Guitar World Presents: Dimebag Darrell's Riffer Madness (Guitar World Presents)
Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
  • Great book.
  • Riffer's Madness
  • Good content
  • Hell, yeah!
  • Great book!!!
Guitar World Presents: Dimebag Darrell's Riffer Madness (Guitar World Presents)
Dimebag Darrell , and Nick Bowcott
Manufacturer: Alfred Publishing Company
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0769291015

Book Description

Guitar World magazine and Warner Bros. Publications have teamed up to bring you this exciting new series. "Dimebag" Darrell takes you behind the scenes and teaches you the patterns and techniques that have driven Pantera to become one of the most successful heavy bands in rock history.

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars Great book........2007-03-08

Though it may not provide much in the way of theory, scales, or fundamentals, this book is a great insight into the style of one of rock music's greatest guitarists. Not only did it offer written and recorded examples of great riffs, intriguing solos, and useful exercises, it offered great practical tips for any serious guitarist. I poured through the book in under a week and it made me totally re-think several aspects of my playing. Riffer Madness reminds us of the importance of forgetting the rules and just playing great music.

5 out of 5 stars Riffer's Madness.......2007-02-12

This is a must buy for a Dimebag Darrell fan. This guy knew what he was talking about when it came to guitars.

Everything is transcribed perfectly.

My only beef with this book is that Darrell doesn't play on the CD.

5 out of 5 stars Good content.......2007-01-12

I found the content to be pretty good. I am a big Dime fan so to just have his entire column in one book was great. I did notice that there is some bad tab but it's enough to get you going in the right places. Additionally I expected Dime to be playing on the CD instead of the author.

5 out of 5 stars Hell, yeah!.......2006-09-28

I first met "Diamond" Darrell in 1984 when he was only 17, and giving guitar lessons at Mansfield Music. I'd finally decided I really wanted to PLAY guitar, and not just bang on it. They tried several teachers, classical, and a country teacher. It just didn't work out, so the owner told me he had one more teacher, a kid with his own band. In walked a skinny kid with the biggest electric frizz hairdo I'd ever seen, Darrell. Each week, he'd take my list of 10 songs I wanted to learn, and if he knew them, would show me how to play them. If he didn't know them, he'd take the list home, and next week, he'd have all of them down pat. I learned more in that 18 months than in the previous 35 yrs! Ten yrs later, I went to a guitar show in Dallas, and was waiting outside the Dean showcase when I heard a voice call, "Hey, Everett! How're you doin'!". It was Darrell, there to put on a demo for Dean. Needless to say, there were some wide eyes around me after that! Darrell dropped everything to talk to me for about 10 minutes. That's the kind of guy he was. We lost a goodern, that's for sure. R.I.P. Darrell...

5 out of 5 stars Great book!!!.......2006-04-27

I'm mainly a rhythm player, so the riffs don't do much for me on the guitar playing end, but I found this book to be very helpful on the technique end. Even rhythm players can spice up their style with this book... RIP Dime...
Running with the Devil: Power, Gender, and Madness in Heavy Metal Music (Music Culture)
Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • Heavy Metal Gets Its Due
  • Fundamental
  • Heavy Metal art-form explained through social & artful view.
  • Overcomprehensive, yet a needed study.
Running with the Devil: Power, Gender, and Madness in Heavy Metal Music (Music Culture)
Robert Walser
Manufacturer: Wesleyan
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0819562602

Book Description

A Choice Outstanding Academic Book.

A musicologist and cultural critic as well as a professional musician, Robert Walser offers a comprehensive musical, social, and cultural analysis of heavy metal in Running with the Devil. Dismissed by critics and academics, condemned by parents and politicians, fervently embraced by legions of fans, heavy metal music attracts and embodies cultural conflicts that are central to our society. Walser explores how and why heavy metal works, both musically and socially, and at the same time uses metal to investigate contemporary formations of identity, community, gender, and power.

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars Heavy Metal Gets Its Due.......2004-12-08

I'm currently taking a class on cultural anthropology right now, and as a huge music buff / budding musician, I found this gem while searching the racks at my university. Not only did it help me to realize the cultural biases surrounding a type of music that I am fond of, but also expand my mind in terms of musical application, song construction, and the true inspiration for some of Heavy Metal's greatest classics.

