Classic Rock Book Reviews: quick and dirty

  John Lennon The Life Philip Norman WHEW! This is one long book. Philip Norman begat this brick of a book. Look at it! It’s huge. It’s kind of impressive in its sheer size. Who knew the life of John Lennon could be fascinating enough to fill the pages of “War and Peace nearly”?  Firstly, this is a must-read for all rock and roll fans. The life of John Lennon is the history of rock and roll. Don’t believe me? Of course, you do.    Beatles fans will love pouring over the details of Lennon’s life and his creative life within the Beatles. Mr. Norman spends the vast majority of the book on The Beatles. John Lennon’s creative life after The Beatles was essentially ignored, for all intents and purposes.   “John Lennon the Life” spends so little time on his life in the 70s that the name of the book should have been different. Maybe it should have been “John Lennon The 60s Life”, that’s a genius title - if I do say so myself. That is not to say this is a bad book—j...

By Shania Twain “ Let’s go girls . . . “ Fans of the Timmins Ontario native should love “From This Moment On”. There isn’t too much more to say. If you are a fan of Ms. Twain’s music grab this as soon as you see it. You should have a blast.  But the book does have issues and they begin with the idea that Shania wrote this herself. If she did, well sorry but it’s not very well written. It could have been much more potent as an authorized biography. It might have been better with a co-writer. It might have been better with a more forceful editor. It all boils down to one thing: Shania Twain really should not have actually written a book by herself. Being able to write, record, and perform music does not necessarily mean you can write prose. So no Ms. Twain should not have been allowed at a keyboard by herself.  Now, as I said all the way back at the beginning, fans of Shania Twain should have a good time with “From This Moment On”. It contains everything Shania fans could hope f...

  Behind Blue Eyes: The Life of Pete Townshend by Geoffrey Giuliano I was strolling through an ok Townshend biography garden one day. The sun was shining in a clear blue sky. I was enjoying watching the clouds of Pete Townshend’s life go by one by one. The temperature was perfect with only a slight breeze. It was a nearly perfect day.  Then suddenly, I got lost. Somehow I ended up waddling through the mire of a Geoffrey Giuliano biological bog. The temperature fell and the sun disappeared behind a bunch of dark clouds. The garden was gone and the mud began to grow. I began sinking deeper and deeper until walking was a slog. Turns out the biographer has a history with his subject. And that bothers me, greatly. Giuliano lived with and was friends with Pete Townshend for a period of time in the 70s. Sure, it was just a short period of time but nonetheless, his history with his subject is an issue. Both Pete Townshend and Geoffrey Giuliano were influenced by this particular Irania...

  Careless Love The Unmaking of Elvis Presley    By Peter Guralnick Where on earth do I begin? This might be the single best biography of a popular music artist. “Careless Love The Unmaking of Elvis Presley” by Peter Guralnick belongs on lists as one of the best biographies ever written about anyone. I have read a couple of biographies about Winston Churchill and “Careless Love The Unmaking of Elvis Presley” is of the same caliber as any of those. You know, I really hate hyperbole and I realize that the first paragraph appears to be full of hyperbole, exaggeration, and the like. But it’s not any of that. It is all true. This is one of the best biographies ever written about anyone and you need to read it. Now. The downside of having read this book is that I now know there is another book in the series. “Careless Love The Unmaking of Elvis Presley” is part Two of Mr. Guralnick’s study of Elvis Aaron Presley. I need to find part 1 and read about the first part of his life....

  Rocket Man The Life of Elton John By Mark Bego Sorry might be the hardest word but I am sorry. I am sorry that this book exists. Well, that wasn’t so hard. I am sorry I wasted time reading this book when I just recently finished “ME!” by the man himself. You could skip Mark Bego’s look at Elton John and go straight to the horse's mouth. That would be a gold and diamond tiara-wearing horse with a majestic flowing bedazzled cape and a pair of rhinestone-studded glasses—yes that horse’s mouth. I don’t want to give you the impression that this is a bad book because it’s not. The problem with Mark Bego’s book is timing as much as anything else. Timing has killed a lot of things in general but it happens in rock and roll too. Both with musicians and writers. In this case, it was a case of horrible timing by the writer. Sir Elton was the one who caused this issue for Mr. Bego. Had the autobiography “ME!” Not been released a mere 2 months prior to the release of “Rocket Man”. What’s a po...

  CELINE The Authorized Biography   By Georges-Herbert Germain Canadian chanteuse Celine Dion began recording her recording career at the age most of us are just going into high school. She sold 100 000 copies of that first effort and her sales just continued to rise. Celine has become a legend since then. “CELINE The Authorized Biography” tells a wonderful, fairy story that just happens to be true. The problem with this book is the same problem all authorized biographies have. They are often cleaned up to present a version of the person that shows them in the best light.  The question then becomes where is all the dirt? Where is the sex, drugs, and rock and roll that most music biographies are made of?  It would appear that there was none of that and there might be a reason for that. Celine married a man nearly 30yrs her senior. This man became her manager and then her husband. They met when Celine was just 13yrs of age. At least she was a year older than the famed ...

  Roger Daltry The Biography   Tim Ewbank and Stafford Hildred When I finish a book I am often left with a general impression of a book.  It could be anything really. An impression of how the band began or what conditions were like when they were poor. Anything number of things.  This book left me asking one seemingly simple question: Why? Why? Why did the authors, editors, and whoever allow this nonsense to be released? Why? Oh my, this is not good. I like to leave books behind and try to move on to the next book cold. I couldn’t do that in this case. The problem is I just finished reading what might be the single best biography of a popular artist ever written. And then I picked up this book for a read. What a mistake. Maybe if I had left this for a few weeks and then went on to this book. Well, now that I think about it that would not have changed anything. Waiting a few weeks would have simply delayed the inevitable. The book is filled with inaccuracies and slopp...