Dan Aykroyd Books

I really love books like this. The formula was done by E-Street drummer Max Weinberg in The Big Beat, where he interviewed top percussionists. For years it's continued to call to me for yet another reading. I suspect this book will produce similar reactions. There's way too much to absorb all-at-once, even though the book reads so quickly you have to pace yourself down.

The lineup is stellar. Understandably, my particular favorite interviews are those on my favorite artists. R.L. Burnside is worth the price of the book alone. But the artist I most was pleasantly surprised by is Taj Mahal. He's far more articulate than I'd've imagined, causing me to retreat to his CD catalogue and re-explore his depth and scope of musical influences.

This is blues made accessible. But don't misinterpret that statement as "blues lite." This book's subjects are substantive and worthy. It's a mighty fine tribute to these deserving artists.

Perhaps the nicest aspect is how Elwood Blues stays out of the way of his subjects and lets them occupy center-stage, where they justly belong. In the hands of lesser authors, the book coulda easily become a "look at me interviewing a living legend" mess.

I got this book for her christmas she like crazy and I tought she was going jump up and hug me I am not a Blues Brothers fan that much but if this book didn't have any thing but blues music I would did dig it more I love blues music that is it plain and simple so I give this book 5 stars because my sister loves this book you should buy it she says it is great

I have seen at least a dozen of the artists interviewed in this book live and I have heard the music of almost all of them. I thought hearing them interact with Dan Aykroyd would be fun and really lighthearted. These interviews are so much more interesting, historical and enlightening than I expected. Anyone that would like to hear about some great musicians experiences, anyone that really wants some help getting into Blues music, anyone that wants some real clear and simple Blues history, anyone that wants to motivate themselves or a young person over the age of 12 to continue or clarify their musical interests would love this book.

This book is comfortable reading for anyone. You can read the interviews one at a time or in any order and it won't effect the experience. Aykroyd's knowledge of the Blues is much more significant than I would have expected. I can't remember one question in the whole book that was just for a joke or soley comical reaction. Every musician seemed very comfortable talking to him. Every musician seemed to enjoy this opportunity to tell some real and simple truths about the Blues or their lives. Blues history books can become tedious. In this book once you hear four or five different artists that are not associated with each other describe the same Blues history or musical perspectives you know this book is really something special. Also the Blues discography was a great bonus.

After reading the first four interviews I bought a copy as a gift for a friend. By the time I finished this book I had a list of six people that I want to buy copies for, each for a different reason. This book is now my Blues mini-encyclopedia.

If you love sci-fi or the show, this is perfect for you

At first glance this book looked like it would be hard to follow with the way the chapters are set up. Boy, was I wrong. It flows very well. It is very refreshing to see a book set up so differently and have it be so easy to read. I love being able to read just a chapter at a time. It covers case stories one to a chapter. No chapter is more than eight pages long. It great for reading when you just have 10 minutes here and there. The stories are very well presented. I am ready for volume II =)

I enjoyed reading this book .I especially enjoyed the accompaning CD.I think it was a compehensive book about the Blues.
My concern is that it failed to convey the love of music,the distinguised authors obviously have.It has a who is who chapter which I belive is comphensive but still It reads like,for lack of a better description,a phone book.
I have listened to performers performing on a stage tell their own stories or events in Blues music that are fascinating and that just stick in ones mind.And soul and flavor of the music just comes through.Ofcourse performing is not the exactly writing.

First of all my credentials: I've played blues guitar professionally. This book only covers the tiny fraction of the total picture of blues guitar; that fraction that is best known to the mass public. I would think the purpose of a book like this would be to educate people in the things they DON'T know about.

The biggest problem is the extremely poor coverage given to pre-war country blues. The only such player discussed in any depth is Robert Johnson (who is so well known because Clapton won't shut up about him, NOT because he is better than anyone else) and the men who pretty much created the genre (Charlie Patton, Blind Lemon Jefferson, etc.) get almost no coverage at all. Post-war Chicago blues (which is the only blues the authors seem to think matters) would not exist if it wasn't for these men. Modern blues is equally glossed over.

I should also point out an out-and-out falsehood: the authors claim that is you want to make money playing the blues you should get an electric guitar and join a blues band. I've made far more money playing fingerstyle country blues than I ever have playing electric blues. There are a LOT more electric blues players out there; hence the available gigs are a lot thinner on the ground. What the authors really ought to say is that the demands aren't as high; you can be a relatively mediocre player and be successful in a band, but you won't make money as a fingerstyle blues player unless you have a dynamite technique.

I've generally been very impressed with the "for dummies" books, but this one leaves me cold. Next time try covering all aspects of blues guitar.

This is a wonderful book for people that want to learn about the Blues. You just can't go wrong with Lonnie Brooks.
The history part is very good and informative. The listed musicians are wonderful. Good research went into this book.
The accompanying CD is pretty good. You can only put so much music on a CD. It must have been a difficult task deciding what songs to include on the CD.
Understand that this work is not complete. There are many musicians and songs that are not listed that should be, however, the attempt to introduce the Blues to the reader is pretty good. Enjoy it.