Walser knows exactly what he's talking about, from the perspectives of a particpant in the culture, a trained and educated musician, and a cultural anthropologist. Great reading, would make a great reference for any study on cultural misunderstandings about music, or even something interesting to give you a break from working through all those instructional books and tablature.

5 out of 5 stars Fundamental.......2001-06-20

This is one of the best books about popular music I have read. First of all, Walser avoids cliches: he is good at interpretation, and like all people who are good at interpretation he checks his ideas against the ideas that people who make and listen to the music have. PMRC supporters watch out. Second, he knows what he is talking about: the analysis is grounded in a good understanding of musicology, social theory, literary theory and evidence. So when he tells us where heavy metal "fits," we can believe him. All this, of course, is aside from the question of the reader or anybody else "likes" the music or not. As a model of how to do context-informed analysis of a genre, it rocks.

4 out of 5 stars Heavy Metal art-form explained through social & artful view........1998-09-25

As many people in the general populus consider Heavy Metal as more entertainment than art, this book tends to bring to light more of the social & artful aspects of the music. As the title suggests, there's much to do with sociological issues of power, gender, and emotional views. But there was also a large undercurrent of the musical talent and influences of those who make H.M. music. Moreover, the view that H.M. is/not dominantly popular due to lyrical content alone was another interesting topic discussed (among other topics). It is true that some of the topics lack the proper explaination they ought, but for the most part, the details given are good & helpful. If you are a musician, this is a MUST HAVE book! For those trying to understand H.M. (parents, teachers, etc) - open your mind and open this book. Includes indepth looks at musical styles of: Eddie Van Halen, Randy Rhodes, and others.

4 out of 5 stars Overcomprehensive, yet a needed study........1998-02-11

Walser attempts to cover too much ground in this book. Still his treatments of gender and madness as content of Heavy Metal lyrics are worthwhile. He covers music and some imagery; these tend to distract from his central ideas rather than add. Yet, this may be the academic reference book on HM that others are judged by, simply because it has primacy and is comprehensive. It was a needed work in the field. A major criticism is that he does not adequately account for the various sub-genres of the music.
Michael Jackson: The Magic And The Madness: The Magic and the Madness
Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • a very good book
  • THE UNVARNISHED TRUTH!
  • The best book ever written about ANY musical artist
  • The only book about Michael Jackson which is truely balance
  • Awsome!!!
Michael Jackson: The Magic And The Madness: The Magic and the Madness
J. Randy Taraborrelli
Manufacturer: Citadel
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 1559720646

Book Description

"Some of the rumors are true, some of the rumors are false, and a lot of the tales are just plain weird. There are speculations about sex, allegations of unchecked greed and suggestions of a highly dysfunctional family."

THE BOSTON GLOBE
After hundreds of interviews, celebrity biography J. Randy Taraborrelli tackes the rujors andinnendo that hover over the extraordinarily popular and talented family from Gary, Indiana. He traces the real story behind Michael's extensive plastic surgery; his bizarre publicity stunts; the mini-Disneyland built for his private use; the exciting Motown days of chart-busting records and tours; the henomenal solo success that has brought Michael undreamed-of wealth and also great personal pain, and much more. It's the whole Jackson Family saga, and it's all in here.

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars a very good book.......2007-10-09

i borrowed this book from the library and its one of the best biographies ive ever read everything u want to know about michael jackson is in this book.. i really feel for michael jackson he has been through so much in his life from his abusive father and to his close relationship with his baby sister janet and his mother, katherine.the author also took it up a step and interviewed the former wives of some of the jackson brothers and everyone else who was associated with the jackson family and worked for them.the only thing that i wonder about is if michael jackson realizes today that firing his former lawyer, John Branca was a mistake. this is the lawyer who is responsible for negotiating the multimillion dollar deals for the singer such as the purchase of the beatles catalogue which is worth about 300 million dollars. there were so many things in this book that i never knew about micheal, some were very enlightening, the fact that he's a smart intelligent businessman and that he's very perceptive, he doesnt allow himself to be walk all over by people because of his enormous fame and fortune even when his father was caught up in a bad business deal and owed millions to a real estate developer michael didnt want to bail his father out or have anything to do with him and at times i was really sad, espicially the stories about his mother suffering and devastated from her busband's affairs with other women and the illegitimate child produced from an affair. and michael as a child watching his father have open affairs with other women and betraying his mother while performing on the road with his brothers. after reading this book,you will feel so much sympathy for michael jackson and the things that he has seen and been through and for those of you want to or thinking about putting your children in showbusiness might think twice about that after reading this book

5 out of 5 stars THE UNVARNISHED TRUTH!.......2007-09-18

I've read several books about all things Jackson, this book being the first. I must say, a part from "Jackson Family Values" (a bit candy coated but a definate must read) and "Be Careful Who You Love" (A DEFINATE GOTTA READ!),this book answers every damn Michael Jackson question you will ever have. And the great thing about this book is that it was written long before his troubles began. It is almost a predictor of what was to come.

