Book Description
A tour-de-force history of Jews, blues, and the birth of a new industry.
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. Full of absorbing lore and animated by a deep love for popular music, Machers and Rockers is a smash hit. 12 illustrations.
About the series: W. W. Norton and Atlas Books announce the launch of a dynamic new 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:
Tries to write poetry, succeeds in slobbering.......2007-01-04
What looks like a history of Chess records is a bloated, unwieldy tome that deeply disappoints. While you hope to hear about Muddy Waters, Bo Diddley and other Chess greats, you get Cohen's slobbering rambling.
Here's a typical sentence (speaking of a piece of art in the Metropolitan Museum, surely a necessary comparison for a book about a roots-oriented blues-and-rock record label in Chicago): "This man, as Avedon portrays him, is rough and angry, unsociable, clear-eyed, ancient and folkloric, a relic from another age, genetically no different than those who came later, yet touched by the residue of a great evil." HUH?
Fully half of the book is history of Chicago going as far back as the Civil War. This is a startlingly bad history that pretends to be about records and instead is a palette for palaver.
Author a fan, but not too accurate.......2006-03-24
Rich Cohen's heart is in the right place here, but he needs to get some facts straight, e.g., the band is J. Geils, not Jay Geils. I liked his previous effort, "Cooler by the Lake", but this needs some serious editing.
How Leonard Chess built one of America's truly great indie labels.......2005-07-13
These "record men" were a special breed. Men like Herman Lubsinky at Savoy in New Jersey, Sam Phillips at Sun in Memphis, Syd Nathan of King Records in Cincinnati and one Leonard Chess were the driving force in the evolution of the music we now call rock and roll. "Machers and Rockers" concentrates on Leonard Chess and tells the remarkable story of Chess Records. In the span of 20 years beginning in 1948, the Chess brothers, Leonard and Phil, would build Chess records into the second largest independent record company in America. No small achievement! More importantly, it was Leonard Chess who played a pivotal role in bringing the blues out of the fields and into America's cities. It was this development, perhaps more than any other, that would ultimately result in the emergence of what we now call rock & roll in the mid 1950's.
How did these guys do it? Why did these men succeed when so many others tried and failed? As author Rich Cohen points out there was really nothing terribly mysterious about it.
Leonard Chess was a savvy businessman who was determined to succeed in the record business. And God knows, he was not afraid of hard work. Successful "record men" would do whatever it took. Leonard Chess was actively involved in nearly every aspect of his business. He beat the bushes in search of talent. He signed the artists and produced the records. Then he would stuff thousands of records into the trunk of his car and hustle them all over the Midwest. For the indies like Chess there was little margin for error. A major miscalculation could doom a small record company.
"Machers and Rockers" is a revealing look into the underbelly of the recording industry in 1950's America. However, as other reviewers have pointed out there are several glaring errors in this book. Some pretty sloppy research if you ask me. The best I can muster is a lukewarm recommendation. Since there are a number of books devoted to the subject of Chess records you might want to check out one of those.
What A Mess.......2005-03-26
I've read a couple of Cohen's books and enjoyed his tough prose style...
In "Machers and Rockers", he lets the style get away from him. Reading like an out of control Nick Tosches or a less violent James Elroy, Cohen uses his tough guy style loose on a number of unrelated tangents that immediately doom this book.
Even worse for a book about Chess Records, Cohen commits a number of horrific blunders about the artists and their music. This suggests either a lack of familiarity with his subject matter, a lack of editing and/or fact checking at the publishers, or a lack of caring.
When the lyrics to Muddy Waters' seminal "Hoochie Coochie Man" are badly mangled near the start of the book, it sets a dagerous precedent. (Note - Cohen badly messes up the third line of the song) If he can't even get a simple lyric right, why should we believe anything else that he wants to tell us?
To use a yiddishism to describe this book - "feh"...
