Genres Books

I shall add little to the other reviewers of this extraordinarily fine account of the history of Indian (particularly North Indian) music and how it was introduced to Western ears and influenced modern popular and classical musics. I will instead say that having myself lived that history--being exposed in 1955 to the first LP recording of Indian Music and watched Ali Akbar Khan on CBS Sunday's Omnibus, having been among the first to purchase the World Pacific and Prestige recordings of Indian musicians, having attended numerous concerts of Ravi Shankar and Ali Akbar Khan, Bismillah Khan, Jasraj, Shivkumar Sharma and other Indian masters, and having become a Friend of the Ali Akbar College of Music, where I met John Handy, Terry Riley, and Ravi Shankar, as well as having followed the influences and explorations of Indian modes and rhythms in classical music and rock as a Bay Area academic hippie--I can attest that this book is amazingly well researched, comprehensive, and gets it right. Indeed, through the many insightful interviews, we go well beyond the mechanics and structures of musical infusion across cultures into the realm of spirit, humanistic motivation, and metaphysics. For instance, Mickey Hart's interview expands and details his own previous accounts of his and the Grateful Dead's musical transformation by interactions with Shankar Ghosh, Alla Rakha, and Zakir Hussain (a two-way street for the latter). Other useful interviews are with (from the classical world) Philip Glass, Zubin Mehta, Terry Riley; (from the Indian tradition) Ali Akbar Khan, Zakir Hussain, Anoushka Shankar, Tanmoy Bose, George Ruckert, Shubhenra Rao; (from jazz and rock) David Crosby, John McLaughlin, Cheb i Sabbah. But the interviews are only spice to the meat of the text, which explains the uniqueness and detail format of Indian music, supported by a glossary, and the origins and construction of the various instruments. When our world is plagued by fear and misunderstanding of other cultures, music arrives as a source for common ground. This book demonstrates its power and its promise.

Musician and author Peter Lavezzoli presents The Dawn Of Indian Music In The West: Bhairavi, a history of the recent yet amazing infusion of East Indian classical music into western culture. Though Indian music was largely unheard of until 1955, when Ali Akbar Khan issues an LP called "Music of India: Morning and Evening Ragas", its appeal steadily gained ground, to the extent that Indian and Western disciplines began to borrow concepts from one another to aid in composition and training. When "Music of India" was re-released as a compact disc in 1995, it won a Grammy. The Dawn of Indian Music in the West follows the influence and impact of Indian classical music in extensive detail, meticulously researched and presented especially for intermediate to advanced music scholars and theorists. Highly recommended especially for college library and music reference shelves.

Among the many thought-provoking quotes in Peter Lavezzoli's new book is this one from tabla player Tanmoy Bose. "If you talk to any music lover in the West, they know more about [Indian music] than Indians ... they have a thirst for it, and they are very critical in the West for that reason." At first, I was tempted to reply that these Western fans are so enthusiastic because they (we) are such a small minority. In India, interest in Indian classical music runs the gamut from devotion to mild interest. There is, for example, a sense of national pride that makes Indians feel they ought to like classical music even if they don't. In the West, you are either a devoted fan or completely ignorant on the subject, and it often seems to us that all the devoted fans are gathered in the Bay Area. However, Lavezzoli paints a significantly different picture, arguing quite convincingly that Indian music has deeply influenced both American and European music for over half a century.

Peter Lavezzoli's first book, "The King of All, Sir Duke," took a controversial approach to biography. He devoted relatively little space to Duke Ellington, the book's ostensible subject matter, and instead wrote about Ellington's influence on other prominent musicians (including Frank Zappa, Stevie Wonder, and George Clinton). His newest book, "The Dawn of Indian Music in the West: Bhairavi," follows a similar format, but it is not a story of one musician's impact on other musicians. It is the story of the influences of one entire musical culture on another, and the tracing of those influences from connection to connection is the perfect format. Lavezzoli's goal is to document every aspect of that impact with interviews and historical summaries. The result is a long and engrossing read, full of remarkable anecdotes and thoughtful discussions with some of the most important creative people in many different Indian and Western musical domains.

About a fifth of this book will probably produce a sense of déjà vu for regular readers of this magazine. There are detailed interviews with many local artists, including Cheb i Sabbah, Ali Akbar Khan, Zakir Hussain, Terry Riley, George Ruckert, and Mickey Hart. If you know little or nothing about these people and their music, you get all the introduction you need. But no matter how much you may think you know, Lavezzoli has new information for you. Those of us who live in the Bay Area know that there are lots of Americans and Europeans who have carefully studied Indian music. But Lavezzoli shows us who was first, where they did it, and how things developed from there.

