Genres Books

The vocal selections from HAIRSPRAY is an example of how vocal selections SHOULD be done. In fact, it's more than "selections": it's the whole damn score! (See my review of the vocal selections from LI'L ABNER for the other end of the spectrum.) And what a brilliant score it is, too. It's the finest musical score since the 60s, before rock operas invaded us. No Andrew Lloyd Webber-type one-hit score this: Every song is a gem. I haven't encountered that since GYPSY and WEST SIDE STORY. Some of this is probably too difficult for the average pianist...but it beats those made-easy folios that offer little in the way of flavor. I'm thrilled by the score and by this folio. VERY highly recommended!

Having now purchased both the Broadway and Movie songbooks for this musical, the movie version is more complete and therefore longer than the stage equivalent. There are still songs missing, however, such as "Big Dolls House". It is an opportunity missed by the publishers to include not only all the new material written for the film but to add in those songs missed out from the Broadway songbook. Here the arrangements are somewhat different and some keys changed. A very good songbook, though, of a terrific musical, and most definately recommended.

Being a musician, I wanted the most thourough piano arrangements I could find for this soundtrack. This book is a complete re-tooling of the broadway selections with several benifits, including EVERY song on the motion picture soundtrack and even EVERY INDIVIDUAL NOTE on the soundtrack CD! I love this is places where it was different from the broadway version, especially the new ending on "You Can't Stop The Beat" and the short extensions made in "Welcome To The 60's."

Most of these arrangements are very advanced, which works for me because they sound wonderful! Many incorporate the melody into the right hand, but it can be easily removed if you're just looking for accompniments to sing with.

Worth it!

This songbook contains a full 172 pages of sheet music, representing not only every single song on the Hairspray Soundtrack, but every single measure of each song. From what I can tell, there are NO cuts, no trimmed sections, no simplified keys... all of which sets this book apart from other Movie songbooks.

The book is written in Piano/Vocal format, with the piano doubling the melody for most sections of the book. The arrangers made sure, however, to include enough accompaniment so the songs stay true to the cd. There are guitar chords above the staff which are often helpful as well.

Another major feature of the book- all the songs include the relevant harmonies and vocal parts to supplement the melody if you have other singers available as you play the songs.

The arrangements are appropriately challenging at first glance, but seem to be playable enough as you try them a few times.

Even though I already own the great Piano/Vocal Selections of the Broadway Show, I don't mind saying this book is the better and more complete version in my opinion.

I brought this book for my husband who loves Hank Williams, and he says it is great it has all the hit songs and has recommended it to some of his friends

I think this is a very good book. It is easy to read. I am a avid fan of Hank Williams. There are songs in this book that I had never heard. There are 303 pages in this book. He was a wonderful singer and writer.
He was very talented. I would highly recommend this book. I don't think you will be disappointed with it.

Excellent book for country music fans. Hard to imagine so many songs by one composer and all in the same book.

This is a very impressive collection of practically everything written by Hank Williams, and exactly what I needed (with chord diagrams). My only complaint is that there are Hank classics not written by him that are not included in this anthology; such as, "Lovesick Blues", "Settin' The Woods on Fire", and "Half As Much". It also doesn't include Hank's "(I Heard That) Lonesome Whistle". But it seems EVERYTHING else is here - and it's wonderful this music book was released! (Five Stars if the mentioned songs were included!)

i was really into einstuerzende neubauten for years--and this collection gives the original german lyrics, as well as some decent (but not perfect) english translations, of their lyrics up to the mid-1990s. i would say the main flaw in this book is the serial interview with blixa bargeld--it's not very insightful. still, this is a must-have for diehard EN fans. too bad their recent work is so terrible!

Its got every lyric I was eagerly searching for a long time.

Plus a few interviews in english and german.

but the true selling point is...

The cover of the book glows in the dark!!!

'nuff said.

If you are an EN fan or just want to understand the songs without translating them from the German yourself, you need this book. It doesn't include the most recent songs but the more recent CD's include translations anyway. It also has some interesting insights from Blixa regarding the music and the growth of the band's ideas.

