Television Books

I gave this beautiful coffee table book as a souvenir to my mom when we returned home from seeing the play. It was a perfect surprise since she had admired it for sale in the lobby (at$40). It made the bargain I got at Amazon even better.

I got this book to give as a birthday gift but it was so beautiful I wanted to keep it for myself. It includes pictures and writtings from the original cast as well as the full libretto. The cover is 3 dimensional and I could not have been happier. I may have to buy another for myself.

GReat!!! - Quick shipment - book is beautiful - I love it!! no problems at all.

I actually bought this book as a gift. However, I loved it so much I kept it. The writing is beautiful and the illustrations to. The book also contains the script to the show "The Color Purple". Also, should you like Oprah. She has a foreward that is very moving pertaining to the story. It is very touching and moving.

Our family saw The Color Purple on stage in New York and my daughter has become obsessed with the music and the story, We bought her this gorgeous memory book for Christmas and she has spent hours reading the script, looking at the pictures and reliving the play. We will be returning to New York in 2 weeks to again see this wonderful show.

I have not read the book, but I am almost certain to pick it up. And when I do, I'm sure my review of the book will be the following, "Best Simpsons Book Ever!" :)

does he have a real name?

This entry into the Simpsons Library of Wisdom, COMIC BOOKS GUY'S BOOK OF POP CULTURE, is an excellent book for any serious fan of the show. Comic Book Guy, the nameless owner of the Android's Dungeon and Baseball Card Shop, has made many appearances throughout the series' history, but is one character that less frequent viewers tend to forget. He is one of the best on the show, however, and his sarcasm and wits make him very entertaining whenever he comes up in an episode.

For a surprisingly low price of $10, you get a hardcover, very well done book that measures about 7" x 6" and roughly 100 pages thick. That may not sound like very much, but it is very high quality work and the layout of illustration and text is quite appropriate. This is a book similar to Bart Simpson's Guide to Life, but instead of discussing all aspects of life, it's on a smaller scale and more focused on a particular character's views and opinions. Therefore, this is not a book that is in any particular order. It consists entirely of CBG's views and opinions on all things nerdy. Some choice pages include: The 12 Types of Fantasy Gamers, CBG's Guide to the Internet, The Amazing World of Collectible Food, Romance [Where No Fanboy Has Gone Before!], and reoccuring/variant pages of CBG's t-shirts for particular situations and CBG's Places To Be (with descriptions of every landmark.)

Overall, this book is fantastic. It's not so long that it becomes tedious yet it's very intriguing and the dimensions make it smaller than your average book and durable enough for travel. The price can't be beat and the quality is just superb. I'd recommend this book to any serious Simpsons fan, or maybe just one who is a bit geeky or sarcastic. Very good read!

This bloke who runs a small shop in this town of Springfield is a fascinating fellow. His insights to the workings of the modern world are fascinating. We should all aspire to be more like him. This chapbook of his philosophies is required reading for self-improvement.

I worry that he may devote too much of his attentions to TV, but I fear that without something he derives from it he would not be quite the Master that he is.

CBG has always been one of my faves and this book does NOT let the hardcore viewer down. Rarely seen footage of CBG in the past and some of his more ridiculously funny Tshirts are scattered throughout the book. A must have for any Simps fan - especially on one of the funniest, yet rarely seen "actors".

Mr. Shelton's book looks beyond the technical aspects of good media production and provides thoughtful and practical guidance on how to plan, shape and organize media presentations that will surprise, charm, inform and influence audiences. His emphasis is on informational rather than narrative media. At a time when we tend to be bedazzled and distracted by the remarkable technology now within easy reach we need frequent reminding that the idea is everything and that all that follows must be designed to deliver that idea to our intended audience forcefully, memorably and persuasively. This book will show producers of documentary, sponsored and informational films and other motion-media (Mr. Shelton's term) exactly how to proceed. Particularly valuable are the many examples, format samples, check lists and illustrations he includes. The Communication Analysis Plan is the best and most complete I have seen. This book can teach and encourage informational filmmakers who of late tend to be over-shadowed by our Hollywood brothers/sisters. The fact is, however, our productions can be equally creative, well-crafted and moving if we remember that most of the work needs doing long before we pick up a camera as we ponder and analyze exactly what is to be done, for what audiences, in what way, with what result. Shelton's book will certainly help. I recommend it highly for those who want to become better and more efficient information media producers and as a text book.