The book is subtitled "Bhairavi" because the first significant musical contact between Indian and Western classical music was a recording of that raga in 1955 by Ali Akbar Khan. Bhairavi is also a morning raga traditionally played to close a concert that has gone on past midnight, so Lavezzoli also uses the word as an allusion to the "dawn" of Indian music. This recording was the first 33 rpm long-playing record of Indian classical music. Prior to this, the only recordings of Indian music were 78 rpm records, which had poor sound quality and lasted five minutes or less. This was also the first performance of Indian classical music in the West, except for an unrecorded concert at Columbia University by Inayat Khan. (It is a tribute to Lavezzoli's thoroughness that what little is known about that Columbia concert is in this book.) The Bhairavi recording included a verbal introduction by Yehudi Menuhin, who had discovered Indian music while touring India. Menuhin's endorsement helped to convince his colleagues that this music was a serious disciplined art form, not an exotic ethnic curiosity. Lavezzoli has some interesting parallels between the harsh pedagogic methods used by both Indian gurus and Western conservatories, which justified labeling both traditions as "classical."

There were, however, parallel influences occurring in rock and jazz, spearheaded by George Harrison and John Coltrane respectively, who were both great admirers of Ravi Shankar. Rock and jazz musicians were attracted not only by the complex use of rhythms and microtones, but also by the freedom to improvise, and by altered states of spiritual consciousness. These musicians usually associated altered states with drugs, creating a controversy that endures to this day. For most Westerners during the 1960s, Ravi Shankar's sitar was the soundtrack for drug experiences. This was a serious misunderstanding: Shankar did compose scores for psychedelic movies like Chappaqua, but he also insisted that his audiences not use drugs. Lavezzoli asks almost all of his interviewees about drugs, and discovers a spectrum of opinions that reveal another great contribution of Indian music to the West.

Western music had fragmented into two conflicting elements: the emotional drug-tinged intensity of improvised jazz and rock, and the tightly controlled intellectual discipline of European classical music. Because Indian music had never separated emotion and thought, it could show Westerners how to reunite them. It challenged rock musicians to acquire discipline, enabled jazz musicians to see their improvisation as a spiritual practice, and reminded European classical musicians that music is not just marks on paper, but is played by a musician, and heard with the ears. Sometimes Western musicians tried to capture the mood of Indian music with little awareness of technical details. Other times, they took Indian techniques and reworked them to create very different moods. But Lavezzoli shows us that all forms of Western music now have a healthier relationship to each other, and to the rest of the world because of the Indian influence. Perhaps in the new millennium, there may even be Westerners who will be great virtuosos of Indian music. Will this music then still be Indian, and will its players still be Westerners?

This historical study is full of detailed information about a disparate collection of the most inventive musicians of the 20th century, all drawn together by the thread of a fascination with India. The book gives equal attention to legends like John Coltrane, and more marginal avant-garde figures like Don Cherry, John Mayer (of Indo-Jazz Fusions), and John Handy. It also refers to rock stars like David Crosby, and contemporary classical composers like Philip Glass. Each musician's biography is woven into the text, so the entire book (nearly 500 pages) gives you an intense impression of the deep spirituality of this generation of musicians.

Peter Lavezzoli is a very astute critic of the key albums of this movement, and I learned a lot from his detailed discussion of Duke Ellington's "Far East Suite," Coltrane's "India," and Don Cherry's "Mu." When reading this book, you really feel you are being guided by someone with a highly developed intuitive feel for integrity and truth in music, as he himself is a musician who is concerned, as he admits, with "the connection between musical and spiritual expression."

In this book, historical narratives are interspersed with interviews with the leading musicians in Western and Indian music, such as Terry Riley and Shujaat Khan. These interviews are not your average magazine interviews, however, as the central concern of Lavezzoli is always wisdom, and his questions are always subtle and searching. If you glanced at this book, you might be put off by the way the text is crammed on the page, the lack of margins and smallness of type making it seem somehow a hurried book or not carefully thought out, but do not be deceived by bad design--this book is a true labour of love. It will inspire all musicians to take their work on to the next level, and it will inspire all record collectors to rush out and get hold of Alice Coltrane's "World Galaxy."

This is a fantastic book for many reasons; Peter Lavezzoli has done an amazing amount of research, delivering a lovingly written treasure trove of well-rounded details that will interest music enthusiasts from many different schools and tastes. Fascinating connections are drawn from the histories and influences of Indian music on rock, jazz, western classical and more. Included are vivid chapters on the pivotal history of Allauddin Khan, teacher of Ravi Shankar and the father and teacher of Ali Akbar Khan; Yehudi Menuhin's discovery and presentation of Indian music to western audiences (he is pictured with Ravi Shankar on the cover); the fabulous chapter on George Harrison; and a powerful section on John Coltrane, to name just a few personal favorites, with numerous connections to Ravi Shankar, who is widely referenced and featured (in too great a depth to summarize in a brief review).

