Book Description

... Read more

Reviews (54)

Very candid, yet occasionally whiny
John Densmore, the drummer for the Doors, expresses practically everything in his book Riders on the Storm. He brings up his Catholic-based childhood, forming the Doors, dealing w/ rock stardom and Jim's Hedonistic behavior, the groups dissolution, failed marriages, Jim's death, family problems, and moving toward the future. It is evident that John had a lot of feelings towards Jim, like love, hate, anger, sympathy and sadness, and the part where he's at his grave in Paris is very poignant. He also recalls many of the events that shaped the Doors' brief but influential career as a rock band probably more accurately than anyone else who wrote a bio on the band or Jim Morrison. Yet, despite all of this, he does sound like he's complaining about life occasionally, and it is obvious that he had jealousy issues towards Jim, understandibly since he was such a sex icon, and his actions almost threatened to eat the group from inside out. Otherwise, this was a pretty good book, and should be considered for doing research on the band's, because who would know better about it than the guys in the band?

An honest account of Densmore's feelings
John Densmore offers to the world what only an insider can: a glimpse into the inner workings of one of the most influential musical groups of this century. This book displays Densmore's inner turmoil as he lives a public life during a period of social and political unrest.

He writes clearly and honestly about his feelings, especially his feelings toward Jim Morrison. Readers are exposed to Densmore's internal battle between what appears to be love and hate for the singer. This book is not a sugar-coated tribute to Morrison, but a means for Densmore to let the fans better understand the ups and downs of the Doors as a whole.

From his beginnings learing music, to the band's formation and through the band's rise and fall, Densmore explains, as only a member could, the causes and effects of every movement of the band.

I am only twenty-two years old; I missed The Doors completely. But I am able to appreciate the music better now that I have been exposed to Densmore's work. It's hard for me to remember that most of the band was my age when they rose to stardom. Thank you John, you're a fabulous drummer and an excellent writer.

10 out of 5 stars!!
I chose to do my book report on the book called , The Riders On The Storm , by John Densmore. This book mainly talks about the life of John Densmore as the drummer of the 60's rock group, The Doors. It starts off by John going to Paris to see Jim Morison's grave. Then it goes back in time when The Doors we actually becoming a famous band. The books talks about how they went through numerous problems and how they overcame it. John shows the reader what lied inside their world of the doors, what we couldn't see.

What I like in this book is all the humor and all the entertaining/ interesting stories that were told in the book. My favorite part of the book would have to be about the draft. All the silly thing they did to try and avoid going to the army, saying that they were gay, eating foil, taking drugs, I found that hilarious. When I read the book a felt a connection between the reader (Me) and the writer (John) when he would talk about his feelings toward the song, kind of like he read my mind , I liked that too.

What I didn't like about the book was that John would start to go into detail he would go off-topic some what and then later he would get back on track, it was very confusing I tend to lose my place. Also when he starts to tell a story about his girlfriend for like a page and 30 pages later he would mention her, kind of bad timing. Sometimes he would say one thing then say the opposite. Overall I really like the book a lot and I would recommend it to any one who is a Doors' fan. I had lot of fun reading this book.

Good Read about life in the Doors.
Densmore offers a down to earth view of life behind the scenes with The Doors. He very poignantly expresses the duality at work within the band. Offering harsh critisim of Morrison's outrageous behavior while at the same time expressing his deep love of the music, the band and even Morrison himself. Both honest and enlightening this book is a must read for anyone wishing to develop a better understanding of The Doors.

Riding the storm out
I enjoyed this book immensely. Densmore has a personable, clear, consise style of writing and expresses himself very well. I felt I was there as he described events that happened 30 years ago. I laughed out loud at certain anecdotes in the book, especially when he describes avoiding the draft. For being the "uptight" one in the Doors, Densmore does have a sense of humour that comes through in his writing. He neither trashes Jim, nor does he gloss over Jim. He just tells it like it was. I never sensed any jealousy, just frustration, intimidation, fear, anger, but also admiration and brotherly love. Complex feelings. Clearly that's what Densmore is trying to get through, he wants to explain himself and isn't trying to hide or gloss over. There are many great anecdotes in this book, some funny, some sad, some plain scary! I could understand why Densmore felt the way he did at any given time, he explains it so well. The Doors were 4 very different personalities, obviously. I don't see any of them as being "the bad guy", but they obviously bumped heads due to personality clashes. That's life! Densmore was a teenager when he joined the Doors, so he pretty much grew up with them as well. That's another thing I found so interesting, Densmore sharing his growing-up with the reader, the things he learned along the way. He often addresses Jim directly in the book, telling Jim he learned integrity from him. I couldn't put this book down, very addictive reading. ... Read more

Book Description

Piano Girl is the story of a young woman's accidental career as a cocktail lounge piano player, and the adventures and encounters that follow. Sometimes funny, sometimes poignant, this entertaining memoir provides a glimpse into the comedies, tragedies, and mundane miracles witnessed from the business perspective of a lounge musician. Robin Goldsby, a pianist in lounges around the world, tells her musical story by connecting the people she has met with places she has played and pianos she has known. Her story provides insights into the art and craft of piano playing, as well as encouraging lessons in life as she finds her own way to pursue her dreams on an unlikely path. Along the way she finds the human side, for better and for worse, in her audiences. In Piano Girl, anything can happen as people wander through her real-time soundtrack to life. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

An enthralling and honest personal story
Piano Girl: Lessons In Life, Music And The Perfect Blue Hawaiian is Robin Meloy Goldsby's entertainting and occasionally mesmerizing memoir, tracing her "accidental" career as a cocktail lounge piano player. Her calling took her across the globe, from exclusive island resorts to third-world countries, and her story offers both musical insights into the art of piano playing and the life lessons she encountered on her unlikely path. Piano Girl also recounts the varied character of her audience, from the rich and famous to the down and out and everyone in between. Individual vignettes perfectly capture timeless moments in this enthralling and honest personal story.

From Solo Piano Publications
"Piano Girl" is a seamlessly crafted, incredibly entertaining memoir that tells the story of one woman's journey from The Club Car in Nantucket to the castles of Europe with stops just about everywhere in between, all the while seated at a piano and playing music to enhance the experience for whoever is there to listen (or not listen!). Goldsby has a wonderfully conversational writing style, and her tales are often laugh-out-loud funny, sometimes poignant, and always abundantly human. Along with her recollections ofadventures, big and small, are portraits of many of the characters she has met along the way, providing a rich and very satisfying read whether or not you play the piano. ... Read more

