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:
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.
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.
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.
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.
Book Description
With flawless period detail and a dapper English detective reminiscent of Lord Peter Wimsey, Kate Ross is charming fans of Anne Perry and Elizabeth George--and earning a loyal following of mystery readers eager to accompany Julian Kestrel from adventure to satisfying adventure. Traveling on the Continent with his ex-pickpocket valet, Kestrel finds himself caught up in the mysterious and murderous world of the opera. Four years ago, the Italian marquis Ludovico Malvezzi was murdered, and Orfeo, the young English tenor he had been training for a career on the glittering operatic stage, disappeared. As Kestral is irresistibly drawn into the baffling case, he encounters suspects at every turn: a runaway wife and her male soprano lover; a liberal nobleman at odds with Italy's Austrian overlords; a mocking Frenchman with perfect pitch; a beautiful, clever widow who haunts Kestrel's dreams; and the missing Orfeo, the penniless protg who just might be a political agent. And when the killer strikes again, Kestrel's quest for answers spirals into a crescendo of passion, danger, and music as he risks becoming a ruthless murderer's next victim.
Customer Reviews:
Excellent historical mystery in unusual setting.......2007-01-28
This excellent fiction falls between four and five stars, and I'm rounding up, as a generous Italian may have during the lively festival that occurs in one segment of the book. The late Ms. Ross has chosen an unusual time and place for her intrigue and historical backdrop, 1820s northern Italy post-Napoleon, and an atypical hook with the opera in a key role. Those fundamentals bring a freshness to the story, as providing the background on the political scene, culture, the meaning of rank relative to the peasants, daily life and music gave Ms. Ross plenty of room for overview and vivid detail without being stale.
The length (440 pages) came in a little too long for me, with some trimming certainly possible. The wrap-up after the climax was a little disjointed, as there was quite a bit of dialog in the remaining scenes finishing the story and explaining much of the complexity. The plus side of the length is that she gave depth to the background and characters, with multiple threads, all related. I can't recall any completely irrelevant subplots, as seemingly every character who appeared more than a trivial amount somehow figured into the plot itself or its resolution. Many tidbits read as obvious clues - they just won't be obvious in meaning. For example, Julian discovers that a servant is literate and knows Latin, highly unusual at the time. If you don't figure out why that matters, you will eventually.
Don't be scared off if you have no interest in opera and think this is a story for specialists. Music lovers may have an extra appreciation of the scenes at the opera, perhaps, but the connection is handled lightly enough and with enough explanation to be entertaining and informative for the casual reader. I say that as someone with virtually no interest in opera.
Also have no fear of reading "The Devil in Music" without any familiarity with Julian Kestrel from her three other novels. Ms. Ross included sufficient background for you to get the idea, and I assume that this one stands well enough on its own that those three wouldn't necessarily have given the reader a better chance of solving the mystery early.
Julian seemed almost too good to be true, living the life of the "dandy" and blending with the aristocracy that somehow keeps itself occupied and (usually) funded. And he's a natural with the servants and peasants, too. Smart, sophisticated, musically talented and courageous, who could blame him for his attraction to Beatrice or another sultry, spirited Italian. Some other characters, such as the unfriendly Grimani and the murdered marchese, have enough edge to be plausible and interesting.
How did a trial lawyer manage to write such an intelligent novel? It's sad to imagine what else she may have published in the ten years since this fine work.
Buried Treasure.......2006-11-07
I grieve for the marvelous Kate Ross, who died after penning three of the best novels in any genre. Luckily, the strength of her writing (plot, characters, feeling for historical setting) allow for endless re-reading. The Devil in Music is, to pun, a virtuoso masterpiece. A tense manor house mystery becomes something far more grand, with much more reach when it is set against political upheaval in 1820's Italy. The role the opera serves that piece of society, the effect music has on every soul are both explored, but in a way that does not necessitate a previous knowledge of any of the subject matter. Julian Kestrel's man-servant provides an outsider's view of everything, particularly of political high fliers and of those who hide behind costumes for the opera. He serves as Tolstoy's Natasha at the theatre.
Ross lets the tension ease only to bring it on more strongly. The reader is gripped from beginning to end by the intense personalities of the main characters. Evil seems to lurk everywhere, and only the astute Julian Kestrel will ever be able to see things for what they are--and they are very, very unexpected.
Thank you, Kate Ross.......2006-07-26
Kate Ross left us far too early, but as the reviewer below stated, she did leave us with Julian Kestrel. And for that, we are grateful.
What an amazing fourth book. Unlike the previous three in the series, this one does not take place in England, but in Italy. The ending was as surprising a twist as any twist I've read in recent memory. The plot is rich, the characters are colorful, the dialogue wonderful, and Julian is once again the character you stand up and cheer for. Please do not be put off by the thickness of the book. The pages fly by and when it's finished, you'll find yourself wanting more.
These are the Julian Kestrel books in chronological order:
Cut to the Quick
A Broken Vessel
For Whom the Gods Love
The Devil in Music
I heartily recommend this series to everybody, not just historical mystery fans.