A good portion of the book features the musicians and associates themselves having their say through remarkable interviews with Ali Akbar Khan, Mary Johnson Khan, Mickey Hart, Zakir Hussain, Jim Keltner, Terry Riley, Cheb i Sabbah, Zubin Mehta, Anoushka Shankar, Ravi Shankar, Tanmoy Bose, John McLaughlin, Bill Laswell, Shujaat Khan, George Ruckert, Shubhendra Rao, Suskia Rao-de Haas, David Crosby, Roger McGuinn, and Philip Glass. The author asks good questions and gets rich answers, making for a highly enjoyable reading experience.

This is a book I can spend hours re-reading. I've learned enormous amounts about a wide variety of music forms within each chapter. Readers with virtually any level of music interest will find something of value here. A real stunner! Highly recommended.

the book is a journey to the past of the author. it is difficult to sieve out where the reminiscences end and fiction begins. feast for a reader who loves to know about india and its people. it's the connossieur working at his best. the english man wrote about india better than most of indian authors. his macabre tales are also very interesting.

Read the "Night Train at Deoli". And see if you don't remember an airport, a railway station, a dock ... and a loved one waving goodbye.

'Delhi is not far' is one of the finest collection of stories and essays I have come across till date.This is the first Ruskin Bond book I've read and now that I've read it I plan to read all his other works as well.It is so easy to relate to the protagonists in these stories and identify with them. Being a die-hard dreamer,and over that being an Indian,it was but natural for me to love this book and I'd recommend it to anyone interested in some simply but beautifully written stories & essays. There are also some travel writings and tales of the macabre.

Ruskin Bond is the first author I've read who doesn't try to show off his command over the language[english] by using the most difficult words he can find and flaunting his excellent vocabulary.In other words he uses very simple english. When I first read this book the thing that most impressed me was the depth in his writing and his characters despite the simple language. A collection of some touching stories and essays,"Delhi is not far" can be described in just one word - beautiful.

His style of writing and his stories clearly show the Indian in him. On the whole, reading this book was a very satisfying experience.

This book may be out of print in the USA, Mr. Bond himself might be considered to be a writer from another century and time in this day and age of the fiery Arundhati Roys and minimalistic Pankaj Mishras.

Today's literary world of India is one where authors struggle so hard for their writings to be inspirational on a grand scale, they fail miserably and ungracefully. Rushdie is an example.

Or set down a path of social activism of such extremes that the written word ceases to be a medium of good literature - but rather becomes the means to social and political mobilization. AKA Arundhati Roy and VS Naipaul.

Or even more tiresomely - flounder in the grand mediocrity of scale and let supposed expectations drive their pen instead of their inner pleasures/fears. Vikram Seth lead the charge of this faction of Indian writers.

Or just be plain moronic and maniacal in their old age - like Kushwant Singh. Their outstanding lechery in social circles of the ultra-pretentious in New Delhi easily masks the little literary promise they showed and threw away in their younger years.

And then - there are the likes of Lahiri and Bond. Bond, a venerable old gentlemen who writes out of a little cottage encosed in the mountains of Northern India, is of English descent. A strapping young man in his early 20s when the British left India, he stayed behind because "India is home", in his world.

Nobody in the last 50 years has or even strikingy, today, can match the joy, hurt, loneliness, companionship and beauty in Mr. Bond's writings on the land he plainly and painfully loves so deeply.

His hallmark literary style has allways been a simple choice of words, woven together in a breathtaking manner, sentence after sentence, paragraph after paragraph. Story after story, book after book, plot after plot, his brilliance has shone for a nation of a billion strong for many a decade.

As you would say so yourself sir, the lamp is lit. It shines on.

And we are greatful.

If it vibrates, it can be tuned. Everything is energy- violins, animals, people, potato chips, thoughts, feelings, and events. ~Deena Zalkind Spear

I have rarely enjoyed a book as much as "Ears of the Angels." From the start you can tell Deena Zalkind Spear is one of those writers who could write about anything and make the journey absolutely enjoyable. While she has a degree in neurobiology, her true love is making violins. In fact, she has been making violins for 30 plus years.