Whether you're a motion media professional or a student of visual communications, this book is a "must read" for you. The author - drawing on some forty years of experience as a successful information motion-media professional - writes with clarity and authority about both the theory and practice of communicating ideas through film, video, and multi-media. Shelton argues persuasively that the main objective of all information motion media is to influence the thought and behavior of the target audience, and that all the resources - creative and technical - that a motion media specialist has at his or her disposal must be directed toward that end. But he cautions that creativity used for its own sake may result in failed communications and a waste of the client's money. Building on this theme, the author elucidates an array of time-tested principles that he strongly advocates should be applied in the design and production of effective motion media. Not to be missed is an appendix featuring some fascinating "quotable quotes" that the author has collected over the years (though perhaps some individuals might consider having been quoted a dubious honor). In sum, there is no better book available on this topic, and I recommend it without reservations.

I strongly recommend S. Martin Shelton's book to practitioners of any profession seeking to influence the actions or thoughts of others through the power of media, be it through the written word or the transmission of images. As a Foreign Service officer I should have had this book 30 years ago. Though the focus of his book is film and video, his explanation and exploration of the principles of the communication process has application in all facets of interpersonal dealings. To cite but one example, this is especially true in the field of advertising--print, video, or radio. Much too often, media fails to motivate audiences to do what the sponsor has in mind, from the prosaic act of choosing between competing brands of toothpaste to such altruistic goals as inculcating healthful life choices. Such failure, as clearly expounded by Mr. Shelton, is in large part attributable to a growing lack of understanding of the underlying tenants of the art of communications. For one, the seductive explosion of technology's rapidly expanding capabilities has led to a shift in focus from communicating a message to enthralling with pixel glitz. Incorporating Shelton's ideas garnered and developed over years of practical experience and a background rich in theoretical knowledge, will improve significantly what we see and hear in our daily lives-bringing clarity to much of the "noise" surrounding us. Kenneth Albright, US Foreign Service (Retired)

This book is the distillation and compilation of the knowledge Shelton has gained from many years of experience in tehse fields. It is well written and his comprehensive knowledge of the field is evident. He is sometimes acerbic but his advice is heartfelt and should be of great value to beginnners as well as professionals in these areas. His "FUNDAMENTAL VERITIES OF INFORMATION MOTION-MEDIA" will be of particular usefulness as it is pithy and to the point. The book could well be used as a text in a college-level course. I recommend it unreservedly.

Dr. E. V. Ruhnke, Sr., Professor Emeritus, Texas A&M University-Kingsville

Mr. Shelton's book on filmic communication is an important breakthrough in the understanding of how and why films work with audiences. For the first time in the many years I've been in the profession I've found a book that tells me how motion media works and how to make it work. With masterful insight he analyzes the very foundation of my profession-how to use film and video to motivate our audiences, how to get them involved. To anyone in our profession or to any aspiring students, Shelton's book may well be the key to your success.

This book is almost better than watching the series, as it contains all the scripts--word-for-word. Now you can catch all those witty phrases Basil mumbled to his wife which were lost to those of us without a clear ear for British speech. Yes its all here, all the comedy, the frustration, the dead body, even the rat. If this goes out of print before you get one, you'll kick yourself for years.

Great to read line-by-line the incredible wit that went into writing this series. (Tip: when you can't hear the mumbling, turn on captioning (if your TV has it) -- you'll catch almost every line, though the captioners sometimes use their own judgement dropping partial phrases).

