The Rolling Stone Illustrated History of Rock and Roll: The Definitive History of the Most Important Artists and Their Music
Average customer rating: 4 out of 5 stars
  • toni's opinion,
  • no billy joel or bob segar? thank God!!!!
  • Great!
  • The must have for basic rock review
  • We Didn't Start the Fire
The Rolling Stone Illustrated History of Rock and Roll: The Definitive History of the Most Important Artists and Their Music
Rolling Stone Magazine
Manufacturer: Random House
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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  1. The Rolling Stone Encyclopedia of Rock & Roll (Revised and Updated for the 21st Century) The Rolling Stone Encyclopedia of Rock & Roll (Revised and Updated for the 21st Century)
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ASIN: 0679737286
Release Date: 1992-11-10

Book Description

The ultimate illustrated history of rock & roll--comprehensive, authoritative, and fully updated with coverage of the most important new sounds and artists of the 1980s and `90s.

Customer Reviews:

4 out of 5 stars toni's opinion,.......2007-05-30


Deserves 5stars, but it is just a copy,the photos are quiet dark,
the editors are five stars,
Thanks,
toni

5 out of 5 stars no billy joel or bob segar? thank God!!!!.......2007-01-19

Rolling Stone has long been the "Gold Standard" for rock journalism. Any history of rock and roll that doesn't have Billy Joel or Bob Seger is all right by me. I need to update my copy right away! Great job, as usual, Rolling Stone!!!!!

5 out of 5 stars Great!.......2007-01-04

Bought this for my 16-year-old son, and he is studying it like I've never seen him study anything. It is a great way to educate our younger people on the beginnings of rock-n-roll, and every day, my son says "Mom, did you know that..." and shares some new thing he learned from the book. Very complete reference guide, also, and interesting to look through even for an old fogey like me. Worth every penny.

4 out of 5 stars The must have for basic rock review.......2006-03-19

While the "history" is mostly a series of editorial reviews combined with facts, you will learn about the basics and some interesting tidbits as well. It's also a great way to have comprehensive listing of all of an artist's released music.

3 out of 5 stars We Didn't Start the Fire.......2006-02-06

The reason Rolling Stone leaves out artists like Billy Joel, Three Dog Night and Bob Seagar is because they are nowhere near the top echelon of rock and roll artists. The reason they heap praise on the Rolling Stones is because the Rolling Stones are the greatest rock band in the history of the genre. And the reason the Beatles get two chapters is because no other artist has had as much impact on rock and roll music as the Beatles. Get real, people!
Joseph Smith: Rough Stone Rolling
Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • Joseph Smith: Rough Stone Rolling
  • Great book on Joseph Smith
  • Lack of Moral Courage
  • No One is Perfect, We Are All Just People
  • Who was Joseph Smith, really? Start here.
Joseph Smith: Rough Stone Rolling
Richard Lyman Bushman
Manufacturer: Vintage
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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  5. In Sacred Loneliness: The Plural Wives of Joseph Smith In Sacred Loneliness: The Plural Wives of Joseph Smith

ASIN: 1400077532
Release Date: 2007-03-13

Book Description

Founder of the largest indigenous Christian church in American history, Joseph Smith published the 584-page Book of Mormon when he was twenty-three and went on to organize a church, found cities, and attract thousands of followers before his violent death at age thirty-eight. Richard Bushman, an esteemed cultural historian and a practicing Mormon, moves beyond the popular stereotype of Smith as a colorful fraud to explore his personality, his relationships with others, and how he received revelations.

An arresting narrative of the birth of the Mormon Church, Joseph Smith: Rough Stone Rolling also brilliantly evaluates the prophet’s bold contributions to Christian theology and his cultural place in the modern world.

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars Joseph Smith: Rough Stone Rolling.......2007-10-11

This book is by far the best work that I have read about the man, Joseph Smith. The author displays a skillful analysis at examining the man, his experiences, and what he was trying to accomplish. It evaluates in detail the enviornment that surrounded Smith and the struggles that he and his people endured.

5 out of 5 stars Great book on Joseph Smith.......2007-10-10

For those interested in Mormonism, this is a great book on the life and times of Joseph Smith. The book gives balanced coverage of his life, including warts and blemishes. Joseph Smith was far from perfect, but his dedication and tenacity in establishing the Mormon faith is a remarkable story. Bushman's style is engaging and also suspenseful, as one follows the high and low periods in the life of Joseph Smith and the early LDS Church. The book gives detailed background on the emergence of the Mormon faith, and the struggles of the early Mormon church to establish itself in various sections of the country. I have enjoyed reading the book very much, and I highly recommend it to interested readers, whether Mormon or members of other religions with an interest in Mormon history.

3 out of 5 stars Lack of Moral Courage.......2007-09-15

Richard Bushman deserves five stars for being among the first actively Mormon academics to write a well-researched, scholarly book regarding Joseph Smith. His book however deserves only one star for lack of moral courage. It is now well documented that Joseph Smith used the power of his ministerial authority for sexual gratification and exploitation. Of the more than thirty girls and women that he "married," 1/3rd were teenagers and 1/3rd were already married to other men (something that Bushman acknowledges). When Smith's proposals were resisted, he would often persistently intimidate his victims and their families with spirtual promises and/or curses (not unlike the tactics of Warren Jeffs and Jim Jones). Joseph Smith was many things, but his horrible propensity for sexual abuse overshadows much of the good. Mr. Bushman missed an opportunity to put aside his Mormon sensibilites, to make a statement for what is good and right. He trivializes ministerial abuse by tepidly never drawing moral conclusions about very immoral behavior.

5 out of 5 stars No One is Perfect, We Are All Just People.......2007-09-13

This book allows people to judge Joseph Smith by both his good works and his faults. It is good to see in print that Joseph Smith was a real person and from the posts from Mormon readers, the realization is appreciated by many. Aside from the Mormon bashing that seems to be common on every forum that deals with the LDS Church, this book is a good reference for those wishing to look into the life of a very powerful person in the 19th century. I recommend this book to those who wish a very detailed look into the life of JS but also into how life was lived in those times.

5 out of 5 stars Who was Joseph Smith, really? Start here........2007-09-03

The beauty of well-structured histories is, they remind us not to look at incidents or facts baldly, but in context. Even documented observations of subject contemporaries need not be taken as evidence, but as mere viewpoints of the time. Otherwise, much of what was written about Lincoln before he was president would lead us to believe he was an oaf. I say this because, whether you are cracking open Rough Stone Rolling as pro-Joseph Smith or anti... or even if you're just leaning a certain way on the fence, please leave all presuppositions at the door. They're not welcome-- not if you want a fair & balanced summary of what the man was all about. Granted, Bushman is Mormon, but when writing this book he obviously shelved his beliefs for the sake of accuracy. Here we get to see Smith with all the warts and foibles a human is allowed to have. His judgement wasn't always on the money and his character not always "celestial." Nevertheless, here was a man who influenced more than presidents, statesmen or philosophers, and whose legacy continues to thrive. When the PBS documentary "The Mormons" aired, I heard the members didn't care for the way some of the talking heads spoke of Smith. Well, I didn't care much for the polished PR Joseph Smith the Mormon church tried to sell over the years, but the man written of in Rough Stone Rolling is one I can buy, even admire. If you care nothing for the church, but love American history, this well-written book will entertain and give you insight into a period we don't hear enough about. And if you are interested about Smith and the Mormons, start with this book. You will not be disappointed.
Brian Jones Straight From The Heart: The Rolling Stones Murder
Average customer rating: Not rated
    Brian Jones Straight From The Heart: The Rolling Stones Murder
    Gloria Shepherd
    Manufacturer: BookSurge Publishing
    ProductGroup: Book
    Binding: Paperback

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    5. The Rolling Stones: 365 Days The Rolling Stones: 365 Days

    ASIN: 0974209368
    Release Date: 2007-03-15

    Book Description

    Brian Jones life was a David vs. Goliath. Young, petite, and naïve, his Goliath was the Rolling Stones money machine. Unlike the Bible, Brian lost his life. This book levels the battlefield by telling what happened to the band’s founder. Written from Brian’s POV, the Stones rise to stardom is chronicled, ending with British authorities lack to properly investigate the bi-sexual bandleader’s death at 27.