Deena Zalkind Spear has a super natural ability to make dull instruments come alive and her imaginative writing takes you into the esoteric intricacies of violin making. Although I knew very little about violin making, this entire book was enlightening from the spiritual perspective. She takes healing to new creative levels and her thoughts helped me understand why when you talk to certain friends your vibrational energy can be enhanced. Why do you feel so good around certain people and feel like you have to run from people who seem to be killing your spirit? This book explained it in ways I never thought any author could.

The author recounts her initial years of marriage with an undeniable sense of humor. Her wry wit and casual acceptance of fate explains the background to her craft. This book is for readers who know there is more to life than what meets the eyes. While many people experience unexplainable phenomena, they never explore them in depth. Deena Zalkind Pear takes her talents to new levels and invites us to take this fascinating journey into the unexplained.

A highly entertaining read even if you don't play the violin or make violins. Will be especially useful for students of the violin. If you love violin music, this book will show you how violins are made and repaired.

~The Rebecca Review

I just recieved my book yesterday, and read the entire book in about 6 hours, I could not put it down. While I do not play the violin or anyother instrument, the book provided much energy information that can be applied to those experienced, or seeking to become experienced with energy work. It allows you to understand that energy is not just for people, pets, plants, or anyother living being that we work at healing. It was totally fasinating to discover that this woman could not only tune up the owners of instruments all over the world distantly for distinguished orchestra members but their instruments at the same time. They really do have living energy just like everything else, and if this is of interest to you, I recommend you read the book, and take from it what you want, and explore the possiblities to expand your knowledge of just what is possible. I gave the book five stars!! Make it apart of your metaphysical library today, I feel you will find yourself referring to Deena's book often. Deena is clearly a very gifted and dedicated woman to her work not only with instruments themselves but in the healing arts. She also provides mulitple contacts that she herself uses personally in her own work that you may contact for any work you may need to have done in your own life, or the lives of another. Enjoy! Love and light, Sandy

Neurobiologist Deena Spear writes with candor and self-effacing humor in EARS OF THE ANGELS about how energy work can heal and transform violins, violas, cellos... and human beings. Spear's fascinating, detailed descriptions of violin enhancement began with physical techniques (such as tapping, blowing, and scraping), and moved into non-physical, hands-on and long-distance energetic techniques.

What sets EARS OF THE ANGELS apart from most other energetic healing books is the way it describes energetic acoustic principles that can heal both stringed instruments such as violins, and sentient beings such as humans. Spear includes delightful real-life stories from clients whose instruments have been tuned (and sometimes even glued) long-distance without any direct physical contact from Spear that clearly attest to the efficacy of her methods. She describes how her energy tuning work has helped pets become cancer-free, people become toxin-free, and significantly improved relationships.

Anyone interested in enhancing the sound of stringed instruments will find EARS OF THE ANGELS essential reading, as will everyone who wishes to discover more about the kinds of physical changes that are possible through conscious intention and energy field work. I give EARS OF THE ANGELS my highest recommendation!

This is an extraordinary book by an extraordinary person. Deena Spear completed her premedical studies in neurobiology but decided not to pursue a career as a physician. She unexpectedly found herself attracted to playing the violin (with very modest success), which led to a career as a luthier - building and repairing violins, violas and cellos with her teacher, who then became her husband.

Being something of a perfectionist, Deena was constantly seeking ways to improve the sound of the instruments they built and repaired. Through channeled guidance from master violin makers, she learned to shave minute bits from precise points on the instruments, significantly enhancing their sound.

Deena was also drawn to spiritual healing and graduated from the four-year Barbara Brennan School of Healing course. Her two interests merged when she discovered that she could tune the instruments mentally. Conversely, her studies of how to tune the instruments mentally enhanced her confidence and skills in offering distant healing.

After honing her healing skills with the same diligence she had applied to studying to enhance the sound of violins, Deena started teaching others both of these skills. She finds that the tuning of violins gives people confidence in their abilities to influence matter at a distance, which then helps them to believe they can send healing to people from a distance.
Deena's writing is punctuated with humorous observations and asides. Deena shares generously from her personal healing lessons.

Rarely do I find a book like this that is both rich in innovative lessons, reaffirming of healing wisdom and highly readable. I warmly recommend this book as being all of these.

What a fantastic journey into expanded consciousness! Deena Spear speaks with such down-to-earth candor, that one can't help but believe everything she describes. Not to mention that it totally concurs with Jane Roberts's and Machaelle Small Wright's books. A neurobiologist who studied with Jane Roberts and eventually became a luthier to very high level classical musicians (what an amazing career) and still talks of herself as if she's not very smart. Now I'm just realizing that perhaps with what SHE'S seen, she knows how much we ALL have to learn...