I have found this an indespensible guide for promoting my novel, "Forever Retro Blues." I've been on 8 radio programs as a guest and with a title like "Forever Retro Blues," I'm expected to know something. Conveying the Blues through fiction when I had plenty of time to research was one thing. But now I may only get a few hours to buff up on someone the host mentions when they schedule the interview. I grab this book along with "All Music Guide to the Blues" and throw the CD on. The CD is great additon to any collection. I love that this book even has suggestions for introducing blues to kids. Unfortunately, the website are out-of-date.

This book is ok...not great....but ok for someone who is wants to cut their teeth on the blues. The main problem I have, is with the CD. Overall it's excellent except for one problem. The 10th track is listed on page 349 as Walkin' the Boogie(alternate take) by John Lee Hooker. After listening to the CD I realized they're dead wrong. The recording is Willie Dixon doing Walking the Blues. Two totally different songs with a similar name. I contacted the publisher about this omission but have not received a response or acknowledgement to date. It is a shame....because both of these artists have made significant contributions to the blues and to confuse them, seems to suggest that not enough care was taken when this book was first published.

this book is one for only true snl fans, like myself. it isn't just full of lines like: "oh, i remember when this happened..." or "then on this episode..." you get a complete picture of how the show works; how it was created, the day to day schedule and some behind the scenes gossip. although there are some "remember when" moments, it's not all reminiscent. when i first heard of the book, i figured it was going to consist of a lot of gossip about who was dating who, and who hated who, etc, etc. there was some of that, and truthfully, i would have liked to know more. as a younger fan (i was born nearly 5 years after the show's conception), i missed all the controversy in the show's beginnings. on the other hand, this book will please those fans who have been with the show since the beginning. it covers everything from the beginning of lorne michaels' career, memorable characters and moments straight through the book's publication, why you won't see anthony michael hall in reruns, and why you should be suprised you see eddie murphy. there are interviews with writers, cast and crew members and guest hosts both old and new, along with complete cast lists. buy this book for any of these resons, or if you're just interested in the way things work; you'll see the show and it's cast in a whole new light. you're gonna love it.

A long, long time ago Saturday Night Live was simply Saturday Night. John Belushi, Dan Aykroyd, Bill Murray, and Chevy Chase were among the cast-members. Elliot Gould, Richard Pryor, and Paul Simon were all guest stars.

This book chronicles the first 2 seasons of SNL. It features interviews, scripts, pictures, and other miscellaneous information about the show that gave us all a reason to stay home on Saturday nights.

Attenborough's Chaplin offers a more politicalized perspective on this iconic star of American cinema. The film focuses on Chaplin's (played by Robert Downey Jr.) rise and fall in American film, culiminating in his exile from the United States after Hoover's relentless attempts to prove him a communist threat finally succeeded. Downey Jr. is really quite good as Chaplin, especially in the evolution of his English accent. (Although as the elderly Chaplin, he is a bit creepy). Anyone who is a tried and true fan of Chaplin, however, will find many details to criticize: his facial expressions aren't quite right, his physical movements don't quite capture the grace of Chaplin's. But, overall, it is a fine film, offering a fascinating glimpse of the personal and political life of perhaps the greatest film star of all time.

ROBERT DOWNEY, JR. is at his best. His portrayal of Chaplin gave me a real appreciation of the man and his talents. I am now watching as many of the old Chaplin movies as I can find.

Downey's performance in Chaplin is a one-man tour de force. Done at a time before Downey's own problems started creating problems for his acting career, it is probably the role for which he will be best remembered. Downey shows Chaplin to be a complex, multifacetted man who had many both good and bad qualities, but most importantly, was a creative and even visionary artist whose approach still couldn't halt the advent of the talkies. As Downey says in the movie, "If the little tramp speaks, the mystery is gone." But for better or for worse, the technology and the art of cinema were taking off in a different direction, after which it would never be quite the same. Overall Downey's best movie and one that should stand the test of time.

Byt the way, this is an interesting snippet from a brief bio of Chaplin's life from the IMBD website, which I thought I'd post here:

"In contrast to many of his boisterous characters, Chaplin was a quiet man who kept to himself a lot. He also had an "un-millionaire" way of living. Even after he had accumulated millions, he continued to live in shabby accommodations.

In 1921 Chaplin was decorated by the French government for his outstanding work as a filmmaker, and was elevated to the rank of Officer of the Legion of Honor in 1952. In 1972 he was honored with an Academy Award for his "incalculable effect in making motion pictures the art form of the century." In 1975 England's Queen Elizabeth II knighted him. Chaplin's other works included musical scores he composed for many of his films. He also authored two autobiographical books, "My Autobiography" in 1964 and its companion volume, "My Life in Pictures" in 1974. Chaplin died of natural causes on December 25, 1977 at his home in Switzerland.