    Brian recalls being an incest victim, homeless at age 16 and forced into prostitution. Regardless, with extreme talent, sexuality, and imagination he led the band he picked, taught and named to glory. His vision was to bring world music to the Stones catalog; the band declined—content to crank out mundane sounds as long as records sold.

    After a fight over musical direction Brian left the band planning to start anew and take the Rolling Stones name with him. Three weeks later he drowned in his swimming pool. Brian’s tale of death threats and witness accounts recount what actually happened.
    Exile on Main St.: A Season in Hell with the Rolling Stones
    Average customer rating: 2 out of 5 stars
    • Another "Music" book which skips the "music"
    • Not Much About the Record Itself
    • don't bother reading/buying
    • Exiled! Get the Janovitz book instead.
    • quick read, but still not worth the time
    Exile on Main St.: A Season in Hell with the Rolling Stones
    Robert Greenfield
    Manufacturer: Da Capo Press
    ProductGroup: Book
    Binding: Hardcover

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    ASIN: 0306814331

    Book Description

    Recorded during the blazing summer of 1971 at Villa Nellcote, Keith Richards' seaside mansion in the south of France, Exile on Main St. has been hailed as one of the Rolling Stones' best albums--and one of the greatest rock records of all time. Yet its improbable creation was difficult, torturous...and at times nothing short of dangerous.

    In self-imposed exile, the Stones--along with wives, girlfriends, and a crew of hangers-on unrivaled in the history of rock--spent their days smoking, snorting, and drinking whatever they could get their hands on. At night, the band descended like miners into the villa's dank basement to lay down tracks. Out of those grueling sessions came the familiar riffs and rhythms of "Rocks Off," "Tumbling Dice," "Happy," and "Sweet Virginia."

    All the while, a variety of celebrities--John Lennon, Yoko Ono, and Gram Parsons among them--stumbled through the villa's neverending party, as did the local drug dealers, known to one and all as "les cowboys." Villa Nellcote became the crucible in which creative strife, outsize egos, and all the usual byproducts of the Stones' legendary hedonistic excess fused into something potent, volatile, and enduring.

    Here, for the first time, is the season in hell that produced Exile on Main St.

    Customer Reviews:

    1 out of 5 stars Another "Music" book which skips the "music" .......2007-09-10

    I just finished this book. It is similar to the recent one on Derek and the Dominoes. All kinds of tabloid info on drugs, women and other debauchery but extremely short on the music. There are also glaring mistakes: 1. the author claims Jumpin' Jack Flash was on the Sticky Fingers album (wrong - it was a single released two years earlier). 2. he claims that Mick Taylor replaced Clapton in the Bluesbreakers (wrong, Taylor replaced Peter Green). 3. He claims the song "Dandelion" was on the album Satanic Majesty's Request. False. This is basic information and there is no excuse for getting it wrong. Not an auspicious beginning to the book. At the end of the book a few pages are thrown in discussing the music (which he claims are for (paraphrase - not exact words) eccentric people who like all this music stuff - I guess he means those of us who are not interested in tabloid gossip). If you're interested in what drugs Mick and Keith were taking or how many people Anita Pallenberg slept with, get this book. If you're interested in music, however, consider looking elsewhere. This book is a big disappointment. It is akin to a teen going out on a date waiting to kiss the girl good night and at the end she just says "see 'ya" and leaves you on the street. Not at all recommended.

    2 out of 5 stars Not Much About the Record Itself.......2007-08-02

    I picked this up while waiting for a plane to Philly. As a musician, I was pleased to find a book that (I thought) was about the making of one of my favorite recordings. This is a fast read. It's really just about the debauchery that took place while the record was being made and readied for market. Those of us who were old enough to remember this period of music history will learn absolutely nothing new here. I like the earlier review with the sarcastic proclamation "oh my God! Keith Richards took drugs!" That about sums it up. There's really very little (maybe a couple of sentences) about the actual sessions. I don't recommend it. I left it in the hotel room in Philly.

    1 out of 5 stars don't bother reading/buying.......2007-07-06

    Read 'Terry (Milwaukee)''s comments first. Dead-on analysis of this book; poorly written and often distracting - somewhere between a sophmore book report and a gossip column. Oddly organized and consistently annoying with the "music lyric seques"... it was a frustrating chore to read this book.

    One thing I never figured out - was the author even at Nellcote (Cote d'azur in France)? I was never able to determine what, if any, relationship he actually had to the Rolling Stones...

    2 out of 5 stars Exiled! Get the Janovitz book instead........2007-06-26

    I just finished reading this and the whole time I was making notes about the problems -- the factual errors, the reliance on Sanchez's shady material, the bad wordplay and the author's irritating use of the present tense.

    But then I came to this page and realized that the book has already been slammed again and again for those very same reasons.

    So, my short review: Word.

    Slightly longer review: Greenfield's usually pretty good (regarding his book on Bill Graham I have to drop the music geek cliche: "seminal") but this book is a bust. Without referencing the music this book loses all context and it could almost be about any band, any party. Still, if you want dirt, dirt you get.

    ** A much better recent book is Bill Janovitz's book about "Exile" in the 33-1/3rd series. **

    Janovitz (who led the band Buffalo Tom and writes extensively for AMG) covers the music with a musician's expertise without getting boring, and he brings to the table the genuine enthusiasm of a Stones fan. Plus, it's cheaper and cool and hip-pocket sized without being too small.

    2 out of 5 stars quick read, but still not worth the time.......2007-05-02

    I was at the library and stumbled on this book, Exile on Main Street, a Season in Hell with the Rolling Stones by Robert Greenfield, so I grabbed it.Really quick read, so I finished it, but it was pretty weak!

    The book is about the summer in the France when the Stones recorded most of Exile on Main Street, in '71.
    Basically, the gist of the story is that, over 35 years ago, the Stones hung out, did a lot of drugs, slept with alot of people, and often weren't very nice to each other, or to other people. Oh, and Keith was a heroin addict. And...there were a bunch of other people hanging around. Wow, what a ground breaking account. Oh, no, wait, everyone already knew all that.

    The author professes himself some sort of expert, and spends a good chunk of this lighweight book tearing down other people who've written about the Stones, even going so far as to suggest one person "call his (Greenfield's) office" with any questions on the Stones.
    Then, a page later, he says Jumpin Jack Flash is on Sticky Fingers.

    Of course, it's not.