This is one incredible art book. Very professionnaly done, very high quality reprints of stunning poster artwork done over the years for the excellent rock band Electric Frankenstein. If you love horror (especially vintage stuff like Universal monster movies and Famous monsters magazine) and if you love rock n' roll, you need this book. 160 full-color pages of some of the best undergound artist's renditions of the electric frankenstein theme. As a graphic designer by profession and fan of all things monsters, zombies and creatures, I really do appreciate the work done on these wonderful pieces of art, and I more than understand how big a job it is to scan the images and put together a book like this one. Very well done, beautiful art and lots of Boris Karloff! I'm very happy to own this, a great item that I will cherish for years to come.

In a word, this is about PASSION. The band is
passionate about performing rock & roll. The
poster artists are passionate about creating
artwork reflecting the band's punk rock & roll
ethos and its highly amused worldview.

The poster artwork, some actual advertisements,
some commemoratives, is superb. Many pieces are
frankly mesmerizing. Dark Horse has done an
excellent job of producing the works in accurate
color. Sal Canzonieri, one of the founding
bandmembers, has pulled together all the key
posters and CD artwork that's defined the band's
image since inception.

Electric Frankenstein developed its following
from posting "anonymous" flyers in the streets of
Manhattan,long before their first gig. People
wondered what Electric Frankenstein was supposed
to be. It was an inspired artistic prank, but
thankfully the band turned out to be quite real
indeed.

You can read more about Electric Frankenstein
in ART OF MODERN ROCK, which will be published
this Fall by Chronicle Books.

Not only has Electric Frankenstein been making action packed, kick ass rock and roll for the last 13 years... they have an amazing collection of artwork to go along with it. You don't have to be an EF fan to appreciate this book. (but why the hell wouldn't you be?!) It's crammed page to page with with full color poster art, flash, and album art by some of todays top rock and roll artists, and tons of up and comming artists as well. It's one of the largest printed collections of it's kind, and a must for anyone who collects rock and roll memorabilia. It's beautifully printed and absolutely stuffed with eye candy. You MUST own this book.

Everyone interested in great rock and roll should purchase this book at once. It is filled with Posters from many of the best Rock and Roll Poster creators from across the world. My mind is still reeling from the Posters.
This book is also a great look at the modern Hi Energy Rock and ROll Revolution that EF(Electric Frankenstein) is leading. Some of the Bills EF has played on are mind boggling. This book also has a nice history of EF that I enjoyed reading and so will you!
Sal Canzonieri has done a great job, leading EF and also creating this book and deserves all the support in the world.If you like your action High High, help EF conquer the World.

Eric
Mr. Rock-n-Roll

I love this book. It's full of tons of Electric Frankenstien concert posters by some of the best artists around (Lisa Petucci, Coop, Kozik...). In fact, I can't think of an artist who isn't represented in this collection!

And this is one quality printing - the colors are vivid, clear and do the art justice.

You'll look through this book again and again, but don't forget to put an EF record on the stereo!

Did you read or get this book? Well my God what are you all waiting for!

I have never ever seen such intense research put into an Elvis book before in my life .. and this is just the early volume!

This book is worth not only the great photos but for the impressive family tree and lineage that was done on Elvis and his family. I mean did you know that Elvis' family tree was traced back to Denmark to the 1595? I sure didnt, until now.

I am now going to hold Elvis trivia contests with all my Elvis friends and fan club members ... This book is remarkable. that is all I can say.

Jim once again, a super book. And your assistant did a super job with her research! You guys actually proved a lot of "so-called experts" wrong!

Another must book for the Elvis fan!

This book should get an award just for the research that was done in putting this book together. This team of Jim and Renata is the best ever in the Elvis world. Just wonderful, wonderful information is PACKED into this little book! You would think its a mini encyclopedia with how much writing is involved in this book!

If this book, the early years, is this great; I can't wait for the next volumes!

I personally thought that was no other information that could be FOUND on Elvis, but I was wrong. I think Jim and Renata truly pinpointed Elvis' family tree to a T ..... I can't find fault in it. Everything seems to fit and make sense. Not even Elvis' family members got things as right! So what does that mean to us? THE PERFECT INFORMATIVE BOOK!

Thanks a million!

Ok. While on the road, I used this book to conduct trivia contests. The guys I am with, are Elvis fans and they always try to prove that they know Elvis more than I. So this book put an end to that!

But I will say this: I TOO WAS WRONG on many occasions! I never knew 50-60% of the information that was listed in this book -- and I thought I knew a LOT! So this is an educational book beyond any Elvis fans' expections or knowledge!

I think this will soon become an Elvis Bible to the fans and Elvis world - if it's not already!

Remarkable from the first page to the last!