An excellent survey .......2005-01-04
Avid followers of popular music will readily understand the importance of Chess Records in the early to modern business of rock and roll production, and won't want to miss Rich Cohen's Machers And Rockers: Chess Records And The Business Of Rock & Roll, an excellent survey of the two immigrants who changed the course of musical history by recording such artists as Muddy Waters and Chuck Berry. Cohen's lively coverage tells how Chess rose to become a multi-billion-dollar business, aggressively marketing artists and riding the rock and roll wave.
Book Description
An unprecedented event is sweeping America: 10,000 baby boomers turn 50 every day! Many expect this aging generation to become an albatross around America's neck—overwhelming the health care system, bankrupting Social Security, and retreating to retirement villages where they'll refuse to support social services with their taxes. In Never Too Old to Rock and Roll, Tom Hardin offers a different perspective: Life after 50 can be the best years yet!
Since the 1960s, baby boomers have created radical change. Whether it's voting rights or civil rights, relating to kids or in the workplace, baby boomers approach life differently. According to Hardin, how this generation approaches aging will also be different.
"Baby boomers are expected to live longer than any generation before them and they're realizing they have vast options when it comes to their quality of life," said Hardin. "By practicing a revolutionary concept called personal wealth management, they can achieve total wealth and abundance in every area of life—physical, emotional, and especially financial."
If you're looking for powerful, practical ways to make life after 50 your best years yet, get ready to rock and roll! This book will permanently change the way America looks at aging.
Customer Reviews:
Book for All Ages and Good Insight to Life - Young and Old!.......2005-07-20
Tom has written a great book! It is for anyone who wants road map for financial freedom and the joy of retirement. As I read this book I kept thinking how much it applied to all ages. I am retired now and Tom gave me some insight about spending and enjoying the fruits of my efforts. I have missed a lot of joy if the "Kids" get to spend the "fruits" instead of me and my Wife. Bill
Life-affirming and goal-oriented.......2005-07-10
Author Tom Hardin is a financial planner, but this book offers much more than ways on how to increase your wealth. This is a positive, upbeat, life-affirming book that encourages readers to plan not only for their financial futures, but also for lives that are emotionally and spiritually fulfilling, and as physically healthy as possible.
He offers examples of people who have planned carefully and thought about what they wanted to do with their lives, and who are now living the best lives possible. This is NOT a book of vague generalizations. Hardin offers specific suggestions and guidelines, and encourages the reader to think deeply about what s/he wants out of life. Then, he says, act on those goals!
You can't pick this book up without catching some of Hardin's optimism and energy. And I intend to pick this book up and peruse it many more times!
A Great Book for All Ages.......2005-06-06
This book really hits the nail on the head for anyone hoping to live a long and healty life. Tom covers three important topics, vision, health and investing. I really liked the stories of real people who are still rocking and rolling after all these years. If you believe your best years are ahead of you, buy this book and start living a life you love, at any age.
A Real Wake-Up for Those 50 and Older!.......2005-05-20
So true...while generations past wound down at 50; the baby boomers and all after have too much and to long to live to even think about it. Winding up and making the second 50 years the best ever is a religion all need to follow. "Never Too Old" puts in all in perspective in a very comprehensive, quick reading book. T. Ottinger, Redondo Beach, CA
Must read for financial and life planning !.......2005-01-25
My wife handed me the book and asked that I also read it. I am 41, not 50 ,and think it is a must read for anyone planning their future. Don't wait until 50 to read it. The author addresses more than just financial planning issues. He asks you to think about the "big picture"; what you want your future to look like financially, physically, and mentally - how to be healthy in order to enjoy your future and to make sure you are doing something you enjoy when you get there.