If you are a fan you need to become a supporter. Checkout www.neubauten.org for information.

Headcleaner contains nearly all of Bargeld's lyrics, an interesting interview by Harry Lachner, partial discography, "net of tracks," and a nifty glow-in-the-dark cover. Aside from the lyrics themselves, possibly the most interesting thing in the book is the "net of tracks," which looks rather like a subway map, charting Bargeld's songs. The lyrics themselves, while enhanced by Neubauten's music, stand alone quite well. One can't help but see the threads of mind/body dissonance, destruction, passion, irony and lonely existenialism at the heart of his work. It's quite beautiful.

This is a great introduction to Jazz History for anyone just becoming interested in the subject. Anyone who has been into jazz for some time who hasn't read "Hear Me Talkin' To Ya" yet is missing a real treat. This is full of facinating information, and is a great read.

The book is wonderfull and colorfull look at the origins and development of jazz music from New Orleans at the start of the 1900s to the start of BeBop in New York mid-century. As the full title states, this is "The Story of Jazz As Told By The Men [and Women] who Made It". This is a compilation of excerpts from interviews, letters, autobiographies, and articles with jazz musicians, both greats and less well known musicians who have good stories to tell. Louis Armstrong, Bunk Johnson, Sidney Bechet, Danny Barker, Hoagy Carmichael, Jelly Roll Morton, Mary Lou Williams, Benny Goodman, Coleman Hawkins, Milt Hinton, Charlie Parker, Dave Brubeck, and many others have their say.

Highly recomended!

-- DCM ("Froggy")

Jazz music in their creators' own words. A fine job by Shapiro and Hentoff. Hentoff tends to be opinionated, but here he's just a compiler.

This is a great book! It is the story of Jazz, as told by the men and women that made it. What more could you ask for! For the serious Jazz fan or for anyone interested in music history this book is a must. Why read what critics and journalist have to say when you can get it, 'straight from the horses' mouth'.

I first read this book at The University of Michigan over twenty years ago, and gave my copy away to a friend over 15 years ago, who...to my surprise (!)...was married to a drummer for a very famous Jazz musician mention in this book!,...and I now just ordered a copy for my library...and to read over... and over again....

Excellent "quotes" from some of the most influential players in original American music history!!!

A 'must have' for anyone seriously interested in the origins of Jazz, it roots, it's movement up the Missippi to Chicago...And it's told from the people who not only played it...but also lived it!

If you finished reading this review, then this book is probably for you!!!

A very good reed!

This is like a photo scrapbook of the band. There is writing too, but the full color pictures are the reason to buy the book. It's split into 4 sections:
1- TEENAGE WHORE
2- RETARD GIRL
3- PRETTY ON THE INSIDE
4- MISS WORLD
Also includes a discography up to 1995. Great little book for a cheap price.

This book has some really great pictures of Courtney and Hole but the only problem is a lot of the information about her and/or the band is wrong. For example it says that Courtney, and her friends Robin and Christine formed a band called the Italian Whore Nuns. This is incorrect, since none of these people were in the Italian Whore Nuns. The Italian Whore Nuns was a band that the remaining Pagan Babies members (a band Courtney formed with Kat Bjelland) formed after Courtney left the Pagan Babies. I also noticed that above one of the pictures of the original Hole lineup, the author accidently mixed up Jill Emery and Caroline Rue in the caption. Other than these mistakes the book is great, but I would recommend buying it just for the pictures and pretty much ignore the text.

It's not filled with text.. that wasnt what they had in mind for this book.. its filled instead with glossy high quality Hole / Courtney Love pics in high detail.. Just what I was hoping for.. a big book although not that thick.. really big pics though. Well recommended.

This book has so many great pictures of Courtney Love and her band Hole! Many of the pictures I have never seen before. Almost all in color too which was great!