Book Description

In the first full-scale life of the most
important composer-lyricist at work in musical theatre today, Meryle Secrest, the biographer of Frank Lloyd Wright and Leonard Bernstein, draws on her extended conversations with Stephen Sondheim as well as on her interviews with his friends, family, collaborators, and lovers to bring us not only the artist--as a master of
modernist compositional style--but also the private man.
Beginning with his early childhood on New York's prosperous Upper West Side, Secrest describes how Sondheim was taught to play the piano by his father, a successful dress manufacturer and amateur musician. She writes about Sondheim's early ambition to become a concert pianist, about the effect on him of his parents' divorce when he was ten, about his years in military and private schools. She writes about his feelings of loneliness and abandonment, about the refuge he found in the home of Oscar and Dorothy Hammerstein, and his determination to become just like Oscar.
Secrest describes the years when Sondheim was struggling to gain a foothold in the theatre, his attempts at scriptwriting (in his early twenties in Rome on the
set of Beat the Devil with Bogart and Huston, and later in Hollywood as a co-writer with George Oppenheimer for the TV series Topper), living the Hollywood life.
Here is Sondheim's ascent to the peaks of the Broadway musical, from his chance meeting with play-
wright Arthur Laurents, which led to his first success--
as co-lyricist with Leonard Bernstein on West Side Story--to his collaboration with Laurents on Gypsy, to his first full Broadway score, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum. And Secrest writes about his first big success as composer, lyricist, writer in the 1960s with Company, an innovative and sophisticated musical that examined marriage à la mode. It was the start of an almost-twenty-year collaboration with producer and director Hal Prince that resulted in such shows as Follies, Pacific Overtures, Sweeney Todd, and
A Little Night Music.
We see Sondheim at work with composers, producers, directors, co-writers, actors, the greats of his time and ours, among them Leonard Bernstein, Ethel Merman, Richard Rodgers, Oscar Hammerstein, Jerome Robbins, Zero Mostel, Bernadette Peters, and Lee Remick (with whom it was said he was in love, and she with him), as Secrest vividly re-creates the energy, the passion, the despair, the excitement, the genius, that went into the making of show after Sondheim show.
A biography that is sure to become the standard work on Sondheim's life and art.
... Read more

Reviews (27)

Satisfying, but not completely.
Secrest is a fine writer, although I think her very straightforward style seems a bit pedestrian in the face of her fascinating subject; much like with her Frank Lloyd Wright biography. I wish she had been more attentive to Sondheim's personal life, since his work has been dealt with better elsewhere, and the book really works best when it looks at the man who shapes the artist. A good job, but not as monumental as we Sondheim freaks wished for and needed.

A mess, but for now it's the only mess we have
If you want to learn about Sondheim's life in detail, this is the most thorough account. Although there are books that are mostly about his work in which you can also find biographical information, this is the first and (thus far) only biography. That's the only reason why I'm giving three stars to this generally shoddy book.

What's wrong? First, there is an astounding number of factual errors.

In addition to the outright errors, Secrest also makes many misleading, imprecise, or incomplete statements. Loose ends and chronological confusions abound.

Some of the people Secrest quotes also make statements that are factually incorrect, and neither she nor her editors (who must take a good share of the blame) caught these mistakes. All of this suggests that she knows little about musical theatre in general or Sondheim's work in particular. She actually gets major plot details of Sondheim's shows wrong. Unbelievable.

There are also numerous places where she makes statements that contradict what she writes elsewhere.

All these problems seriously call into question how much of the material here that isn't public knowledge can be trusted. You end up wondering how someone who is so clearly unqualified persuaded the people at Knopf to give her this assignment, much less how she got Sondheim to cooperate. She must talk well, but she certainly doesn't write well.

Which brings us to the final problem: She isn't a very good writer.

Still, if you want a Sondheim bio, this is it. Since Secrest had access to Sondheim and to many of his friends and associates, I'm sure that some of what she writes is accurate. But if you read this, you should just realize that a good deal of what is here is unquestionably wrong.

Okay, but the definitive book on SS has yet to be written
Secrest has written a book on Sondheim that skims the surface and gives a broad overview. It rarely has insights, however, except a few "anaylses" of the musicals themselves that often border on the ludicrous (such as how many references to S&M there are in his works). There are misspellings of people's names, wrong dates, and some confused plot descriptions as well. But most of all, she seems too polite and distanced from her subject, offering facts but not insight or exploration. I'm not asking for National Enquirer-style dirt, but there is more on the inner-workings and intrigue of such works as "Merrily" in Craig Zadan's "Sondheim & Company," which unfortuantely is out of print, I believe. Furthermore, Secrest is often a confusing writer. She switches pronouns without always making it clear who is now doing the talking, or includes an out-of-context quote without explaining its meaning or context. She also repeats herself in several spots, making me think she revised one segment while forgetting what she had written just a page later or earlier. In short, this book needed an editor, as well as a more probing and insightful author. Most biographies suffer from excessive speculation. This one has just the opposite flaw.

derivative, banal, plodding, unauthoritative
The prospective purchaser of "Stephen Sondheim: A Life" is likely to be misled by this remark: "people seem to be missing the point--this isn't a critical biography, but a personal one". In fact, until she undertook to write it, the author of this book had no personal or professional relationship with its subject whatsoever. It is a thing anyone sufficiently motivated could throw together, and I can't in good conscience recommend it. I can and do recommend Craig Zadan's "Sondheim & Company", and for those interested in musical theatre in general, Richard Rodgers's "Musical Stages" and Alan Jay Lerner's "The Street Where I Live".

Stephen Sondheim: A Life
Meryle Secrest presents a balanced, authoritative, comprehensive view of Sondheim. Secrest does "get" Sondheim: the man, the composer, the lyricist. She also "gets" his musicals, both as chronicler and as listener. Virtually all Sondheim screenplays, plays, musicals, and individual songs are intelligently discussed. Extensive and intimate interviews with Sondheim provide the basis, but alternative outlooks from his principle collaborators, associates, friends, and enemies also appear. (Insights of his peers are not present since Sondheim has no peers.) The book carries an inside, but not reverent feel. Sondheim's troubled relationship with his mother leading to extensive therapy, his difficulty in coming to grips with his homosexuality, and his periods of self doubt and perceived failure are sensitively covered. Secrest does not hesitate to call attention to perceived shortcomings, but her undisguised love and admiration for her subject continually shine through. The book is geared toward an audience with a serious interest in Broadway musicals with emphasis on beauty and meaning in lyrics. Secrest does footnote her interviews and references meticulously, but I would also have enjoyed a discography and a listing of his songs by musical as elements of an appendix. I especially enjoyed the insight on Leonard Bernstein. ... Read more

Book Description

Title: Biography of Sublime's Brad NowellThis is the first book ever about multi-platinum ska/punk/reggae band Sublime's frontman Brad Nowell. Inspired by the rich musical legacy he left behind, "Crazy Fool" is a 152-page stunning, visual interpretation of the late musician, who became the posthumous voice of the extreme generation. A collaboration between the Estate of Bradley Nowell and author Heidi Siegmund Cuda, "Crazy Fool" is a rule-shattering, graphic biography that takes as many chances as Sublime's music--indeed, the music that inspired it. Contributors include Brad's father, James Nowell; his widow, Troy Nowell; Sublime drummer Bud Gaugh and bassist Eric Wilson; and sister, Kellie O'Reilly--among others. Each section contains rare photos and original artwork. Check out sublimebook.com to view sample pages. Proceeds from the sale of "Crazy Fool" go to the Jakob James Nowell Scholarship Fund. ... Read more

Reviews (15)

An Average Tale of Greatness
Has it really come to this? A glossy Sublime picture book? I guess it's for the folks who never got the Sublime documentary DVD to play in their VCR. Picture one of those ultra-glossy N.K.O.T.B. biography magazines and you've got the idea here.