A must for historical mystery fans.......2006-02-02
Kate Ross's body of work may be small - only four Julian Kestrel novels - but it stands up to the greats of the genre. All the Kestrel novels are rewarding reads and this is the best of the four. As much about the passionate love of music as passionate love itself and what it can drives us to do, The Devil in Music is fine mystery, a fine comedy of manners and a great novel. Kate Ross left us too soon; thankfully she left us with Julian Kestrel.
Opera and Omerto.......2004-12-12
I have been following threads in mystery-fan groups about historical mysteries (i.e., modern mysteries set in the past that try to apply detection and fair-play in a situation where they would not likely have occurred). Many objections to this are basically trivial, that there are no 'forsooths' or attempts at period language -- to which I say, every era has its own slang and vulgar language, why try to reproduce it authentically (apart from a few nice bits of historical cant, well-represented here by Dipper's argot) rather than just write the book as though it had been translated into modern language from Sanskrit or whatever? The important thing is to get the history right factually, or as factual as can be when discussing items that are still controversial among historians. Harder is to present the different mind-sets of typical people of the era. Greed, love, revenge, etc. as usual are behind all crimes, but how these were regarded by the populace generally, and by those responsible for law enforcement in particular are not always well presented, and 'anachronistic' thoughts by the detective are a hazard. Ross avoids these pitfalls in this book. A nice contrast between those two lines of thought is provided by contrasting Kestrel with the official police detective Grimani, who serves as the Lestrade of this book to Kestrel's Holmes.
In any case, I finally got hold of Kate Ross's "Devil in Music," the last of the four books in her Regency detective Julian Kestrel series (shamefully hard to find except on-line). She died in her forties, a real pity since the books were getting better and better. This is a wonderful book, although many detective-story purists will hate it because it can't be defined as belonging to any particular genre: Regency Romance, Spy Novel, Detective Story, Thriller, etc. It has all of those elements, plus being a 'Ripping Yarn' (James Bond and the like). In a way, the title reminiscent of John Dickson Carr's "Devil in Velvet" was probably intentional on the author's part, although the settings and background are entirely different. The plot is a phantasmagoria of different elements, combining Gothic situations with comic-strip twists, turns, and cliff-hangers.
What I found interesting was the setting, early 19th Century, pre-Victorian, an age when Jefferson had already done his thing in America, Napoleon had been defeated, technology was burgeoning (and, yes, there was a technology explosion back then that was just as influential in changing society then as atom bombs, space shuttles, and computers have been in our era). This was a very interesting period in history, and much more amenable for presentation to a modern reader of mystery fiction -- as opposed to Ancient Egypt or societies we can hardly conceive of as to what made them tick in day-to-day life, beyond eating, sex, and earning a living. The politics and religion are especially hard to convey. This period works, because common themes of so-called Western Civilization in its current form were already in circulation or under development, so we can understand the 'radical' heros; but it also has the added virtue that the old feudal system had not vanished -- God and the King, and the local duke or marquis or whatever, had not been supplanted by CEO's of big corporations.
The novel (a long one) is set in Northern Italy in the mid-1820s, with of course epigraphs from Byron, a perfect example of the type of person Julian Kestrel is. A lot of it involves early Grand Opera (at La Scala in Milan) and culture of that sort; a lot of politics -- Napoleon's puppet states had been destroyed and the old overlords, the Austrians, had been restored [they got their comeupance when the Dolomite provinces of Austria were ceded to Italy after WWI] -- and the radical Carbonaris were causing all sorts of problems; and a lot of the Italian morality of the times, where adultery was a commonplace of high society, an expected thing, like owning a Maserati, but to seduce a virgin of 'gentle birth' was anathema. Best of all, this is a classic melodrama of the Italian sort, like many of the operas, where improbabilities pile on improbabilities but are always supported by a great aria. This fascination with the Matter of Italy dates back as far as Shakespeare and earlier among English speakers, Borgia and Medici and Machiavelli being buzz words (although they were probably not much worse than Idi Amin). That is why, in my opinion, this is the best of the Ross books. The others were set in Regency England, with Bow Street Runners and the like -- and we've had enough examples of that!
Book Description
Storyville, 1907: In this raucous, bloody, red-light district, where two thousand scarlet women ply their trade in grand mansions and filthy dime-a-trick cribs, where cocaine and opium are sold over the counter, and where rye whiskey flows like an amber river, there's a killer loose. Someone is murdering Storyville prostitutes and marking each killing with a black rose. As Creole detective Valentin St. Cyr begins to unravel the murder against this extraordinary backdrop, he encounters a cast of characters drawn from history: Tom Anderson, the political boss who runs Storyville like a private kingdom; Lulu White, the district's most notorious madam; a young piano player who would come to be known as Jelly Roll Morton; and finally, Buddy Bolden, the man who all but invented jazz and is now losing his mind.
No ordinary mystery, Chasing the Devil's Tail is a chilling portrait of musical genius and self-destruction, set at the very moment when jazz was born.
Customer Reviews:
Genius, dispair and the Mother of Jazz........2007-08-03
It's dawn in New Orleans. The red sun cuts through the lingering mists of infamous Storyville, doing its best to clear the reeking air of the stench of the long, raucous night. It's the dawn of jass, the bud which is rapidly and noisily blooming into what the world soon will call jazz. The Negro kid Louis is there. Jelly Role Morton is there, and King Bolden, God rest his soul.
