be of interest to anybody with an interest in perfect pop. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Bob Marley, reggae superstar and pop culture icon, left an indelible mark on modern music. Catch a Fire: The Life of Bob Marley delves deep into the life of the lionized leader of a musical, spiritual, and political explosion that still reverberates more than a decade after his death.Almost nothing pertaining to the life of Bob Marley is left out; the origins of Rastafarianism (the Ethiopian religion that was the keystone of his life), the roots of the reggae sound, the Jamaican political and social debacle that informed his lyrics--this is a comprehensive account of the life of the artist and the times that produced him.

Catch a Fire is assiduously researched; the details writer Timothy White presents of the King of Reggae's life are cinematic in scope and, at times, cumbersome. White includes much of his primary source material, ranging from full interviews with band members to unearthed CIA documents, and devotes a whole section to describing his exhaustive research process. The final product is rich with elements of spiritual tome, rock biography, and history text; it is a hagiographic epic--the story of a man and his legend. --Brendan J. LaSalle ... Read more

Reviews (43)

Iron Lion Zion
After being a fan of Bob Marley's music for years, I decided that I wanted to learn more about the legend. I chose to read Catch a Fire and found it to be an amazing book about an even more amazing person. Not only does it tell everything about the life and times of Bob Marley, but it tells of the origins of reggae and Rastafari. It is a book that I found myself glued to time after time, I just couldn't put it down. The book describes life in Jamaica in an awesome way that makes you feel like your there. I recommend this book to anyone who is even remotely interested in learning more about the Natural Mystic that is Bob Marley.

the Best Ever
This is the first biography of Bob marley that I have read. But I have read (and written) numerous biographies of people in popular culture, social history, military history etc. This book is written in a way that is hard to describe - it uses the jamaican patois so cleverly and appropriately that you realise there is no other way the events in Bob's life could have been described. So detailed are the descriptions that it is obvious the author writes from a personal knowledge of Bob, his family, his friends and his musical associates. Absolutely rivetting, and impossible to put down, it stays with you. I listen to the music now with a quite different appreciation of what is going on in the songs.

Catch A Fire
Catch a Fire was a great book. It helped me to better understand the culture of Rastafarians and the type of life which a Rastafarian lives. The book Catch a Fire gave tons of background and information that you do not read in the everyday biography of Bob Marley. The book also helped you to understand the politics of Jamaica which in return helps you to understand the lyrics and songs of Bob Marley on a completely different level.

Reading this book made me understand why such a vast age range of people enjoy Bob Marley's music. I gave this book five stars because I feel that it is not only a great book on Bob Marley but also a great book about the Rastafarian culture and Jamaican politics. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who is at all interested in Bob Marley, Reggae music, Jamaica, politics, and or the history and culture of the Rastafarians. I feel that this book would appeal to a great number of people.

A book you won't want to put down
It's been some time since I read this book TWICE. First bumping into it at the library and then buying my own copy on-line... As you start to read this book, it is as though the lights are turned down low and the projectionist starts to roll the movie - it is entirely absorbing. Bob's life, the changing times, the Jamaican political scene, the protagonists and antagonists - the Chris Blackwells and Scratch Perrys - the hanger-on-ers and the End. Marley's life is better than any fiction - as can be said for each of the players in this true tale. In a way, Chris Blackwell even offers an unexpected "Bond" connection.... The book will give you an escape from wherever you are now and a deeper understanding of the person behind the stage persona you see in the videos... Like a perfect cup of coffee in the morning, or a great album such as Marley's "Legends" album filling the air of your room, you will enjoy the read this book provides.

THE LIFE OF BOB MARLEY: A MUST HAVE BOOK
If your into Bob Marley this is a must have book. You will love this book and get hooked on it and won't want to stop reading it. This is a heartpounding book that explains the time period that he lived in and how he made a big impact on the whole world with his music and his attitude towards life. So go to your nearest book store and purchase your book today!

xoxo rhino ... Read more

Book Description

During the past year Paul McCartney has been in the public's eye more than at any time since the peak of Beatlemania over thirty years ago. His fans have been treated to the best-selling Flaming Pie and Standing Stone albums, a full hour of Paul on "Oprah," and this thoughtful and comprehensive biography that brings us closer to the man than ever before. Based on hundreds of hours of exclusive interviews over a period of five years, and with complete access to Paul's own archives, Barry Miles has succeeded in letting Paul tell the story of his life as a Beatle in his own words. It includes Paul's recollection of the genesis of every song that he wrote with John Lennon and the fascinating details about their remarkable collaboration.
... Read more

Reviews (96)