I like the positive, fist-person testimony just fine, but this book needs a plot, a flow, and a brain. And, at times, a spell checker. More effort on the part of the author to hunt down the people who know the truth, even if they didn't idolize Bradley. Find a point besides, "Brad is swell".

I mean, did anybody dislike Brad? Get the scoop from the record execs that didn't sign him. He was a huge druggie, but no conversations with a dealer or two? Who made the final descision to boot Sublime from the Warped tour? He had trouble with the law but no case worker could be found?

I justify my purchase two ways. 1) I'm a huge fan and would probably buy a CD of Bradley sleeping. 2) The money goes to Jake.

I've listened to Sublime's music and Bradley sang with a brutal honesty that is nowhere in this book. He would be [angry].

Sublime's Brad Nowell : Crazy Fool (very emotional)
Well I bought Sublime's Brad Nowell : Crazy Fool (Portrait of a Punk book and it were so emotional. Brad's history, Brad was a honor student in school. His talent was so creative. Those who are not a sublime fan think Sublime was all about drugs, it was not. Sublime was all about there desire to play. Brad's creative life style. I read though the whole book and when I was finished I had tears coming, started crying. Believe it or not Brad's Lyrics had a meaning to it and always will...

What age did he die
Every review says Brad Nowell died to young, but how many years did he actually live??? Anyone?

no title
this is an awesome book it tells you alot about brad and what he went though with interviews with his dad mom step-mom sister bud eric...etc. itll give you a new appreciation for sublime and especially brad go buy this book NOW!

A must for every die-hard Sublime Fan!
From the moment I got this book, I haven't been able to put it down! If you want to read about Sublime and the life of Bradley Nowell this is the bible! The book has lots of unseen photos of Brad, Bud, and Eric and Brad's family and friends and yes, Louie dogg too! It gives an in dept perception of what a crazy life Bradley led from being devoted to his family and the demons of his drug addiction. If you think you've read and know about Sublime you haven't touch the tip of the iceberg until you read this book! My only regret is not buying this book when it first came out! ... Read more

Reviews (9)

True Brotherhood
The Williams Brothers have been my all-time favorite male gospel group for about as long as I can remember. I read this heartwarming story when it came out back in 1999 and have since re-read it. I love the biographical voice of this book and it allows fans (such as myself) to get a feel of where these dynamic singers and entertainers come from and how they got to where they are. I had the opportunity to meet this group and spend a little time chatting and taking photos with them back in 1996 in Valdosta, GA. Aside from having talent to spare, they are also very inspirational and have absolute magnetic personalities. This book is a must-have for any Williams Brothers fan.

Kendra Norman-Bellamy
author of
For Love And Grace

Always been a Fan
I am a true fan of the Williams Brothers. I grew up with nine sisters and two brothers. I have every record, tape, CD, they recorded. My father was a minister,and I was raised up the old fashion way. I just purchased the book and I know it is a very good one. I have been to several of their concerts in North Carolina and have met them in person. I admire them for the old fashion up bringing and you can tell, by the music, they are true believers in the ALMIGHTY GOD. They have truly been BLESSED. Keep up the good work and please don't stop praising GOD.

Essie Bynum
Burlington, NC

Henry Green, Where Are You
This is a wonderful book that chronicles life as seen through the eyes of Doug and Melvin. I would very much like to have heard more from Henry Green and Leonard Williams regarding the early days in the business. The fact that there was not much dialogue from Henry Green makes one wonder what he has to say and how he viewed the same instances as the other two. I saw pictures of Leonard on the web a month ago when he signed the Jackson Southernaires to his Melendo label. He was my favorite, and it was good to see that he is still gorgeous!!!

Simply inspiring
I ordered my copy of Still Standing Tall and I read it in one sitting. Their story is very inspiring and uplifting. They are living testimonies that if you raise your children to serve God and live for Him , you will truly be blessed. Melvin, Doug, and Henry, you guys keep serving God and your blessings will runneth over.

Awsome
I have every recording the williams brothers made they are simply the best. And might I add very handsome ... Read more

Book Description

This biography of composer Hector Berlioz (1803-1869) describeswithunprecedented intimacy, affection, and respect the lifeof one ofFrance's greatest artists. After long being regarded as an oddity and an eccentric figure, Berlioz is now being accepted into the ranks of the great composers. Based on a wealth of previously unpublished sources, and on aprofoundunderstanding of the humanity of his subject, David Cairns's bookprovides a fullaccount of this extraordinary and powerfully attractive man. Berlioz, Volume I, previouslypublished only in Britain, is nowavailable toAmerican readers in a revised edition, together with the eagerlyawaited, newVolume II. These two volumes together comprise a monumentalbiographical achievement,sure to stand as the definitive Berlioz biography.

In researching Berlioz's life, Cairns has had access to unpublished family papers, and in Volume Ihe is able to portray all the people close toBerlioz in his boyhood,and to evoke a detailed picture of their lives in andaround La Cte St.-Andr in thefoothills of the French Alps. No artist'sachievement connects more directly with earlyexperience than that of Berlioz,whose passionate sensibility began to absorb the materialof his art longbefore he had heard any musical ensemble other than the local townband.Volume I also traces the student years in Paris and Italy and discussesBerlioz'sthree great love affairs, shedding remarkable light on his latercharacter anddevelopment. Volume I ends on the afternoon of December 9,1832, the day of the concertthat launched the composer's career. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Brilliant portrait of a complex man, vol. 1
An amazing biography. A work such as this will most likely appeal to only 1 out of 100,000 Amazon customers, but those who read it will never forget it, and once having read it will listen to Berlioz's music with a knowing insider's grin.

Cairns has done what is extremely difficult: he has created an easy-to-read, engaging, yet methodical and thorough modern biography in English of a composer who was born 200 years ago and whose paper trail was written entirely in French. The book has good humor but is not fawning or hagiographic.

A little note (pun intended): this is about Berlioz the man, and not about Berlioz as an ethnomusicologist's project. In other words, this is the study of a young man and how he came to know and create music, but not about that music per se.

Bonne lecture!

Great Scholar
David Cairns is a great Berlioz scholar. Like to meet him someday. His translation of "Memoirs" is much superior to Newmans.I bought the 1st volume of the biography some years ago when it first came out and the second a couple of years ago when it was first published. I revisit these volumes frequently. Berlioz was one of the really great romantics. At least 50 years before his time. Glad to see SF opera is planning on staging Cellini & B & B over the next few years. Sixtus Beckmesser

Incredible.
This really is one of the best biographies of any subject to come my way.I didn't know a lot of Berlioz's music before approaching this but it didn't actually matter.All the elements of a gripping novel are here only for they're true!-fighting paternal disapproval,living in poverty in Paris,eloping with a virtuoso pianist-it's all here and Cairns paints such an intimate picture that you can't but fail to admire Berlioz and his dogged determination to be a composer and write HIS music only to be continually rebuked in his native homeland.The efforts that the man had to go to just to hear his own music is truly heartbreaking.Biography doesn't get much better than this-especially if you're only even remotely interested in music or art.

