Book Description
Sam Cooke was the biggest star in gospel music before hecrossed over into pop. His first single under his own name, "You Send Me,"went to #1 on the charts and sold two million copies. At a time when recordcompanies treated black artists like hired help, Sam Cooke demanded respectequal to that of top white artists. And he connected, in songs like"Wonderful World," "Chain Gang," and "Another Saturday Night"--seeminglyeffortless compositions that still sound fresh today. This resoundingly praised book captures a human essence so vital, soappealing, that it is impossible not to fall under its spell. At the sametime, DREAM BOOGIE re-creates in rich detail the African American worldfrom which Sam Cooke emerged, allowing us to feel both his trials and histriumphs.
Customer Reviews:
A Triumph of Peter Guralnick.......2007-08-19
Peter Guralnick knows how to tell the history of a life, and Dream Boogie is a well written account not just of Sam Cooke but of the history of popular music at perhaps its most significant stage. The author details the coming together--forced to varying degrees from the circumstance of segregation--of gospel and blues, art and commerce, glamour and shabbiness. Guralnick brings this last combination to vivid perspective in particular: while on tour and 'Wonderful World' is high in the charts, for instance, segregation still limits Sam's choice of accommodation to run-down hotels. As Guralnick shows, however, the religious and the secular were two things that were already well entwined: Dream Boogie emphasizes how the church was rooted in material success--how preoccupied its gospel stars were with sexual and financial, as well as spiritual, concerns.
I'd like to clear up a confusion that other reviews suffer from: when Guralnick, say, talks about Sam Cooke's 'naked avariciousness', he's talking from a business opponent's point of view. This is why statements seemingly flatly contradict. We get impressions of greed and generosity, but just because words aren't in inverted commas, it doesn't mean they represent the author's beliefs. It's a literary conceit (you could call it 'shifting third person subjective' or some such if you liked), and Sam Cooke appears through this composite approach. Guralnick has said in interview that his professional intention is to 'disappear', and mostly he does--by the device of presenting a series of opinions.
Too much of Sam's life seems little more than a series of tour itineraries. It's a fault that overruns the middle section of the book, although it's tempting to accept as a by-product of honesty and thoroughness. The end, though, is filled with revelation, and it becomes clear the author has consciously chosen to concentrate even on Sam's trivial triumphs above examples of tawdriness: the death of our hero is met with such a conspicuous absence of sorrow from those closest to him that it creates an absence of sorrow in us, too--all we can feel primarily is surprise.
If you've ever wondered about the myriad personal ramifications of instantly recognizable genius, and if you want to know how things were, how things happened, at the birth of rhythm & blues--and rock & roll--this book provides answers. Dream Boogie reminds us that things only spring out of nowhere at the quantum level. Sam Cooke, after all, had contemporaries: the primary difference was *that* voice.
Dream Boogie: The Triumph of Sam Cooke.......2007-04-10
Everyone should read this book. It is not only about Sam Cooke, it is about the music industry and many others involved in the industry. An excellent book, artfully written with unusual details.
Steer clear of this one........2007-03-04
When I had first heard of Dream Boogie, a 700-page biography of the late Sam Cooke, I was ecstatic. Up until that point, I had only known of one other biography of Sam Cooke - You Send Me, which I haven't gotten around to reading. I eagerly bought a copy of the book from my local Barnes & Noble, expecting an enormous gem of truth about Sam, that would prove to be both through and entertaining. For readers of this review, there is now a third Sam Cooke biography, written by Erik Greene entitled: "Our Uncle Sam". Who is Erik Greene, you may ask? He's Sam's great nephew.
But let us return to Dream Boogie. Peter Guralnick is known as the definitive biographer of Sam Cooke, having written liner notes for digitally-remastered CDs and much more. Peter Guralnick worked on writing and gathering the materials for Dream Boogie for more than fifteen years. Therefore, one might well assume that he would write an enormous gem of truth that proved to be both through and entertaining.
Let us begin with the good points of this 700-page biography. Peter Guralnick chose to interview a large portion of the Sam Cooke family, something Daniel Wolff did not do. Naturally, Erik Greene did. Guralnick includes commentary from his father, his brothers, his sisters, his business associates, his close friends, and most importantly, his widow. Barbara Cooke, ever since the death of her husband, has never conducted any interviews regarding Sam for the past forty years. Naturally, she provides a unique but also a brutally honest commentary regarding her life and Sam's. However, Guralnick does not deviate from his course - he is still extremely through (to say the least) in the actual history of Sam's life. He doesn't miss a single thing.
In my opinion, there is a flaw to this. In the art of writing, if you're too through with a subject, you will bog the reader down immensely. Guralnick gets an A+ on this one. Throughout the 700-page biography, Guralnick succeeds in providing the reader with so very much information that is indeed interesting, but not important to the overall history of Sam. He also succeeds in doing the exact opposite over the more important and memorable aspects of Sam's life. In the 1950s, he stood up against the police in Memphis after the police told him to push the car to the side of the road. Specifically, he told him: "Sir, my name is Sam Cooke. If you haven't heard of me, your wife knows me. When you get home tonight, you ask your wife if she knows Sam Cooke. I don't push no car. This is my car, my brother ran out of gas. I'm not pushing it. You want to put a ticket on it, put a ticket on it. But I don't push no car. Not mine, not yours, not nobody's elses. I'm not a pusher. I'm a singer." Sam then proceeded to sit back in his car, his brother came with the gas, and they left. The police left them alone.
Depending upon your interpretation, this could be seen as one of the first steps for Sam regarding the Civil Rights Movement, which led to his greatest composition, "A Change Is Gonna Come", an African-American response to Bob Dylan's "Blowing in the Wind". This also leads to another flaw in Guralnick's work, a complete lie over an important television appearance of Sam. Daniel Wolff also makes the same mistake. In February of 1964, Sam appeared on The Tonight Show and it's known that he sang "Basin Street Blues" as the performance still survives. However, according to both Guralnick and Wolff, Sam also sang "A Change Is Gonna Come" on the same show. I'm not sure what Wolff does in an attempt to prove this, but Guralnick uses a cue sheet with a similar title to "A Change Is Gonna Come" to prove that Sam did indeed sing the song.