What struck me about this book was the beautiful and clean art deco cover. What a gorgeous cover! And what fun it is to look at.

I bought it along with Christmas with Elvis by the same author. Never knew about anyone making a Christmas book with Elvis! So I was thrilled about that!

Anyway I took this book home, and to keep it short: I have so far read it 3 times from cover to cover! That is how enticing this book is. Never had I thought possible that anyone could trace Elvis' family history back that far as did Mr. Curtin. Because Graceland still has the OLD information that Elvis came from Scotland and Andrew Pressley! My goodness Mr. Curtin goes back much much farther. What an important addition Mr. Curtin is to the Elvis world. He is the key to the lock on the Elvis Presley that no one dares to write about: THE GOOD MAN!

Thank you Mr. Curtin for showing class in authoring a beautiful book on Elvis. And thank you for all your extremely hard work in finding out all this information on Elvis and for sharing it with us fans. God Bless you and much continued success.

I AM NOW TYPING IN CAPITALS!

JUST READ THIS BOOK AND I WILL SAY THIS : I AM AMAZED AT JIM CURTIN AND HIS WRITER FOR WHAT, AND HOW MUCH THEY RESEARCHED ON ELVIS.

SO WITH THIS REVIEW I AM GETTING ON MY KNEES AND THANKING GOD NOT ONLY FOR GIFTING THIS WORLD WITH ELVIS, BUT FOR GIFTING THE ELVIS WORLD WITH JIM CURTIN! (and lets not forget Renata)

THANK YOU .... THANK YOU .... THANK YOU .... THANKYOUVERYMUCH!

Great news for anyone interested in the traditional folk ballads known as the "Child Ballads" that Francis James Child's late 1800s compilation "The English and Scottish Pupular Ballads" is now republished in a fully corrected and revised edition with the traditional tunes reunited with the texts. The new edition by Loomis House Press (...) is now available in paperback and cloth editions - so far volumes 1, 2 and 3 (of 5) are issued. Amazon lists them but the three volumes are hard to find on the Amazon site. The earlier 1965 facsimile edition by Dover has also now been republished - but the Loomis House Press edition is greatly superior - and is available from Loomis in USA and Springthyme in UK as well as from Amazon.

Child's "English and Scottish Popular Ballads" is THE sourcebook for anyone interested in the traditional ballads of the British Isles, and also invaluable to all aficionados of European folklore and folksong in general. For those not up on their terminology, a ballad is a folksong with a plot, and Child's collection covers everything from foul murders to star-crossed lovers to Robin Hood, in five volumes.

I am extremely happy that someone has finally issued an edition incorporating the various addenda and corrections that Child made before his death. There is nothing here that Child did not write, so if you are looking for additional scholarship or commentary you will be disappointed; but the Loomis House edition vastly improves over the Dover facsimiles in completeness and convenience. Additional variants, comments and even some tunes (the one big omission in the original) are placed conveniently near the main text of each category rather than buried in appendices (most of which aren't included in the Dover editions at all). It's well worth the few extra dollars over the Dover books.

My one quibble is that they do not reproduce some of the typographical distinctions that Child occasionally used to indicate different features of a text, but this is overshadowed by all the good points of this edition.

Overall this is a wonderful and affordable edition; I fervently hope that all five volumes are issued as planned (it's been almost a year since Volume 3 came out...). I have no idea why Amazon makes these books so hard to find on their site: fix this, guys!

In summary: Buy this book. Now if someone would only reprint Bertrand Bronson's "The Singing Tradition of Child's Popular Ballads" as well....

I first heard of the Child ballads when I was about 13 years old and have been looking for a copy ever since. I was delighted to discover they have been brought back into print. This publication is particularly exciting since the editors have chosen to include musical notation collected by Child but not included in the original publication. Many of the ballads still sung today in Eastern Canada and the US were derived from these ballads, so these books are a facinating study of the earlier origins of these and many other ballads from the british iles.

The English and Scottish Popular Ballads are, as noted here, out of print in their Dover edition ... but fear not, they are being re-issued (in 5 volumes, 2 of which are actually done) by the folks at Loomis House Press. (I am not affiliated with Loomis in any way; do a Google search if you want to find 'em.) The books are authoritative and complete, and it's disappointing that Amazon doesn't list them.

Superb. For anyone interested in either the words or origins of English & Scottish folk music this is essential. You can settle those arguments (over a beer) as to who has the correct words or the origin.

The biblography needs some getting used to but when you understand it you will find this book a good companion.