Book Description
The definitive biography of legendary producer Phil Spector, now updated through Spector's upcoming murder trial and its verdict
"A rich, racy inside-show-biz story, with enough backstabbing to dye the Borgias' drapes and a madman cast ranging from John Lennon and Lenny Bruce to Sonny Bono.... [Ribowsky] springs terrific quotes from Spector's few friends and many foes." (James Wolcott, Vanity Fair)
Phil Spector created the "wall of sound," produced the Beatles' last record, persuaded the Ramones to go "pop," made the Righteous Brothers sound respectable, and was a millionaire by the age of twenty-one. His credits include some of the most indelible songs of the '60s: The Ronettes' "Be My Baby," the Crystals' "Then He Kissed Me," and Ike and Tina Turner's "River Deep, Mountain High."
Culled from more than 100 interviews with Spector's closest associates, and fully updated to include the firsthand details of the alleged murder of actress Lana Clarkson, He's a Rebel boldly explores Spector's legendary eccentricities, addictions, and violent, reclusive tendencies. This is the definitive, unflinching portrait of Phil Spector, the producer who transformed the airwaves and forever changed the sound of popular music.
"[Ribowsky] brings the story down to earth without sacrificing its drama. Relying on frank and extensive interviews...Ribowsky doesn't shrink from cruelty or even horror." (Greil Marcus)
Customer Reviews:
Rebel he is !.......2007-09-04
This gave me some insight into Phil's life, as I am now seeing his Murder trial play out on Court TV. He has always had problems with Women, guns,and drinking to much, as well as possible pychotic episodes. A "Madman", he is called that cheated many a singer out of their due. And songs that I remember from the 50's, 60's, along with working on the Beatles album "Let It Be". This is an updated version and refers to the Lana Clarkson Murder Case, for which he is in, at the present time.
Joan
Truth Stranger than Life.......2007-05-25
"Truth is really stranger than fiction. While Phil Spector's murder trial continues in real life (with the TV movie sure to come), you can read the true life story of a rock n'roll legend who is now on trial for his life.
Rock's dreaded Spector.......2007-04-09
The author updates his 1989 biography of one of rock music's legendary geniuses with additional chapters that lead up to Phil Spector's murder trial this year. Ribowsky provides an inside look at the early days of the rock 'n' roll record industry, when record producers like Spector called all the shots and matched singers with songs until the Beatles kicked down the established formula for stardom. Spector's life was shaped by the early death of his father, being raised and dominated by his mother and sister, and his relentless drive for perfection in the recording studio. He created the so-called "Wall of Sound" and produced some of the best records in rock history, but left a trail of wreckage in his wake. Ribowsky captures the flavor of the music business and takes music fans through the behind-the-scenes stories of records made by the Ronnettes, Crystals, Gene Pitney, Beatles and Tina Turner.
Crazy in Cookstown.......2004-01-19
Just a short rebuttal to crazycgh, though one hardly seems necessary given his ludicrous -- and clearly absent-minded --citations of the "omissions" in Ribowsky's wonderful biography of Phil Spector.
The message is this: Hey, genius, if you'd, uh, like READ the book, you would see that on Page 131 there is a full discussion of "Do the Screw" (which incidentally is NOT the title of that track; it's "Let's Dance the Screw Part 1 and 2"), including the musicians who played on it, the studio where it was recorded, the delicious fact that the only copy of the song ever sent out was to the co-owner of Spector's label, whom he was trying to ease out, as well as a comment from said co-owner, to the effect that the record was Spector's way of saying, "F**k you buddy." One would have to be seriously narcoleptic to miss all that. So now we know a little something about crazycgh.
As his other quibbles demonstrate, perhaps crazy could find something to do in Cookstown, anything to get him out of the house more. Or at all.
A decent bio, despite discographical errors & omissions.......2002-09-11
OK, maybe I'm being a perfectionist nit-picker, not unlike Spector himself, but several glaring discographical references rankle me. In the edition I have, there is a photo reproduction of the 45rpm "HE'S A REBEL" on the dust jacket. The key to the images clearly states that it is "The ORIGINAL Philles issue of HE'S A REBEL". However, the Collectables catalog number of COL 3200-A identifies the record as an '80s reissue.