I recently contacted a Carson archivist, and Sam never sung the song. It took me a day to figure it out. Guralnick worked on this book for more than fifteen years. If he went through such work to that the song was planned, why wouldn't he check the log book of the episode to see if Sam sung the song to be completely sure? During the days of The Tonight Show, some guests would exceed the length of time they occupied and therefore, some guests would never make it onto the show.
Perhaps that's not a very big flaw in the biography of Sam; it's only a single event. Consider this. On the eighth page of the biography, there is a picture with the caption "A very young Sam Cooke". The eighth page and Guralnick makes a major mistake. It's not Sam. It's his brother, L.C. Three months after the book was released, the mistake was corrected. If Guralnick cannot properly identify a photo of the person he's writing about, what other mistakes is he prone to make in the book?
Perhaps the biggest mistake Guralnick makes is stating that the official version of events concerning Sam's death was how it went down. As I read the chapter regarding Sam's death, I seriously considered whether or not Guralnick was employed by Allen Klein, whom Sam was planning to fire. Who was Allen Klein? I don't know too much about him myself, but I do know that he swindled the Cooke family out of the royalties of Sam's catalog with help from one of Sam's daughters and his widow. I do know that he also conned The Beatles as well as The Rolling Stones. That's about it. Yet, he uses Allen Klein's and Barbara Cooke's commentary exclusively. If you do a Google search about the death of Sam, you'll find an analysis of the "official" version of events that pokes five large gaping holes into the official version of events. In addition, the coroner's inquest was a complete joke and contradicted itself numerous times. Daniel Wolff didn't believe the official version of events, Sam's fans don't believe the official version of events, and Sam's family doesn't believe the official version of events. Pretty much no one believes the official version of events other than Guralnick.
I'm not sure what Wolff does to debate what really happened that night, but Erik Greene includes a report in his book that is extremely different from the official version of events. Well, you may say that he would naturally do that, considering Sam was a member of his family. Instead of using the "facts" from the coroner's inquest and related events, Greene chooses to tackle the mystery of Sam's death via a pathology report. Scientifically speaking, I believe that it's quite accurate.
Here's the rather discerning part. Peter Guralnick is known as the definitive biographer of Sam Cooke. But of course, no biography doesn't have its flaws. However, keep in mind that I do not cite all the mistakes made in Dream Boogie. I can probably cite four or five more off the top of my head. But I think I've trashed the book enough. What's the worst part? The flaws in Dream Boogie, known as the Sam Cooke Bible, could be perhaps passed off as truth by a less-than-familiar (historically speaking) Sam Cooke fan, and are blatantly obvious to the die-hard fans of Sam Cooke.
If you want a good biography of Sam that is entertaining, through, and truthful, either check out Wolff's biography or Greene's biography, which I highly recommend, which was by a member of the family of Sam Cooke.
Sweet Voice and Good Looks.......2007-02-28
I enjoyed this book. This is one of several books I have read on Sam Cooke. Sam was very much into African American history. He gets brownie points for that.
He was a very interesting character, and just loved women. For me, his greatest and most touching song is "A Change is Gonna Come." However, I really love his voice the most when he was with the Soul Stirrers. It is unfortunate, that most great black singers have to water down their vocals to appeal to the white masses. He even said himself, that when he performed for his people, he dare not give them that water down crap. They don't want any bologna. They want some steak and potatoes.
It was sort of funny that when some radio personality or industry person messed him over, he'd sex their wives. Sam that was not nice.
A Very Good Cooke Book!.......2006-11-04
Although this book is a very thorough and comprehensive record of singing virtuoso Sam Cooke and his much-too-short life, the 700 or so pages seem to soar as effortlessly as Sam's voice over a lyric. Upon completing this read it was not exhaustion I felt from reviewing every minute detail (as recalled by nearly a hundred of first-hand witnesses) of Sam's 33 years, but a feeling of utter sadness and frustration that this monumental talent himself probably set about the chain of events that caused his demise. What thrilled me about the book the most are the details surrounding each of Sam's recording sessions, from the early gospel years, his own SAR/Derby joint venture with J.W. Alexander to produce gospel, R&B and pop artists, to his final recordings produced for his new Tracey company shortly before his untimely death. Many details of his personal appearances both in the U.S. and abroad, and his life on the road with other artists (well known, and lesser known) are provided in abundance. While Sam's previous biography, "You Send Me" (which may be currently out-of-print) was quite adequate in its content, "Dream Boogie" is the ultimate bio for Sam Cooke fans and fans of rock & roll/pop/gospel/r&b/soul music. Highly recommended!
Amazon.com
Decades after his death, Sam Cooke's thrilling, seductive tenor remains one of the glories of American popular music. His compositions have inspired a multitude of covers, few of which manage to lay a finger on the original versions. And Cooke's vocal mannerisms--the melismatic swooping and yodeling he applied to key phrases--are still audible every time Aaron Neville opens his mouth (not to mention a host of other singers, from Rod Stewart to Aretha Franklin). Clearly, then, it was time for a full-dress biography, and Daniel Wolff has done a superlative job. He traces the singer's transformation from gospel prodigy, who hit the road with the Soul Stirrers at the tender age of 19, to secular star. Endlessly ambitious, Cooke never quite figured out how to juggle his sacred and profane instincts, and Wolff is particularly good on this balancing act, as well as on the racial politics of the music industry.
Book Description
In 1957, already one of the biggest stars in gospel music, Sam Cooke burst onto the pop scene with the number one hit "You Send Me," the first in a string of rock & roll classics. He quickly became one of music business's first African-American entrepreneurs, as well as a role model in the early years of the civil rights struggle. Then, at age thirty-three, he was found dead, shot through the heart in a seedy motel in south Los Angeles. The circumstances surrounding his death would remain a controversial mystery for years to come.
Customer Reviews:
The definitive Sam Cooke bio.......2007-09-24
I have referred this book to others so many times over the years since it's release, but I never wrote a review, until now....