5 out of 5 stars The best book ever written about ANY musical artist.......2007-02-18

This book is, simply, undoubtedly, hands down, the finest book ever written that involves a musical artist. If you only buy one music related book in your life, this is the one to get.

4 out of 5 stars The only book about Michael Jackson which is truely balance.......2005-12-18

There are many books out there about Michael that pretend to give an unbias account of his life. But in J. Randy Taraborrelli you have an author who truely believes in giving readers a balance account of the Michael Jackson story. He delves inside the life of the Jackson family in general, starting with the relationship between Katherine and Joe Jackson, giving us a greater understanding of his life. Also unlike other books that imply his "true loves are little boys" it looks at his relationship with people like Diana Ross-who I believe is the true love of his life-and Tatum O'Neal. The updated version of this book also goes into detail about his relationship with Lisa Marie Presley, which will surprise many.

If you ever want to read an unbias account of MIchael Jackson's life, warts and all this is the book to get.

5 out of 5 stars Awsome!!!.......2005-08-27

I love this book. Its the biggist book ive ever read and my favorite!
I'm a Believer, Updated Edition: My Life of Monkees, Music, and Madness
Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • Filled With Fun and Info
  • Fun Book to Read
  • A Zany and Entertaining Look Back!
  • Lighthearted fluff, just like the show
  • "And what we have to be is free"...
I'm a Believer, Updated Edition: My Life of Monkees, Music, and Madness
Micky Dolenz
Manufacturer: Cooper Square Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0815412843

Book Description

In fascinating, star-studded anecdotes, original Monkee Mickey Dolenz takes readers from his starring role at age 12 as TVs Circus Boy to the open casting call that brought the Monkees together, through the creative conflicts that finally drove them apart.

Customer Reviews:

4 out of 5 stars Filled With Fun and Info.......2007-09-07

As a Monkees' fan from way back in the hey-day, my nostalgia has been getting the better of me lately. And that is why I purchased Micky Dolenz' "I'm A Believer." This is the kind of book about the Monkees, their show and their recordings that I wanted to read. Micky writes a fast-paced, information-filled journal that doesn't stint on fun. Micky's sense of humor is present throughout as are fascinating facts about the whole Monkees era. Micky has happily chosen not to dish nasty dirt, and that is a welcome relief these days. I found the book to be a good read and highly recommend it to any Monkees' fan.

5 out of 5 stars Fun Book to Read.......2007-05-29

What a fun book to read! Micky Dolenz has a very conversational writing style that makes it easy to read. It would be hard for anyone to put into words every detail of what happened in those chaotic times. But, Micky gives us the high level view of how it affected his life. The most memorable part of the book for me is Micky's perception of Davy, Peter, and Mike whenever the four of them would get together. A book you will truly enjoy.

5 out of 5 stars A Zany and Entertaining Look Back!.......2006-12-30

I recently purchased Micky's memoir and couldn't be more pleased with what he came up with! I laughed out loud in many places within it's pages, particularly when he re-enacted particular meetings between the Monkee Members assigning dialogue to each that seem to capture what they must have been like at the time. Micky captures the good and the bad (mostly good!)with his splendid sense of humor much in evidence throughout... There were also a number of interesting items that I was not aware of as being part of his story such as Frank Zappa asking Micky at one point to be the drummer for the Mothers of Invention! Lastly, I always thought that besides his other talents, Micky never truly got the credit that was his due as a pop singer on some great 60's records. He made them sound all the better and if you are not convinced, listen to Neil Diamond's own version of the song he wrote for the Monkees which Micky sang (I'm a Beleiver) and you will see what many of us have known for years....

This book is great read for any Micky/Monkees fan as well as anyone interested in the sixties pop culture in general.