In the discography itself, key suffixes (such as the X on #119 for the Christmas release) are missing. This is an important fact, since the catalog number was used more than once. And, where is "DO THE SCREW", Spector's angry legal retort to a mandated Crystals release ?
Alternate B-sides (such as on WAIT TIL MY BOBBY COMES HOME) are not indicated, and the discography continues the ongoing falsehood that Philles 123,134,135, and 136 were not released. I have stock copies of all but 136.
In the text, the writer refers to Gene Pitney's EVERY BREATH I TAKE as a "flop". Sure, # 42 on Billboard isn't a HUGE hit, but it is FAR from a flop.
With all that said, the book is still fun to read, and there are genuine glints and gleans into Spector that add to the history of the legendary producer.
Average customer rating:
- Great Behind-the-Scenes View of Rock and Roll Business
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Star-Making Machinery: Inside the Business of Rock and Roll
Geoffrey Stokes
Manufacturer: Random House Inc (P)
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
 Production & Operations
| Management & Leadership
| Business & Investing
| Subjects
| Books
Business
| Music
| Entertainment
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Music
| Entertainment
| Subjects
| Books
Money
| Issues
| Children's Books
| Subjects
| Books
ASIN: 0394724321 |
Customer Reviews:
Great Behind-the-Scenes View of Rock and Roll Business.......2005-10-15
The record business may have changed a bit since the 1970s when this book was written, but not so much that this book isn't still a must-read for anyone dreaming of or on their way to being involved in any aspect of the major label record business. And it's a great, fun and very informative read for anyone interested in how the major label record business really works.
This book is fact filled, but wrapped in drama, humor and poignancy as we see how real, talented musicians deal with the ups and downs of the business side of rock stardom. It is also a good view of pop culture in the 1970s.
The author takes us inside the music business, up close, giving us a blow-by-blow, true-life account of a year in the life of the band Commander Cody and the Lost Planet Airmen, a mid-tier rock band poised on the brink of greatness. It's a story of drama, comedy, pathos and heartbreak as we see the band members work their way through (and be worked by) the "star-making machinery" of the record business.
We are taken into the recording studio numerous times and see what a major label recording session is like and how it feels to be a musician involved in it all. We go into meetings with record company executives. We see the jealousies, the in-fighting, the record executive double-dealing, the hopes and dreams and disappointments of the rock business.
This book is a joy to read. It is entertaining, informative and real. Don't sign a record contract without reading it!
Customer Reviews:
Author Misses Point.......2006-08-09
This book is somewhat informative, yet somewhat suspect. The author chooses ex-wives and foes of Bill Graham to
provide "insight" or rather sling the dirt in unnecessary ways with pithy comments ("graham would collect loose change off of the floor after a show")in an effort to highlight graham's reputation as a capatilist. The author cannot relate the smallest anecedote without putting in a jab about the fact that Graham made money. The author seems to have a bone to pick with capatilism and Bill Graham, and rather than write a good read, he takes shots and really does graham a disservice. This book is marginal at best.
Here's the flip-side.......2004-05-03
Although I enjoyed (and still do) the 'authorized' Bill Graham bio "Bill Graham Presents", my biggest problem with the book is the lack of balance. Bill's missteps are barely touched on in that book, and while it's not essential to know EVERY salacious detail, how can you neglect his failures when you mention every single triumph?
A good example of this is the information Bill Wyman provides concerning some devastating reasons why Bill Graham was not even considered for the Stones' SteelWheels tour. There are some more anecdotes about his interpersonal behaviour, and his drug use (barely mentioned in "BGP") as well as his treatment of Janis Joplin in the early stages of her career. Commentary from Steve Wozniak about the 'U.S. Festival', as well as more sound bites from his previous spouses.