Book Review, Cowboy Chronicle, July 2008 issue

Holliday in Tombstone by S.M. Ballard, SASS moniker, Ash Wednesday, #44581
Reviewed by Nubbins Colt, SASS life member, #7802


A special treat for me, this book came from the SASS office with a request for a review, and it included the authors note thanking me for my review of her last book about Doc Holliday and Wyatt Earp called Borrowed Time. Well, I should thank Ash Wednesday herself because I am sure I derived more pleasure from her books than she can get from my reviews!

I remarked Ms. Ballard's first novel was quite a good job, and there is no doubt her second novel is equally as good. I also remarked about Borrowed Time that as historical fiction it created the thought that said, "The way it should have been." Well, truth be told, Holliday in Tombstone is more than that. More than that because it is the way it was, the way it should have been, the way it might have been, and the way we think it was. What an amazing job...why...here is a sort of quiz.

Raise your hand if you saw the movie "Tombstone." (If you saw the movie "Wyatt Earp" and not "Tombstone" that's okay, too, but "Tombstone "is the better reference point).

Raise your hand if you ever read any of the historical accounts of the Earps in Tombstone.

Raise your hand if you think you read enough Old West history to state with any kind of certainty that you understand to some extent what happened at the gunfight at the O.K. Corral and the events leading up to it.

Raise your hand if you have any kind of feeling at all about the real relationship between Wyatt Earp and John Henry Holliday, DDS.

Okay, I could go on, but you get the point. This novel is not just historical fiction. It is a real history blended with historical fiction. It is a novel of the Old West that includes close parallels to historical events recently depicted in the movies. It is true. It seems to be true. It should be true. It must be true. And yes...you cannot tell where the truth leaves off and the author's skill comes in, as it is blended so perfectly one could truly read this book as an actual chronicle of events before and after the gunfight at the O.K. Corral and believe it completely and use it as a reference and think you were one hundred percent correct. It is amazing. It is impossible. I simply cannot begin to explain how well blended the facts and the fiction are to the point the entire book is simply completely believable as history. A fantastic and spell binding performance by Ash Wednesday!

In my review of her first novel, the first of a trilogy, I said we had "Wyatt Earp, Doc Holliday, the Long Branch Saloon, well-known family and friends, and a long trail across various parts of the Old West, all as a part of a deep character study of these two men in the pursuit of outlaws and love, in places far different from the history with which we are all so familiar." Holliday in Tombstone is no different, except it is an even deeper character study of Doc Holliday - his character, his loves, his hates, his bonds with Wyatt Earp, and his bonds with, how shall I put this, let's just say his "family." The people you associate with the Earps and Holliday are all present. The people you know as friends and as enemies are all there and yes, if you saw "Tombstone," the results are exactly the same. But more so. You will get into John Holliday's very soul. You will feel his deep pain and anguish, and you will feel his love, and his enormous devotion to Wyatt Earp above all else.

Again, im my review of Borrowed Time, I suggested "while you are reading it, your mind is telling you...you know this is not a true story, but in your heart you can not help feeling it rings true, almost like a slice of a double biography." This time the characters are not only real, but you will recognize events from your reading of histories, or watching of movies, and you will be pulled into the lives of these incredibly complex, incredibly brave, incredibly stoic men as a moth is drawn to a flame. You will not be able to put it down. I could not, so Ms. Ballard owes me a few hours sleep! And bring on volume three!

"Holliday in Tombstone' is less a sequel and more of a "second chapter" in the story which began with Ballard's "Borrowed Time". The two books blend seemlessly from one to the other.

Just as with "Borrowed Time" Ballard successfully re-creates the Old West atmosphere with living, breathing realism. The blending of fact and fiction are again expertly knitted together into a compelling and moving tale of friendship, love, addiction, murder, and revenge.

This book gets to the very core of Doc Holliday, a man who sees the specter of death coming but is unable to do anything about it. A young man who once had a promising life ahead of him now faced with the ugly truth that he is in fact living on borrowed time.