3 out of 5 stars Lighthearted fluff, just like the show.......2006-09-03

Dolenz, whose distinctive voice dominated the airwaves during the Summer of Love, writes an entertaining but slight account of his days with the Monkees and beyond. He is frank about his womanizing and drug use without being overtly scandalous; when you stop to think about the names he COULD name, and the lurid stories he COULD tell ...

The best of the Monkee autobiographies, so far.

3 out of 5 stars "And what we have to be is free"..........2006-06-27

A quick, funny read. These four words best describe Micky Dolenz's memoir "I'm a Believer". Quick; because Micky doesn't resort to any literary devices, it's just straight writing. Funny, because Micky successfully infuses his humor in his re-telling of certain situations. Having met him twice, he is one of those people who really is a comic genius. If you're looking at this as a book that will tell you the dirty little details of the Monkees as they were created and realized, you know the story, you've all heard it before...then you won't be disappointed. Micky illustrates the "brains behind the Monkees" quite pointedly. However, if you're looking for insight and perspective into the culture at the time and how fame, fortune and notoriety bestowed upon him opportunities that otherwise wouldn't have occurred, then the book only succeeds slightly. Micky mentions in one of his chapters that he "doesn't remember" much of what happened during 1967-68, some very culturally relevant years. He mentions that he and Davy once shared a house in the Hollywood Hills during the early days of the Monkees, yet he really doesn't tell us anything else about this experience. One can only imagine what that must have been like! He doesn't even tell us how the place was decorated, in fact, he doesn't tell us much of anything except that he was kept busy, but he must have been able to partake in some of the offerings because he doesn't remember. He mentions that Harry Nilsson, the notorious partier, was one of his best friends, but he doesn't really write too much of anything about any of the experiences they may have shared. Hopefully, Micky will feel free enough to share what may be some of the more interesting details for his next memoir. He does share with the reader the details of his notable meeting with Paul McCartney...and that was a classic! I wish there was more of this within the pages.
Coheed and Cambria - Good Apollo I'm Burning Star, IV, Vol. 1: From Fear Through the Eyes of Madness (From Feat Through the Eyes of Madness)
Average customer rating: 4 out of 5 stars
  • Thank you!!
  • All Sheet Music
Coheed and Cambria - Good Apollo I'm Burning Star, IV, Vol. 1: From Fear Through the Eyes of Madness (From Feat Through the Eyes of Madness)
Coheed and Cambria
Manufacturer: Hal Leonard Corporation
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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  5. In Keeping Secrets of Silent Earth: 3 In Keeping Secrets of Silent Earth: 3

ASIN: 1423409205

Book Description

16 tracks from the third concept album in the series, which The All Music Guide says "is a prog rock opera on par with anything that Rush or Queensryche ever released." Songs include: Always and Never * Apollo I: the Writing Writer * Keeping the Blade * Mother May I * The Suffering * Wake Up * Welcome Home * Willing Well IV: The Final Cut * and more. PARENTAL ADVISORY FOR EXPLICIT LYRICS.

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars Thank you!!.......2007-06-27

Apologies for such a late review! The book was just as described and delivered faster than I had anticipated, even better!

3 out of 5 stars All Sheet Music.......2006-08-29

This book is all sheet music. It is not a novel or comic book. Do not purchase this book if you do not have any use for sheet music although it would make an excellent gift for Coheed and Cambria fans that can read and play sheet music.
California Dreamin': The True Story of the Mamas and the Papas The Music, the Madness, the Magic that was
Average customer rating: 4 out of 5 stars
  • The Sexiest (and damn Luckiest) Psychedelic Siren of the Swinging 60's
  • A Tale of Missing Values & Missing Parenting
  • With All This Drama, How Could It Fail?
  • Mama Michelle Sets the Record Straight
  • Mama Michelle Sets the Record Straight
California Dreamin': The True Story of the Mamas and the Papas The Music, the Madness, the Magic that was
Michelle Phillips
Manufacturer: Warner Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0446513083

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars The Sexiest (and damn Luckiest) Psychedelic Siren of the Swinging 60's.......2007-01-24