I wouldn't think much less of Bill had these incidents been in the Greenfield book, but it would have been a bit more even-handed. As it is, this book sheds a tad more light onto an already colourful life story, but lacks the insightfulness of the Greenfield bio. Worth getting to complete the picture, but not as essential.
I learned a lot but need to tell you something............2002-01-17
This unauthorized biography has quotes and comments from a lot of people that Bill did not like or respect. It is somewhat one-sided in that respect. People either loved or hated him, but a remarkable number of people respected him and appreciated what he did. Having worked with him for 12 years, I am one who respected him greatly. This is just one of the two bios on him and I suggest readers look for the authorized one by Robert Greenfield called BILL GRAHAM PRESENTS.
A rare glimpse at an influential man.......2001-12-23
John Glatt's story of Bill Graham's journey from a humble immigrant into a legendary promoter reads like a fiction novel. A well documented and enjoyable read. Highly recommended for anyone interested in the history of rock.
Brilliant.......1998-07-22
Excellent book on the history of concert promotion and exquisitively researched .... John Glatt has a rare gift as a biographer
Book Description
The unique ability of rock and roll to inspire fanatical support from its customers is undeniable; the loyalty showered upon the Rolling Stones, Elton John, Aerosmith, and others who create it, unmatched; and the lessons for corporate America, endless. In the past, business leaders have looked to the successes of other firms to guide their own strategies for increasing market share and capturing more consumer attention, spending, and loyalty. However, in today’s hyper-competitive marketplace, managers are looking for ways to shake, rattle, and roll corporate America’s traditional marketing and branding mindset. In Brands That Rock, Roger Blackwell and Tina Stephan, co-authors of best-selling Customers Rule! and From Mind To Market, take readers behind the music to uncover how businesses can create brands that become adopted by culture and capture a long-term position in the marketplace. Brands That Rock takes a unique, behind-the-music look at how businesses can increase brand awareness, customer loyalty, and profits by implementing some of the same strategies that legendary bands have used to transform customers into fan and create deep, emotional connections with them. Aerosmith and Madonna offer insight into how to evolve a brand to remain relevant in the marketplace without alienating current fans, while the Rolling Stones and KISS prove that successful execution at all levels of the brand experience are key to capturing long-term loyalty. Stephan and Blackwell also examine how businesses, from Victoria’s Secret and Wal-Mart to Cadillac and Kraft, have implemented ‘rock and roll strategies’ to become adopted by culture and secure fans in their own right. Filled with fun anecdotes and interviews from industry insiders, Brands That Rock will relate to managers who grew up with classic rock, showing them how build iconic brands, and delight fans decade after decade.
Roger D. Blackwell (Columbus, OH) is President of Roger Blackwell Associates, a consulting firm that works with Fortune 500 companies in the areas of consumer trends, strategy, e-commerce, and global business. A highly sought-after speaker, he is also Professor of Marketing at the Fisher College of Business at The Ohio State University. Tina Stephan (Columbus, OH and New York, NY) is Vice President of Roger Blackwell Associates. Together, they have collaborated on eight books, including Customers Rule! and From Mind to Market, and numerous articles and research projects.
Download Description
The unique ability of rock and roll to inspire fanatical support from its customers is undeniable; the loyalty showered upon the Rolling Stones, Elton John, Aerosmith, and others who create it, unmatched; and the lessons for corporate America, endless. In the past, business leaders have looked to the successes of other firms to guide their own strategies for increasing market share and capturing more consumer attention, spending, and loyalty. However, in today’s hyper-competitive marketplace, managers are looking for ways to shake, rattle, and roll corporate America’s traditional marketing and branding mindset. In Brands That Rock, Roger Blackwell and Tina Stephan, co-authors of best-selling Customers Rule! and From Mind To Market, take readers behind the music to uncover how businesses can create brands that become adopted by culture and capture a long-term position in the marketplace. Brands That Rock takes a unique, behind-the-music look at how businesses can increase brand awareness, customer loyalty, and profits by implementing some of the same strategies that legendary bands have used to transform customers into fan and create deep, emotional connections with them. Aerosmith and Madonna offer insight into how to evolve a brand to remain relevant in the marketplace without alienating current fans, while the Rolling Stones and KISS prove that successful execution at all levels of the brand experience are key to capturing long-term loyalty. Stephan and Blackwell also examine how businesses, from Victoria’s Secret and Wal-Mart to Cadillac and Kraft, have implemented ‘rock and roll strategies’ to become adopted by culture and secure fans in their own right. Filled with fun anecdotes and interviews from industry insiders, Brands That Rock will relate to managers who grew up with classic rock, showing them how build iconic brands, and delight fans decade after decade.