If you're a fan, you should also put the word out (...to anyone who'll listen, etc.) to request FT on DVD, and as a special edition -- interviews with cast members, behind the scenes info, etc., etc.

I'm a relatively new fan of Fawlty Towers, and I think it's the funniest comedy ever written! This book (in a relatively small tome) encompasses the relatively short series's episodes in script form.

This also solves the problem of lines that we couldn't hear. Sometimes, when watching Fawlty Towers, one can't hear the actor say the line, or the laugh track drowns it out (or, very occasionally, Manuel says something weird). This book allows you to check out the lines.

In addition to that, it's almost as funny on paper as it is on the screen! All it's missing is some way of accurately describing John Cleese's physical humor!

In some ways I prefer reading the scripts to Monty Python's Flying Circus over watching the original TV series (e.g., your imagination does not have the severe budget limits of the show). But reading the scripts to Fawlty Towers, while a fun experience in itself, is not as good as watching the show. The show did have as good of a set as it needed, and the script loses something without getting to see the wonderful physical comedy of the Basil Fawlty and Manuel characters. I don't honestly know if I would find the book as funny without picturing John Cleese's expressions from various episodes from memory. As a result, while I give the book 5 stars for its side-splitting humour, I would still recommend getting the videos instead.

If you love the show "Fawlty Towers," than this book is for you. This book contains the complete scripts to every single episode that was out. I was very surprised that such a thing even exstisted, and I was very happy to purchase it since I love the show so much.

This is a great read for many reasons. If you love the show, then you will love reading the scripts. It is very much like reliving the show. I still found myself laughing while reading, although it is funnier seen on screen, so I do not suggest that you get this over the shows. This is only for fans of the show who have seen all of the episodes.

Another reason why I liked this so much was because the shows were so chaotic and rapid, it was hard to catch every single word. Basil would mouth off to his wife in a very low and quiet tone, so it would be hard to get every single word. The accents also make it hard to understand what they're saying sometimes.

My favorite episodes, both in here and the shows themselves, are: "Gourmet Night," "The Hotel Inspectors," "The Germans," "Communication Problems," "Waldorf Salad," "The Builders," and "Basil the Rat."

All in all, a very funny companion to the show. I really enjoyed reading this, and I am sure that I will read it over and over again. Every page is filled with nothing but some of the funniest lines you will ever read on paper. Just imagine John Cleese verbally and phsyically abusing Manuel, and you've got yourself a great time! Filled with witty humor, razor sharp comeback, the most outrageous situations, and the most memorable characters, "The Complete Fawlty Towers" is a fine companion to the show and is a must-have for all fans. If you love the show, get this book. I don't think you will regret it.

I can't believe I'm the first person to review this masterpiece! Maybe it's because Bennett seems so very British, English even, that he's not appealled to American readers. I'm sure you're missing something worth having.

Bennett is a masterful observer of character and the six monologues gathered in this collection all display strong characters revealled with a sharp eye and a compassionate heart. Bennett is witty and controlled in his approach, allowing his characters to reveal themselves and their foibles subtley. I find these little tales deeply moving as well as funny, despite the apparently mundane subjects he's dealing with.

I can't think of a comparison to make to illuminate his style, especially since monologue is very rarely seen these days. I can see an affinity to A. Maupin and R.Rodi in terms of waspish observations of people and their social milieu. Bennett's characters aren't blatantly queer like Maupin's or Rodi's, they're not young and tre! ndy things either, but Bennet's own sensibilites and sensitivities give queer readers pause for thought, especially about the older, isolated members of society.

He takes us right inside the heads of six very ordinary people and lays bare their lives, their self-delusions and their petty snobberies in their own words. The texts were originally written as television plays and were broadcast on the radio by the BBC too, however, they work perfectly well on the page, rather like short stories. Why not try it and see for yourselves!