There's alot of reading between the lines here.Michelle didn't write about John inviting both Roman Polanski and Sharon Tate ,along with the hob-nobing crashing Mansons.One night a segment of Mansons went prowling and crawling into the Phillips' home basement.Searching for the quartet's gold records,that along with musical fame, had so eluded Charles Manson.John heard something going on in the basement,and grabbed his shotgun.With John's known hot temper,it's amazing no blood was shed.John also had an address book,(mostly of old drug dealers for suppling),with some names scratched out.Those were the power-players who had screwed him over on various dopes deals.Next to the bogus and/or defunct addresses was the listed words,"PIG".Denny claimed that he and John were invited guests for an evening with Polanski's wife,Sharon Tate.Denny and John narrowly missed being sliced up for a satanic feast that night.The Manson's claimed the ritualistic slayings were apart of Charley Manson's Helter Skelter.Yet,the Mansons may simply have been the doped-up and brain-washed assassins of revenge for Frytek Frykowski's increasing involvement in international drug dealings,that went against the wishes of a fixed cartel of old Hollywood dope-dealers.In the Bible,in the 'passover' section it is written that the meaning of 'passover' refers to a destroying angel passing over the blood-sprinkled doors of the children of Israel.Many blood sprinkled and smeared words were left at the victim's houses.The word 'PIG' was smeared on the Polanski/Tate front door.And in ancient Mayan culture,the over-head doorway was smeared with the name of the murdered victim.Dr.George Hodel had a keen interest in Mayan culture and his L.A.mansion was built like a Mayan temple.-Michelle is also a friend of the daughter of an eccentric doctor,Dr.George Hodel.Hodel is still a prime suspect in the 'Black Dahlia'case and possible Zodiac mentor.Nowhere does she mention this.She does reveal much about her numerous affairs.She forgot to mention the time she tried to entice Rock Hudson,in 1977.She believed in his screen image,and did not know of his real preferences.I think she would have had better luck with the center-square flip,Paul Lynde. This is still an readable and interesting autobiography.Fate is on her side.

1 out of 5 stars A Tale of Missing Values & Missing Parenting.......2006-12-31

Our nation has come to this, after 200 years? A minus-10 would be a more accurate rating.

A tale of drugs -- 'Acid 25' -- 'bad checks,' and casual infidelity. After Jefferson, Thomas Paine, Madison, Adams, President Jackson .......?

I will never buy these persons' product or 'music'-making, in any format. I could not, in good conscience, support the source.

To send your 17-year old daughter off to live with a 'room-mate' in San Francisco, who then takes up with a married man with children? (Today, he'd be on a 'predator list' on some website, if not arrested by the FBI for taking the minor female across state lines.) This young female was among the most beautiful produced by over 200,000 years of DNA effort among our tribe, and yet what was the outcome?

The values and behavior portrayed here are beneath our great nation, our people, and our family lines. This tale made me want to join EURO, or some such traditional values effort, and quickly.

4 out of 5 stars With All This Drama, How Could It Fail?.......2006-07-29

When a celebrity chooses to write his/her own story without the aid of a collaborator, there is often a trade-off. The writing can be clumsy and inconsistent, but the sentiments ring authentic and true. Mama Michelle's memoir is just such a book.

Written (assumingly) in her own words, it is at times disjointed, repetitive, and overly simplistic. In places, I found it almost agonizing to read. But I reminded myself that the words were straight from the horse's mouth and, therefore, what it lacked in style it made up for in veracity.

Besides, Michelle had so much great material to work with, it was nearly impossible to go wrong: her unconventional childhood and family life; meeting the very married John Phillips; recounting their early days on the New York City folk scene; the incestuous, tempestuous dynamics of the quartet; and the swinging Southern California music scene in the Sixties. John and Michelle were in the eye of the creative storm, and their house in the Hills was the site of seemingly one continuous party, hosting film stars, rock stars, and everyone who was anyone at that time in our popular culture. With all that fodder, a titillating book was an inevitability.

Michelle looks back on those times with fondness. She is charitable when writing about her former partners. She admits her promiscuity and addresses sexual indiscretions without the book ever becoming seedy or exploitative. You sense that she is aware of how lucky she was to have been at the right place at the right time to have made such an enduring contribution to American music. And she is right.