A Passionate Man
This is a wonderful book both for the lay reader and for the musically knowledgeable. It says a great deal about how well written this book is that someone like me who knows nothing about music could still enjoy the book so much. Mr. Cairns takes the tale from the birth of Berlioz in 1803 up until 1832, when he was in his late 20's. You learn about his relationship with his parents, who were opposed to his choice of composer for a career, and his sisters. We are very fortunate that this was a great age for letter writing. Mr. Cairns makes judicious use of the correspondence between Berlioz and his family and friends to the point where you almost feel yourself to be a friend or family member. You get inside the young composer's mind as he tries to convince his parents that his desire to write music is not just a "whim", but something that he is absolutely passionate about and must do. Berlioz was also extremely sensitive and romantic. After seeing the English actress Harriet Smithson perform on stage in several works by Shakespeare he developed an obsessive love for her, even though he had never met her. He had an apartment across the street from where she lived and would longingly watch her comings and goings. He eventually wrote her several notes expressing his feelings but she rebuffed him, quite understandably one would think! (She had also heard a rumor, which was untrue, that he was an epileptic.) Shortly after coming to the realization that Smithson was unattainable Berlioz met the virtuoso pianist Camille Moke and they fell in love with each other and eventually got engaged. Alas, when poor Hector had to go to Rome to live in order to receive grant money from winning the Prix de Rome, Camille dumped him and opted for security by marrying a wealthy man. This soured Hector on women for awhile but did not diminish his love for music, nature and life. Mr. Cairns has been a professional music critic and is also a scholar, so he understands and ably explains the technical aspects of Berlioz's music. I was totally lost in these sections but my ignorance did not diminish my enjoyment of this sympathetic and wonderfully written book. ... Read more

Book Description

Chet Baker (1929-1988) was a star by the age of twenty-three, winner of all the jazz polls as singer as well as trumpeter. His early promise was frustrated by involvement with drugs, however, and by a popular shift in taste away from the Cool Jazz of the west coast. But, except for a brief period of inactivity, Chet continued to perform for over thirty years--increasingly overseas, and sometimes in poor condition--but always remaining faithful to his original, lyric style. Some of his finest recordings were made shortly before his death. Since then his reputation has recovered and continues to grow, thanks to his colorful life no less than his beautiful music.

Here, for the first time, is the complete story about Chet Baker, from his upbringing in Oklahoma, his introduction to jazz (and junk) in Los Angeles, his early success with the Mulligan Quartet--through the horrific years of addiction, muggings, endless wandering, and jail sentences on both sides of the Atlantic. In between we learn of Chet's marriages and his erratic behavior--but also about his fitful brilliance as a musician, and diffident charm as a man. The author, Jeroen de Valk, dispels persistent myths about Baker, making the case, for instance, that he continued to develop musically throughout his career, however chaotic the circumstances.

The book includes interviews with Chet himself as well as his wife Carol, his manager, and fellow musicians like Lee Konitz, Bud Shank, and Russ Freeman. It includes two up-to-date discographies: a select, narrative one devoted to Chet's best releases, and a complete catalog of his 200+ recordings, rated from one star (Chet's bad days) to five (Baker classics). The text is enhanced by over 40 photos of Baker and his associates. ... Read more

Reviews (8)

A good focus on the music aspect of Chet Baker
There are two types of biographies about Chet Baker: One type catagorizes Baker as a fantastic trumpet player who was partially responsible for the "cool jazz" sound, and the second type, a steadfast junkie who was completely over-rated as a trumpet player let alone a jazz musician.

This bio falls in the earlier catagory and rightfully so. Chet Baker played with such greats as Gerry Mulligan, Charlie Parker, Stan Getz, Paul Desmond and more. You don't get to sit in with geniuses if you can't play, and Chet Baker could play. What both biographies do agree upon is that Chet Baker was incredibly handsome, had innate talent for the horn, and had loads of opportunities to elevate himself both morally and historically but failed to do so out of selfishness towards his drug habit which ultimately played a part in his death.

As to the book addressing his herion habit: Though the book chronicles it very throughly, it focuses more on his music accomplishmnets and personality rather than his addiction. (Chet's happiest moment in life was buying a Jaguar and racing it around all day long. It's my belief that Chet had a textbook case of Attetion Deficit Disorder and was proably self medicating himself so he could focus.)

The book has wonderful time-lines in it for both his life and his albums. There are loads of interviews with those on the sidleines who witnessed both his greatness and not-so-greatness. The grammar could be criticized once in a while but it is a good read.

Thus, this book is not only a god bio, but a great reference as to Chet Baker's accomplishments and history he helped create

Read this, not Gavin
This is a well-meant and partly successful effort. De Valk likes or at least judges his subject with restraint. After reading James Gavin's depressing, bloated, and thoroughly jive claptrap (as detestable as the equally bogus "Let's Get Lost") this book was a welcome remedy. Not great, by any means, but it's terse and direct. His biography just 'gives us the facts, ma'am', and trusts our intellect to do the rest. De Valk's annoted bibliography also reveals a true jazz fan/scholar's desire to inform and share about Chet Baker the MUSICIAN.

He's nicer to the people in Baker's life, too.

Worthwhile.

another review from Boston Ma.
I found the book most helpful in learning about Chet Baker. Grateful for the reviews of the music, it steered me right to incredible finds. If it loses something in the translation to english, the information is there for those interested.

Weak.
This disappointing book was translated from Dutch. I don't know if that's what ruined it, but it is a poor offering. The text meanders and lacks any passion, insight, or wit, and the grammar and spelling are atrocious, with multiple errors on just about every page. Honestly, the book reads more like a high school paper than a professional work.

Aside from all of this, the book does have some good points. Mr. De Valk obviously admired Chet, and makes an honest effort to show us Chet's talent, as opposed to only his seedy escapades. Although we don't come away with any insight into Chet as a person, we do learn a great deal about his lifestyle and musical evolution. We also get the clearest look yet at Chet's odd passing, along with some interesting interviews with friends (he didn't have many) and acquaintances. Also enjoyable are the many photographs, and the best feature of all, a large discography with a five star rating system and accompanying reviews. So, if you are a hard-core Baker fan, or are searching for a good discographical guide, this book may be worth it to you...otherwise check out a different book, such as Chet's diary, As Though I Had Wings, the newest Biography, Deep In A Dream, or the classic film documentary, Let's Get Lost (on VHS), all of which are available from amazon.