    He seems to particularly have it in for "Spanish" Tony Sanchez, who years ago wrote a tell-all book on the Stones. It's funny how much time he devotes to tearing down Sanchez and trying to discredit much of what he wrote, when it seems Sanchez's book was the primary source of info for this book.

    It seemed about 3 out of 4 accounts/stories in Greenfield's book begin with "According to Tony Sanchez..". Then the 4th story would begin the same way, but Greenfield would claim the story inaccurate and would provide pretty much the same one interview John Perry didwith Anita Pallenberg, for his book on Exile, to discredit it.


    Greenfield never says he was there that summer, or gives any indication to make the reader think he was there, from reading this book you wouldn't know if he was or not. He seems to just be recounting stories told by other people. He devotes alot of energy to tearing down people who there there hanging around partying who didn't have a "job to do" or reason to be there. Was he there? And if so why? Did he have a "job to do"? Or did he just collect stories to throw into a sloppy, poorly written book 35+ years later?

    The book is pretty poorly written and the tone is often annoying.

    Quick read but still a waste of what little time it will take you to read it. There are definately better books on the Stones out there.
    S.T.P.: A Journey Through America With The Rolling Stones
    Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
    • Interesting Read with Some Glaring Errors
    • 'OUTLAWS IN LOVE...KINGS OF THE DECADENT LAWN.'
    • Stones Use STP In Their Tanks To Tour America!!!
    • *Richards*, the man's name is *Richards*
    • ROLLING WITH THE STONES '72
    S.T.P.: A Journey Through America With The Rolling Stones
    Robert Greenfield
    Manufacturer: Da Capo Press
    ProductGroup: Book
    Binding: Paperback

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    5. Keith Richards Keith Richards

    ASIN: 0306811995
    Release Date: 2002-09-03

    Book Description

    The classic insider's account of the Rolling Stones' legendary 1972 STP tour.

    Thirty years ago, the Rolling Stones swept America, taking Exile on Main Street to Main Streets across the nation. Everyone held their breath to see what would happen; the Stones' previous U.S. tour had been a chaotic circus culminating in the infamous death of a fan at Altamont. And this tour (the "Stones Touring Party") was rumored to be wilder than ever: bigger shows in major arenas, with a far larger entourage and even more drugs. Robert Greenfield went along for the ride, and came away with a riveting insider's account, called by Ian Rankin "one of the greatest rock books ever written." The reality lived up to the rumor: take one part Lee Radziwill, a dash of Truman Capote, set the scene at Hef's Playboy mansion, and toss in the county jail for good measure. That was the Stones Touring Party, the ultimate rock 'n' roll band at the height of its spectacular depravity.

    Customer Reviews:

    4 out of 5 stars Interesting Read with Some Glaring Errors.......2007-08-15

    Greenfield's first book on the Rolling Stones chronicling their North American tour of 1972 is far better than his recent "Exile On Main Street: A Season in Hell with the Rolling Stones". I enjoyed the style of writing and the bird's eye view of things that went on during the tour. I knew that the Stones' touring party was typically fairly depraved but I really had no idea of the extent of that depravity. I hate to be all PC and all that but young women (girls really) were treated as something to use and throw away. There are several accounts of young women who, while not part of the Stones Touring Party, were highly visible throughout the tour, used up for sordid entertainment, allowed themselves to be completely humiliated without even realizing it (the airplane film incident), and discarded like garbage. It's very sad the things that some of these young women did in order to be near that glittering star. I wonder how they feel today? Everything had to be cleared by Jagger and Richards, these two men have much to atone for, really.

    There are some really dumb and glaring mistakes and that fact that this is a second edition publication make them unforgivable really:

    For example, on page 115 Greenfield tells us about how a young Mick Taylor took Eric Clapton's place in Mayall's Blues Breakers. Greenfield must have smoked an awful lot of dope in his day. Anyone who knows ANYTHING about the music of that era knows that Peter Green (who went on to found the original Fleetwood Mac) replaced Clapton. Mick Taylor replaced Peter Green. Duh? That's rock-guitar history/appreciation 101 and Greenfield gets a big fat "F"

    On page 117 Greenfield mentions men in Denver washing their cars in the drive way and wondering what kind of season the Denver Bears were going to have... What? While it is true that in the late 50's and very early 60's Denver did have a semi-pro football team called the Denver Bears (almost NO-ONE in Denver remembers this), by 1972, Bronco mania had long taken hold in Denver (I was there). The Broncos were just a couple of years shy of their first appearance in a string of many very disappointing Superbowl performances (thank God they got that monkey of their backs).

    Didn't this guy have an editor? Who proofed this darn thing? Presumably a member of the Stones Touring Party who was just as stoned as everyone else. Again, this is a second edition boys and girls. Mistakes like the two cited above are good examples of shoddy authorship and editing. Maybe some writing course will use them as examples.

    Those two mistakes are glaring and it leaves me wondering about how many not so glaring mistakes this book also contains.

    5 out of 5 stars 'OUTLAWS IN LOVE...KINGS OF THE DECADENT LAWN.'.......2006-07-30

    I read this book sometime around 1975 when it first surfaced as a highly literate diary chronicling the Rolling Stones 1972 tour of America.Basking in the reflected glory of the (then and arguably still)'greatest rock n' roll band in the world';the author is afforded access all areas,and guides the reader from bickering rehearsal sessions,through rigid security meetings and late flights,until finally you are granted a carte blanche ticket for the greatest show on earth.Greenfield's cultured and informative reporting hurls you head-first into the crazed and ruthless world of the maelstrom that is The Rolling Stones in all their sometimes heavy-handed glory.Wonderfully entertaining stories unfold throughout this incredible journey as the outlaws
    in love march like kings,across the decadent sprawling lawns of
    mighty America.Pure zeitgeist.Great stuff.
    After reading this book you just wanna'play 'Exile on Main St.'
    at serious volume and wish that you never had to go to work again.(Oh'well..)

    4 out of 5 stars Stones Use STP In Their Tanks To Tour America!!!.......2004-07-04

    Why would anyone want to read a book about a tour that took place more than 30 years ago, in support of what is arguably the Rolling Stones most overrated album?? (Yes, Exile on Main Street does have some very good material, and excellent performances, but the "bathroom" (read: poor) sound quality, heralded by too many critics as being "influential" does not hold up well after all these years. Some of us would like to understand the lyrics, please!) Because the book is very well written by a good, observant, refreshingly unbiased journalist, and because like Jim Bouton's baseball classic Ball Four, S.T.P. was one of the first books that spawned an entire genre of rock books about specific bands. Many of the episodes still hold interest today, particularly the Playboy Mansion scenes in Chicago, and the details of the bands arrest and subsequent release (arranged by then-Mayor of Boston Kevin White to prevent a riot) from a Rhode Island jail: the Stones were supposed to be playing a concert at the very moment they were incarcerated. Many interesting characters stand out as well, particularly Truman Capote, Princess Lee Radziwill, and Jagger himself. One thing I feel must be noted: If you are younger than fortysomething, you may be surprised at the sheer amount of ANGER felt by many of the kids, who were just itching to clash with police. In many ways, that was typical of the times, and thankfully, for the most part, such behavior would not be tolerated today. In sum, if you are a Stones fan, or a fan of great rock writing, get S.T.P. ASAP. Trust me, like the namesake gas treatment, it'll put a tiger in your tank!!!