Roger D. Bl
Customer Reviews:
Refreshing idea and enjoyable read!.......2004-08-27
A colleague of mine recommended this book to me and I found it to be an enjoyable and exciting read. The authors should be applauded for using new material (i.e. Rock Bands) to explain fundamental marketing and branding strategies. The book flows extremely well and I found myself finishing the entire book in two sittings. This book will appeal to a variety of audiences from the rock n roll loving CEO to college marketing majors.
Engaging, entertaining, approach to marketing strategy.......2004-05-19
Another reviewer had several harsh things to say about this book, which probably stems from the book's front cover positioning this as a text for "business leaders". While business leaders might indeed gain some useful insights from the authors, this book isn't explicitly for them. It's for every marketer with an FM radio.
The authors make liberal use of pop culture references throughout the book, providing touchpoints that readers will instantly relate to. For example, I've read a number of books that analyze the strategies that built Wal Mart into the giant it is today, but none have been as interesting as this book's treatment of the topic. Here's a bit from Chapter 4 of the book:
"Like KISS, which had decided that starting out as a whale in a pond was better than starting out as a minnow in an ocean, Wal-Mart chose to build its brand and fan base in rural America, segment by segment, foregoing mass markets where it had relatively few differential advantages. By staying away from cities and suburbs, Wal-Mart avoided head-to-head competition with giants Sears and Montgomery Ward.... winning fans town by town for several decades, gradually amassing scale."
The authors have packed the book with this sort of imagery, making the marketing concepts covered a snap to grasp. To put it simply, this book rocks!
Forced analogies, wasted time........2004-02-09
The book reads as if its contents were taken from the professor's course notes for Branding 101, complete with rock n roll analogies repeatedly and gratuitously forced into each lecture to bump up the end-of-semester student ratings.
As you browse through the text before buying, consider two curiousities and one serious issue I have with this book:
(a) The back jacket offers a spectrum of endorsements beginning with Sean "P. Diddy" Combs--surely a universal touchstone for marketing insight. Would it be too much to ask for proof that Philip Kotler read the entire manuscript before offering his "praise"?
(b) Pages 2, 16 and 61 show disagreement as to whether Elton John achieved consecutive Top 10 or Top 40 hits in each of the past 30 years.
(c) Ultimately, the book's relevance to your world depends on the degree to which your brand enjoys the inherent connection that music makes with the human condition (read: needs and wants). Think about it: Marketing is the practice of fulfilling needs and wants in an exchange of value. Listeners need or want music to touch them--to make an emotional connection. Therefore, an artist who can sustain the ability to meet these basic needs and wants, which over time naturally means "staying relevant," will have a long career. You will find Sergio Zyman's recent effort to be a far better introduction to meeting needs/wants and staying relevant.
The antics of KISS, Madonna and most of the other primary examples cited in this text are coincidental side shows that speak more to the art of reinventing the brand once its become irrelvant. A far more meaningful effort would have examined the artists who have sustained deep relevance WITHOUT having to reinvent themselves through shock culture (e.g., Springsteen, Clapton, CSN, Stevie Wonder and U2--just to name a few).
In closing, and with apologies to Kid Rock:
"I been sittin here just wastin time.
Drinking, smoking, thinking, trying to free my mind."