I suppose I am a bit biased because I grew up in the same town as Alan Bennett (Leeds, Yorkshire) but this book is truly remarkable. The characters are a mixture of people we all know. A chip in the sugar is the man who lives down the street, A lady of Letters is always in the post office (usually in front of me !). All these people exist, what Alan Bennett does is drag them out of their lives and our heads and put them there in front of us. We may read about them and dismiss them as characters in fiction but they all exist and in most cases there's bits of them inside each of us. Thanks Alan Bennett for entertaining us and teaching us at the same time.

Alan Bennett has been called England's National Teddy Bear, so beloved is his work and person. It's a sweet moniker, but misleading to those who may not have yet read Bennett. Insightful and compassionate with a wit so sharp it effectively amputates sentimentality, this is a Teddy Bear with laser eyes and sharp claws that are only just retracted.

Bennett's character sketches in Talking Heads are devastating. The grown man whose safe little existence begins to unravel as he discovers his dear old mum has taken a lover, the vigilent, upright busybody who ends up in prison for invading her neighbor's privacy, the widow of "Soldiering On" whose emptiness of purpose is revealed through her inability to grieve--each uncomprehending character Bennett has created in these astonishing soliloquies is undone by his or her brave and steadfast unwillingness to acknowledge the bare-knuckled truth of human emotion.

Bennett is not cruel in revealing the weaknesses of his characters, but he is uncompromising in revealing those weaknesses. This is the Teddy Bear who brings to the picnic the sharp knives that cut through the bread and fat prepared and packaged by his companions.

Also recommended are Bennett's Writing Home, The Clothes They Stood Up In, and any and all of his other plays, particularly The Old Country; and, for those who just must have the soft and fuzzy version of the Teddy Bear, listen to Bennett's reading of Winnie the Pooh, or go see his stageplay of The Wind in the Willows.

Honestly I thought the story was quite dull he tells us about the dull part of their lives, I'm surprised I didn't sleep reading it. It's the worst book I've ever read. You probably won't put this on display on the computer, but you asked what I thought of it and I told you the truth, I'm sure many others agree with me that the story was boring. . Thankyou

I have been studying Alan Bennett and like many others find it highly amusing. It works remarkably well as a television series and not just on the page. The personalisation and connection to the viewer draws you in and makes it appear that each character is actually talking to you. Excellent work

How can any little book presume to be 'complete' when it comes to Alfred Hitchcock?

He practically invented a cinematic language, used his commercial success to at once deflate pretense in others and experiment most boldly with cinematic form, and, in the process, scared the pants off us.

What is complete in this book? Each film is given its own section, which concludes with a "Final Analysis" section. Here's a quick cut from the final "Final Analysis" [Family Plot]:

"Hitch's last project was the most important one he ever undertook, for trying to get this spy story to the screen allowed him to entertain the fantasy that he was both still working and well enough to work, despite evidence to the contrary."

Complete? Even in the last sentence, the authors admit that death cut off what could have been even more from a great twentieth century artist.

As a novice Hitchcock fan, I find this book extremely informative. It gives a good summary of all of Hitchcock's movies as well as a good analysis of the films. It also includes where Hitchcock can be spotted in the movies and little tidbits on the actors and actresses who were casted in his movies as well as behind the scenes information. I would recommend this book for those who are starting to discover Hitchcock.

I bought this book sight-unseen, knowing absolutely nothing about it (which is why I'm now writing this review; maybe you'll be more willing to try it once you know what it has to offer). It's a thorough, well-nigh encyclopedic look at Hitch's work, with a brief chapter (averaging about 4 pages) on each major film. The chapters include complete cast and credits --including "uncredited cast" -- plus a synopsis, and sundry comments on each film under such headings as "cruelty to

animals," "mysogyny," "ice maidens," "roots," and a "final word" with a critical appraisal including a rating on a scale of 1-10. While examination of each film is necessarily brief, it's quite thorough and absolutely chock-full of cool trivia. Every now and then there are sidebars on stars with whom Hitch worked; there's also an amazing appendix listing every single episode from Hitch's TV shows (not just the ones he directed -- but ALL OF EM). Only negatives: could use an INDEX, plus I noticed several careless spelling errors (actors' names and so forth) of the type that tend to make one a bit suspicious. On the whole, however, this is THE place to start for the Hitchcock novice, and a real treasure trove for the seasoned fan like me. Highly recommended.