    4 out of 5 stars *Richards*, the man's name is *Richards*.......2004-02-18

    The first hundred or so pages are so fixated on Mick Jagger that you wonder if Mr Greenfiel is ever going to notice that the Rolling Stones consist of way more than a frontman. But once he finally does realize that - apparently a concert or two was enough to convince him - it's a pretty good read. There are some obvious inaccuracies (including mistaking butterflies for doves); and the stuff about the people and events orbiting around the Stones on this tour is sometimes overlong. Some of it, though, works nicely to bring back the atmosphere of the times.

    It's unfortunate that Mr Greenfiel didn't have the courtesy to correct Keith's surname in this re-edition - who cares how the publicists were misspelling it at the time?! That grates, as do the lame attempts to capture regional pronunciation. Just talk normal, please, Mr Greenfiel! And repeat after me: it's *Richards*.

    In other words: Stanley Booth's _True Adventures of the Rolling Stones_ is miles better - really fine writing, a superior grasp of what the Stones are about, *and* he knows what Keith's surname is - but this one'll do between re-readings of Stanley's.

    5 out of 5 stars ROLLING WITH THE STONES '72.......2003-05-04

    After being out of print for almost 30 years, I'm glad to see S.T.P. finally available. I've seen and heard references to it for years. I almost broke down and bought a used copy of it on eBay several times. I'm sure glad I waited (and saved a lot of money). While not focused entirely on the Stones themselves, this book does a good job of giving you the flavor of what it was like to tour North America in the summer of '72 with the Stones (and assorted hangers-on) as they brought Exile On Main Street (and Stevie Wonder) to the masses. I couldn't make it all the way through without pulling out my DVD copy of C.S. Blues (the making of which was mentioned in the book). A great look back at the Stones in their prime.
    Rolling Stone 1,000 Covers: A History of the Most Influential Magazine in Pop Culture
    Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
    • Nice
    • Great Book
    • Still rolling along
    Rolling Stone 1,000 Covers: A History of the Most Influential Magazine in Pop Culture
    Rolling Stone , and Jann Wenner
    Manufacturer: "Harry N. Abrams, Inc."
    ProductGroup: Book
    Binding: Turtleback

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    1. 500 Greatest Albums of All Times, The 500 Greatest Albums of All Times, The
    2. The Greatest Album Covers of All Time The Greatest Album Covers of All Time
    3. The Rolling Stone Encyclopedia of Rock & Roll (Revised and Updated for the 21st Century) The Rolling Stone Encyclopedia of Rock & Roll (Revised and Updated for the 21st Century)
    4. Rolling Stone: The Illustrated Portraits Rolling Stone: The Illustrated Portraits
    5. STAIRWAY TO HEAVEN: THE FINAL RESTING PLACES OF ROCK'S LEGENDS STAIRWAY TO HEAVEN: THE FINAL RESTING PLACES OF ROCK'S LEGENDS

    ASIN: 0810958651

    Book Description

    For the past 39 years, the covers of Rolling Stone have depicted the great icons of popular culture, from John Lennon, Bob Dylan, the Rolling Stones, and Madonna to Steve Martin, Uma Thurman, and Richard Nixon. Often it was an appearance on the cover that launched a performer's legendary status in the first place. An enormous hit when it appeared in 1997 as Rolling Stone: The Complete Covers, 1967-1997 (nearly 100,000 copies sold in all editions), this fantastic collection has been revised and updated to include the covers since 1997 up to the much-publicized 1,000th cover, slated to hit newsstands in May 2006.

    With an updated introduction by Jann S. Wenner as well as new excerpts from the magazine and quotes from photographers and their celebrity subjects, this nostalgic journey down the memory lane of pop music, entertainment, and politics is irresistible.

    Customer Reviews:

    4 out of 5 stars Nice.......2007-08-08

    I would have liked more information about what was in each magazine. Even if it was just a paragraph about the times and the person on the cover. But on a whole it was very nice.

    5 out of 5 stars Great Book.......2007-01-27

    This book brought me back so many, many years. I remember so many of these covers. It was a present for my husband and he just loves going through the book all the time.

    5 out of 5 stars Still rolling along.......2006-11-15

    If you have the original large 1998 edition this latest book is just a continuation, though smaller in size, up to the thousandth edition in May/June 2006. I was rather impressed with the earlier book except for the silly tiny type dates and photo credits for each cover, amazingly set in four point. Fortunately someone has realised that tiny type is not really readable in a domestic lighting environment so the cover dates and photo credits have been upped to just over five point, still rather small though. Apart from this all the other text is readable and combined with the excellent design and printing makes this a wonderful book to look at.

    Like the first book it is not just a memory jogger of covers, there are plenty of sidebar excerpts from the magazine. It is the covers though that are the five stars plus. Not many consumer publications manage to consistently retain a quality cover look over so many years and in the Stone's case with the same logo since January 1981. Look through the index of photographers and illustrators and you'll see why the covers look so cool: Annie Leibovitz shot 142 of them, Herb Ritts has forty-six, Richard Avedon eighteen. With this sort of quality no wonder it always looked good. Even the early issues in the rather inflexible newspaper format had a distinctive cover style.

    I think this beautiful looking updated book will be a strong seller (not least because of Amazon's bargain price) for those who lived with rock for the last thirty-nine years.

    Quirky observation: the book's title is on a wrap-around strip of paper (rather bizarrely called a belly band in the trade) and I can't see it staying in one piece for long as this is just the kind of book that will enjoy a lot of handling.

    ***FOR AN INSIDE LOOK click 'customer images' under the cover.
    Rolling with the Stones
    Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
    • Awesome Coffee Table Book
    • Superb Book - Rolling with the Stones
    • If you only buy one Stones Photo History--Buy This One
    • Greatest book on the stones!!!
    • Not To Be Missed By Any Stones Lover...
    Rolling with the Stones
    Bill Wyman
    Manufacturer: DK ADULT
    ProductGroup: Book
    Binding: Hardcover

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    1. Stone Alone: The Story of a Rock 'n' Roll Band Stone Alone: The Story of a Rock 'n' Roll Band
    2. According to the Rolling Stones According to the Rolling Stones
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    4. The True Adventures of the Rolling Stones The True Adventures of the Rolling Stones
    5. The Rolling Stones: 365 Days The Rolling Stones: 365 Days

    ASIN: 0789489678
    Release Date: 2002-10-28

    Amazon.com

    Of his own choosing, Bill Wyman's career as a founding member of the Rolling Stones has achieved a perspective that his legendary bandmates don't yet enjoy: a beginning, middle, and end. Indeed, the musicians once hailed as the greatest rock & roll band in the world have become more like the band that wouldn't die. But history can't be denied, and the man born William Perks of Lower Sydenham, London, has lovingly assembled this over-500-page book, equal parts memoir and lavishly illustrated coffee-table tome, with a winning mix of clear-eyed reportage (based on his own voluminous diaries) and an eye for colorful detail and ephemera worthy of a proud family scrapbook. Which, in many ways, Rolling with the Stones most resembles: family--and musical--trees are acknowledged, career moves dissected, deaths mourned, and triumphs and foibles alike are dispensed with equal candor. Wyman deflates the myth of the Stones as rock's preternatural bad boys (a conservative, sensationalist press made it all too easy to live down to expectations) yet allows the tragic legend of band founder Brian Jones to assume its proper perspective. A half-decade older than his bandmates, the retired Stone has few illusions about the band's true cultural impact and creative arc, devoting nearly three-quarters of the book to the Stones' first, turbulent decade. What is more gratifying is that he avoids the myopic constraints of the similarly sized Beatles Anthology, generously weaving the recollections of band members, associates, family, reporters, and even fan letters into a narrative whose outline is epic, but whose viewpoint has a decidedly human scale. --Jerry McCulley