It is the dawn of the automobile, but the cobbles still rattle with wagons and hooves. The banquets along Basin St., Bourbon and Rampart are crowded with everyone from the white swell, to the rounder, the exotic latte colored black eyed octoroon, the quadroon with a dime tied around her ankle, and street urchins like Beansoup. There are the crib girls, the doves, there is hoodoo and voodoo. Gold and silver coins run through the streets faster than the stinking gutters can empty the cigar butts and horse urine into the Mississippi. And all through Storyville, where the wild, screaming, dirty music flows as fast as Rye whisky and opium smoke, wanders Valentin St. Cyr, the private detective chasing the trails left by the corpses of the unfortunates caught in the madness of life on the edge. Only occasionally can he coax information from the madams who are locked into their weekly payments in cash to the powers that be. Mostly, St. Cyr is on his own, except for one person - you.
You'll be hooked, but don't dispair, there is also David Fulmer's Jass, and Rampart Street.
Chasing the Devil's Tail.......2006-03-13
This is the first of David Fulmer's books I have read. I probably should have started with Rampart Street, but will read it eventually. I liked Chasing the Devil's Tail a lot, and particularly liked the protagonist Valentin St. Cyr and hope to read other books about him. Interesting how he changed his name from Valentino Saracena. The descriptions of Storyville were great, although the names of the madames of all the Houses became somewhat confusing. But all in all I liked it, and look forward to reading Jass also by David Fulmer.
Outstanding First Novel!!.......2006-02-13
A well written novel in which the sinful life of early 20th century New Orleans comes to life in an energetic, enthusiastic prose. David Fulmer's obvious research into historic Storyville allows the reader insight on the contrasts of daily life between the haves and have nots of this era.
The main character is a Creole detective, Valentin St. Cyr, who is employed by a rich business owner, Tom Anderson. Valentin's chief responsibility is keeping watch over the many houses of prostitution thus ensuring smooth run operations in establishments that could be easy targets of the police.
I have not read as interesting a historic novel since Caleb Carr's, "The Alienist." From about the midway point of the story the book will be impossible to put down. The grimy depiction of life in early New Orleans will keep the reader glued to this novel
Brings 1900's New Orleans to Life.......2006-02-09
This evocative novel puts the reader right in the middle of Storyville New Orleans, 1907. You can almost hear the music and see the sights, such is Fulmer's ability to bring the period to life. The mixing of his fictional detective Valentin St.Cyr with real people of the era left me having to remind myself that this was fiction, it was so well written. My father was a huge fan of old New Orleans jazz (i.e. Billie and DeeDee Pierce) and yet I had never heard of "King" Buddy Bolden. It is set in the red light district of New Orleans and does describe some sex scenes between the prostitutes and their johns as well as drug use. I wasn't a bit offended, I imagine that's just what it was like. I don't want to give away the plot, but suffice to say if you've ever walked in the area near the French Quarter and wondered what it would have been like in the days of Storyville (which was all demolished long ago) this is the closest I've ever come. It was also a great mystery and I will be looking for Mr. Fulmer's other books.
5 Stars Are Not Enough for This Book.......2005-12-15
http://www.cajunculture.com/Other/creole.htm
"Coodermom" (the first and only reviewer to rate this book less than 4 stars) opinion of Mr. Fulmer's historical accuracy seems to be far from the truth, as the link above will demonstrate. I sense an agenda.
I read this book after I saw a review of "Jass" (the second book in the series) a few weeks before my daughter went to NOLA for spring break this year. I bought both for her, and read this after her rave reviews of both books. This one gives a sense of time and place seldom found in literature--similar to reading the works of Arthur Conan Doyle--and is educational as well as entertaining.
A little grisly for younger readers, but highly recommended for anyone who enjoys well written books, NOLA, history and/or mysteries.
Book Description
In The Devil's Horn, Michael Segell traces the 160-year history of the saxophone-a horn that created a sound never before heard in nature, and that from the moment it debuted has aroused both positive and negative passions among all who hear it. The saxophone has insinuated itself into virtually every musical idiom that has come along since its birth as well as into music with traditions thousands of years old. But it has also been controversial, viewed as a symbol of decadence, immorality and lasciviousness: it was banned in Japan, saxophonists have been sent to Siberian lockdown by Communist officials, and a pope even indicted it.
Segell outlines the saxophone's fascinating history while he highlights many of its legendary players, including Benny Carter, Illinois Jacquet, Sonny Rollins, Lee Konitz, Phil Woods, Branford Marsalis, and Michael Brecker. The Devil's Horn explores the saxophone's intersections with social movement and change, the innovative acoustical science behind the instrument, its struggles in the world of "legit" music, and the mystical properties that seduce all who fall under its influence. Colorful, evocative, and richly informed, The Devil's Horn is an ingenious portrait of one of the most popular instruments in the world.
Customer Reviews:
A great book about the history of the Saxophone.......2007-10-03
A great book about the history of the Saxophone. Was recommended to me by others.
A little sax is a good thing.......2007-07-31
This was a very enjoyable book to read. It brought out, in a way I had not read before, the very human quality of voice of the saxophone. Now I can smile even more when I hear angels sing through the "Devil's Horn".