I see that the other reviewers have pretty much said all there needs to be said about this book and I doubt I will say anything new here. All I want to emphasize it that this is truly THE book to get for a quick, easy, complete understanding of Alfred Hitchcock's movies. I have read other,longer, deeper books on his films which were very good, yet this one is nice when you are new to Hitchcock or just do not have the time to devote to much reading. These authors have a good sense of humor as well, and it always is fun to read a book where you can get a few laughs. They have some good trivia in the book, spotlights on certain Hitchcock actors,a few pages of pictures showing some poster art and movie stills, and they tell you where to find Hitch in the movies where he had cameo appearances. Hitchcock's movies are among my favorites, and this book is among my favorites about them. Get it and read it, you won't be disappointed.

After having read this book from stem to stern I would recommend it to new Hitchcock fans and more experienced fans alike. For the new fan it offers a clear synopsis of each film as well as offering many interesting points to look for. For the more experienced it makes for a convenient "turn to" source so as to better avoid the mountains of heavy, sometimes overly self satisfied observations that many resources tend to become, thereby saving wading through chapter upon chapter in order to reach simple facts.

I must respect the authors for their understanding that an enjoyment of film does not require a degree. I always commend a person for having the ability to transfer complicated observations in the simplest of English without the use of parables and without patronizing tones. Paul Condon and Jim Sangster have managed just that and not without the occasional bit of side splitting humour. Even if you are not watching the films in question it is more than a worthy read. That said, it may help to be familiar with some English terms such as "send up" as the average American does not know what it means to send something up so may be left wondering.

However, with the authors sardonic senses of humour being clear I would have liked to have seen further elaboration of the "goofs" section. There are so many Hitchcock bloopers worthy of a mention. I am certain it was a deliberate omission (perhaps for the next book) but nonetheless I was left wishing that they had made note of the obvious ones if only to give the new viewer that added bit of fun and sport.

Despite taking umbrage at the use of the phrase "just a smathering of dull brunettes" ahum, I would gladly purchase any other offerings from either or both authors and very much look forward to a second volume of "Complete Hitchcock," contradiction that it may be. Hopefully with an eye to the slip ups and perhaps more production details (locations, circumstances, first hand anecdotes, etc.) If that isn't a hint to get writing I don't know what is : )

In short I thoroughly enjoyed this book and would not only recommend it but have already bought several other copies for friends and family. Enjoy.

My 3 year old loves the Backyardigans and really likes this book. The story is about a good and bad switch on the robots. The flaps are fun for him to open. The show is successful because of the music but this book works well. At the end I always make sure to flip the good switch on on my son, it cracks him up!

Our two year old grandson LOVES "Cops and Robots". Not only does he share it with anyone who will read it to him again, but, he will also just sit by himself for long periods of time going through the pages and lifting all the little windows.

What a wonderful book to have for my grandaughter age 16 months. She loves the colors, she recognizes the t.v. characters & the pages are easy for her to flip.

My grandson loved this book. It is nice and colorful.

The other day we were in a large chain bookstore and my son kept saying he wanted the Backyardigans book with "bad robots". I couldn't figure out what he was talking about! He must have seen it elsewhere before...

So I asked an employee, and she helped me track down the book on the computer. As soon as my son saw the cover, he exclaimed "That's it! That's it!" Fortunately for me, they had a copy in stock!

I haven't seen my son this enthused about a book since I can't tell you when. Normally, board books are for babies and toddlers--so I thought he might be disappointed. However, once we flipped through it, I realize that it was not only age appropriate, but that he'd likely love Cops and Robots--especially with the cool foil and holographic flaps!