    Book Description

    A backstage pass to the Rolling Stones from Bill Wyman, founder of the Rolling Stones. The Rolling Stones, commonly referred to as the world's greatest rock 'n' roll band, epitomize everything that's excessive, lavish, exciting, and powerful about rock music. Now, founding member and bass player Bill Wyman presents an honest and humorous account that serves as a backstage pass to the band's history, from drug busts, to tax exile, to solo careers. Straight from Wyman's huge personal archive, Rolling with the Stones features previously unreleased letters, photographs, memorabilia, and personal journals. With over 2000 photographs, more than 45 beautifully designed tour spreads, song lists from every show, and biographies on each band member, there is no need for any other Stones book to be written.

    Customer Reviews:

    5 out of 5 stars Awesome Coffee Table Book.......2007-09-04

    Great Book, Nicely made, Great rare pic, and Bill Wymans story is a great detailed and true one.
    Must have for the Stones fan.

    5 out of 5 stars Superb Book - Rolling with the Stones.......2007-05-30

    For a first purchase, this book exceeded expectations both for content and value for money. Bill Wyman has included many items of interest relating to happenings of the time. Very readable and an excellent archivist. The ease of purchasing such a bargain will ensure that I will certainly make purchases from Amazon in the future. I purchased the book as a present, but will keep an eye out for a copy for myself as this was the only one left in stock at the time ordering.

    5 out of 5 stars If you only buy one Stones Photo History--Buy This One.......2006-11-13

    Bill Wyman's book about the Rolling Stones is a superior effort. The book is similar in layout to the Beatles Anthology or the 'According to the Stones' book which followed Wyman's and was written by the remaining members of the group. Here are the reasons I believe this is the best Stones picture history on the market.

    1. Wyman has attempted to be fair to all members, past and present. His treatment of Brian Jones is sympathetic without pulling punches. He acknowledges Jones as the founder and driving force behind the band, and he laments his loss.

    2. Wyman has a prodigious collection of Stones ephemera, which he began saving almost from day one, so that he could show his kids that he had been in a rock and roll band for the two or three years he expected the ride to last. There are literally hundreds of color photos of Stones stuff in this book. It's like going back in time or going to the world's best Rolling Stones museum. And it is put together with love and fits Wyman's narrative perfectly. Wyman also has a lot of items dealing with other bands from the period that traveled with them, influenced them, or just existed at the same time and are of interest to the history of rock and roll.

    3. The writing is superb. There is very little "I" in this book. Wyman has carefully made it a history of the band, rarely mentioning his own personal experiences except where they are historically significant. This modesty is refreshing and makes the book more credible than 'According to the Rolling Stones'.

    4. The book is well-thought-out and well put together. It is a delight to read from cover to cover and will be a book you will return to and re-read to find out more about the background and historical context of the songs. It is also very reasonably priced. I got mine from Amazon used for around five dollars and it was the best five bucks I've spent in a long time on a book.

    Buy it, treasure it. And thank you, Bill, for giving readers such a fun and informative look inside the life of one of the world's greatest rock and roll bands.

    5 out of 5 stars Greatest book on the stones!!!.......2006-06-21

    I have read multiple books on the Rolling Stones and music in general and this is by far one of the best. The pictures are unique, many not seen anywhere else, and the writing is definitely frank, honest, and amusing. You won't be able to put this book down!

    5 out of 5 stars Not To Be Missed By Any Stones Lover..........2005-11-27

    Just finished reading "According To The Rolling Stones" the Anthology sketch of the band in their own words...a good book but Bill was rarely mentioned at all...now in this excellent snapshot of the band's history written by Bill you get the full scoop,total and penetrating with great photos and memorabiilia worthy of any one's coffee table or library.
    Reading this gives a finer more detailed picture of the band from the elder Stone,...Not very deep nor insightful as regards to the making of the music or the real psyche of the Stones but a basic understanding is there even though it is a bit superficial..The total excitement and colour of this piece of history is essential and is captured well in this collectible book which what it set out to do.
    500 Greatest Albums of All Times, The
    Average customer rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars
    • Proceed with caution!
    • I may disagree heavily, however...
    • great
    • Typical Rolling Stone
    • Total fluff - some voters' favorites but not the greatest albums
    500 Greatest Albums of All Times, The
    Editors of Rolling Stone , and Joe Levy
    Manufacturer: Wenner
    ProductGroup: Book
    Binding: Hardcover

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    3. 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die
    4. STAIRWAY TO HEAVEN: THE FINAL RESTING PLACES OF ROCK'S LEGENDS STAIRWAY TO HEAVEN: THE FINAL RESTING PLACES OF ROCK'S LEGENDS
    5. The Rolling Stone Encyclopedia of Rock & Roll (Revised and Updated for the 21st Century) The Rolling Stone Encyclopedia of Rock & Roll (Revised and Updated for the 21st Century)

    ASIN: 1932958010

    Book Description

    In the continuing tradition of Rolling Stones in-depth coverage of the legends of musicfrom the seminal songs to the greatest guitaristscomes Rolling Stones 500 Greatest Albums of All Time. Compiled by the editors of Rolling Stone, the widely-recognized bible of popular music, and a star-studded panel of rock n roll experts, the Rolling Stone 500 is the definitive collection of the greatest albums ever made and a need-to-own for the true music fan. This collectors volume contains the best from the Rolling Stone archivesinside stories and never-before-seen photographs taken at the great recording sessions.

    Customer Reviews:

    2 out of 5 stars Proceed with caution!.......2007-07-22

    Okay, before I go on, I would like to say that this is not a subjective review. I am not trying to beat the fact that the Eagles and Led Zeppelin (though, in the latter band's case, good) are gruesomely overrated while Herbie Hancock and The Allman Brothers Band are gruesomely underrated into anyone's heads. I am stating my opinion, which I know quite well differs greatly from fact, because opinion by nature cannot be fact.
    Rolling Stone pompously declares the 500 albums in this list to be the 500 best ever. In this case, there'd be a lot more jazz on this list, right? Well, according to the good folks at Rolling Stone, "jazz" consists of Miles Davis, John Coltrane and Ornette Coleman - don't get me wrong, some of jazz's greatest artists. But doesn't Charles Mingus deserve some credit, if only for widely influential works like Mingus Ah Um or The Black Saint and the Sinner Lady? Similarly, Thelonious Monk's Underground, widely considered one of the genre's greatest albums, is totally neglected. How about Herbie Hancock's tremendously influential Head Hunters, Empyrean Isles and Maiden Voyage? They're gone too. And if they wanted a rock spin on jazz, shouldn't the Mahavishnu Orchestra's Inner Mounting Flame been included? Alas, no, that is rejected too. To say nothing of the works of Duke Ellington or Louie Armstrong. You can bet they don't give that a second look. Stupid, it is. Oh, and there are six jazz albums out of these 500: three by Miles (Kind of Blue; B*tches Brew; Sketches of Spain), two by Coltrane (A Love Supreme; Giant Steps), one by Ornette (Shape of Jazz to Come). By contrast, Eminem (a lightweight, obnoxious shock-rapper whose material isn't even that shocking at all) is fawned over - three of his albums are included on this list, which I believe was his complete discography at that point. Similarly, two albums by the Eagles? Ha. And Green Day's Dookie? Again, ha. Also MIA are some more influential and just plain good albums: Jeff Beck's Truth (the original metal album - you'll note how much praise they place on Led Zeppelin's head, who, while a good band, were essentially imitating Jeff Beck) and Wired; Traffic's John Barleycorn and self-titled; Alice in Chain's Dirt. And no matter what this list would want you to believe, there is far more to Joni Mitchell than Blue and Court & Spark.
    Wh
    ich leads directly into my next point: no dark horses I can think of. A seasoned music fan could probably smell the contents of this list from a mile away. All they offer us is the usual cascade of albums that have been met with floods and floods of praise. I, for one, would rather see them stick up for a relatively unknown album like Joni Mitchell's Hissing of Summer Lawns or the Rolling Stones' Goats Head Soup (or the Allman Brothers' Eat a Peach and Idlewild South!!!) than see yet another list with Hotel California or Led Zeppelin IV on it.
    I give this album 2 stars because I do agree with several choices this book makes, though I would argue their positioning (I, for one, would put Abbey Road at #1). However, there are too many fundamental flaws, and the scope of this list is too limited, to make it truly definitive.
    Oh, and anybody looking to contest my claim about Led Zeppelin IV, Dookie Hotel California, or any other albums I claim do not belong on this list (e.g. Pet Sounds - god, what a boring album)... if you say what you wish to in a polite, civilized manner, I will listen to your claim and debate it in similar polite, civilized terms. On the other hand, if you wish to confine your comments to pointless immature sniping, I believe you know where I will instruct you to stick it, because I've heard it all before. So to all flamers, don't bother, as your flame will be ignored.

    3 out of 5 stars I may disagree heavily, however..........2007-07-05

    It is because of this book that I got into two of my favorite artists, Neil Young and the Velvet Underground. I guess thank you for that.

    But of course there are flaws. Sgt. Peppers shouldn't have been number 1. I don't think I'm alone in saying that that isn't the Beatles best work.
    Also, how could No Doubt's "Rock Steady" do better than the Smashing Pumpkins' "Siamese Dream" and "Melancholy and the Infinite Sadness"? It doesn't add up.
    What I think happened is that the first 150 or 200 albums were very honestly thought out. After that, it was any halfway decent album they could think of.
    I did find this to be a enjoyable read, but I diagree. To each their own; you be the judge.

    5 out of 5 stars great.......2007-02-18

    It gives you all you need for the perfect glossary of music. You have pictures of the albums, numbers of how good the record is, and a decription of the album and why it was good. And about every 5 paes they is artifects of old lyrics and decriptions where they made them. I think that any music lover or fanatic should have it. The only downside is that you might not agree with some of their decisions on where to place the albums. I say it's a must have.

    3 out of 5 stars Typical Rolling Stone .......2007-01-29

    If you're looking for a decent read that summarizes some great albums, this book does a decent job. But please don't pay much attention to the album rankings. The Beatles are the greatest band ever, but are not worthy of top ten dominance. Some selections are just plain questionable. Also, you can tell that in their attempt to put some contemporary music in the book, they didn't know what to do, particularly with their grunge and hiphop selections. The book is worth the purchase. Just don't run out and buy the 500 albums according to RS's opinion.

    1 out of 5 stars Total fluff - some voters' favorites but not the greatest albums.......2007-01-18

    This is at best an amusing coffee table book, so why does it call itself "The 500 Greatest Albums Of All Time?" Surely such a title alludes to the musical contributions of the albums - not necessarily if they are pet favorites of some, even famous, rock critics. The problem was the method. Ask a hundred rock critics to compile a list of the greatest albums and they will list either what they feel they should list to stay hip with readers or what they personally loved the most. Recipe for disaster. Bias multiplied by a hundred. In short, you get a massive hodge-podge of personal bests, not necessarily an historical evaluation of which records were the most important. Thus, a dumbing down occurs, rather than a serious analysis of the best music from the past half century.

    That is exactly what happened with the 500 Greatest Albums Of All Time. It works fine as a glamorous exposition of albums that sold well in their time and are favorites of their fans (the contributing critics), but not as a serious list of what really constitutes on a musical level (that is, minus the hype) the greatest albums. Which is a great shame, since compiling a list of the "500 Greatest Albums Of All Time" ordinarily invites such a selectiveness.

    Isn't the whole fun and point in creating a list like this to be able to argue: "surely we have to put Dylan before the Beatles as Lennon's more interesting lyrics were influenced by him, and also because the Beatles wrote meaningless ditties compared to Dylan's poetic commentaries?" "Sure, but then if we consider Sgt. Pepper important for its use of the studio, then we must place Pet Sounds before it since its experimental use of the studio inspired McCartney to produce this Beatles album with Geroge Martin's innovative recording techniques?" And so on and so forth. Thus, the criteria in creating such a list must be to what extent the album was ahead of its time, influencing others, or daring to do something with music that had not yet been dared, trying very hard to stay on that level and not stoop to the temptation of including albums merely for their sales or fame (and let's be honest, these critics are partly responsible along with the label's marketing staff and budget, for an album's hype anyway).

    I am not about to use some examples merely to whine and complain about personal favorites, but rather to support and illustrate my hypothesis. Highly innovative musicians whose styles were extremely original and who influenced modern rock are glaringly missing.

    For example, no Nico. It is true that the average rock listener may not even know who Nico was, but her dazzling originality on an album such as Desert Shore has influenced thousands of modern Alternative artists. I can't even think of another artist from the era of Desert Shore or Marble Index that produced a sound as unique as hers.

    Another extremely glaring ommission - no Robert Wyatt. Hard to imagine a greater musical genius in rock loved more by other artists and music lovers - both in Soft Machine (a band that along with early Pink Floyd were extremely experimental and innovative in the English scene) and in his solo career with an album such as Rock Bottom that is probably one of the most accomplished rock albums of all time. Such an album is certainly "greater" than this book's #1 album, Sgt. Pepper, since that Beatles album was inspired by an already thriving psychedelic scene that that band did not create nor was even part of, even though, yes, that album may have been the scene's best seller and its most famous. This is where sales and hype constitute two variables that tend to take first place to musical importance in this book.

    Another extraordinarily original artist in rock music was Tim Buckley whose Lorca and Starsailor are among the most original albums of popular music ever created, both missing in this book's list.

    The Krautrock bands like Faust, Can, Neu!, Popol Vuh, or Amon Duul were each extraordinarily original for their time, and influenced almost every pop genre that followed them (from punk to progressive to modern alternative) - but they are not even listed once, despite their huge contribution!