I have read this book 5 times. Each time, I still get engrossed by the amazing life of Sam Cooke. If you really want to know this man's story - get this book. Get this book along with Erik Greene's "Our Uncle Sam". These two books will be ALL you need. Trust me - I have read them all. Wolff's book takes you from Sam's beginnings with the the Highway QC's...all the way up to the tragedy of Sam's untimely death. Sam's great nephew - Erik Greene, takes you through the aftermath and beyond with "Our Uncle Sam". One thing that I love about both books is that they completely decimate the "official" version of Sam Cooke's death.
I could say more - but it has already been said....everybody cant be wrong. Get the book - you won't be disappointed.
Honest You Do.......2007-01-28
For a long time this was the only available biography on Sam Cooke. Until Peter Guralnick released his excellent 'Dream Boogie' a few years ago.
When I first read 'You Send Me' it openened my eyes to a lot of things; unlike many of his contemperaries, here was someone in complete control of everything he did. Writing his own songs, pretty much producing them himself and above all one of the first black men to own and run his own record-label (SAR).
Of course it starts during his gospel days in which, not known by everyone, for a few years as a member of the Soul Stirrers he was the number 1 soul star around. Maybe not in religious fervor, but certainly with the female part of the church. Later his way with women would haunt him, even leading to his unfortunate death at age 33.
The book is well researched, provides nice insights into the songs and into his mind as well. His constant veering between wanting to play music for white and black, but always staying himself.
This is a great introduction to the man who 'created soul' and a must for every soul lover.
Flawed, But Thought Provoking, Heartbreaking Biography.......2006-06-01
You Send Me: The Life and Times of Sam Cooke is a very good rendering of the life of the classic gospel/R&B/pop superstar whose life was tragically cut short with his death in 1964.
Here you get to see the talented, complex, and at times, troubled singer throught his beginnings singing with the Soul Stirrers, through his skillful crafting of his own solo career, and ending with the ongoing mystery surrounding his death in a flophouse motel at the hands of a woman who may have had other motives for killing Cooke besides self-defense.
The only problem with You Send Me is that it at times focuses too much on the minutiae of the gospel circuit that Cooke and the Soul Stirrers traveled and details of the publishing industry that many readers will not find interesting. But in the end, this book is well worth a read, and anyone interested in Sam Cooke should not be disappointed.
WELL PUT TOGETHER .......2005-10-20
THIS BOOK REALLY PUTS INTO PERSPECTIVE WHO SAM COOKE REALLY WAS AND HOW IMPORTANT HE IS TO AMERICAN CULTURE. IF THIS ISN'T REASON ENOUGH FOR A FULL LENGTH MOVIE THEN WHAT IS? BUDDY HOLLY HAS ONE,RICHIE VALENS HAS ONE, RAY CHARLES EVEN HAS ONE! COME ON MOVIE MAKERS THE STORY OF SAM COOKE HAS EVERYTHING YOU NEED; LOVE, TRAGEDY AND TRIUMPH. WILL SMITH WOULD MAKE A GREAT SAM COOKE!
Sent Me There!.......2005-02-06
This was a well researched and written book. I enjoyed it because it was packed full of history on music industry, the Civil Rights Era and The Man (Sam Cooke). This book sent me there. It was so descriptive, that I felt like I was actually there viewing the events as they unfolded.
I am a Sam Cooke fan, but I did not know much about him. This book provided me with an in-depth look at the man from a personal and professional standpoint. His life was not picture perfect and his death is still surrounded by too much mystery. I appreciate the author revealing such sensitive info and in such a way that it did not tarnish my image of the singer.
This man's life had all the makings for a movie. The book left me not wanting for anything. I walked away full...no questions pending.
Average customer rating:
- One of the best of its kind---worth your time!
- Blue-eyed or Any-eyed Salaryman
- True & Entertaining
- Acurate and balanced
- Excellent book for anybody working in a Japanese corporation in Japan (or thinking about it)
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The Blue-Eyed Salaryman: From World Traveller to Lifer at Mitsubishi
Niall Murtagh
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ASIN: 1861977891 |
Book Description
Niall Murtagh spent years as a world traveler—hitchhiking in Istanbul, trekking in Patagonia, crossing the Atlantic in a home-built yacht. In 1986, he closed the door on his life of adventure to settle in Japan. And then, in a breathtaking transition, he joined Mitsubishi as a "Salaryman"—a guy in a shiny suit with a shiny attaché case in a multinational corporation with 100,000 employees. What led to this extraordinary shift of direction, and why, despite the disillusionment, is it so hard to leave? In
The Blue-Eyed Salaryman, Murtagh takes the reader behind the scenes of this huge conglomerate. By turn enlightening, astonishing, and hilarious, his book offers a fresh perspective on the nature of Japanese business culture as well as the many hurdles awaiting the outsider.
Customer Reviews:
One of the best of its kind---worth your time!.......2006-09-17
Content is accurate, well-observed, and recounted with sensitivity and balance; happily, it's very well-written and flows beautifully. Certainly worthwhile reading for foreigners working with (or for) the Japanese. Hopefully, this work will appear in a Japanese edition as well, and I'll bet it would be a best-seller in Japan. Like the author, I have worked in a large Japanese company, married a Japanese national, and make my home in Japan.
Blue-eyed or Any-eyed Salaryman.......2006-09-02
Niall Murtagh is an Irishman who came to Japan to study the language. He ended up working for the Mitsubishi corporation for 14 years. Murtagh was a world traveler who did not stay in any one place for to long. So how is it he stayed with one company, a japanese company at that, for 14 years? This book attempts to answer that perplexing question. Though Murtagh has led a varied life, he devotes most of his book to his 14 years with the Mitsubishi Company as a Japanese kaishain, or salaryman.
Murtagh rose to a middle-manager position, almost unheard of for any gaijin (foreigner) in a Japanese corporation. He was always the only gaijin in the room. Because his Japanese was flawless he was always looked at askance. The Japanese feel that their language is to difficult for gaijin to learn let alone speak fluently. He tells of his daily commute to work on a bicycle, his unpaid overtime, company uniforms and he even the company song.
He says little of his personal life. His courtship and marriage to Miyuki is a good example of this. He sums up this chapter of his life by saying Miyuki's parents approved of their marriage because of his Mitsubishi credentials.