This book sticks to the music, and what music it was, or should I say, what music *made* - sometimes from situational film material. But this work sticks mainly to A-list, non-soundtrack recordings.
Whether he stuck closely to the demo, or reference disc, or completely reworked the tune, he made it at least interesting and listenable, and those that didn't make that cut (like "Hey Jude") are given a fair chance.
Since '68, I still can't believe what he did with "You'll Never Walk Alone"; discovering years later it was he on piano working out a "head" arrangement on the spot, made it seem even greater. This book will remind you why you liked a particular track in the first place or why you should have. At age 17, I didn't appreciate the depth of this performance, which in this book is described with masterful strokes. Another revelation for me was in reading about "Crying In The Chapel". I've always enjoyed Elvis' record of it, but thought he could have put more *voice* on it. Roy and Aspell evaluated the number as a whole and brought out nuances which have caused me to realize that it, too, is A-list.
I would have been happy to find reviews of movie fluff entries like "Sand Castles" or "Shake That Tambourine", but let's hope we get an "alternate take edition" of this fine manuscript.

THIS NOVEL SHOULD GO DOWN IN HISTORY AS ONE OF THE GREATEST BOOKS TO EVER BE WRITTEN ABOUT THE KING OF ROCK -N- ROLL . IT'S REALLY GOOD . IT TELL'S THE STORY BEHIND 112 OF THE KINGS GREATEST AND NOT SO GREATEST SONGS .IT FOCUSES ON WHAT REALLY IS GREAT ABOUT ELVIS' LIFE HIS MUSIC !

"The Essential Elvis" is a thoughtful exploration of the King's music from 1954 until his death in 1977. It's an important and much-needed work that concentrates solely on Presley's artistry. Authors Samuel Roy and Tom Aspell break free from the ill-informed mythology of most Elvis publications by re-examining Presley's work in provocative, exciting ways. You may not agree with all of the writers' criticisms, but it encourages you to track down the 112 Elvis recordings listed in their book.

There have been 4,567 books written about Elvis, mostly by people who have never known him, but whose third cousin's sixth-removed niece might have once dated Elvis' former schoolteacher's third wife. Then there's "The Essential Elvis." What makes this book so different is that Samuel Roy and Tom Aspell trace Elvis' life and legacy through personal history as well as 112 of his most significant songs. The book doesn't proclaim to be an expose or definitive history (it's neither); what it is is a clear portrait of the Man Who Would Be King, told through behind-the-scenes knowledge that uncovers and pieces
together the story of a man, his times, talent and cultural influences. And the 20 photographs -- many of which have never been published --- add a nice touch.

This excellent book is about what was most important to Elvis and his fans: his songs and music. One of the most significant things the authors said about Elvis is the following words: «The first and best thing that can be done for Elvis Presley is to lessen the emphasis that has been placed on his later years and focus on the talent and genius that define the King.....one of the reasons for his demise was because he cared and felt too much...it got to the point that being Elvis Presley was one of the hardest jobs in the world». I agree completely with the authors and, as a fan, my only wish is that this book will make the people, who don't respect Elvis, see the light...

Kayak Reef by Bradley Stewart, reviewed by Seth Kerin.

Right from the start Kayak Reef by Bradley Stewart is one of the more original novels I have read. The setting alone, taking in a people and culture that is little known by most, make the novel worth reading. Stewart does a fine job blending interesting bits of Inuit culture and legends and weaving the information - mostly necessary information - seamlessly into the story.

There are many themes in the novel, from adventure and romance to the environment and almost supernatural legends, and those themes are tightly bound throughout. There are, of course, coming-of-age themes as well, as the protagonist and his friend work to find their way in a world that is somewhere between the modern world and the old ways of their people.

There are times when the storytelling veers off into explanations of things that seem a bit unnecessary (albeit often interesting), or when there is a time jump that seems to be a bit off, potentially confusing some readers - however these minor issues aren't enough to take away from the overall experience of the novel, nor do they detract from the book's message. It's a message that is deep on many levels, and a careful read will lead to the best understanding.

In particular the main character's conversations with his mother are fascinating, bordering on fortune telling, yet always seeming to fall back to the casual and loving relationship of mother and son. The mother seems to enjoy doling out wisdom in her own peculiar style, and this draws the reader further into the story.

Kayak Reef succeeds on many levels, whether you are reading for pure enjoyment or whether you hope to get something more from the story, any reader will find something to their liking in this novel.

Within a few pages of this book, you realize this tale of two boys is building a subplot. Pages later on the edge of your seat, the story rewinds a hundred years and Myauka's world on the Arctic, comes to life. Suddenly I was inside a legend that would rival Walt Disney's best.