Its volatile history receives a charged, lively survey.......2007-01-07
Fans of the saxophone must have Michael Segell's THE DEVIL'S HORN: THE STORY OF THE SAXOPHONE, FROM NOISY NOVELTY TO KING OF COOL: it tells how just ten years after Sax completed his first prototype in 1843 the horn had traveled across the country and throughout Europe to change the musical world. The sax was banned by Nazis and Communists, and religious leaders alike which deemed the instrument 'profane'. Its volatile history receives a charged, lively survey by Michael Segell, NY Daily News editor who is himself an amateur saxophone player.
Diane C. Donovan
California Bookwatch
A must-read for all saxophonists!.......2006-10-23
All of us owe a debt to Michael Segell for his book on the saxophone. He has written an engaging, informative and oftentimes hilarious account of Adolphe Sax's incredible creation. Mr. Segell has spared no expense in tracing the history of the saxophone and has chronicled its years of development with easy-reading expertise. His interviews with many saxophonists are a particular joy to read and be a part of. Although it would be practically impossible to document every little piece of information about the saxophone and all of its major contributors over the past 160 years, Segell has done an exceedingly thorough and heartfelt job (one look at his bibliography will offer proof of that), and he deserves all the credit in the world for his efforts. I highly recommend this book to anyone who is a saxophonist and who is interested in becoming a more learned student of the history of the great instrument.
I also hope this book will teach all of us as saxophone players not to be as divided in our thinking as we have been and that we will instead become more united and accepting of each other and of the many different styles and ways of thinking regarding our amazing instrument, the saxophone. At the very least, it's worth a try...
sax on everyone!
how can this be taken seriously?.......2006-09-06
No mention of Anthony Braxton? Evan Parker? Sam Rivers? These are people who developed new extended techniques for saxophone and cannot be ignored in a book as comprehensive as this one purports to be.
Ornette in the list of people that (Charles) Parker moved to tenor? (I am aware that Ornette has played tenor, but come on folks, Ornette is most known for his alto playing. He probably has recorded his trumpet more than he has on tenor.)
Dismisses Sun Ra as a "space cadet"?
Sorry, we cannot take Mr. Segall seriously.
Book Description
Gene Vincent--most famous for his classic 1950s rendition of "Be-Bop-A-Lula"--is one of the most influential rock and roll artists of all times.Elvis Presley adopted his loose-hipped style, and bands from The Rolling Stones to The Beatles toured Britain with him throughout the fifties and early sixties.Led Zepplin's Robert Plant lauds Vincent as his favorite vocalist of all time, Yardbirds guitarist Jeff Beck claims Vincent is the reason he played music, and Paul Westerberg of the Replacements calls him "the soul of Rock and Roll."But beyond his undeniable musical importance lay a man with an almost pathological personality whose creative talents and volatile temper never failed--for better or for worse--to touch those around him.Elvis Presley, with his suggestive gyrations, was disturbing to mainstream America in the 50s.Gene Vincent, with his earthy lyrics, moans and pants, and full-on bodily contortions was downright shocking.This is the first biography of this incredible figure in the history of American music. AUTHORBIO: Sue VanHecke's work has appeared in Spin, Creem, Kerrang! and Goldmine.She is the publisher of Original Cool, a Rockabilly fanzine, and currently writes for The Virginian Pilot.She lives in Norfolk, Virginia.
Customer Reviews:
Good book, great singer..........2004-05-01
I love this man's music and in reading "Race With the Devil" one finds that as the man behind it crumbled, his wonderful voice never wavered. His live shows continued to thrill audiences long after his chart success had waned to almost nothing.
The author does a great job of showing Vincent as he truly was, a man with a magical voice and presence who was normally very gentle and agreeable, but also capable of frightful fits of anger.
To me the defining moment of Gene Vincent's life in this book was the instant his lower leg was smashed between the front bumper of a Chrysler and the side of his motorcycle. Vincent and the Caps would soon kick off years of almost non-stop performing and the leg would never have the chance to heal. This, of course led to Gene's abuse of alcohol as he drank more and more to mask the pain from a leg that deteriorated so badly that it would bend at the shin when he walked! The book reveals how several times in his tortured life he actually pulled weapons on friends and family in fits of rage brought on by intense touring, marital and legal problems, pain and copius drinking.
Be warned, to a fan this is shocking and could change the way you think of "the Screaming End". Upon reading this though, it's clear that very few people could have went down Vincent's "fast lane" without lashing out from time to time.
The almost constant personnel changes in his various backing bands put an additional strain on Vincent. But by far the biggest blow was the death of his very true and unwavering friend, Eddie Cochran of "Summertime Blues" fame, who died from injuries suffered in a car crash in which Vincent was also riding.
As I read on I was shocked to find that Vincent actually lived very nearby here in my town for a time and is buried in a place I've driven by countless times. How strange that when he lived in Simi Valley, his house was located on Cochran Street! This was years after the death of Eddie Cochran and probably was just coincidence, but still is pretty bizarre.
I loved the book but although it is well written and a very enjoyable account of the life of one or rock's true pioneers the lack of source attribution and dating of the events is a noticeable drawback. Still this is the only gripe and is pretty minor considering this is the only Vincent biography out there.