Murtagh keeps the story moving in a conversational style. He has an eye for the irony of the cultural differences between the west and the east.
I have a friend in Tokyo who is also a salaryman. I got this book for that reason. I wanted to see some of the things that he had to go through. He said that many of the experiences that Murtagh went through are quite common for a gaijin salaryman.
It is an entertaining book and I would definitely recommend it to anyone who has friends or family working in Japan. And for those of you who don't, it is still an interesting read to compare the cultures.
True & Entertaining .......2006-06-10
From the first opening sentence, this book is a page turner. The writer provides a simple but deep insight on working in a major Japanese company. The events presented are sometime caricatural, looks too bad/good to be true, but I can attest from my own experience they're quite real.
A must reading material for people thinking of working at a major traditional Japanese company.
Acurate and balanced.......2006-05-20
Niall Murtagh gives us an understanding of the real(hone) underbelly of Japanese corporate life. The book is well written entertaining and accurate. I have the same roots as the author and like him have endured 14 years in a large Japanese corporation. So I can verify his accuracy. He deals with the frustrating an oppressive aspects of salaryman Japan life in a very Irish way - he uses humour. He tries hard to fit-in but soon learns that foreigners, even Japanese fluent ones with a Phd., never fit in. or become totally accepted. He could have expanded on the psychological impact of salaryman life on foreigners. For those with a work link to Japan, read this book.
Excellent book for anybody working in a Japanese corporation in Japan (or thinking about it).......2005-10-27
"The Blue-eyed Salaryman" is a book written by Niall Murtagh, an Irishman, and is based on his real life experience as a salaryman at Mitsubishi Corporation in Japan.
The story starts when he joins the R&D department at Mitsubishi in the early 1990. At the beginning he was a contract worker, but eventually he became a normal lifetime salaryman. He was also the first foreigner to be promoted to management level in Mitsubishi in Japan.
His book is very interesting, because it is based on his experience over a period of more than 10 years. So he really got to understand deeply about Mitsubishi's culture and way of working. He also experienced the end of the bubble area, and the following crisis years.
Later on, Murtagh-san was transferred to Osaka, which allowed him to compare between Osaka and Tokyo working culture. His finding was that people in Tokyo cared about big visionary research projects, whereas in Osaka all research needs to have a practical application to get accepted. He did enjoy living in the Osaka area, and eventually enjoyed working here.
The final conclusion of his book is that for foreigners, as change agents, it is not meaningful to join traditional Japanese companies from the bottom; because the only way to drive fundamental change in large Japanese traditional corporations is top down. According to Niall, Carlos Ghosn would never have been able to impact to Nissan if he had joined them from the bottom...
Working as a foreigner in a large Japanese corporation in Japan, I really identified strongly with Niall's writing. It gave me a sense of comfort, making me believe that I still haven't lost my common sense....
Book Description
In 1959, twenty-nine-year-old Berry Gordy, who had already given up on his dream to be a champion boxer, borrowed eight hundred dollars from his family and started a record company. A run-down bungalow sandwiched between a funeral home and a beauty shop in a poor Detroit neighborhood served as his headquarters. The building’s entrance was adorned with a large sign that improbably boasted “Hitsville U.S.A.” The kitchen served as the control room, the garage became the two-track studio, the living room was reserved for bookkeeping, and sales were handled in the dining room. Soon word spread that any youngster with a streak of talent should visit the only record label that Detroit had seen in years. The company’s name was Motown.
Motown cuts through decades of unsubstantiated rumors and speculation to tell the true behind-the-scenes narrative of America’s most exciting musical dynasty. It follows the company and its amazing roster of stars from the tumultuous growth years in Detroit, to the drama and intrigue of Hollywood in the 1970s, to resurgence in 2002.
Set against the civil rights movement, the decay of America’s northern industrial cities, and the social upheaval of the 1960s, Motown is a tale of the incredible entrepreneurship of Berry Gordy. But it also features the moving stories of kids from Detroit’s inner-city projects who achieved remarkable success and then, in many cases, found themselves fighting the demons that so often come with stardom—drugs, jealousy, sexual indulgence, greed, and uncontrollable ambition.
Motown features an extraordinary cast of characters, including Diana Ross, Michael Jackson, Marvin Gaye, Smokey Robinson, and Stevie Wonder. They are presented as they lived and worked: a clan of friends, lovers, competitors, and sometimes vicious foes. Motown reveals how the hopes and dreams of each affected the lives of the others and illustrates why this singular story is a made-in-America Greek tragedy, the rise and fall of a supremely talented yet completely dysfunctional extended family.
Based on numerous original interviews and extensive documentation, Motown benefits particularly from the thousands of pages of files crammed into the basement of downtown Detroit’s Wayne County Courthouse. Those court records provide the unofficial—and hitherto largely untold—history of Motown and its stars, since almost every relationship between departing singers, songwriters, producers, and the label ended up in litigation.
From its peaks in the late 1960s and early 1970s, when Motown controlled the pop charts and its stars were sought after even by the Beatles, through the inexorable slide caused by their failure to handle their stardom, Motown is a riveting and troubling look inside a music label that provided the unofficial soundtrack to an entire generation.
Download Description
Is there any truth to the rumor that the Mafia grabbed control of Motown after Berry Gordy ran afoul of violent loan sharks? Which Motown star had a violent fight with Gordy on the day JFK was assassinated?
Here is the book that answers these and other questions about the Motown nobody knows:
- Which Motown diva was almost run down by a station wagon after a blowout with a rival?
- How did Hollywood and the film industry sink Motown's film business after the tremendous promise of Lady Sings the Blues?
- What famous star hid from Gordy that he was the father of her first child?
- What was the secret scheme one former executive says the company developed to steal millions of dollars in "suitcases of cash" from artists and songwriters?
- Was the death of the Temptations' Paul Williams by a single gunshot a suicide, as ruled by coroners, or a murder to silence him, as suspected by some colleagues?