A Great Horn Player
A decent effort by the author, although not the definitive biography. The author missed a great chance to get inside the artist's head--but then again, he probably did not have this kind of access to Baker, etc., did not truly know him that well and was not able to spend the kind of time with him that would have required it. Too many things are glossed over here: Baker's childhood, not to mention the times he was forced to work dead-end, low-paying jobs because he was in too sorry shape to play the horn (for one reason or another, etc.). Plenty was left out, but then you also get the feeling that was not the type of book this writer set out to do...who knows? I still recommend it, though. Because I knew nothing about Baker (other than the fact I liked his music and style of playing the horn) until I read this book . I'll probably look for other books on the jazz great with (hopefully) more depth to them. I suppose I'm like so many other fans out there who are interested in finding out what their favorite painters/musicians/writers' lives were like... It's worth the money and will probably make you want to go out and buy a Chet Baker CD or two. ... Read more

Book Description

"The standard text for firsthand Dead wisdom" (Rolling Stone), updated with band-member interviews, and a new introduction by the author.

A collection of interviews-some vintage, some recent, and some brand-new-Conversations with the Dead is the first (and only) book in which the Grateful Dead speak in their own words about their music and their lives. David Gans, a self-professed Deadhead and host of the nationally syndicated radio show "The Grateful Dead Hour," asked Jerry Garcia, Bob Weir, and the rest of the band the questions their fans would have asked if given the chance. And Gans goes far beyond the musicians, talking with such often-overlooked key players as the recording engineer, sound man, and road crew -those who have had the coveted opportunity to witness the Dead's decades of music-making. This updated and expanded edition includes rare, never-before-published interviews with former and current members of the band and a new introduction by the author. With a readable combination of intensity, inquisitiveness, and candor, Gans has created an unprecedented portrait of a band who, after more than thirty years of music-making, have earned a unique place in American culture. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Another Must-Have for Deadheads
This is probably the single best book I've ever read about the Dead. It's so much more immediate and satisfying to hear how things went down from the Dead themselves than from a faceless biographer. David Gans asks the questions *I* would have asked Jerry & Bob & Phil & Mickey & Billy. You'll feel like you're there hanging out in their living room with them. A wonderful insight into what made that magical machine run for over 30 years... --Mike Dobbs ... Read more

Reviews (45)

A slice of Southern history
This is one of those rare biographies that transcend its subject. The rise of Elvis is fascinating and true Elvis fans will find a wealth of information in the book, but there is also much more to take from this well researched tome. The discussion of the music of Memphis, the sources that influenced Elvis and the rise of rock and roll make this book a terrific addition to anyone's library who is interested in music or the south.

The relationship between Presley and his many women is discussed here and so is the complex interaction between him and his family. Perhaps his most interesting relationship is with his manager, Colonel Parker. How that relationship shaped his career certainly makes for an interesting read. The author does as fine a job as I have ever seen of documenting his sources and treating his subject with respect, but not awe. This is one of the best bio's I have ever read. I highly recommend this book to students of Elvis, pop music, the south or to anyone looking to be exposed to a world that no longer exists.

Elvis 101
"Last Train to Memphis" and its sequel, "Careless Love", make a deeply engrossing, carefully researched, finely written biography of Elvis Presley.

Author Peter Guralnick took eleven years to exhaustively research sources and interview people who knew Elvis personally and would tell their firsthand experiences. Guralnick's scholarly approach automatically eschews any hint of the fan adoration that can taint celebrity biographies. Guralnick might even have erred on the dry side rather than the juicy or dishy side of the story. This is all to the good, because Elvis' life story, a fantastic, zany, epic arc through American pop culture, is one that needs no embellishment and is served well by a measure of journalistic restraint.

Guralnick made a wise choice with the two-book format, because in Elvis' life there was a distinct "Rise and Fall." "Last Train to Memphis" is the rise: "Careless Love" is the fall. In each volume, Guralnick reveals much not just about Elvis, but about the people who were his family and closest friends and how their actions and relationships to him and to each other shaped Elvis into the man he became.

Accounts of his school days, his early days as a musician, his early girlfriends, and his family life all flesh him out as a human being and penetrate the shell of celebrity to offer a three-dimesional glimpse of the individual and his own ideas and aspirations and insecurities. The first volume ends with the death of Elvis' mother, a loss that sent him into the first tailspin of many, from which he never seemed to recover.

After reading this volume, you will be hooked on the story and will want to immediately begin the second volume, which is much darker and sadder as the King's world starts to unwind, chronicling his spiraling drug habit and his battles both public and personal. The second volume is catalogued and reported as dispassionately as the first, so that the same unblinking honesty that gave "Last Train" such sparkle and joy reveals the true depth of Elvis' isolation without having to resort to hyperbole.

Guralnick said it himself; that the rise to fame and the person were larger than life, and so too was the decline larger than life. It's an ending that leaves you feeling sad that what began so brightly should end so awfully.

I read these books because I knew very little about Elvis and wanted to know his life story, and they are a deeply satisfying and very credible account of the King's life. I can't imagine that there is a better bio out there for anyone who wants to study Elvis 101.

Guralnick Gives Us Back the Music!
Peter Guralnick -- with both love and meticulous scholarship -- has written a supremely ethical work of cultural archaeology.

With meticulous care and fairness -- but with no sugarcoating whatsoever -- he excavates Elvis out of the layers of rumor, innuendo, and mystery that have conspired over the years to make him a caricature and a joke rather than a human being.

Gurlanick gives us back the artist (who first thrilled me on 78s) and exorcizes so much of the snobby and dismissive trashy gossip (Goldman) that has obscured Elvis for almost 40 years.

I don't mean that a saint emerges. No way. But in Guralnick's telling, a brilliant musician and excruciatingly vulnerable human being pushes aside the fat guy in the gold Vegas suit.

The result? The music -- in all its glory and raw excitement -- returns to take its rightful and deserved place.

The best books (with Guralnick's 2nd volume) about rock and roll ever written.

Fascinating History
This is a book for those who love American music, not those looking for lurid scandal. Guralnick's respectful yet honest history of Elvis's rise to fame is endlessly engrossing. Not only do we meet Elvis, Gladys, and Vernon in the years before the myths took over, we meet lesser-known yet facsinating characters as Sam Phillips, the idealistic founder of Sun Records, and Dewey Phillips, the eccentric DJ who first played Elvis on the air. As Guralnick presents Memphis in the 50's, it seems so real one almost feels as though it could be visited today.

You don't have to be an Elvis fan to enjoy this biography.