    You see the problem? By listing almost every Beatles album, for example, when only about 2 were truly original works (Sgt. Pepper and Abbey Road, for their use of sounds, medleys, mixes, instruments and the studio itself) places are wasted for other important selections. It is incredible to see no Pere Ubu among early punk influences - the Modern Dance for instance. If you don't believe me, this is what Wikipedia says about Pere Ubu: "they have been hugely influential on several generations of forward-thinking musicians and are among the most critically acclaimed American musical groups." You will find a similar determination of greatness if you do research on Wikipedia or in rock history books on any of the other artists I mentioned, and there are dozens more I did not list.

    For instance, how come no John Fahey, no Red Crayola, and why, among modern artists, no Lisa Germano, one of the most original from the 1990s?

    You must all be acquainted with the influence of Asian instruments and sounds in the rock music of the 1960s, and the departure from the short ditties of the early 1960s (e.g., the Beatles' Love Me Do and Please Please Me) to the extended, raga-ish works of the middle to late '60s, as rock matured, gobbling up not only so-called World Music but also the improvisational quality of jazz? By that estimation, early musicians such as Robbie Basho and Sandy Bull were early geniuses showing rock the way with their accoustic instrumentalism. And, of course, you would not even know it from this book.

    Do any of you know what geniuses a band such as the Vampire Rodents were? They combined metal, melodic rock, punk, jazz and even classical in their highly original albums. Their sound was so unique and creative at least one of their albums should rank among the greatest of all time? There are tons of artists like this from the 1980s to the present day that are completely missing from this book, yet deserve a mention when you have 500 titles to include. What about extremely hyped artists like Radiohead, Elvis Presley and U2? Should they be listed at all compared with the true trailblazers? Controversial, well that is what modern popular music is supposed to be. It is supposed to be about novelty, experimentation, risk, passion, inventiveness, no?

    This book does not even scratch the surface of such a discussion, it does not even provide intelligent commentary from one album to the next, and so while it might provide entertainment, it simply does not live up to its name. This does not mean I think you should not be in possession of it - there is a place for fluffy coffee-table books, after all, the coffee table! It simply means it is not a real collection of the greatest albums of rock as the title implies, so don't be fooled if you are interested in discovering great modern music. On the other hand, you will only learn by developing a vast library like me, with some works more useful than others, until you can form your own opinions. I would say that every album in this book is worth listening to at least once, so the book is not completely useless. But if you do listen to some of these, don't let it be said I did not warn you!!

    This book may have some sociological significance as a work reflecting the influence of sales and hype upon rock critics. But for a serious appreciation of the greatest albums, do not look into this tome or you will be greatly disappointed (although obviously many classics are included, inevitably). It is not surprising that this list was published by Rolling Stone, a journal that has not been cutting edge since the 1960s. It appears to be simply clueless. This rolling stone grew moss a long time ago.
    Rolling Away the Stone: Mary Baker Eddy's Challenge to Materialism (Religion in North America)
    Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    • Pleased in KY
    • Christian Science, being absolute, is at the point of perfection
    • Well done
    • With Grace
    • Dispersing the mist.
    Rolling Away the Stone: Mary Baker Eddy's Challenge to Materialism (Religion in North America)
    Stephen Gottschalk
    Manufacturer: Indiana University Press
    ProductGroup: Book
    Binding: Hardcover

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    5. Mary Baker Eddy (Radcliffe Biography Series) Mary Baker Eddy (Radcliffe Biography Series)

    ASIN: 0253346738

    Book Description

    Rolling Away the Stone is a richly detailed account of the last two decades of the life of Mary Baker Eddy, a major religious thinker whose character and achievement are just beginning to be understood. This is the first book-length discussion of Eddy to make full use of the resources of the Mary Baker Eddy Collection in Boston. It focuses on her long-range legacy as a Christian thinker, specifically her challenge to the materialism that continues to threaten religious belief and practice in our time.

    Hoping to retire in 1889 after seven turbulent years founding the Christian Science movement, Eddy believed the demands upon her would ease. Instead, during the 1890s and 1900s, she entered into the most active and fruitful period of her long life, becoming a nationally and even internationally known figure. The radical character of Eddy's teaching, together with her position as a woman religious leader in a male-dominated society, aroused storm clouds of controversy that have continued to swirl around her memory today. The book opens with an account of the critical point in this controversy when her very sanity was challenged in a litigation that became one of the first media events of the 20th century.

    Stephen Gottschalk also traces the fascinating relation between Eddy's encounter with the problem of evil in the first half of her life and how Mark Twain, her best-known adversary, faced the same issue during his later years. Gottschalk then explores how Eddy's challenge to materialism shaped her response to a series of crises that arose as she brought her life's work to completion. This is a sensitive and serious biography of an important figure in American religious history.

    Customer Reviews:

    5 out of 5 stars Pleased in KY.......2007-09-27

    Thank you for your service. I received my order within a couple of days and I appreciated that it was packed with care and was in perfect condition.

    5 out of 5 stars Christian Science, being absolute, is at the point of perfection.......2007-04-16

    Mary Baker Eddy took a radical stand against materialism, and, resultantly, evil. Both Mary Baker Eddy and Mark Twain experienced moments of blackness, despair. Although Twain could believe in healing through Christian Science, he could not believe that God is Love.

    This new scholarly biography by Stephen Gottschalk is of interest to both historians of religion in America and Christian Scientists. The author's focus is Mary Baker Eddy's final twenty years. For the most part these years were spent by her at her New Hampshire retreat near Concord, Pleasant View. Gottschalk uses pressure points encountered by Mrs. Eddy to organize the book. The first is the regrettable Next Friends Suit triggered by inquiries of Pulitzer's WORLD. Other points used are the vehement opposition of Mark Twain to Mrs. Eddy and the World Parliament of Religions.

    In the near term the Parliament was deemed a success by Christian Science adherents. Mrs. Eddy had, nonetheless, fear of overexposure and she was more perceptive than her followers in this regard. The discussion of MBE and Mark Twain is interesting in terms of the Calvinist background they shared. Mrs. Eddy is characterized as a reluctant Charismatic. Her position was a radical one. Dissension in the movement threatened its prosperity. Through unity of action the Mother Church was built in 1894. Mrs. Eddy made unremitting demands upon members and officers for concerted purposeful action. The boom in branch church edifices, though, signaled a danger--creeping materialism. Mrs. Eddy believed her source of authority was spiritual listening.

    More than Emma Hopkins and Augusta Stetson, Josephine Woodbury was a conflicted follower of Mary Baker Eddy. She passed from ardent disciple to adversary. She had drama and flair. She and her students lived by a sort of miracle play of their own. Ex-communicated in 1895 for thought transference, Josephine Woodbury conducted a campaign against Mrs. Eddy in 1899. Later she sued for libel. Until victory was achieved two years later there was an atmosphere of fear and malice.

    Mrs. Eddy was not always a tower of strength. She disliked self-justification. She saw it as resistance to spiritual progress. In 1908 she instructed the Trustees of the Christian Science Publishing Society to establish the CHRISTIAN SCIENCE MONITOR in one hundred days. The name cemented the unbreakable link of newspaper and church.

    In 1909 Mrs. Eddy sought to consolidate her gains in the affairs of the movement. Fighting old age and death, she withdrew, even from events in her own household. After Mary Baker Eddy's death the movement lost vitality. Mrs. Eddy's leadership had been bold, forward marching.