5 out of 5 stars Mama Michelle Sets the Record Straight.......2002-07-18

I have read the three definitive books on the history of the Mamas and the Papas (including "Papa John" by bandleader John Phillips and the recently published "Creeque Alley" by Matthew Greenwald) but the only book that really captured my interest and gave me a truly in-depth view into the Mamas and the Papas was the wonderful "California Dreamin'" by Michelle Phillips. I bought this book when it was first published in 1986 while I was in college. I had always loved the music of the Mamas and the Papas but I really never knew how the band got together, how their relationships fueled their music and why the group eventually disbanded. It's all here - Michelle's coming of age, her romance with John Phillips, the burgeoning New York folk scene, the first fateful meeting with Mama Cass Elliot, their vacation in the Virgin Islands and then on to California where they met record producer Lou Adler and the rest was history. I think what I enjoyed most about this book was the detailed images of what it must have been like to have lived during the late 60's - Flower Power, the hippie scene and the "Summer of Love". The relationships between the band members, especially that of Michelle and Mama Cass was especially riveting. They were very close and their friendship survived bitter jealousy and deception. I also didn't realize the impact the Mamas and the Papas had on that generation and all they accomplished in just 3 years - several hit singles, four successful albums, a Grammy Award for "Monday, Monday", sold-out concerts from The Hollywood Bowl to Carnegie Hall and their participation (and headliners) with the Monterey Pop Festival in the Summer of 1967. I loved Michelle's writing style - you felt the gamut of emotions from her budding romance with John Phillips, her humilation of being briefly fired from the group, her enthusiasm for being a part of one of the most successful pop groups in history and, finally, the pride of having been so fortunate to have been so resilient and "better off for all you have read". I know I was!

5 out of 5 stars Mama Michelle Sets the Record Straight.......2002-07-18

I have read the three definitive books on the history of the Mamas and the Papas (including "Papa John" by bandleader John Phillips and the recently published "Creeque Alley" by Matthew Greenwald) but the only book that really captured my interest and gave me a truly in-depth view into the Mamas and the Papas was the wonderful "California Dreamin'" by Michelle Phillips. I bought this book when it was first published in 1986 while I was in college. I had always loved the music of the Mamas and the Papas but I really never knew how the band got together, how their relationships fueled their music and why the group eventually disbanded. It's all here - Michelle's coming of age, her romance with John Phillips, the burgeoning New York folk scene, the first fateful meeting with Mama Cass Elliot, their vacation in the Virgin Islands and then on to California where they met record producer Lou Adler and the rest was history. I think what I enjoyed most about this book was the detailed images of what it must have been like to have lived during the late 60's - Flower Power, the hippie scene and the "Summer of Love". The relationships between the band members, especially that of Michelle and Mama Cass was especially riveting. They were very close and their friendship survived bitter jealousy and deception. I also didn't realize the impact the Mamas and the Papas had on that generation and all they accomplished in just 3 years - several hit singles, four successful albums, a Grammy Award for "Monday, Monday", sold-out concerts from The Hollywood Bowl to Carnegie Hall and their participation (and headliners) with the Monterey Pop Festival in the Summer of 1967. I loved Michelle's writing style - you felt the gamut of emotions from her budding romance with John Phillips, her humilation of being briefly fired from the group, her enthusiasm for being a part of one of the most successful pop groups in history and, finally, the pride of having been so fortunate to have been so resilient and "better off for all you have read". I know I was!
You Call It Madness: The Sensuous Song of the Croon
Average customer rating: 3 out of 5 stars
  • I Call It Madness
  • wonderfully crafted and interesting book
  • Goldmine of Information
  • read it for the language: reads like my favorite poetry!
  • The author's stylistic choices degrade the book.
You Call It Madness: The Sensuous Song of the Croon
Lenny Kaye
Manufacturer: Villard
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

GeneralGeneral | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 0679463089
Release Date: 2004-08-03

Book Description

Crosby, Vallee, Columbo. They are their own trinity. Bing is the universal dad. Rudy the misbehaving son. That leaves Russ. The holy ghost.

New York, 1931: The curtain falls on the Ziegfeld Follies, a victim of the rising popularity of talking pictures; Rudy Vallee, radio’s wildly popular “Vagabond Lover,” worries that increasingly sophisticated microphones and Hollywood-minted heartthrobs will make his megaphone-amplified vocals passé; a pugnacious, hard-drinking baritone named Bing Crosby cleans up his act, preparing to take America by storm on CBS radio; and handsome twenty-three-year-old Russ Columbo, a former violinist dating a Ziegfeld girl, makes his debut on NBC radio.