Outstanding - as if the author and Elvis were Siamese twins
One of the best biographies I have ever read. Detailed, sensitive, written with just the right mix of empathy and detachment a biographer needs. I know two people who are about Elvis' age and grew up with him. Both of them say that the chapters dealing with the King's upbringing in Tupelo and his years at the Lauderdale Courts read like they have been written by someone who grew up with him. If you have only the slightest interest in Elvis, Memphis, Southern history, or American popular culture, buy this book. ... Read more

Book Description

For over two decades Metallica has been testing the boundaries of speed, heaviness, and volume with their music, selling over 85 million albums in the process and becoming one of the biggest musical acts in American history. Their early years were a blur of drunken club dates and endless tours. Later they became one of the world’s most respected extreme metal acts despite the death of their bass player Cliff Burton. They have engaged in a legal tussle with Napster, and have gone through rehab and therapy to emerge from the other side a new and wiser band. As well as telling Metallica’s story with a level of detail and eyewitness veracity which has never been attempted before, Joel McIver has exposed the biggest myths about the band and told the simple truth about how they originated and what the real facts are. He has interviewed over 75 prominent musicians, producers, writers, band associates and Metallica family members to get to the truth behind what really happened in the world of Hetfield, Ulrich, and company. ... Read more

Reviews (15)

My Revised Review...
I reviewed this book earlier, but I just wanted to clarify my thoughts on it. From a point of view of learning the history of the band from 1981 to 2003, this is the best book out there. Period. If you are a fan of the band and you want to learn all you can about them, I highly recommend this book.

Being a huge fan of the band (since '86), I read it cover to cover in about three days and it did a great job of filling in any holes I had in my knowledge of their history. The book really goes into microscopic detail in that aspect, and the author deserves massive amounts of credit for that.

Where I feel the book falters, and the reason I only gave it three stars, is that it attacks the bands more recent work (Load, Reload and St. Anger) with a truly surprising vehemence. The author truly despises nearly everything new the band has done since '96. This is surpising considering the book's liner notes say Metallica are the author's favorite band. I can understand, from a hardcore metal fan's point of view, being disappointed with Load and Reload, but to claim that between the 27 songs on Load and Reload there are only 3 "pretty good" songs? That just simply is not true. As a fan Metallica, I'm surprised the author couldn't just listen to the Loads with an open mind and stop comparing them to the bands earlier work. Are they as good as, say, Puppets or Justice? No. Are there more than three good songs between both albums? Of course. This is Metallica after all. The point of Load and Reload was to prove that Metallica are not a one trick pony, and in that regard, they succeed perfectly.

Even more surprising still was the author's description of St. Anger. His words? "massively disappointing." This is the heaviest album Metallica have recorded since 1988, and yet he is still not happy!

The reason this highly opinionated point of view on Metallica's recent work bothers me so much is that I can picture someone who is not heavily interested in Metallica reading this book. If you take the book at face value and believe all of the author's heavily biased opinions, you would be led to think that Metallica has not released any new material worth owning in nearly 15 years (besides some live stuff and the Garage Inc. album).

I do recommend this book for the history presented (in that aspect, it's awesome), but the metalli-bashing done throughout the latter chapters is truly unnecessary and is frankly insulting.

A Veritable Textbook
This is an exactingly comprehensive look at the musical life of Metallica.

It's a not a smooth reading book that you can fly through easily, unless, like me, you "blorp" over dates and extensive listings of concert and recording venues, Instead, it reads as a textbook on a subject rather than a biography, and that is how it's obviously meant to be taken, as a reference book about Metallica, not a reader-friendly biography.

It does that job extremely well and with an almost overwhelming precision, and Joel McIver leaves nothing out when it comes to Metallica's music history.

I don't believe that a fan interested in the personalities of the band members will find this book as approachable, but there are plenty of other places to garner insights into that sort of thing. This book is for the fan of the music itself, and the story of how it was created, in fine detail.

There's an index for easy accessability to the various people, venues, studios, and other errata that suround Metallica's history, which is very welcome, as is this book in whole.

Best rock book ever written!
Hell, when I read the last guy's review my sides near split!! Whats he mean by "He is one of these people that think bands should keep turning out the same style of music for their entire careers instead of evolving and avoiding normality", metallica have been a lame ass rock band since 91 and everybody with ears knows that. This book is the first ever which tells the truth, just like it says in the title! All metal fans, read this book, there ain't no other one ever written which is as honest or as brave.

Waste of time for Metallica fans
There is really no new information in this book and that die-hard Metallica fan didn't already know. It's pretty obvious that the author is a "heavy-metal" fan and not a "music" fan. The second half of the book mainly dedicated to ripping not only Load, Reload, and St. Anger but also the Black Album and even parts of ...And Justice for All! He is one of these people that think bands should keep turning out the same style of music for their entire careers instead of evolving and avoiding normality. And he credits all of the band's early success to Cliff Burton, which does has some merit musically speaking in that he influenced the rest of the band, but it was Lars' drive and James' persona and stage presence which sold them.
Plus the sidebars of information about "thrash" metal bands is a bit tedious. Metallica never said they were a heavy metal band they've always said they play what they think is good. It would've been more engrossing to hear the author interview other bands and musicians out the realm of heavy metal and get their take on Metallica instead of the narrowminded approach incorporated by this author.

Weed through the crap and its pretty good.......
I guess thats not the point of reading a book, that is, you shouldn't have to chop through all the crap just to get to the good stuff in a book, but quite often you do have to do this with this book. But if you're looking for cool photos, lots of background and a comprehensive look at everything from how they came about right up to the present day beast, then check out this book...........

I enjoyed the pictures, and the information (especially pre-stardom information) presented here. Its pretty thorough and about as accurate as you can get without interviewing the Metallica members themselves.
-However, the story can get off on a tangent quite easily in the first half of the book. McIver, (the author) at times tends to spew off for pages about other bands that were around at the time and sort of size them up to Metallica. While knowing the information about what was going on in the music world at the particular time the book was covering is important, this tends to get over-loaded and run astray for too long. By the time you're at the end of these "spurts", you can sometimes forget the whole subject you were on before.

On the other hand, the second half of the book is much more focused and concentrated. McIver's concentration on the topic at hand is much better. Furthermore, his description of songs, how they sound, their strengths, and certain musical distinctions in them, I found to be 99% of the time dead on! This tremendously helped this publication. There is definately a sense of, "yeah, thats exactly how I would have described it." if you know what he's talking about any at all.

Like I said, the book isn't all bad, its a wealth of information on the music scene surrounding Metallica at any given time in their career. It gives them credit when deserved and interesting little tid-bits into the personalities of each member of the band. Everything is covered here, everything from James' dilemna over whether or not he should just sing, or play ryhthm guitar and sing, to Cliff's ridiculously AWESOME bass playing, to James' "pyrotechnics incident which sent him to the hospital, to the Napster lawsuit. Details are not spared! (Especially when he quoted Jason as to saying how "James' skin was bubbling off his arm" after the pyro accident! YEAH!) Also, it shows the influence from the other "pre-members" if you will (ie. Dave Mustaine, Ron McGovney, and others), and how they helped to shape the band before they were a total out of control force.