Average customer rating:
- The Rock 'n' Roll of business...
- Never Mind the Sex Pistols, Here's the Book
|
Sex, Leadership And Rock N' Roll: Leadership Lessons from the Academy of Rock
Peter Cook
Manufacturer: Crown House Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
Motivation & Self-Improvement
| Business Life
| Business & Investing
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Business & Investing
| Subjects
| Books
Management
| Management & Leadership
| Business & Investing
| Subjects
| Books
Motivational
| Management & Leadership
| Business & Investing
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Mental Health
| Health, Mind & Body
| Subjects
| Books
ASIN: 1845900162 |
Product Description
At last, a book that cuts through the jargon of leadership and personal development. It offers a real world source of inspiration and provocation in areas such as: creativity, innovation, relationships, motivation, leadership, high performance, learning and reinvention. The unique approach springs from the mix of leading edge concepts with the wisdom of the street in the form of rock music. This is served up in a quirky, challenging but intelligent way. Peter Cook has skillfully synthesized these diverse viewpoints using his background, both as a business academic, MBA graduate and tutor, strategy consultant and thought leader as well as a musician, writing and performing music, in rock bands. The book examines the issues using the analogy of "Sex, Drugs and Rock n Roll" rather than the language of prophets, consultants and gurus. In this context, the letters MBA stand for "Management By Attitude." Let there be Rock n Roll Leadership!
Customer Reviews:
The Rock 'n' Roll of business..........2007-10-02
I once heard a guy called Frank Douglas, a Senior HR VP at Shell, say of large organizations, "We recruit for an orchestra, then berate people for not innovating like a jazz band." Which is, essentially, the theme behind this very enjoyable book. Though the author favors Rock'n' Roll as a balance between structure (orchestra) and chaos (jazz)
Businesses need to reflect the markets they serve and those markets are now less structured, predictable and rule-bound than ever before. And employees and customers are more questioning and challenging than ever before. "Leading in such a business environment," says Peter Cook in this book, "is no longer like conducting an orchestra, where the band has the same sheet music, players know what instruments they must play and the audience accept what they are given. In 21st century society, leaders must move from being score writers to becoming improvisers."
The author then uses the analogy of leading a rock band for creatively leading your organization today, including such nice turns of phrase as "have more productive fun at work, i.e. 'aha' (inspiring), 'ha, ha' (laughing) and 'cha, cha' (moving) moments."
The book title refers to three critical areas in leading an organization today - Relationships (the Sex), Motivation & Leadership (the Drugs) and High Performance (the Rock 'n' Roll).
Cook sustains his riff admirably throughout the book and manages to sneak in beneath the entertaining approach a series of important subjects - from complexity theory and structured ambiguity to Fred Herzberg's findings on motivation and demoralization at work.
I have to read a lot of business and leadership books for my work. I even write them occasionally. This one was a refreshing change: combining entertainment with serious business reading, as Cook has done with this book, is definitely the way to go. Phil Dourado, www.TheLeadershipHub.com
Never Mind the Sex Pistols, Here's the Book.......2007-07-17
With the obvious exception of books like Execution: The Discipline of Getting Things Done by Bossidy et al., I've always thought that the modern, prescriptive style of management learning emphasized the thinking part of business (what I call the clean front end) at the expense of the doing it (the dirty back end). And everyone who's been there and done it realizes that the latter is a pragmatic quagmire, a long way from those idealized two-by-two matrices, simple-to-understand (and difficult to apply?) models, and convenient checklists. So Sex, Leadership and Rock & Roll: Leadership Lessons From The Academy Of Rock provides an interesting, alternative perspective to this paradigm.
As the title alludes, it's not a normal book; it's jargon-free (no buzzword bingo here), and focuses on a pop culture-influenced version of business, specifically anchored by modern music (not just rock & roll). And the subject matter is closely defined, based around the central tenet of creative leadership. Following the establishment of some basic concepts that link music to business, the book is structured around what Cook terms as the practice: sex (relationships), drugs (motivation and leadership) and rock & roll (performance). It concludes with an epilogue on application, a list of lists that summarize and extend these ideas.