Customer Reviews:
Thank God I didn't buy this for myself!.......2007-07-24
This book was nothing more than a collection of excerpts from other peoples (auto)biographies.That's it. Since he was unable to obtain interviews with any of the subjects,perhaps the author thought that putting in court documents would give the book some credibility....uh, no!
I'm happy that I didn't spend the money to buy it in its Hardcover edition(it was a gift), though I have to live with it collecting dust in my cellar!
Well written and informative.......2007-06-23
I see from a number of reviewers for this book that one of the complaints is that this book is a rehash of the same information available elsewhere - ie. legal documents, books from other authors, etc.
Well, many of the books cited as reference are no longer available. Legal documents might be available for public viewing - if you have the time and resources to do your own investigation. I think the author did an excellent job of compiling the information and presenting it in an enjoyable to read format.
I read this book and "The Motown Music Machine" at the same time. Though the other book might be considered more authoritative based on the authors personal experience within Motown, I don't believe that it tells the full story. Afterall, how can one man know all about the business and employees? He can't, which makes Mr Posner's book that much more interesting. It's told from an overall perspective with input from many sources.
Many readers have seen the information in this book in other books or articles. Well I haven't and I enjoyed reading about it in one handy, convenient place.
Concise chronological account.......2005-12-04
For someone who has not read any other book on Motown, this book is provides a tremendous insight into the mega corporation: it's rise, power, entertainers, unsavory practices, lawsuits, legalities and the end of Motown.
Chronological timeframe
What you get here is a complete timeframe from the "Hitsville" building, the upstart of performers, the maintenance, the drugs, alcohol, bickering of performers and executive staff. There is an insight and understanding how the music industry works, how songs are selected for "hits"; We are educated on the distribution of records and its practices. It seems clear that if a record company was not gypping entertainers, something was not done right.
Lawsuits, battles, downfalls
Also explained is how and when entertainers and staff deflected to other companies. We are given a clear explanation of the struggles within the Supremes and the birth of the supergroup, The Jackson 5, the rise and fall of Marvin Gaye, success of Stevie Wonder, Berry Gordy's bond with Smokey Robinson of the Miracles, infighting, lawsuits, etc., etc.
Much is written about the love affair of Diana Ross and Berry Gordy, and her bitter relationship with other Motown performers.
The book also details the trials and tribulations of the 25th Anniversary Television show, where Michael Jackson performed the moon walk and made history.
Motown movies
It's clear that when Berry Gordy had a quest for the movie business, it would ultimately lead to neglecting the music business.
What about the SOUND of Motown
I did have one question: The Funk Brothers - the sound of Motown! There is almost nothing on the Funk Brothers.
Although receiving negative reviews for what readers called "many mistakes", I don't care if so and so had this hit first before such and such hit, or so and so went to bed with so and so instead of so and so.... I don't care if details aren't precise! A hundred years from now, I won't remember anyhow, better make that 5 minutes from now.
What mattered is that I was given a complete and chonological timeframe about the legacy of Motown. I had not read another book, and may not read another book. Simple as that!...MzRizz
A Clip Job.......2005-10-29
Mostly compiled from the work of other writers, this Motown history is notable for Posner's use of old legal files to detail the many lawsuits against Berry Gordy and the Motown label by stars who later became disgruntled. A better writer when he takes on assassinations (JFK and MLK), Posner is out of his depth when writing about music. He lacks a certain appreciation for how these songs changed American pop culture. Still, the book is useful if you haven't read any others, and could be revelatory for the younger generation unfamiliar with the various Motown stars and their early days.
I have read this before!!!!!!.......2005-04-14
I say that as a title because while reading the book I felt like I was re-reading other books that I have read before on Motown. It was almost quoted word for word in many stories which made it difficult to keep my interest. I enjoyed parts of it because I am always interested in new information that I didn't know which is what I though the book would reveal. I love finding out information on business practices and how a company became successful. The section on the royalties, sales and payments was by far the most interesting to me. Overall Gerald Posner didn't do a bad job, I just think that the story has been told so many times by so many people that it is really hard to come up with anything new or original without referencing previously published material. From a die hard Motown fan and I would dare to call myself a self proclaimed Motown historian the book also had questionable facts. However, someone else who doesn't know the history of the company as much as I do may find it good reading. Before you take it at face value I suggest you do some cross referencing and basically do your homework regarding the facts in this book.
Customer Reviews:
Stands the Test of Time.......2007-07-24
I first read Mr. Meyer's book in the early 90s and was touched and amused by it. As the decade progressed, so did the number of layoffs I also encountered, and I never went through a layoff without thinking of his story. I can't tell you how many people I have referred to this book, and that's why I'm on this web site today - to send a link to yet another middle-aged worker who is feeling "Down and Out in Corporate America."
It's a must-read for anyone who has been laid off and anyone who works in Human Resources. It stands the test of time!
A painfully frank story of the corporate chicken coop.......2000-07-31
The corporate life is much like a chicken coop: the few chickens on the top of pecking order have friends and a full access to the feeder. Once a chicken slides down the pecking order, it is unlikely to regain its spot. At least, not at the age of 50 and not without strong connections.
Jerry Meyer, an ex-senior executive at MacDonnell-Douglas, wrote a painfully frank story of a corporate chicken, who made it to the top of pecking order without connections or old money, and fell back to the bottom.
It is a must-read for every executive wannabe. Maybe, the reader will think of Meyer's message and reconsider the career strategy: it is safer to be paid for what you DO than for what you ARE. A title is no substitute for skill, creativity and, most important, sense of self-worth.
read it and weep -- and laugh, and hold your head.......2000-03-22
I so enjoyed this book I devoured it in one sitting -- which surprised even me. I have not a thing in common with the author: I am not male, I'm nowhere near 50, I have never been a senior executive and I've never been fired. In fact, I'm a stay-at-home mother. But Meyer writes well. And if you've ever had to look for a job under any circumstances, you'll identify. Don't believe the reviewers who call Meyer bitter -- he's not, he's just very, very specific about the details of his humiliation. His book does raise real questions about employers today, but more to the point, it's a good read.