In an America poised to take its dominant place on the world stage, the Crooner points the way forward. With his heated core of sex appeal wrapped in well-tailored layers of cool distance and cigarette smoke, the Crooner brings something new to the country’s self-image: this is no Yankee-Doodle Dandy, but a suave and seductive figure, sophisticated as any European, flush with youthful strength and energy. It’s all there in his voice, his croon: a soft, intimate, sensual form of singing that combines jazz sensibilities with the smooth and danceable rhythms of the Big Band sound and Swing.

But who would embody the new archetype? Vallee crooned too soon. That left Crosby and Columbo to duel it out over the airwaves. Hailed as “The Romeo of Radio” and “The Valentino of Song,” romantically linked to actresses Pola Negri and Carole Lombard, Columbo is all but forgotten today, his limitless promise cut short in a tragic and controversial accident as he stood on the verge of winning the stardom that Crosby, his great rival, would soon achieve.
In this impressionistic tour-de-force–a musical history combining the drama of a bestselling novel and a soundtrack from the Golden Age of Broadway and Hollywood–master musician and critic Lenny Kaye trains a spotlight on Columbo while crooning a love song to an earlier America–a pitch-perfect evocation of one of the most romantic, creatively exuberant periods of our past–an era whose influence still burns brightly in the music and popular culture of today.

Customer Reviews:

1 out of 5 stars I Call It Madness.......2007-08-22

If you are looking for serious biographical info on Columbo or other male popular singers of the 30s, there are several books (Lou Miano's ground-breaking Columbo bio is tops) available right here on Amazon that will fill that need.

Kaye may love the mystique and voice of Russ Columbo, but he loves his own voice even more, and his bizarre rambling present-tense musings detract from the narrative. I also dislike invented dialogue that belongs in the realm of fiction, not biography. Check out the excerpts and you'll see what I mean. A failed literary experiment, at best, from a rocker who is out of his element (Allen Ginsberg he ain't, despite his pretensions).

There is a reason that this book is available for 59 cents, friends.

5 out of 5 stars wonderfully crafted and interesting book.......2006-08-13

Loved the book, loved the writing, loved the story. It should be a movie!

4 out of 5 stars Goldmine of Information.......2006-02-23

This book is a tremendous source of information about the entertainment industry in the first half of the 10th century.
The central character is Russ Columbo, a man of incredible talent who died tragicly at the start of his ascent to stardom. The book
weaves in the stories of udy Vallee, Bing Crosby, Carol Lombard
and dozens of super stars from that period. Reading it inspired me to search for early films by many of these people and view them.
A wonderfull experience. However, the author tends to go off in
many directions and weave in epsisodes from his imagination. This
makes this a hard read that takes concentration and patience.

5 out of 5 stars read it for the language: reads like my favorite poetry!.......2006-01-10

if you enjoy: rimbaud. verlaines(p et t). ferlinghetti. woolfe. ginsberg. reed. dylan(with a z). or smith(with a p a t t i): then you are in for a major bon-bon! A few thoughts:
the subject coulda been anything and i'd love it as much. his writing's a delight: a view into a mind constantly sparking.
this guy has more than 1 axe.
sure, i'm a child of my times and find it easy to relate to the way mr kaye perceives the universe. so what?
i won't buy my 87 yr old mum a copy, never gave her Howl either. i might be wrong.
my 19 yr old daughter (who finds 'a coney island of the mind' essential) gets a copy of 'You Call It Madness : The Sensuous Song of the Croon' as soon as i can get it to her!
thats all i got.

1 out of 5 stars The author's stylistic choices degrade the book........2005-06-14

Looking for an interesting read on the crooners, I was disappointed with the pretentious, erratic, and sometimes unintelligible writing style of the author. Perhaps there was interesting information buried somewhere in the half-sentences, fictional areas, and the "stream of semiconsciousness," but I was too put off and bored by the writing style to slog through it past the first 40 pages.
Be My Baby: How I Survived Mascara, Miniskirts, and Madness, or My Life As a Fabulous Ronette
Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • interesting
  • The Best Music Bio I've Read!
  • Be My Baby by Ronnie Spector and Vince Waldron
  • Worth 10 Stars-Required Reading for Ronnie Spector Fans!
  • WOW: RONNIE AT LAST!
Be My Baby: How I Survived Mascara, Miniskirts, and Madness, or My Life As a Fabulous Ronette
Ronnie Spector , Vince Waldron , Billy Joel , and Cher
Manufacturer: Harmony
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