Vincent fans should read "Race With the Devil". Keep an open mind while doing so and it will greatly increase your understanding and appreciation of this wonderful artist.
Moderately good.......2004-01-21
This book is good on the whole, it is generally enjoyable, alhough there are some incomplete parts to point out :
1) There is not a useful description of the musical landscape in which Gene Vincent does is act, id est not a description of rock'n'roll in the 50s, the slipping towards the beat era in the 60s; in this way it is not possible to compare Vincent's music with his times and without this explanation the reader couldn't ( I say couldn't, in case he doesn't know it himself ) understand the declining fortunes of his carrier.
2) Information about other rock'n'roll artists is almost wrong, in particular as regards Elvis Presley ; actually the author should distinguish among true facts and the false ones due probably to envy ( Vincent says that Elvis went to the Sullivan show after the impossibility to have Carl Perkins first and Gene Vincent himself second : in truth, when Elvis went to the show, he was number 1 - the 4th since the beginning of the 1956, with " Don't be cruel " - and was granted the highest pay till that moment by the Sullivan show production, so probably they had all the interest to have him )
3) Apart from missing references about dates or years, the author fails to explain why Vincent could go on doing pretty successful tours around the world, while in the same time having an almost disastrours record on the charts : in the USA, he charted 5 times only, twice in the top 20, in GB, where he was more successful, he had 4 top 20 hits, never entering the top 10.
So, having considered these points, I can say we have an interesting homage to the rocking singer.
The soul of rockabilly.......2001-02-12
There isn't a song that Gene put out that I didn't enjoy. The book does a good job giving a pretty in depth overview of his short and frantic life. What came out was his total love for rockabilly and rock music. He sacrificed his health and eventually his life for it. The book tends to "race" much like it's title and dates tend to be ignored and events, concerts etc. aren't fully explained. But the good far outweighs the bad. After reading the book I fully realized the (physical and mental) pain he went through to perform the music he loved so much. Money was secondary to performing for his audiences. Hard to believe that today isn't it? Gene's personal life was a shambles but he rocked on. He was one of a kind and they won't be making any more like him.
Considering..........2000-10-25
...that this is the only in-print bio on Vincent, I have to say this is an excellent book. Despite the tone of the writer at times to try to seem "country," and her habit of not really pointing out too many specific dates (or years even!), I did enjoy this. The extensive after-notes, and interview list were quite impressive and obviously a lot of research went into it. I guess I just wish it seemed more in depth than it read. It will definitely do for now...
Hit Between The Legs.......2000-08-04
Gene Vincent was the prototype rock 'n' roller, and his contributions were formidable, influencing The Beatles, Van Morrison, Robert Plant, John Fogarty, Jeff Beck, Chris Issac and Jim Morrison to name some of the most vocal with their praises. This book widely explores Mr. Vincent's youth, establishing step-by-step how his Norfolk, Virginia roots helped mold "The Sound" he started in music. Before Mr. Vincent, popular music aimed to hit listeners between the ears or between the arms. "Be-Bop-A-Lula" clobbered listeners between their legs, and rock 'n' roll would never be the same. The author's obviously deep love and respect for Mr. Vincent and his music translates to an extremely intricate -- albeit highly readable -- study, I would say the best ever written on the subject. To her credit, Ms. VanHecke never lets her admiration overshadow reality. Mr. Vincent was no candidate for sainthood, either by destiny or by his own choice. And it's precisely this aspect of Mr. Vincent's personality that's so wonderful about the book. While it's quite easy to track the direct musical lineage created by Mr. Vincent, millions of rock music fans probably never recognized that the rebel personna also started with him. This book is a must-read for anyone who remotely appreciates rock 'n' roll.
Book Description
"How Do You Know He's Real? God Unplugged," the second book in the successful "He's Real series," shares the profound real life journeys and dramatic encounters with the living God by young celebrities from the worlds of sports and music. The book addresses issues that young people deal with, like insecurity, anger, peer pressure, addiction and self-esteem. Always inspirational and often miraculous, "God Unplugged" is a must-read for those who desire to go deeper in their relationship with God.
Download Description
Between the covers of this book are testimonies from Christian role models from the worlds of film, sports, and music. The stories are real and powerful, and are presented in a way that believers and seekers alike will find compelling.
Customer Reviews:
People teens admire talk about God.......2007-04-13
Author Amy Hammond Hagberg wanted to help teens--her own and others--answer questions about God, including the big question: "How do you know he's real?"
Hagberg wrote to sports stars, recording artists and other celebrities, asking them to reflect on their life experiences and share how the reality of God was making a difference to them personally and professionally. The responses she received--from NBA players, Christian musicians, 'American Idol' contestants and others--are honest, revealing, and often compelling.
The resulting book is a collection of celebrity essays: mini-bios that focus on the reality of God in the midst of media attention, success and failure, and broken relationships. Contributors include Dwight Howard of the Orlando Magic basketball team, quarterback David Carr of the Houston Texans, and popular Christian recording artist Clay Crosse.