The closely weaved double story of Myauka's past, and the boys, developed as if two books were inside. I especially liked Geoff's talks with his mother. I was impressed by the author's description of how the universe was made. The vivid scenes were structured, and then a theme of putting others first was rippling in.

This adventure brings to surface the harrowing events that strike in the path of poachers on the hunt. From the youth's growth and elements of fate, came two teens galvanized with inner strength. The theme matured, and paralleling this, a love story entered.

Protecting wildlife and kayaking in such severe conditions, gave these boys extremely potent senses. It is this supernatural nature in the tale which allows the reader to experience the enchanted story in real time. Excitement, love, pain and joy, brings this metamorphic tale, which provokes with such diversity, together as it heads for an emotionally uplifting close. I didn't want it to end.

Chris V.

With so many cliff-hanging moments in this adventure fantasy, and wild developments, digressions, whip-sawing transitions from the present to the past and back again, back and forth, shifting point-of -view focussing first on the present day teenaged hero and his extended family and then the spirit/ghost/legend of a long-lost Eskimo girl (and her remarkable pet, a rather intelligent penguin named Louie), the book reads like a stream-of-consciousness coming-of-age tale (reminding me of some surreal foreign novel I read in school ages ago?) pitting the good and noble native cultures and traditions against the "civilized" hunters. The words tumble on to the page with passion, evoking sorrow, pain, and happiness - and sometimes wit, as when the "golf ball machine" rained down hailstones, and I felt like running for cover and simultaneously reading on to see what could possibly happen next.... What a ride! This would make a great movie!

Excellent read! I really enjoyed this book so very much. The typical beginning of a mother and two toddlers opening the story in conversation is a clincher. The main character, Geoff, lives in a world like any other boy; never mind things are familiar. His life is anything but normal.

The author, Bradley Stewart has really captured my imagination with his innovative writing characteristics. I love when a book carries you away to thoughts and places in your own mind that aren't visited often enough, and Kayak Reef certainly does so! This heartfelt tale is full of adventure and fantasy. I hope you and your family enjoy it as much as I did!

This book is relevant to what is happening to the wildlife on our planet. It is very spiritual and life changing. It's more than an adventure, a mystery or a romance it keeps the reader rivetet with twists and turns. In the end of this book good prevails over evil.

If you love Michael Franti you'll love this book. It has tons of pictures from touring early on when he was playing bass with the beatnigs to right before he came out with the yell fire album. It has all the lyrics to mostly everything he has done,(except for some imports)then it comes with a dvd of some live shows. You will love this book as I do because there isn't very much reading to do Food For the Masses: Michael Franti-Portraits and Lyrics

For Franti fans wanting a good way coffee table book or postable lyric for their home, office, car, or anywhere this is a good buy. While the dvd footage of shows isn't the best for die-hard fans, its pretty good. I'd recommend going to a show for a good time, not necessarily watching the dvd to get a good feel for franti and spearhead. Good images into their life, and great showings of sometimes how songs can be scribbled up or even written on napkins.

This is a realy great book with copies of original handwritten lyrics, excellent photos, and a CD/DVD included. Definitely suggest this to anyone who enjoys Michael!

This book made any excellent present and is a must for any Spearhead fan. The pictures and info are very informative and the live DVD a real bonus.

If you are lucky enought to be or becoming a Michael Franti fan, this book celebrates his poetic muse. The words that come through him stand on their own as works of art. As Michael says, "every single soul is a poem written on the back of God's hand".

This book has a wonderful selection of soprano arias from common to somewhat lesser known pieces.

A little something for everyone in here. All the arias you've been looking for in one album. YAY.

I needed this book for my voice lessons and it was a great price and in wonderful condition. Thank you!

I've had this book since I was 17 when I first started studying voice. It's a great resource, especially for beginners who have not yet mastered Italian, French or German. It provides literal translations of every aria which is so important. It is also lightweight but sturdy. My copy is still in great shape. The only bone I have to pick is that the fach varies quite a bit from repertore suited to light lyric sopranos all the way to the dramatic. One singer obviously would not sing all of these arias. However, if your voice grows and matures I guess it's possible to start with a Handel aria in this book and progress to the heavier Puccini, depending on how your career goes. In any event, it's a nice collection of arias and you'll probably find 2 or 3 at least that you'll need at some point which is much better than shelling out cash for the complete scores.

Although not all of the arias in this edition (or any edition for that matter) will fit one particular fach, the range and selection of pieces is really wonderful in this volume. I prefer it to the first volume, only because it has a few lesser known gems that are great audition pieces, whereas the first volume covers mostly pieces everyone has heard a million times before (though there are some of those in this volume too!).

Over all, well edited, wonderful translations and very easy to read.