Although Cops and Robots has only 14 pages (7 actual "board" pages), there's quite a bit of text in this book...so it's great for beginner readers. The story is that Tasha and Pablo are "Bad Bots" because their robot switches are set to BAD..and they formulate an evil plot to turn all the robots in the factory into Bad Bots.

The neat thing is that the factory is in outer space! Of course, Sergeant Tyrone and Officer Uniqua can't allow those Bad Bots to infiltrate the factory--so they set off in hot pursuit after Tasha and Pablo.

There are 20 flaps in this book, as well as shiny foil accents--many which are colored and look almost holographic. The presentation is very engaging, as is the story. My son LOVES it!

Cops and Robots is a unique, well-made addition to the Backyardigans book. Quite frankly, I've not seen anything like it in children's books (and we own dozens!)

This book is great, if you want to be a costume designer or just interested in it this book is for you. It has a lot of good pictures and just really awesome!

The most recent book in Focal Press' Screencraft series, this book is a revealing look at the job of a film costume designer, told from the point of view of the practitioners. The names, faces and stories behind the most famous costumes from cinema are represented. From period films to contemporary, from mainstream to art films, from stylized costumes to naturalistic, the designers interviewed reveal their design process and the purpose of costume design, as well as what it's like working with stars and directors. The Academy Award nominated (if not winning) designers interviewed include: Theodora Van Runkle ("Bonnie and Clyde"), Italian designer Piero Tosi ("The Leopard"), Jeffrey Kurland ("Erin Brokovich"), the books author Deborah Nadoolman ("Raiders of the Lost Ark"), Ann Roth ("The Hours"), Japanese designer Eiko Ishioka ("Bram Stoker's Dracula"), Anthony Powell ("Tess"), Albert Wolsky ("All That Jazz"), Sandy Powell ("The Crying Game"), Gabriella Pescucci ("The Age of Innocence"), Ruth Carter ("Malcolm X"), Milena Canonero ("A Clockwork Orange"), James Acheson ("Dangerous Liaisons"), and Bob Ringwood ("Batman"). A fascinating behind the scenes look at a craft typically invisible to the audience. All of the designers deserve this long overdue recognition, and this book celebrates their work with interviews, color photos, and costume illustrations. Perhaps a future second volume might include interviews with designers Colleen Atwood, Patricia Norris and the design team of Jenny Beavan and John Bright?

This book is ideal for anyone interested in fashion or costume, and the creative process that goes into the creation of design. Landis, a costume designer herself, interviews most of the best costume designers working in film today. So unlike other books on costume design, where you get one person's opinion on the craft--and that person is usually a critic or academic who doesn't really have experience working in the field--here you get straight information direct from the creative people themselves.

The pictures are fabulous, so I think this book has appeal for anybody interested in clothes, movies, or design. Obviously, it will be a necessity for anyone interested in costume design or interested in being a costume designer.

Although there is a section on Landis' work on such movies as Raiders of the Lost Ark and Coming to America, she has obviously expertly edited the interviews that make up the text of the book. It seems as if the reader is sitting in the living room of these famous costume designers, chatting casually about how they got started, what inspires them, and some of their most interesting professional experiences.

Besides Edith Head, how many costume designers can you actually name? This book is a phenomenal collection of interviews with some of the best working film costume designers. You get a rare insight into what it's like to design for the stars, collaborate with the director and other craftsmen/women on a film set. Hollywood is well represented, but international designers get their due here as well. Designers describe what it's like to design for the much-lauded period films and the often-overlooked costumes of contemporary films (the author is herself an Oscar-nominated costume designer for "Coming to America"). The book includes lots of color photos and illustrations. You don't have to be a film historian to appreciate it.

This book is invaluable for anyone interested in learning about costume design--from the designers themselves. Fourteen highly accomplished designers discuss their craft in highly engaging and informative interviews, conducted by the author, Deborah Nadoolman Landis, herself an Academy Award-nominated costume designer. This is the kind of stuff that is usually neglected in "Making Of" film books and Hollywood history tomes. The interviews are augmented by hundreds of color and black-and-white photographs and costume sketches, which in themselves are more than worth the price of the book. Highly recommended!