The turmoil, agony and heartache that Holliday goes through is a side seldom seen. Ballard does an excellent job conveying real emotions, pulling the reader in and not letting go.

This is not just another shoot 'em up story full of bland disposable characters.

It's a portrait of the man, not the legend. I'm sure Doc would approve.

This is the second book in the S.M. Ballard series, I didn't think the first book could be topped but I was wrong. The second book, "Holliday in Tombstone" was absolutely terrific! Such a riviting story full of action, adventure, friendship, hardship, love, and the terrible inner turmoil that made up much of Doc Holliday's life. The rich detail of the inter-twining lives of Doc Holliday and Wyatt Earp and their friendship is engrossing. I greatly enjoyed reading this book, I couldn't put it down! I highly recommend it to everyone who wants a fantastic read! I can't wait for the next one in the series!

This much anticipated second book in Ballard's "Doc" Holliday trilogy does not disappoint. This story picks up where Borrowed Time left off, as Doc, dentist turned gambler and gunman, follows his friend Wyatt Earp to the boomtown of Tombstone, Arizona Territory. From the moment Holliday sets foot on the dusty Tombstone streets, he risks life and safety for his friends. Although Doc backs Earp against the likes of Curly Bill Brocious, Johnny Ringo, and their gang of ruffians, the Georgia gentleman emerges in his own right, rather than the often portrayed shadowy appendage attached to Wyatt Earp's coat-tails.

Ballard has thoroughly researched her subject (she has written numerous non-fiction articles about Holliday for The Tombstone Times) and it shows. Seamlessly blending fact and fiction, Ballard delves into Doc's interpersonal relationships: Clementine, the love of his life; his love-hate relationship with Kate (Fisher) Elder; his abiding friendship with Wyatt Earp; and his antagonistic interactions with both Bat Masterson and Earp's brother Virgil.

In this traditional Western, the action storyline is paralleled by Holliday's struggle to live as normal a life as possible while dealing with an illness that, in that time period, proved fatal more often than not. In one particularly poignant scene, Doc shows his humanness as he commiserates with Earp over his friend's loss of an unborn child through miscarriage before disclosing his own loss of a child through abortion.

Holliday in Tombstone brings John Henry "Doc" Holliday nearly full circle as he battles his personal demons while struggling to stay true to a friendship he values above all others. This is a good, fast read that will appeal to men and women alike.

About the Reviewer:
J.D. Harkleroad and her husband divide their time between their farm in Virginia and their ranch in Utah. An expert rifleman and rider, she is described in the liner notes of a musical CD she recently directed as "...a woman of faith, TV editor/writer, educator, musician, artist, photographer, and 'cowboy.'"
FREEZEOUT!, a traditional Western, is the newest in her "Men of the West" series which include Blood Atonement, a contemporary crime fiction set in Utah/Arizona; Ketch Colt, a Western; and Swep Culhane, an action/romance adventure set in Utah/Nevada circa 1944. J.D. Harkleroad belongs to The Western Writers of America (WWA) and Women Writing the West (WWW). Order Freezeout! [...]

Here is a well-rounded, nicely illustrated guide to classic Hollywood flicks from the '30s to the 1960s. In terms of coverage, there aren't many surprises; all the "usual suspects" are here but as an introduction to some ageless films, it's a nice piece of work.

Author Afton Fraser divides the films into various chapters: Must See, Drama, Suspense, Film Noir, Good Guys & Bad Guys, Comedy, Screen Teams and so on. Each film typically gets two pages of coverage, a mixture of text and four-six photos. Aside from a short plot summary, brief production notes, information on the stars and tidbits on the movie are given. Each section is preceded by a one-two page summary on why Fraser picked the films found in that section.

The book is sub-titled 'A Guide for the Beginner and the Aficionado.' I think it would be most useful for those people wanting to learn about America's rich cinematic history.

Recommended.

This is a book for everyone, for those that grew up with the Film Noir and those that would like to discover anew the B&W film era. The photos are beautiful and the information about each film intriguing. I recommend it highly, I will give several as Christmas presents to relatives this year.