In 1978, Chaplin's corpse was stolen from its grave and was not recovered for three months; he was re-buried in a vault surrounded by cement. Charlie Chaplin was considered one of the greatest filmmakers in the history of American cinema, whose movies were and still are popular throughout the world, and have even gained notoriety as time progresses. His films show, through the Little Tramp's positive outlook on life in a world full of chaos, that the human spirit has and always will remain the same.

In contrast to many of his boisterous characters, Chaplin was a quiet man who kept to himself a lot. He also had an "un-millionaire" way of living. Even after he had accumulated millions, he continued to live in shabby accommodations.

In 1921 Chaplin was decorated by the French government for his outstanding work as a filmmaker, and was elevated to the rank of Officer of the Legion of Honor in 1952. In 1972 he was honored with an Academy Award for his "incalculable effect in making motion pictures the art form of the century." In 1975 England's Queen Elizabeth II knighted him. Chaplin's other works included musical scores he composed for many of his films. He also authored two autobiographical books, "My Autobiography" in 1964 and its companion volume, "My Life in Pictures" in 1974. Chaplin died of natural causes on December 25, 1977 at his home in Switzerland.

In 1978, Chaplin's corpse was stolen from its grave and was not recovered for three months; he was re-buried in a vault surrounded by cement. Charlie Chaplin was considered one of the greatest filmmakers in the history of American cinema, whose movies were and still are popular throughout the world, and have even gained notoriety as time progresses. His films show, through the Little Tramp's positive outlook on life in a world full of chaos, that the human spirit has and always will remain the same."

I don't care for the light used in this movie. Rest of the movie is really good.

`Chaplin' has a lot going for it. It's a biopic and that always rests well with me. The subject of that said biopic is a man who was famous for his ability to entertain. The star cast in that important role of lead delivers a performance so electrifying there's no wonder why he received the Oscar nomination. The rest of the cast is so star studded you're drawn to the prospect of what you'll see, even if every apart from the star is limited in their screen time. It's faithfully directed by a man who adored and respected his subject. But, without a script, without a story none of this really matters. So, what makes `Chaplin' a film worth every second is the fact that it tells quite a story.

The life of Charlie Chaplin was one filled with rises and falls. He started off struggling but then rose almost immediately before falling back down only to be lifted up once again. It's a rollercoaster of a way to live, but it makes for one interesting journey for the audience. Charlie Chaplin started his life dirt poor. What made things worse was the fact that his mother, for her own good, was admitted to an asylum while Charlie was still quite young. His mothers theatrical aspirations did have an impact on Charlie though, a good one, for he soon made a name for himself as a comedian of the stage. It wasn't until he moved to the states to pursue film roles though that he became the face behind silent film.

`Chaplin' would be little more than a good story without the brilliant performance given by Robert Downey Jr., a performance that captures the essence that was Charlie Chaplin and exposes this man to the full. Downey Jr. understands Chaplin and brings so much light and charisma to this role, a role that defined him as a star and not just a Hollywood bad-boy. I only wish that Robert Downey Jr. could receive more roles of this nature for he really sinks his teeth into this performance and drags out something everyone can admire and respect. He captured the emotional depth of this man while embellishing the signature charm and comedic grace of the legend himself. A far cry from a mere mimic, Downey Jr. slipped away inside this man and recreated him from the ground up.

Sadly, this was released the same year as `Malcolm X' so I can't truthfully say that Robert Downey Jr. was robbed of the Oscar. In fact Denzel Washington was robbed of the Oscar, but that's for another review.

The film exposes the good as well as the bad times in this mans life, from his womanizing days, his many marriages and his confrontations with J. Edgar Hoover, a volatile relationship that caused much heartache in Chaplin's life. It never rushes things but takes it time to flesh out this man and create a feeling of truly knowing him inside and out. Apparently the original cut of the film was nearly four hours long, and while that seems like a long time I'd be interested in seeing the film in its entirety for I'm sure there is so much more of this mans life that would be intriguing to discover. Still, with all the cuts made to the film it never appears condensed or lacking.

The film sports a slew of supporting performances, all of which are brilliantly crafted by the cast. Geraldine Chaplin plays her own grandmother Hannah effortlessly with such commanding presence and Paul Rhys is able to play second fiddle to the star without giving up is star power entirely. The beautiful actresses who played the women in Charlie's life all do splendid jobs, Diane Lane in particular is stunning and makes the most lasting impression. Moira Kelly is wonderful as Chaplin's loving wife Oona, but she lacks the screen presence that Lane brings to her performance. Milla Jovovich is stunning as Charlie's first wife Mildred and Dan Aykroyd is in top form as Mack Sennett and delivers an exciting and well rounded comedic performance. The cast is so extensive it's really hard to single out everyone, but one performer that needs to be mentioned is Kevin Kline who just delivers effortlessly as Charlie's good friend Douglas Fairbanks. He's charming and graceful and so in tune with her character it's an utter joy to watch.

`Chaplin' delivers everything you could ask for in a biopic. It's interesting, informative, entertaining and commanding, giving us reasons to laud, admire and sympathize with a man who brought so much joy to so many people.