From the very first chapter, the author made it seem like he was speaking directly to me. This book is definitely for someone who is interested in Costume Design and wants to know absolutely everything about it, in detail (not for someone already in the field and familiar with how it works). It's not just a book that I'll read and then retire to my bookshelf. As I continue to aspire to be a costume disigner, this book will stay by my side for a long time. The ideas he gives you in the first chaper on how to break down the script is easy to learn, with practice. I urdge anyone who is interested in this field to buy this book first.

A graduation requirement for my high school is a year-long senior research project on a subject we choose. This project includes a year-long research portfolio, a piece of work applying the research, as well as a 20-30 minute presentation. I decided to research costume design for films. The first book I found was this book by Richard La Motte, and it was the most helpful book out of all 27 that I read for my research project. This book not only tells of costume designing itself, it shows what goes on behind the curtain, the business of it, the organization and preparation involved in costume design, etc. This book truly is a costume designer's manual. There is so much helpful information written in a clear way, there are examples in the book that help the reader understand the information even more clearly, as well as some designs by the author himself. This book helped me ace my Senior Project, and also inspired me to study and pursue costume design for films.

An excellent "how to" for anyone in the costume or fashion business, or someone wanting to know more about the inside scoop of what it takes to make the costumes in a movie come together. Well written. Gave me a better appreciation for how movies look.

I found this book to be incredibly useful. Even though I work in stage theater, its information is immediately applicable for all levels of productions. It has tips for organizational skills, outlines of how things work, who does what, advice on how to manage your time, working with actors, dealing with unexpected problems, etc.

I've read it several times and each time I get something new out of it. Read this book, apply it, and you will be a shining star that gets hired again and again for productions.

This book is probably THE most informative book I have ever read, irregardless of the subject. Everthing you need to know about costume design is here, in this book. Critical information when contemplating a career, that you cannot get in a classroom. The author has been there, worked in the "trenches", for years, has had a successful career, and is now willing to share years of accumulated knowledge. I was amazed at all I gained from this book.

This is my favorite book about not only Jimi Hendrix, but Robert Johnson and Charlie Christian too. Occasionally Charles Shaar Murray gets a little carried away during his wordy descriptions, but it doesn't matter. If you want to learn about the evolution of African American guitarists, this is the place to start.

Perhaps the best book written on rock music.

Unlike the usual gossip-laden rock bios (which I sometimes relish too, I'll admit), Murray's book is a serious piece of work. I've yet to come across a rock author as capable as Murray in analyzing the most important aspect of our Jimi-worship-- the MUSIC. Murray's book delves into the sociocultural groundwork of Jimi's musical style, and makes very astute leaps in connecting Jimi's music to various influences. Murray is perhaps the most intelligent rock biographer I've ever read (and I've read most of the major ones). At certain times, it's as though Murray's descriptive skill nearly matches his subject's musical genius. In any event, this book certainly does Jimi justice. Murray's descriptions of some of Jimi's well-known material are awesome. He describes an instance of Jimi's tight playing as (sorry if I slightly misquote) a "propulsive ball of rhythm, densely packed with ideas," and so forth. Murray is singularly able to verbally express what we deeply feel about Jimi's music, but have a hard time explaining to others. You know how tough it is to convince non-believers why you KNOW that Jimi is a genius, when they think that he was merely a hyped-up, noisy, wildman-clown, right? Well, read Charles Murray's book. I think it'll sooth your soul, and you'll come away with a deeper knowledge and appreciation of his subject. Hats off to Murray!

Although most fans will be content with the 'Electric Gypsy' bio (which is equally good), "Crosstown Traffic" is more than a mere biography, and as such, invaluable for all Jimi fanatics.