Nothing too crazy about that, but what is unusual is the attention to case studies, often taken from Cook's extensive career facilitating sessions with Fortune 500 companies, and examples that resonate on first encounter. Another break from the normal for a business book is the division between left brain and right brain concepts, applied quite literally to the page; the left page features the meat - the concepts, ideas, theoretical underpinnings all linked to music - while the right has illustrations, pictures and typographical embellishments to reinforce the message. It's fair to say that it's unlikely you'll ever see James Brown quoted ("Any problem in the world can be solved by dancing") alongside Albert Einstein ("Love is a matter of chemistry, but sex is a matter of physics") in your usual management tomes.
To think this book is too accessible, too much of a fun read to provide benefit is to do it a disservice. It does help to have an understanding of pop culture (for instance, knowing the significance of the replica Stonehenge in This Is Spinal Tap is a useful life skill, let alone crucial business competence, in my opinion), and there is a section for recommended reading, listening, seeing and, a first for me, doing to aid in your enhancement of street cred-ness. But there is substantive theory, applying Maslow's hierarchy of needs to motivation, for instance, to riffs on newer ideas like neuro-linguistic programming, to key points, on which the reader can reflect or take action.
Full disclosure: Peter Cook was my course tutor for part of my MBA, and subsequently I commented on a draft of this book (without payment and I won't receive any benefit from sales). This notwithstanding, at a time when business (teaching) is becoming more grey and uniform, an alternative view on reality is sometimes required. Think of this as a splash of color to help you in this quest.
Customer Reviews:
All That Jazz.......2007-02-19
The book itself is an amazing historical journey not only to Ahmet Ertegun's (R.I.P) achievements but also to the somewhat murky (and entertaining) dynamics of the music industry. I strongly recommend this book as an entree to those who are interested in the entertainment industry.
Customer Reviews:
How can a book change your life ..........2001-06-01
When you are a sixteen year old Italian kid and you dream about making it in the entertainmenty industry it ain't easy. Italy is not the most rock n'roll country in the world, the music biz used to be very undeveloped in the late 80s and I didn't have a clue about how getting involved. Then one day reading Spin Magazine I read a feature about "Backstage Pass" and thought that it was the book for me, or at least could have been a chance to learn more about the entertainment industry. My granny lent me the 16 bucks to order it and after about a month there it was in my mail box in all its glossy glory. Inside there was also a note from the author, Eric Todd, asking me to write back with my opinions about it as I was his only customer from Europe, can you imagine? I started reading the book as if there was no tomorrow, lots of interviews from many famous industry people, Pete Cappadocia for pyros, Jane Rose Keith Richards' manager and many others talking about how they started and how their job works. Basically the message was: "You can make it if you try" and so I did. 10 years after I have been on the road in the US with punk rock bands, tour managed in my country for foreign bands, toured Europe with my band, started a record label, worked as a club manager, P.R. guy for clubs and bands and have tons of fond memories all because of this book. What else can I say? If you dream about making it and you don't have aclue, or if you want to have a tip from the experts that are quite likely unable to return your call or mails (even though Jane Rose has sent me signed photos by Keith Richards and many others have helped me with precious tips) this is the book for you. It changed my life!
Book Description
This digital document is an article from Journal of Economic Issues, published by Thomson Gale on September 1, 2007. The length of the article is 7394 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.
Citation Details
Title: Competition, selection and Rock and Roll: the economics of payola and authenticity.
Author: Joeri M. Mol
Publication:
Journal of Economic Issues (Magazine/Journal)
Date: September 1, 2007
Publisher: Thomson Gale
Volume: 41
Issue: 3
Page: 701(14)
Distributed by Thomson Gale
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