This is the best list of "must see" films that I have ever seen. It is written by a movie star's wife, who knows many of the old stars, and provides their favorites lists.

This book is amazing! This book is written by Brendan Fraser's (The Mummy) wife. This book has 15 chapters. Some of the chapters are Must See, Drama, Suspense, Comedy, Romance, Tearjerkers, One of a Kind, Musicals, Westerns, and Screenteams. Also on each new chapter she has on the side of the page a list of movie stars' picks of classics. It's their must-see list! This book even has a preface by the "Million Dollar Mermaid" herself, Esther Williams. The book includes a lot of never before seen photos. Another great thing about this book is on each movie, Mrs. Fraser includes info on Oscar awards, gossip, info on the leading stars, quotes, and info on screen teams (it shows info on what other movies the stars did together). This book is great for beginners who want to see old movies or just great as a gift for that special movie lover. Afton Fraser did a great job on this book and I hope she does another one! If you love old movies buy this book!

If any person immediately condemns Hank Williams, Sr. as a pagan, heathen, and non-Christian, he or she would do well to look at this book. This work shows that there was more of the grace of God involved in Williams' life than many give him credit for. The authors show how Williams deliberately included Gospel songs and recorded them in disregard of financial benefit. There was more to Hank than one might realize.

This book was a very helpful beginning to understanding the relationship of country gospel to both country and gospel music. It brings up a lot of major players that gave me a quick glance at where they fit in and where to begin searching if I wanted more info. From the Carter Family to the Gospel influence in more contemporary County, this book was a quick and enjoyable overview.

I like country, just don't spend much time actively in it. This treatment of the subject is thorough and easy to follow in its points. Written from a solid Christian perspective, the authors make the consistent point that country has as its roots a Christian, gospel orientation.

While such orientation does not predominate, it is there and has always been there. Now, contemporary country fights the battle with other venues of the pop culture. Amazing the story of Alan Jackson at the CMC awards. Right on Alan. I knew this man was a winner!

One learns much about the real world from country music. Nothing is hidden in the lyrics of this music, it tells it like it is. People can relate to it. It's not all the hype of pop. Until, Garth et al started letting it seep in.

Suggest also Mark Zwonitzer's excellent book on the Carter Family where he shows how the Jerry Lee Lewis, Elvis types cut their musical teeth on Country Gospel, then lost it to the commercialism.

What we sell our souls for! This book exposes that while admirably detailing how traditional country supports classic Christian values. Well done and great read!

While I'm not a real fan of country music myself, I did find this book to be a great read. Country music may be the last vestige of popular American culture that still has Christian underpinings but it has also begun to drift as it is swallowed up by the "no-brow" culture of marketing. The authors do seem to have some trouble with facts (Bristol is in Virginia and Tennessee not Kentucky and the relationship between Jerry Lee Lewis and Jimmy Swaggart) but other than a few minor points the thesis still holds up.

David King Dunaway has done a wonderful job in updating his classic biography of Pete Seeger. Dunaway, with excellent narrative skill, tells not only Seeger's life story, but also gives us a mini-history of the progressive movement in this country for the last eighty years or so. Seeger's involvement in the labor movement, the civil rights movement, the peace movement, and the environmental movement are all covered in depth. Also the struggle to be able to sing his songs in a supposedly free America is explored in the tales related to the riots at Peekskill, the McCarthy era, the blacklist, and right-wing bigots picketing his concerts.

The best part of all of this is that Pete Seeger, at age 89, is still actively writing and singing. I had the pleasure to see him in concert, along with his grandson Tao Rodriguez-Seeger, and Guy Davis two nights ago at the Sellersville Theater. He can still get a crowd to sing along with him. While his voice is perhaps not what it used to be (but as Arlo Guthrie told him "neither is our hearing"), the magic is still there.