ENGAGING ODYSSEY.......1997-07-30
Even if you are securely employed or living off a comfortable trust fund, this book is a superb read, painfully funny, sharp-witted, well written. Though I had never much sympathy for six- figure executives, Meyer's take on that world still engaged me to read the book in one sitting
Meyer pens brilliant memoir about being an unemployed exec........1997-04-28
G. J. (Jerry) Meyer writes an outstanding memoir reagarding his experience seeking work in the modern America of right-sizing and layoffs. Mr. Meyer writes honest and straight-forward prose about corporate life and the tough job market faced by the increasing numbers of people as production gets more efficient and automated. I read this book right after reading Jeremy Rifken's 'The End of Work' (which discusses WHY so many people are un- or under-employed), there should be a Surgeon General's warning about doing this, the experience is nearly too intense. One can only hope that Mr. Meyer gets screwed in some other manner, so that he'll be motivated to write more. Truly an excellent book by a very skilled and compelling writer
Book Description
"Brilliant…the best book I have ever read about the recording industry…a classic."—Larry King
On the south side of Chicago in the late 1940s, two immigrants—one a Jew born in Russia, the other a black blues singer from Mississippi—met and changed the course of musical history. Muddy Waters electrified the blues, and Leonard Chess recorded it. Soon Bo Diddly and Chuck Berry added a dose of pulsating rhythm, and Chess Records captured that, too. Rock & roll had arrived, and an industry was born.
In a book as vibrantly and exuberantly written as the music and people it portrays, Rich Cohen tells the engrossing story of how Leonard Chess, with the other record men, made this new sound into a multi-billion-dollar business—aggressively acquiring artists, hard-selling distributors, riding the crest of a wave that would crash over a whole generation. 12 illustrations. Originally published in hardcover as Machers and Rockers.
About the series:
Enterprise pairs distinguished writers with stories of the economic forces that have shaped the modern world—the institutions, the entrepreneurs, the ideas.
Enterprise introduces a new genre—the business book as literature.
Customer Reviews:
Great book about Leonard Chess and the American experience.......2007-09-05
This is a wonderful book--extremely well-written--that profiles Leonard Chess as a symbol of the American-immigrant experience, taking us back to the Chess family roots in Poland and their coming through Ellis Island. While lots of books discuss how rock and roll was born of integration, this one looks specifically at how the Jews, as fellow outsiders, were critical in finding and recording African American artists. It also acknowledges the fortunes Chess made off the musicians and how that affected him and the company as the Civil Rights Movement took hold. I teach American Studies at the college level and will use this in my classes.
Nice, but something's missing.......2007-03-06
This is a nice book about the Chess family. However, it is mostly a short history of American popular music of which there are already so many. The history of Chess is short and not in much depth and you constantly feel you are missing something.
Nice to buy when the price is low, but really not that special.
Book Description
Handsome and elegant, this classic blank book, is perfect for the busy life of moms and dads, students and executives. A rich leather look, gold-stamped borders and a handy, compact design makes this the perfect appointment book, minutes log, idea book, travel diary and so much more. Other colors are available in this Anything Book Series. 160 ruled pages.
Customer Reviews:
It's Adequate.......2007-06-08
The book looks nice, sturdy, but could have been a little thicker for the price. We gave them to a group of graduating seniors to journal in.
There be tomes more weighty........2005-08-18
Bought 2 of these .. they're just as you'd expect. If you're looking for something BIGGER i recommend you look up (google) Lee Valley Tools or Veritas Tools (they're on amazon but the Journal isn't). The journal I bought from Lee Valley has a 4 page index then 388 numbered pages. the paper quality and stitching are excellent ... the books lies flat even though it's pretty thick, at the back is a perpetual calendar for those of us who are not savants.As well as being thicker than this Anything book it's wider and longer like 10 by 8 inches and an inch thick. If you like 'em bigger go to the tool shop.
Empty Slate.......2004-02-17
The author of this book could accurately be called "a minimalist's minimalist. The general tone is light and airy. However, for a book published this recently, it suffers from a total absence of irony.
Use it for anything..........2002-08-05
Beautiful book for a journal, very compact (maybe a little more so than journals I've had in the past), and very well bound...
Simple, functional, and looks good too........2002-01-23
I just received my Blue Blank Book today and I would have to say I'm ver pleased. When you first look at it, it seems almost a bit too thin; but as you flip through the pages you start to see it has plenty of room for all of your writings. When you first open this book, you realize that the title "Blank Book" means just that: Blank Book. There is absolutely no writing or inscriptions from front to back - minus the very back of the book at the bottom where there is a small title saying "Anything Book" along with an ISBN number. The inside of the book, along with the first page is goldish yellow in color that is thicker than the rest of all the pages. This is then follwed by 160 pages of white, clean paper - perfect for writing. The pages seem thick enough so that a pen will not bleed through. The seperating lines are a light gray color about a 1/4" in seperation.
All in all I'm very happy with my purchase. ... I plan on purchasing several more.
Average customer rating:
- OVERLY VARNISHED AND ONE-SIDED
- Interesting, though a little self-centered.
- Awesome Book
- Oh please
- A GREAT BOOK
|
To Be Loved: The Music, the Magic, the Memories of Motown : An Autobiography
Berry Gordy
Manufacturer: Warner Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
Rhythm & Blues
| Composers & Musicians
| Arts & Literature
| Biographies & Memoirs
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| Ethnic & National
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General
| Biographies & Memoirs
| Subjects
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Business
| Music
| Entertainment
| Subjects
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General
| Music
| Entertainment
| Subjects
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Theory, Composition & Performance
| Music
| Entertainment
| Subjects
| Books
| Appreciation
| Composition
| Conducting
| Exercises
| Instruction & Study
| MIDI, Mixers, etc.
| Sheet Music & Scores
| Songbooks
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| Vocal
Similar Items:
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Motown: Music, Money, Sex, and Power
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Motown : The Golden Years: The Stars and Music That Shaped a Generation
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The Motown Music Machine
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Berry, Me, and Motown: The Untold Story
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Mercy, Mercy Me: The Art, Loves and Demons of Marvin Gaye
ASIN: 044651523X |
Customer Reviews:
OVERLY VARNISHED AND ONE-SIDED.......2005-04-14
Like his main protege' Diana Ross' book SECRETS OF A SPARROW, I found this autobiography, TO BE LOVED, a bit too self-flattering and unapologetic.
