MixedLibrary JournalMuch of the story will be familiar to those who have read previous works about the Beatles. This book is short on immersive musical analysis of specific songs and recordings, and it’s somewhat cursory in dealing with some of Harrison’s later years. Readers who are not extremely familiar with Beatles history or who are seeking a Harrison-focused biography will want this. They’ll gain more insight into the most enigmatic member of the Beatles.
Harvey Fierstein
RaveLibrary JournalRichly detailed ... His memoir is filled with evocative characters and scenes, and his wit and way with dialogue shine. Among the book’s most poignant moments is Fierstein’s memory of watching a 2017 revival of Torch Song Trilogy ... Written with verve and enthusiasm, Fierstein’s memoir will be a must-read for his fans and for theater lovers and anyone who appreciates pop culture.
Marc Myers
PositiveLibrary JournalMyers deftly weaves a compelling narrative that documents decades of music and cultural history ... While not a totally comprehensive account, this book places the live concert in context with the broader story of popular music; its insider perspectives have an immediacy that will appeal to a broad swath of music fans.
Stevie Van Zandt
PositiveLibrary JournalGuitarist, songwriter, producer, actor, and activist Van Zandt tells his fascinating life story in this compelling memoir ... By turns philosophical, earthy, metaphysical, humorous, and charmingly self-deprecating, Van Zandt chronicles a multifaceted life, charts his musical and political manifestos, and travels intriguing roads that will distinguish his book among music memoirs. It will be appreciated by a wide audience.
Marc Ribot
PositiveLibrary Journal... filled with bizarre and comic takes on modern life. Throughout, Ribot demonstrates an encyclopedic knowledge of music, in both the technical and emotional senses ... Ribot is not only a gifted musician but also a talented wordsmith, and this quirky volume will appeal to music aficionados who appreciate strong writing with observational, intelligent, and provocative themes.
Clinton Heylin
PositiveLibrary JournalHeylin’s endeavor to understand all things Dylan might never be fully realized, but this book is filled with absorbing details that help flesh out this most elusive of characters. What sets the book apart from other biographies is Heylin’s access to Dylan’s archive, held temporarily at Tulsa’s Gilcrease Museum, with its collection of manuscripts, recordings, and outtakes from documentaries ... Dylan remains an enigmatic figure. Heylin’s book will be appreciated by devoted fans and is another valuable addition to a puzzle that might never be completed.
Chris Frantz
RaveLibrary JournalWith an eye for detail, Frantz presents sharply drawn pictures of the nascent punk and postpunk world of New York City, life on the road, and, later, the work he and Weymouth did in their group Tom Tom Club. He blends thumbnail portraits of notables he met with tidbits about daily life that charmingly meander from food to travel ... Frantz\'s absorbing, vivid book will reward Talking Heads fans and those interested in the postpunk and 1980s music scene.
Mark Bego
PositiveLibrary JournalBego tells a gripping story of the musician’s escalating fame and fortune ... Drawing from published sources and interviews with John and those in his life, the fast-paced narrative loses steam covering the last 25 years of John’s life; it devolves into a dry recitation of album releases, concert appearances, and newsworthy events ... Whether readers have been listening to Elton John since \'Goodbye Yellow Brick Road\' or know him only from the film \'Rocketman,\' they’ll find this a comprehensive biography, infused with a satisfying dose of dishy gossip.
Andrew Grant Jackson
PositiveLibrary JournalThis lively, detailed narrative provides a backdrop of historical changes that were also roiling the world as the Seventies hit their stride ... Deeply sourced and entertainingly informative, Jackson’s chronology of a transformative year in music, culture, and society may prompt debate (as well as playlist creation) and will appeal to a wide swath of readers.
Neil Young and Phil Baker
PositiveLibrary JournalYoung remains a crusader for high-quality audio, and he tells a fascinating tale, albeit with much technical and business narrative detail, which will appeal mostly to tech, business, and music buffs interested in the future of how we consume, preserve, and listen to recorded music.
David Dann
PositiveLibrary JournalMusician, musical historian, and writer Dann...presents what may become the definitive biography of 1960s blues-rock guitar virtuoso Michael Bloomfield. This meticulously researched volume recounts how Bloomfield’s love of blues and folk, along with his restless and searching persona, made for a distinctly American story ... Dann describes gigs, recording sessions, and song creation with intimate detail and scene setting and uses dozens of interviews with Bloomfield’s associates and fellow musicians, as well as other sourced information, for a comprehensive narrative.
Andrew Ridgeley
PositiveLibrary Journal... breezy, nostalgic ... Ridgeley vividly portrays the pandemonium of excited fans and tabloid frenzy ... This fond memoir of friendship and fame will appeal to fans of Wham! and 1980s pop.
Elton John
RaveLibrary Journal... self-aware, revealing ... John deftly sets the scene ... With unflinching detail and touches of self-deprecating humor, he also discusses his contentious relationship with his parents, his sexuality, the years of drug and alcohol abuse, and his stint in rehab (he includes his devastating farewell letter to cocaine) ... Intimate, with brushes of gossip and hard-won wisdom, this compelling work joins the ranks of other masterly rock memoirs. A must-read for John’s many devotees, it will also make fans out of those new to his music.
Robert Matzen
RaveLibrary JournalThis is a vivid exploration of Hepburn, her family, and the experiences of the Dutch population. Matzen...evocatively depicts the resistance movement, the massive battles in and around Arnhem as the Allies attempted to liberate the country, and the months of near-starvation conditions in the final winter of the war ... A meticulously detailed and researched look at the formative years of an iconic performer; for fans of Hepburn as well as anyone seeking a social history of the Dutch experience of World War II.