This book captures as much of that magic as the printed page can hold, and is a great book for people of all ages to read. I highly recommend it if you are interested in reading about a real, authentic, inspiring American hero.

If you worry about individual rights, government trampling of the Constituion and cause oriented people you'll be interested in this book.

"The Ballad of Pete Seeger" is a great book. It not only gives a lot of new information about Pete Seeger; but also is a history of the US and the world with new insights that covers almost 90 years.

Since 1971, I have been a fan of Joan Baez, whose anti-war songs I liked, and still like. At the same time, I had a friend who was a fan of Bob Dylan. Often, when I visited my friend, we would first play Joan Baez and then Bob Dylan. (Unfortunately, my friend died in 2004.) He and I were knowledgeable in folk music and soft rock. At one point,in the late 90's, I asked him if he knew of a good version of the song "Down By The Riverside", and he recommended the version sung by Pete Seeger. I am not joking when I write this, but this is the first time I had ever heard of Seeger. Of course, I bought a CD with that song, and it turned out to be part of the album LIVE AT NEWPORT and is very well done. I also learned that both Joan Baez and Bob Dylan were influenced and inspired by Pete Seeger, as were Peter, Paul, and Mary, of whom my late wife was a fan. This in turn made me develop an interest in Pete Seeger and his life and work. When I learned of this book, I decided to buy it, and have just finished reading it. It is one of the best biographies I have ever read. Pete Seeger is described as courageous and steadfast, even under the most difficult of circumstances. The book describes how he is literally persecuted by Joe McCarthy and company as well as the J.-Edgar-Hoover-run-FBI. Of course, it becomes evident that Joe McCarthy is a senseless witch hunter, and that J. Edgar Hoover runs the FBI as if it were his own private property and business (which indeed he did). Seeger stands tall at all times, is not intimidated, and eventually makes a great name for himself as a musician. He earns the like of his fans and, of course, singers like Joan Baez and Bob Dylan who are full of praise for him. Indeed, his life is a ballad which goes on and on for the cause of harmony and peace. Seeger stands tall to this very day, as the book clearly describes.

As a big fan of DOA since the late seventies, I was really looking forward to reading this book. Joe gives you a great amount of background about one of the hardest working bands ever.
If you love punk music and the DIY attitude, this book is must read.

Anyone, and I do mean ANYONE, who is interested in the west coast punk scene needs to read this book. Keithley gives a fantastic first hand account of how he formed his band and all of the tests they endured going from relative nobodies to one of the biggest and best known punk bands in North America.

The book is also a mini how-to manual for anyone interested in starting up their own punk band. Keithley talks about the business side of the music industry, what it's like to play gigs to crowds of different sizes and interests, and above all, he gives a great first hand account of just what it takes to make it in the music business.

Finally, Keithley's writing style is very easy to digest. The book is written like the lyrics to many of his songs; straight ahead without and BS! What's more, the book contains many pictures and personal anecdotes about Vancouver and places beyond. In reading the book it easy to see yourself sitting at a bar with Keithley as he tells a couple tales over a couple of beers.

If you're a punk, or even think about calling yourself a punk, then you owe it to yourself to give this book a read.

Sit down at a kitchen table with Joe Keithley. Open a few beers, and hand him one, or two... Ask him to give you a crash course on himself and his legendary punk band, D.O.A., making sure not to gloss over the interesting bits.

If you can't arrange to do this with Joe, picking up a copy of this book would be your only alternative. It's 200+ pages of compelling reading, written by a man who helped define punk music both in and out of Canada, and who certainly put Canada at the roots of the punk historical tree.

Unlike a lot of books about punk bands, this is first-person stuff of the first order.

I will start by claiming 100% bias as I've known the author for well over 20 years and have greatly enjoyed his contributions to punk rock for over 25 years. DOA taught a lot of us how to go out and get it done, with "it" being spreading the music and message to the less than masses spread out among the world. Joe's book is simple, straightforward blast of history that will interest anyone into the punk rock way of existence. Essential reading, so get it and enjoy!