Berry Gordy's story is extremely fascinating, his accomplishments in, and contributions to, American music are absolutely gargantuan. He deserves a great deal of credit for having created the conditions for an unmatched musical legacy to flourish. The lore surrounding the founding and early development of his great musical empire is almost as wonderful and engaging as the music itelf. You DO get some of that here.
Gordy also explains many of his business decisions. From most accounts, Mr. Gordy and his family were astute business people. However, Gordy's single-mindedness could often cause him to ignore or underplay some of the artist's gifts, appeal and marketability. For example, great as Diana Ross' star potential was, other female artists, even within the Supremes, were not as fully developed as they deserved to be, while Diana was given "special" opportunities in the way of extraordinary classes [beyond Motown's famous Artist Development]in modeling, etc. Was this purely a "business" decision? In the meantime, artists such as Kim Weston and Brenda Holloway, both quite gifted vocally, and very attractive physically, basically languished at the label.
Gladys Knight and The Pips, while having had moderate success at Motown, but not given that "extra push," absolutely exploded after they left the label, had huge sales, and were awarded several Grammy awards.
The Spinners fared even worse at Motown. But after they left the label they had phenomenal success in the early-mid seventies with singles and album sales. Many of those singles are considered r&b classics.
Was there just too much talent at Motown for all of it to be promoted as deserved? Was Mr. Gordy too hands-on during those years?
I wasn't satisfied with Mr. Gordy's take on some of these situations. As a huge Supremes' fan, I was especially dissatisfied with his matter-of-fact comment that, within the original group, Diana had the "sparkle," and Mary Wilson and Florence Ballard didn't, to paraphrase. People loved all 3 Supremes, and us fans recognized the magic and potential in all three. The fate of Florence Ballard is especially sad. She was dead [of a broken heart?] at age 32, just about 9 years after her ousting from that group. Her replacement within the Supremes was literally waiting in the wings to take over, between the early evening and later performance at a Las Vegas casino in July, 1967, when Flo was fired from the group. Was this also, a purely business decision? Was Mr. Gordy willing to hear Flo's grievances about being relegated more and more to the background, when the fans loved her to be featured, and by many accounts, she was the "founder" of the group?
I really prefer Mary Wilson's unvarnished take on the Supremes' story, as presented in her wonderful books DREAMGIRL and SUPREME FAITH [both available in one volume]. She tells it like it is, and, along the way, exposes her own warts and blemishes, but also comes across as a rounded, real, fallible, wonderful person. TO BE LOVED didn't have nearly enough of that.
DREAMGIRL sold like hotcakes, while Mr. Gordy's book did rather poorly. Ms. Ross' book also sold poorly. A lesson??? If you're going to do a memoir, people will really relate more the more real you relate.
Interesting, though a little self-centered........2004-07-14
It is always hard to believe autobriographies, especially in the music-biz where people are fighting others constantly for power, money and all those things. Since Berry Gordy is a controversial figure, we have to doubt it.
Doesn't take away the fact that is interesting seeing the rise of his Motown label through his eyes. He discoverd many acts and also wrote and produced many hits in the 50's through 80's. Jackie Wilson, Martha Reeves, Mary Wells, The Supremes, Four Tops, Temptations and Miracles all are very much part of the Gordy legacy.
He started as a boxer, admiring Joe Louis before turning to music. One of his earliest friends was Smokey Robinson, someone who he also admired and who never turned his back to him. Something the Jackson 5 did, though they were almost part of his family.
His familymember were often married to people from his company. Jermaine Jackson and Marvin Gaye for example. He himself married often and had more than 8 children with 4 different wives, including Diana Ross.
It is very interesting to read about how he felt about the music business and Motown, but doubt the honesty
Awesome Book.......2004-04-02
This was one of the most fascinating books I've ever read. I couldn't put it down. So many awesome characters and people that everyone knows. Definately recommended. Highly
Oh please.......2002-01-02
I'm amazed at the almost uniformly positive reviews of this book by other readers here. Berry Gordy accomplished a great deal by founding Motown Records, no question about it (what he did for African American culture in general is immeasurable); what I object to is his (predictible, but no less shocking) glossing over of many unpleasant facts in this book. The fact is, Gordy was a mean and ruthless businessman who stomped on countless others in his rise to the top (the part he played in the downfall of Florence Ballard alone is unforgivable); his warm and fuzzy recounting of his and Motown's story simply reads false to me. Better books on this subject are J. Randy Taraborelli's Motown book, his biography of Diana Ross, and the two Mary Wilson autobiographies. Those read quite a bit more convincingly.
A GREAT BOOK.......2000-09-10
Glad to hear from the man who made Motown. If you are a fan of the music than this is a must read!!!!!