Some of the interviews are especially helpful for Hagberg's original target readers: teens. Among these, Chrissy Conway of 'Zoe Girl' talks about her parents' divorce, the party scene, and the twists and turns along her personal career path in ways that connect with teens and with anyone who has ever considered attempting a career in music.
Hagberg is a gifted and skilled writer who keeps readers turning the pages as she unpacks celebrity affirmations of the presence of God in their lives. A great gift book for readers from teens through Gen X, but the stories here will interest readers of any age!
Note: Reviewer Dr. David Frisbie is an author and Executive Director of The Center for Marriage & Family Studies in Del Mar, California.
Armchair Interviews says: Anything that can help teens understand their role in living a good life is good.
Celebrities share their faith.......2007-03-11
This is an ideal book to give to people who have questions about becoming a Christian, and who love sports and music celebrities.
44 extreme sports and music celebrities tell their stories in this book, from Jonny Lang (recording artist), to Barlow Girl (rock group), Kimiko Soldati (Olympic diving), CJ Hobgood (surfer), Dwight Howard (NBA player, Orlando Magic), Mick Hannah (downhill mountain bike racer), Jimmie McGuire (professional motocross rider) and more.
They share hard times they faced, how they became Christians and how their paths are more joyful due to their faith. Being a Green Bay Packer fan I turned to Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila's story of growing up in South Central Los Angeles with a tough background, a Muslim dad and a Christian mom, and how his becoming a Christian led to his current happy family life and NFL career. Christian Hosoi, professional skateboarder, after serious drug problems, is now leading a skateboarding ministry.
The two page "God's Road Map" at the end of each celebrity's story contains perceptive questions and Scriptures. Sports and music lovers will enjoy this book, and it can even be a "past watchful dragons book" that will steer doubting people on a new clear path.
god unplugged.......2007-02-02
God Unplugged by Ammy Hagberg was very interesting. It is 403 pages long and was published in 2006 by Destiny Image. In the story top athletes, musicians, and also stars tell how god helped them get where they wanted to be and changed their lives.
In the story there were 44 celebrity reflections on true life experiences with god. Many of these celebrities have been extremely low in their lives and god has pulled them out of them. Also in some cases they have had no luck in there lives and finally achieved their goals after they gave there lives god. All of these people believe that god has either given them opportunities or even the strength to work through where they were to get to where they want to be.
I thought that this was a good book. I enjoyed reading it and seeing how god has changed all of these people's lives. The strengths of this book are that it has top named celebrities that people actually want to read about. The weakness of this book is that there is nothing to find out nest so you don't have a reason to keep reading. I did like how god actually gave them the strength to continue and succeed in life. The writing was very boring to me, but I liked the idea.
The book gave a lasting effect on me because I have a saint Christopher necklace that my grandma gave to me before she passed away and that keeps me safe when I race motorcross. So, I think that god has a great power on us. I would recommend this book, it will make you think.
After reading this, you certainly KNOW he is real!.......2007-01-25
Truly, this, and the book before this, are really awesome books!
** Why?
Because they give some very good insights into other peoples way to God. Not only that, if you don't know the Bible inside and out (and even if you do, actually!), there are quotations from the Bible explaining the why and hows, depending on the story of the person interviewed.
All this, with Amy Hagbergs very nice way of writing (down to earth serious mixed with a nice blend of humor) makes this book a pleasure to read!
Personally, I strongly recommend this book to everyone. It might be those who Seek, or those who have found, it doesn't matter, in my opinion! :)
Fantastic book!.......2007-01-24
What a great book! Amy Hagberg has gathered some of today's biggest sports and music celebs to talk about how they know God is real. This book is in stark contrast to so many of today's depressing, tragedy-focused headlines. And the list of celebrities is impressive! [...]
Book Description
"Lexicon Devil is, pure and simple, the finest volume on punk to have seen the light of print. (Yes, folks: that includes Please Kill Me.) Great book!"-Richard Meltzer
Production has started on the documentary feature based on the book.
Customer Reviews:
Good book on an awful band.......2007-08-29
This is an interview style book with personal recollections on The Germs, in particular Darby Crash and the socal punk and cultural scene circa late 70's early 80's.
I found this to be a fun entertaining read. Much of this book is a great look into not just the socal punk scene during that time period but a glimpse into the overall weirdness that was southern California during those days. The experimental Scientology based school that Pat Smear and Darby Crash attended together where part of the curriculim was doing acid with the teachers that was fully funded and sanctioned by the local public school system is really far out and you almost have to believe that it was some sort of covert government mind control experiment/program going on at that place. When talking about it Pat Smear seems genuinly baffled that a school like this was even allowed to exist. There are a lot of other examples of what an off the wall place southern California was then in this book too. The world sure has changed. You also get a lot of dirt on other people and bands that came out of this scene. It would probably shock a lot of people that a girly pop band like the Go Go's came out of this insanity.