    The notes and bibliography are useful to Christian Scientists and others. What is presented that is absent from other biographies is information about the households in Concord and Chestnut Hill, a sort of loss statement pertaining to the Next Friends Suit, more vivid explanations of the controversites with Josephine Woodbury, Augusta Stetson, and, for that matter, Foster Eddy.

    5 out of 5 stars Well done.......2006-03-25

    I found Gottschalk's work inspiring, insightful, and very well written. I have read several biographies about the venerable Mrs. Eddy, and this one may just be the best.

    4 out of 5 stars With Grace.......2006-02-28

    Gottschalk has written a graceful, lucid, and heartfelt book that captures both the inner life and outward struggle of Mary Baker Eddy, one of the more unique figures in American religious history. Though a Christian Scientist himself, he is no apologist but a clear eyed, sympathetic scholar who has the intellectual wherewithal to place her in a historical context (see his explanation of her Puritan background or the section on Mark Twain for example) and to do justice to her religious ideas. He does this while keeping in view her humanity and the steep price she paid for holding true to her own conscience-driven mission. Not a quick read but well worth the time spent.

    5 out of 5 stars Dispersing the mist........2006-02-24

    My comments below will review the book, and also speak to a review in The Christian Science Monitor 2/21/2006 (available in archive at csmonitor [dot] com).

    This book is an important story about a significant contributor to the intellectual history of the world. But the 'official' review by Monitor reviewer, Richard Bergenheim, editor of the Monitor, seems to wish Gottschalk had told a different story. And he bases some of his critique on the story not told, dismissing the book, in part, as dogmatic -- yet he does not establish his assessment charging 'dogmatism' by citing a single quote. (Here's one of his: "Regretfully, Gottschalk feels compelled to tell the more familiar story yet again, leaving examination of what Mrs. Eddy achieved during this period and how it was accomplished still largely unexplored. . . . Its tone, however, is often uncomfortably dogmatic.") 'More familiar?' RB seems to miss the point that the book is not about the church but about her challenge to materialism. What a pity. Perhaps he's the dogmatist, being more fixated by the (failing?) empire, than focused on the significant insight about the nature of matter and the way of treating it which Eddy has delivered to the world.

    Yes, the book revisits ground covered by Robert Peel (in what still remains the leading scholarly biography on Eddy), but Gottschalk is on a new mission. The intrigue of prominent thinkers (Twain, Cather, Pulitzer, et al) and their differing perceptions of reality was, for me, worth contemplating. I came away with the distinct feeling that Eddy would have been much further ahead by not allowing herself to be distracted by the founding of a centralized church, an effort she attempted to resist. (Let the local branches be the church!) And one of her appointees strongly attempted to save her much of that trouble, which burdened her shoulders with the cares and struggles of a human institution; (he endeavored to help her focus her efforts, instead, almost exclusively on a publishing thrust).

    This was refreshing to me. It revealed what could have been. But Eddy was not to be deterred by an underling (especially a man!), even though she herself had resisted organizing a central church. (Why does the story always seem to end by the church crucifying its founder?) What I found fascinating was that at the very end some of her closest students sought with determination to bend her intentions, and from what I can see, perhaps they did. But it is likely that those at the top don't want the pew-sitters to notice "that man behind the curtain."

    This book deserves the careful attention of any who are truly interested in excellent scholarship on the history of Eddy's radical teaching and lifework. Her central thesis, called 'the scientific staement of being' found on p.468 of her seminal text, Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, treats matter in a powerful new way which is far in advance of that even of today's modern physicists such as Penrose, et al, who are presently (and belatedly!) working on this very issue, questioning the relationship between consciousness and matter. They should be realizing that an unschooled little old lady from New England got there ahead of them!

    Gottschalk provides a balanced view of a remarkable and dynamic woman which effectively dispels or contests much of the falsehood put on record by ax-grinding critics with dubious agendas. He shines light on the many histrionic claims targeted at this vibrant 19th century thinker at their very source. This is dogmatism? In my view, he has helped to melt the fog surrounding this controversial figure.

    ~eric.
    The Rolling Stones' Exile on Main St. (33 1/3)
    Average customer rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    • Surprisingly good; I only wish it were longer
    • A good read!
    • Stay away
    • Best book on Exile yet
    • Good Read
    The Rolling Stones' Exile on Main St. (33 1/3)
    Bill Janovitz
    Manufacturer: Continuum International Publishing Group
    ProductGroup: Book
    Binding: Paperback

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    ASIN: 082641673X

    Book Description

    Tracing the creation of Exile on Main St. from the original songwriting done while touring America through the final editing in Los Angeles, Bill Janovitz explains how an album recorded by a British band in a villa on the French Riviera is pure American rock & roll. Looking at each song individually, Janovitz unveils the innovative recording techniques, personal struggles, and rock & roll mythmaking that culminated in this pivotal album.

    Customer Reviews:

    4 out of 5 stars Surprisingly good; I only wish it were longer.......2007-07-14

    The problem with writing about "Exile" is that it's such a rich and storied period in the Stones' career that writers often down know where to start, or what tone to take once they get going.

    There's more than enough music to focus on, but there's also a boatload of drug-related illicitness that could be dealt with.

    Janovitz (who plays in the band Buffalo Tom and writes extensively for AMG) covers the music with a musician's expertise without getting boring, and he brings to the table the genuine enthusiasm of a Stones fan.

    He writes about what the album meant to him -- and, if you're a huge fan of the record, you'll probably be able to relate to his brief tales of youth. But then he digs into the work with the enthusiasm of a musician who's breaking down songs he loves: Did Keith play electric piano on that song? Or is it Nicky Hopkins? How has the group's approach to gospel evolved in relation to earlier attempts? Who are the background vocalists on a particular song? Discuss the unusual mixing and the circumstances under which the recording was made.

    Another reviewer said there's too much Janovitz here, which I don't really understand because while he has asides and a distinct, conversational voice to his writing, I think it makes this book go down a lot easier than, say, Robert Greenfield's recent hipper-than-thou present-tense misfire, "A Season in Hell with the Rolling Stones."

    Plus, it's cheaper and cool and hip-pocket sized without being too small. Although I do think it may be too short.

    4 out of 5 stars A good read!.......2007-03-23

    I enjoy the CD even more after reading this book. The only better read you could get is from someone who was actually there during the making of the album.

    1 out of 5 stars Stay away.......2007-03-14

    There are better books on the Exile on Main Street sessions.
    This book is mostly about the writer himself.

    5 out of 5 stars Best book on Exile yet.......2007-01-20

    Just finished Janovitz's Exile book and I was really impressed with his style. He provides a detailed account of the characters, setting and circumstances surrounding the recording of "Exile on Main Street". I collect books on the Stones and this easily goes into my top three due to the details of why Exile was such a breakthrough for the Stones as artists. I loved the fact that Janovitz breaks down the tracking on Exile song by song. He provides a lot of insight of the sounds and meanings behind every song. I know this record by heart but he knocked it out of the park pointing out things I hadn't considered before such as the importance of Jimmy Miller's percussion influence or Nicky Hopkin's contribution vs. Ian Stewart's on Exile.

    I LOVED it. I give it 5 stars!

    5 out of 5 stars Good Read.......2005-11-19

    Very detailed and well-written account of the greatest rock and roll album ever made. To be honest, I would've preferred a few hundred more pages about Exile, but Janovitz crams a lot into this little book. Worth multiple readings if you're a big fan of the album.

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