VoiceVoice | Instruments & Performers | Music | Entertainment | Subjects | Books
GeneralGeneral | Music | Entertainment | Subjects | Books
RockRock | Musical Genres | Music | Entertainment | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 0517574993
Release Date: 1990-09-12

Book Description

Updated with new material

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

Customer Reviews:

3 out of 5 stars interesting .......2007-01-15

Ronnie Spector is more interesting when she was young and a Ronnette as opposed to when she got older. The first half of the book was fascinating, especially from the music history point of view. Once she seperated from Phil Spector, it was not that interesting.

Since the book was updated, I would have liked to hear a lot more about the homicide at Phil Spector's hosue as well as how Joey Ramone's relationship with her.

If you are a fan of Ronnie SPector than this is an enjoyable read.

5 out of 5 stars The Best Music Bio I've Read!.......2003-12-12

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

4 out of 5 stars Be My Baby by Ronnie Spector and Vince Waldron.......2003-10-20

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

5 out of 5 stars Worth 10 Stars-Required Reading for Ronnie Spector Fans!.......2003-02-06

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

5 out of 5 stars WOW: RONNIE AT LAST!.......2002-07-10

For Ronnie Spector fans everywhere, this book has it all. Her early days in New York City, the beginning of the Ronettes, their spectacular number 1 hit BE MY BABY, her nightmare of booze and obsession while married to that creep Phil Spector, and her triumphant return to her first love of music and singing. If you want a fascinating look at the girl groups in Rock and Roll history, then you want to read this book. She writes in a down-to-earth way that makes you feel like a good friend is telling you a heart-wrenching story of pain and loss, of fear and courage. Good going, Ronnie! We love you.
Art and Madness (Contemporary European Cultural Studies)
Average customer rating: Not rated
    Art and Madness (Contemporary European Cultural Studies)
    Jose Guimon
    Manufacturer: The Davies Group Publishers
    ProductGroup: Book
    Binding: Paperback

    GeneralGeneral | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books
    ASIN: 1888570865
    Release Date: 2007-03-30

    Book Description

    Art and Madness offers a critical review of current theories on the relationship between artistic creativity and the psychiatric disturbances that can favor this creativity, the psychodynamic mechanisms proposed by psychoanalysts to explain creativity, and the psychosociological factors that play a role in creativity.
    New Vibe Madness: Solo Vibraphone With Piano Accompaniment
    Average customer rating: Not rated
      New Vibe Madness: Solo Vibraphone With Piano Accompaniment
      Bill Molenhof , Bernhard Pichel , Rudi Engel , and Tom Baker
      Manufacturer: Alfred Publishing Company
      ProductGroup: Book
      Binding: Hardcover

      Sheet Music & ScoresSheet Music & Scores | Formats | Books | Composers | Forms & Genres | Historical Period | Instrumentation
      PercussionPercussion | Instruments & Performers | Music | Entertainment | Subjects | Books
      SongbooksSongbooks | Music | Entertainment | Subjects | Books
      GeneralGeneral | Music | Entertainment | Subjects | Books
      Instruction & StudyInstruction & Study | Theory, Composition & Performance | Music | Entertainment | Subjects | Books
      ASIN: 0769281494

      Book Description

      A new arrangement of two former marimba works by Bill Molenhof plus two original tunes for vibraphone solo with piano accompaniment. Bass and drums may also be added if desired. A CD with Bill performing the pieces is also included. These are cool and jazzy! Titles are: Go Man Go Mallet Man Blues Smiling, I'm Still Here Grey View, Slow Moves.

      Books:

      1. History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)
      2. History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)
      3. History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)
      4. History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)
      5. History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)
      6. How Can I Help? / What Will Help Me? 12 things to do when someone you know suffers a loss / 12 things to remember when you have suffered a loss (two in one book)
      7. How to Say It For Women: Communicating with Confidence and Power Using the Language of Success
      8. Hugo L. Black and the Dilemma of American Liberalism (Library of American Biography Series) (Library of American Biography)
      9. I Thought We'd Never Speak Again: The Road from Estrangement to Reconciliation
      10. Ida B. Wells-Barnett and American Reform, 1880-1930

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