One last thing I would like to add. I consider many of the groups that came out of the socal punk/hardcore scene during the late 70's up until maybe the mid 80's to be the best music that can be labeled as punk that was ever made but The Germs are absolutely, positively, one of, if not the, worst completely unlistenable bands ever. They were an interesting story but I'm sorry they made horrible music.
hot times.......2007-03-15
this book is super but be warned, i bought it years ago and loved it, bought a copy recently and it has been censored..nude photos are re edited and i worry the text has been altered..not cool..try to buy an old used copy to get the orignal...bob
Historical..........2005-11-26
I was expecting a little more scene-driven story, but this book focuses mainly on Darby's life, not just in his punk days. Overall, I give it 4 stars because you definitely feel like you get to know who Darby was and what he was about by the end of the book. Granted it's probably Mullen's version mostly, but it seemed pretty accurate based on the other reading I've done about Darby.
Darby-The 'Glitter' influenced performance artist.......2004-12-05
I love The Germs. I love this era of punk rock. I love that Southern California had it's own punk rock cult leader . We went to the same high school! I like how this book portrayed Darby as kind of nerdy and idealistic. I appreciated that he was such an earnest fan of David Bowie,searching for hidden meanings in his lyrics on LSD. I was also fascinated by the strange relationship with his mother. I thought the book did an excellent job of humanizing an "icon". I could really see and feel him as a disturbed young man creating work that still has profound ripple effects.
Excellent primer on Darby and the pre-hardcore LA punk scene.......2004-08-11
As this is a historical document, it surely contains incorrect and biased information.
It's also very interesting and informative, especially if you can trust your own B.S. detector instincts. It's a mixture of half Darby anecdotes and half LA punk underground retrospective.
If nothing else, this is an enlightening and depressing read. Throw MIA into the CD player and crack it open.
Amazon.com
Chasin' That Devil Music has the feel of a documentary about the making of a thrilling motion picture. The main focus is on the Delta blues singers of the early 20th century--artists such as Charley Patton, Tommy Johnson, Son House, and Blind Lemon Jefferson who've achieved near-mythic status in blues circles. In addition, many of the articles gathered in this splendidly illustrated volume capture the process and people involved in tracking long-lost recordings nearly as elusive as the performers who made them. Here, for example, is the story of author/blues scholar Gayle Dean Wardlow's three-year hunt for the death certificate of Robert Johnson, the celebrated Mississippi bluesman and a figure whose legend has grown greater with each year since his much-debated death in 1938. The text here is nearly as raw in spots as the music that sparked it, but, as with those sounds (which can be heard on a terrific CD sampler included with the book), enthusiasts will find Chasin' That Devil Music riveting. --Steven Stolder
Book Description
Chasin' That Devil Music - Searching for the Blues presents the results of extensive research by a blues scholar who has researched the artists on old 78 RPM records to uncover their stories. Includes rare interviews and the actual songs which are on the CD included with each book.
Customer Reviews:
Definte, interesting, scholarship, good CD.......2004-01-21
Whatever you think of Wardlow's own views, this is the kind of definite real scholarship someone who wants to become really knowledgeable about Mississippi blues and its economic and cultural milieu. Despite what various comments are, Wardlow's writing is not overly intellectual, rather it is very factual. It is record collectors and blues lovers like Wardlow in the late 1950s and early 1960s that laid the basis for their being original Delta blues records (and their peers in old time "white" music)to be reissued and who "found" so many of the original blues stars. Wardlow provides a lot of good basic information about the recording practices for the music, and the situations of lots of blues players you may or may not have heard of. These are all articles where he announced his or others work making the discovery. \
One thing to read is his article that clearly illustrates that Robert Johnson never said, thought, or was rumored to have sold his soul to the devil. No one who knew Johnson ever said that. One informant took the story that Tommy Johnson told and told a credulous folk nik "blues expert" this in the 1960s, the rest has become a minor industry.
The CD provided is fun and provides some players most havent heard of. The Western Swing tune about selling the soul to the Devil has beocme part of my performance repertpor!
A Valuable Piece for Blues Fans.......2002-09-20
I agree with Lampic's review in that the author comes across as egocentric while compiling the history of the Mississippi Delta blues, offering some inappropriate and disrespectful comments while interviewing seventy-five-year-old bluesmen. Regardless, the content of this book is very important and valuable to anybody who is as passionate about the music from this era as me.
We are all familiar with Robert Johnson, Charlie Patton, Skip James, Muddy Waters, John Lee Hooker, Elmore James, and Son House. These names give us the true definition of Mississippi Delta blues and have now obtained a well-deserved legendary status, becoming subjects of countless music compilations and biographies. But they weren't the only blues singers from the Delta. The author recognizes this and gives us strikingly vivid and detailed accounts of the lives and contributions of the lesser-known bluesmen; namely, Ishmon Bracey, King Solomon Hill, and Tommy Johnson (although Tommy Johnson has recently been a subject of intrest after the "O Brother, Where Art Thou?" phenomenon). These men have long been overlooked and their music was shadowed by that of Skip James and Robert Johnson during the blues revival of the 1960s.
One particularly interesting portion in this book is the re-examination of Robert Johnson's death, which has been the subject of many-a-legend. Wardlow rehashes the search for Johnson's death certificate and offers his own ideas, based on his own research and interview sessions, about how Johnson really died.
We also learn the fates of many of the other performers, which is often heartbreaking--these men are my heroes, and it's so sad to learn that many were victims of alcoholism and extreme poverty.