Book Description
"Filled with facts and funk, SPINNING BLUES INTO GOLD tells a rough-and-tumble American story: how Chicago's Leonard and Phil Chess got black electric blues on wax and sent it round the world.A compelling, at times poignant book, superbly researched and sensitively written by Nadine Cohodas." ---Michael Lydon, author of RAY CHARLES: MAN AND MUSICMuddy Waters. Howlin' Wolf.Chuck Berry.Etta James.Bo Diddley.The greatest artists who sang the blues made their mark with Leonard and Phil Chess, whose Chess Records was synonymous with the sound that swept up from the south, embraced Chicago and spread out into mid-century America.SPINNING BLUES INTO GOLD is the impeccably researched story of the men behind the music and the remarkable company they created.Chess Records-and later Checkers, Argo and Cadet-was built by Polish immigrant Jews, brothers who saw the blues as a unique business opportunity.From their first ventures, a liquor store and then a nightclub, they promoted live entertainment.And parlayed that into the first pressings sold out of car trunks on long junkets through the midsection of the country, ultimately expanding their empire to include influential radio stations.The story of the Chess brothers is a very American story of commerce in the service of culture.Long on chutzpah, Leonard and Phil went far beyond their childhoods as the sons of a scrap-metal dealer. They changed what America listened to; the artists they promoted planted the seeds of rock 'n' roll and are still influencing music today.The story of the Chess brothers and the music they made captures the rich and volatile mix of race, Jews and music.Cohodas takes us deep into the world of independent record producers, sometimes abrasive and always aggressive men striving to succeed. Leonard and Phil worked hand-in-glove with disenfranchised black artists, the intermittent charges of exploitation balanced by the reality of a common purpose that brought them fame.From beginning to end, the lives of the Chesses were entwined with those of the artists socially, financially and creatively. From SPINNING BLUES INTO GOLD:Leonard and Phil made little distinction between office and home.Family was business and vice versa.So it was not surprising that Marshall's bar mitzvah on April 17, 1955, became something more than a traditional worship service.A centuries old ritual combined with present day business, the event became an RB convention, Hebrew chants mixed in with blues.Ahmet Ertegun and Jerry Wexler from Atlantic Records and disc jockey Alan Freed and his wife came from New York.Randy Woods of Randy's Record shop and Dot Records came from Gallatin, Tennessee; disc jockey Zenas Sears came from Atlanta, WLAC's Gene Nobles came from Nashville, Record presser Buster Williams and his wife came from Memphis, and so did a host of Chicago area music makers including prominent black disk jockeys Sam Evans, Al Benson and McKie Fitzhugh, and some of the Chess musicians.It was one of the few times blacks came to a worship service at Agudath Achem, the family's synagogue.AUTHORBIO: Nadine Cohodas is the author of Strom Thurmond and the Politics of Southern Change and The Band Played Dixie: Race and Liberal Conscience at Ole Miss.
Customer Reviews:
Highly readable Chess story.......2007-01-09
I bought Spinning Blues into Gold because I'm interested in the Chess record company and its musical releases. The story is mostly accurate and very entertaining. The text is readable and shows Cohodas to be a good writer. Probably the best book on the subject so far. It does not tell everything you perhaps want to know but then what book could tell the whole story in just a bit over 300 pages? Wholeheartedly recommended.
Kings of the blues, Chicago style.......2005-03-03
This is the story of the Chess brothers and their record company located in Chicago. Phil and Leonard Chess were a couple of Jewish immigrants who wanted to make money and saw a way to do so through the recording of black music (mostly blues, r&b, r&r, soul--some jazz) in the windy city. The Chess roster was impressive and featured the best of the post-WW II blues singers (Muddy Waters, Jimmy Rogers, Howling Wolf, Little Walter, just to name a few). Leonard was a tough cookie willing to help his uneducated, living-on-the-edge stable of artists--help, but no charity. The company was sold in the late 60s and soon after collapsed. I had the good fortune to speak with Nadine Cohadas about this book (and the book she wrote about Dinah Washington), and she was dedicated to getting the facts right and tracking down every lead. She was fascinated by her subject, and I think she conveys that well in the book. Scholarly, but not stuffy.
Read on, blues fans.......2001-02-19
My recommendation to serious fans is to buy and read
<
>, then go on to other sources that greatly add color and substance to Ms. Cohodas' rather spare narrative. By all means check out
<
> by Mike Rowe,
<
> by Willie Dixon, and
<
> by Jerry Wexler.
The key contributions of the Cohodas book are 1) its fresh emphasis on the marketing and production aspects of the Chess operation, and 2) its attempt to debunk some widely accepted derogatory tales about Leonard Chess. For example, she has several sources to refute Keith Richards' famous story about Muddy Waters painting the ceiling. Thought-provoking stuff.
A truly great book!.......2000-12-09
I grew up in Chicago and am JUST old enough to recall going to the South Side when there was still an operative Chess Records. My awareness of Chess has changed my life profoundly. This book details the rise and fall of Chess in great detail, and is truly a page turner. I have decided to read it slowly -- a chapter a night -- as to best savor it. For a second generation American native with Eastern European Jewish ancestors, and knowing all the Chicago and suburban spots (from taverns to deli's) referred to here, this is more than the story of the most important label in blues and rock history. Even though my father was quite different than Leonard Chess, it's the story of my people in the new land -- Jewish immigrants working together with African-American immigrants from the South in a new place for all...creating something that changed the world for the better.
Blues Snooze.......2000-10-26
I've probably read three dozen books on blues music and artists and can honestly say this was one of the most tedious. The author is clearly proud of her access to the Chess family, but there's little else in this book that makes it worth buying. Her analysis of the music itself is perhaps the weakest part of her text. Was she even familiar with the Chess catalog before working on this thing? Having read about the author's past career, I'd say she should stick to covering ("yawn") congressional committee hearings and leave the story of blues music to someone familiar with it.
Customer Reviews:
Great autobiography!.......2003-12-29
Autobiographies are fun to read because people spill their guts and tell you all the secrets and failures that they normally wouldn't admit to.This author had quite an interesting life, growing up in NYC and becoming a bigtime music industry insider, marrying and divorcing and so forth. He gives you a real feel for his life and his first love: music.
A Must Read.......2002-01-15
If you are a music lover, industry hopeful, or history buff, this book will give you an honest, down to earth, fireside story of one very important man's life in the business. The manner in which he chooses to tell his story is an in depth, straight forward approach which keeps you wanting to continue to the next chapter. When it is all said and done, you feel as if you knew Wex throughout his journey and understand his joy in the career path he chose and just what he has accomplished. As a music business student, this was an inspiring, thought provoking read. Find this book, and enjoy.
music fan as record exec: good idea.......2000-04-30
In-between the archetypes of musician-as-record- exec (as in Berry Gordy) and evil-incarnate-as-record-exec (as in The Geffen and progeny) is the fan-as-record-exec. Atlantic is the greatest example of a record company run by fans. With top-flight soul/R&B, jazz, and rock divisions, Atlantic beats Sun and Chess for the title of "History's greatest independent label." Jerry Wexler's colorfully logomaniacal verbiage tells of the view from the air up there. The personal history detailed in this book isn't to be skipped, either. Not nearly outshined by the magical music history that attracts us to this book, the life lived by the author helps make this stuff such a good and quick read. There's something to be felt there. Read. Look for Ahmet Ertegun's entry on the subject, coming in May 2000.
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