Overall, I'd give it a good solid 4. Once you weed out all the jumble that is the first quarter to half of the book, its really kind of even exciting to read it! If you're a Met-Maniac like myself, you've got to have this! If you're new to the band (although I can't imagine that) this is a good place to start to catch up on the last 20 YEARS you've missed! So what are you waiting for fool! READ THIS MUTHA or I'll have to stomp your face! Sad But True! ... Read more

Book Description

The definitive account of a bestselling rock band’s glory years

Since its initial publication in Australia, Highway to Hell has established itself as a classic of rock writing. It’s the definitive account of AC/DC’s rise to fame, when the ribald lyrics and charismatic stage presence of singer Bon Scott, along with the formidable guitar work of brothers Angus and Malcolm Young, defined a new and highly influential brand of rock’n’roll.

Drawing on many first-person interviews and featuring a gallery of rare photos, Clinton Walker traces AC/DC’s career through the life of their original front man, from the Scottish roots he shared with the Youngs to small-time gigs to recording studios and international success—right up to Bon Scott’s shocking death in 1980, just as the band were attaining the worldwide recognition for which they had worked so tirelessly.

AC/DC’s undiminished superstar status today—and their lasting influence on such different genres as hard rock, grunge, and rap/metal—ensure that Bon Scott’s presence continues to be felt. Now Highway to Hell offers the full story of this seminal rock figure.

Highway to Hell has previously not been available outside Australia, and the author completely revised the text for this first American edition. ... Read more

Reviews (18)

Mr Walker sure has done his homework!
This book was great. I dont often read anything, but this one only took a short amount of time because I couldnt stop reading it. It dives back into the life of Bon Scott, but not the Bon Scott that is whats sort of "mythical" or "legend", nor does it start from when Bon joined AC/DC!

This book was orginaly supposed to be a movie, but Alberts wouldnt allow a movie about Bon to be made. Clinton Walker has not given you a collection of rumurs or storys that are just words of fans who heard rumours, he has actualy gone and found freinds & fammilly of Bon, and gone straight to the horses mouth for the info, from the people who knew Bon best!

It starts from the begining of Bons life; And gradulay tells you about Bon's life during the 50's & 60's, and the previous bands he was with, and why they colapsed. It is very suprising to find out who Bons closest freinds actualy where!!! Not to mention that many of Australias best rock bands members all kind of worked together at one stage, or knew each other, it is very intresting to read about who Bon knew!

Then of coarse, the life into Bon's introduction to AC/DC. And it lays to rest the rumour that Bon was a driver/roadie type of person for the band, it explains why people would think that, and the real story of how Bon joined AC/DC; and you will discover it was on purpose, not accidently as many have come to beleive!

There is alot of great information that let you into the life of not just a rock & roll legend that we are all fammiluer with fronting the worlds greatest rock band, but also who Ronald Scott was on the inside. He was not the wild man everyone saw him as, he had a public image that he would put on, but behind the frontmans public mask, there beat the painfull heart of a man who's dream was to be the biggest. And he got there after a hard struggle. But unfortunatly, when he got there, he didnt have anyone to share that glory with. Youll find out that Bon, despite what his public interveiws and charactor said, he was really searching for love and someone to take care of him. My thoughts on when Bon died, it wasnt just choking on his own vomit as you would have heard. He was also dieing of a broken heart. The poor man acheived fame, but didnt find love before his time had come.

Many other intresting things I found from this book. How Bonny got into AC/DC, who Bon really was, Who bons freinds where, how Bon was not as solid in the band as you might think, he was considered disposable of and replacable by the Youngs untill around about 1977!! It also speaks about the struggles and hurdles of AC/DC, they where almost dropped by Atlantic untill pretty much the Highway To Hell album! There struggles on the road in the early days, there disrespect in Australia, and there hard fight as they discovered that it really is a long way to the top, if you wanna rock n roll!

The only reason I drop it one star is that I feel that Walker has a grudge about the Young Brothers. He seems ticked about them not wanting to be interveiwed for the book, and maybe having somthing to do with the movie not beeing made? But he speaks about there shyness like it was some kind of disgrace, and he just dosent seem to have much nice to say about Angus or Malcolm, and I get a strong vibe that he feels that the Youngs pushed him into his grave, and drove him to drink himself to death. But I dont think so, Bon i'm sure died of a broken heart after splitting up with his girl. Then it dosent seem to talk about AC/DC's success after Bons death, it mentions the 80's and early 90's, but dosent mention the sucsess they had with LIVE performances as they always did from the begining. He seems to have gone out of his way to try to make it look like AC/DC died when Bon did, and blames the Youngs for it.

But apart from some bad blood issues; I think the book is great, letting us see the Bon that we never knew, and his days with Fretinity and the Valentines, even back with the Spktors, his hay days in Perth and what Bon would get up to, the great storys of freinds memorys of Bon, and the sad tradjedy that Bon was seen as the wild legendary frontman of a great powerfull rock band, but on the inside, just your average Joe looking for freinds and love, and who sadly didnt get to settle down as he wanted to

Rest In Peace Ronald Bon Scott - We Salue You

VERY GOOD READING
This book is simple a must if you're a real AC/DC fan. Altough it is focused mainly on Bon Scott ( for the simple reason of the man's unbeliavable great charisma ), of course it deals a lot about AC/DC's career until the "HIGHWAY TO HELL" album. YOu have to got a little patience in the first hundred pages or so, when the book deals with all the secundary bands Bon worked before joining the Young Brothers. But this phase is fundamental in understanding the man's backgorund and way of life. Of course there is no official quote from AC/DC actual members ( AC/DC would never permit it!!!), but a lot of interviews from ex-bassist Mark Evans. What becomes clear after reading the book (what was already clear for clear-minded fans) is how the band lost creativity after Bon died, mainly in the lyrical department. The book reveals that some years ago the band even contemplated sacking Brian Johnson (the guy just can't sing or scream anymore - it's awful !!). The band today is almost an "Institution", like the Stones (that's why they released only two albuns in the entire period since 1991)and losing their second singer could be a definitive blow to the band. All in all, this book is a must have.

Great
Highway to Hell tells the story of singer extraordinaire Bon Scott. Bon rocked hard, lived hard and played hard. This book takes you behind the scenes in recording stories and tales from the road.

Even with all of Bon's hard living, he is portrayed in a sentimental manner. You get to know him as a man in addition to the rock star. This is a must read for any AC/DC fan.