The accompanying CD is an excellent item indeed. Not only do we have audios of Wardlow's interviews, but many previously unreleased (or thought to have been lost) recordings from Skip James, Tommy Johnson, King Solomon Hill, and Ishmon Bracey (among others). What's even more remarkable is that these came from Wardlow's own private collection of blues 78s--I'd love to see this guy's record library!
Wardlow also includes an extremely comprehensive discography for each bluesman, arranged by catalog number for Paramount and Yazoo. This list alone is worth the price of the book--I now have a basis for building my own collection (although I tend to stick to the cheaper and less fragile CD releases, rather than trying to track down the original 78s!)
If you look beyond the writing style and the occasional arrogance, this book is excellent for its historic information and accompanying music collection.
"They forgott,but I know better".......2002-01-29
Am I the only one who noticed that this is not a book about ancient blues masters but a monument to its author? Come on,folks,read between the lines - Wardlow talks to old blues musicians just to add his own (patronising) remarks how they forgott everything and he knows better.The argument about King Solomon Hill is nothing but one big ego-trip,he was frustrated for 18 years because his theory was ridiculed at the time,so now he can point that he was right the whole time.Wardlow never mentioned why he got hooked on blues music in the first place (except that he found that old 78 records were collectors items) but through the whole book (collection of articles) shows his white-boy-turns-blues-knows-it-all attitude,treating blues music with intellectualism typical for someone who collect recording dates and musician's names,just so he can later point that he knows those dates and names better than old musicians who recorded them.True,if its not for Wardlow and people like him,many of these names would be completely forgotten,but I find his writting style annoying and CD is the best thing about the whole book.
The mystique of early rural blues.......2001-08-22
This book IS a reprint of previously published articles, not all of them written by Wardlow (for instance, an interview with Wardlow by other reporters is included), but apparently most of these articles have never appeared in book form. They are fascinating for a reader interested in learning more about how people like Charley Patton and Robert Johnson, long dead, are more celebrated today than would have been imaginable, let alone possible, in their own times. Wardlow was one of the early "investigators" who unearthed obscure recordings and salient information about the musicians who made them. This book is largely an account of that difficult process. Now, when it's relatively easy to hear the complete recorded works of Son House, Blind Willie Johnson, et. al., it's hard to imagine what blues fans had to go through to hear this music 40 years ago. Wardlow's book is a revelation and an inspiration also. The "free" CD is wonderful, too, and worth the price of the book itself.
Blues Masterpiece.......2000-07-04
Gaylon is one of the world's top authorities on pre-war blues and his book is true masterpiece. After collecting for 25 years I still learned a lot from this great book.
Customer Reviews:
Give Charles Wolfe a Dram.......2004-05-19
Charles Wolfe's book will appeal to fiddlers, fans of old-time and country music, and music historians. Mark O'Connor's introduction provides an interesting contemporary perspective on the old-time music, and each chapter is a historical sketch of an important fiddler. When read as a whole, the book provides a good social history of fiddling and fiddlers from the South. I especially like the articles on the obscure but really important musicians, but the articles on fiddlers like Eck Robertson and Bob Wills are also great reading. The book is written in an enjoyable style, and Wolfe's knowledge of fiddling and music history is incredible.
Good research and writing by one of the best in this field........1997-06-24
Well-written, well-researched accounts of
fiddlers whose time has passed but whose
reputations as masters of the instrument
grow with time. A bonus is Wolfe's research
on many early recordings of these musicians
and how they came to be.
Highly recommended for anyone remotely interested
in the subject. This author knows his subject. I
went looking for CD samples of their
music, which wasn't easy to find but was
worth the effort.
Jim Travis, Nashville
Book Description
The Blue Devils have received very little attention from jazz historians, though the band members and the writer Ralph Ellison (who sometimes sat in with them) spoke with conviction about their sterling musicianship and their legendary ability to defeat all competitors in battles of the bands. In a literal sense, the band survived for ten years, from its founding in 1923 to its demise in 1933. In a figurative sense, the band continued for more than half a century because, as members Jimmy Rushing, Lester "Prez" Young, Oran "Hot Lips" Page, and Count Basie became jazz legends, their "apprenticeship" in the Blue Devils authenticated them as genuine jazzmen, real troupers ready to play for any and all occasions. Chronicling the ten years the band was officially together, Douglas Daniels provides a corrective to most accounts of musical groups. He delves into the potent social and cultural history of the Depression to show its influence on the group's founding as well as on the players' careers. This meticulously researched history of an iconic jazz band rescues them from undeserved obscurity and clears away the fog of neglect.
Customer Reviews:
Rich reporting and jazz music history which cannot be ignored........2006-11-06
ONE O'CLOCK JUMP: THE UNFORGETTABLE HISTORY OF THE OKLAHOMA CITY BLUE DEVILS offers up a wealth of detail on a legendary jazz band from Oklahoma City. They went through many changes from 1923 to 1933, but their legacy has been under-stated until this book, so any avid fan of jazz may know of them, but only in passing. ONE O'CLOCK JUMP fills the gaps, using interviews with the six surviving Blue Devils and others and supplementing these with newspaper accounts of performances and government records. The result is rich reporting and jazz music history which cannot be ignored.
Diane C. Donovan
California Bookwatch
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Books Index
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