The book is 1/4 bio, 1/4 Jimi's influences (as well as those subsequently influenced by him), 1/4 comparisons between peers and other black artists, and 1/4 conjecture based on his final days.

They've included a list of bootlegs (obviously out of date, but still pretty comprehensive) as well as all legitimate Hendrix material, and a guide to Jimiphiles on what artists to check out that might catch their interest.

This is not your typical chronological biography of an influential figure. In this outstanding piece of literary work, Charles Murray delves far beyond the superficial facts into far more profound terrritory. The author sets the standard by which all books dealing with the subject matter of Hendrix and era surrounding his meteorical ascension to the pinnacle of the fledging American rock culture should be judged. Thoroughly researched, the book is annotated with richly descriptive language that sheds new light on the role the cultural, social and political dynamics played in shaping Hendrix's life and the opposing impact he had on these dynamics. Paraphrasing an observation made by a prior reviewer, Murray transcends the almost inexplicable emotion evoked by Hendrix's art into eloquent, thought provoking prose. I found myself rereading many of the passages because I was so struck by the author's incisive and beautifully written statements.

The chapter's are as follows (possibly out of order and an omission or two as I recently lent my copy to a friend):

Chapter 1: The 60's, or the "We Decade". Murray delves into factors that engender the policitical, social, and musical climate of the late 60's within Britain and the United States. He astutely examines the contradictions, successes, failures, and outcomes from one of the most compelling eras of the last century. Hendrix's role as an iconic figure is also discussed in detail. The themes established here reemerge at various stages throughout the remaining chapters of the book.

Chapter 2: The Facts about Hendrix. The author reviews all the pubically known facts in a very straight forward fashion.

Chapter 3: Hendrix and women. Murray explores the background of women as the subject matter in rock and blues music and Jimi's volatile relationship with the female form. He analyzes how the influence of Jimi's "muse" manifested herself in various forms within his lyrics.

Chapter 4: Hendrix's role as a racial figure. Murray closely investigates all the elements encompassing the paradox of Jimi's cultural status: A black man playing to a white audience playing music popularized by whites rooted in the black musical tradition of blues.

Chapter 5: A critical comparison of his career with Robert Johnson's and Charlie Christian's; two fellow African American guitarists who similarily rose quickly to prominence, gained legendary status, and left a profound impact on Western Musical tradition.

Chapter 6: Hendrix and the Blues. An inciteful history (although brief by comparison since their are entire books on the subject) of the blues within the context of American and British culture as well as an exploration into how the african american muscial form influenced Hendrix and his place in history as one of its most important purveyor of the blues.

Chapter 7: Hendrix and Soul music. Describes the birth and growth of soul music, its influence on Henrdrix, and his corresponding influence upon the genre.

Chapter 8: Hendrix and Jazz music. Similiar to the previous chapter in its framework, it also explores what Hendrix might have done had been granted an opportunity to fulfill his musical potential and desires. Murray also establishes Hendrix as a seminal influence to the fusion movement.


Chapter 9: Categorizing Hendrix. A short but necessary acknowledgement using Hendrix as the definitive example of how it is impossible to categorize music without performing somewhat of a disservice to the artist.

Each chapter is carefully interwoven with quotes from Hendrix's comtemporary musicians, modern day artists (at the time of publication), other seminal literary works on music, as well as Hendrix's own lyrics and interview quotes. They provide an effective framework to buttress Murray's analysis and to serve as a transitional device between tangential arguements.

The size and depth of Murray's bibliography is as impressive as writing. It is another example of the level of scholarship at which he operates at. Also included is an exhaustive list of albums by other artists seperated by genre that either had an influence on Hendrix or were influenced by Hendrix.

Echoeing Robert Palmer's comments on the book jacket, "The artistry of this book is equal to that of its subject matter". If you want a traditional biography, this might not be exactly what you are searching for. However, if you seek to go beneath the surface of the iconoclastic Hendrix, his music, and the times he lived in, there is no better source. A truly illuminating experience and arguably the greatest book on rock'n'roll ever written.