Worst Book Ever
Mr. Walker wrote this book in a voice of being scared to publish anything controversal about Bon. People who say that it was wrong that the Young brothers didnt give an interview to honor Bon have their head up their arse. Back in Black was their way to honor Bon, not give a stupid interview 15-20years after hes been dead

A juvenile effort
I was expecting so much more from this piece, a profound disappointment. I can see why the members of the AC/DC organization wanted no part of it. Its full of sophomoric, misleading, and inconsequential innuendo and hearsay. The writer has talked to lots of people who knew Bon Scott at one time or another or another, yet little of any substance is presented. Instead, the author spends more time trying to place the life of Bon Scott in a context that did not exist when he was living.
This book is more of a study in social phenomenon than an actual biography. Instead of concentrating on the man and his music, he focuses more on Bon Scott as a social icon. The book is filled with stale cliches and endless repetition of the same dull themes that would be more at home in a mass market paperback about Joan Collins.
If I read a book about Mars, I would expect the author to have a firm grasp of astronomy in particular and science in general. If I read a book about rock and roll, I would expect the writer to actually know something about guitars, chords, notes, progression, recording etc. This author's main credentials with regards to Bon and AC/DC appears to be that he is Australian, and that he has written about Australian music as a popular phenomenon.
Very thin, not much weight to bring to bear on a subject that deserves much better treatment. A lame limp-wristed effort. ... Read more

Book Description

Reviews (20)

Really 4.5
I am a huge fan of Chaka Khan and have waited patiently for her memoir. I wasn't disappointed. Though I don't know Chaka personally, I am really proud that she faced her demons and put pen to paper in order to share her story with the world. From what I have ever read about Chaka and seeing her on countless television appearances and interviews, she appears to be a private person. Putting your business sort of speak out there is not an easy thing to do or want to do. It's takes a certain amount of strength to face things you have done that may be deemed negative. I saw her on The John Walsh show recently and she was very emotional as she spoke about leaving her children with her mother while she traveled with Rufus. It was a very real moment for Chaka and I sense she is just beginning to come into her own and acknowledge those things that caused her to drink and do drugs. Chaka you are awesome with incredible talent and strength. Continue to love yourself and everything else will fall in line.

Every fan should read this book
Growing up listening to Chaka Khan's music and already having a sense of understanding about her, made this quite the enjoyable read! Every fan should read this book and then share it with anyone who would like to see how a sister triumphed over the harsh reality of the ghetto, drug abuse and the entertainment industry.

This autobiography shapes Sister Khan's life in a positive, truthful way. I read this and at times, would catch myself looking at her pictures, listening to some of her favorite songs and then acutally crying, because our music would not be the same without her. It felt good knowing that after all that she had been through, she is still here and we can still experience her gift through the sampling of new artists and by dusting off an old album or CD.

I have a new found respect for Sister Khan after reading this book and would recommend that everyone read it as well. This is the perfect book club novel, full of great discussion points and filled with many great lessons in life. An excellent novel, to say the least.
Rene Reyes
MBC/2004

BORING
Don't buy this, borrow it from the library. It's the usual musician story...raised singing in church, start band/group, get discovered, tour, family, drugs, get clean.

Wait for the movie
I guess if you are really in love with Chaka Khan, the book will be alright for you. I liked her music years ago, and realized I didn't know a lot about her, so I got the book. I was surprised that it was so boring. Get it from the library. It really wasn't worth buying and had no insight into the real chaka. Where were the facts that exist in other biographys?

Candid, Honest and a Good Celeb Autobiography
I really love Chaka Kahn for her honesty with this book. Being 28 years old, Chaka is around my moms age. This book really helped me to understand a lot about the culture and the vibe of the late 60's and 70's in Chicago. Chaka devotes a lot of text to her early days in Chi-town. I feel that Chaka is so honest and forthright in this book that it is a biography that many will enjoy. I don't personally know if she comes clean on all topics, but she is very candid and frank about her love life, her mistakes and even which songs she likes and dislikes to perform. If you are a fan of course you should read this book. If you are someone who just wants to learn more about a woman who has really made an impact on the music world, check out this book. I really enjoyed it. It was one of the better celeb autobiographies. It really reads as if Chaka put a lot of pain into this book because she discusses some real close to home situations that she didn't have to disclose. Her frankness helps readers to understand her a better as a person and as an artist. ... Read more

Book Description

Reviews (17)

Know Who Eno Is?
I have had a difficult time explaining this one to acquaintances and co-workers. It is very hard to explain the subtlety, humor and freshness of Eno's mind to people whose idea of complexity and innovation is the latest game show spin-off on network television. "Brian Eno," they ask, "who's that?" Standard answer: "Musician, artist and producer. You've heard of U2 and Talking Heads? Well, he produced them." And then their eyes glaze over and you get that blank stare along with the inevitable, "Oh." But since you, dear reader, are here purposefully looking at reviews of a diary written by the aforementioned gentleman, let me assume I do not need to introduce you to Eno. Let me also suggest two things: 1) that you read this diary, and 2) when the next person asks who Brian Eno is, tell them only, "He is a professional craftsman of ideas." For that is the absolute beauty of Eno; if there are two answers to a question, Eno will come up with the third. And I suppose that's not news to you or me but it is not until you have lived a year in his shoes, mind and studio that the depth of this beauty settles in your mind. What you find in these pages is not only the Eno you've always suspected existed--the innovator, the artist and thinker--but also a gentle, humble, loving, honest, sassy and self-doubting man with whom it is a joy to spend time. You'll also discover the secret to Eno's seemingly charmed life (he married his manager) and some pretty good dirt about the boys of U2 (well, at least that Bono is a terror behind the wheel). Expect also to find a real person: a father, a friend, a businessman, a showman, a teacher, a joker, some lyrics from Miss Shapiro and a few new words for your vocabulary (re-commode-ification indeed!). This is not brilliant literature--hey, it's a diary for crying out loud!--but as such it makes a perfect book to read in small doses (bedtime, commuting, etc.--I read it almost entirely while waiting to be seated at restaurants and it almost made me wish the lines were longer). It's packed full of interesting anecdotes and insights into the working and thinking habits of one of this century's (yes, the new millennium really does start in 2001--that's why Kubrick used it in the movie title, duh) most important and blessed professional craftsmen of ideas.

A must-read for all musicians, artists & producers
An fascinating insight into the mind of one of pop music's most creatively influential movers and shakers - follow the inner workings of Eno's mind as he wrestles with producing Bowie and James, criticising the Turner Art Prize, collaborating with U2, clowning with his infant daughters, lusting after pssing women, making bread at 3am, and pondering humanitarian catastrophies in the Balkans as he pours time, tears and creative energies into his War Child charity work... if you work in the music business and find this book dull , email me and I'll buy it off you for the same price you paid - it's that good. It should be compulsory reading for anyone involved in contemporary music and the arts - candid, sad, funny, revealing, opinionated, flawed... in short, human. Brian Eno's perceived public image is a million miles removed from the private and creative reality and this book goes some way towards redressing the balance for anyone interested in his work. The one-liners are priceless and acute ("An arrangement is when somebody stops playing"). The swollen appendages are a bit overblown and dull, but the diary is so densely written and full of insights that it repays frequent re-reading.

Not for everybody - great book for producers
If you are a record producer or a musician interested in production you are certainly familiar with Eno's work. Have you ever wondered what his routine is like? Well, I did. The book gave me an idea of how he works on a project, how ideas are created in his studio and how he works with musicians.

The book is his diary of 1995 and it is focused on his work, not so much his personal life. There are no juicy gossips and no confessions. It is mostly cold and impersonal. Steps were clearly taken to preserve his personal life. And you have to ignore some of the obvious embelishing (c'mon, Brian, if you are such a good cook, shouldn't you own a restaurant instead?).

But if you are involved in music you will get a glimpse into the tools and processes that make this man one of the great creative minds in contemporary music. And also understand where some