Genres Books

Bruce Spizer has proven to be an authortative figure when it comes to his experience about the American-released records from The Beatles. His second book, "The Beatles' Story On Capitol Records, Part Two: The Albums" is a perfectly fitting follow-up to the previous book about "Beatlemania & The Singles". In this edition, he focuses primarily on the 33 1/3 Long Playing album releases that dominated the popular album charts during the mid-60s. Every album is represented here, from "Meet The Beatles!" through "Magical Mystery Tour". Visually, the illustrations included are phenomenal, showing every known existing album cover, record label and other promotional items. There is a very fascinating section about both the 'Butcher' and 'Trunk' covers for the "Yesterday And Today" album from 1966, and a great deal of information regarding "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band". This book makes the perfect companion piece to the first Capitol book, as well as his book about the Vee-Jay releases. Mr. Spizer eventually followed this one with his next book, about Apple.

I had the opportunity to meet the author up at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame during the time that the Lennon exhibit was there. He was as nice and down to earth as you would think he would be.

Each of these books is an absolute MUST if you are a Beatles fan. I find myself getting one of them off of my bookcase every now and then to read up on a certain album or single...be it VJ, SWAN, CAPITOL, or APPLE. I especially like the Capitol albums book AND both books on APPLE RECORDS.

I'm kinda wondering what Bruce will write on next!!

During the press conference for the Vancover show in 64,Paul voiced his
disaproval of how the American record company would release anything
as a single. During one of their U.S shows John took a swipe at one
of the LP titles. He didn't have a copy of it & didn't want one.After
buying the Capital Box sets of their U.S. LP's I know know why & you
will too. Growing up in Australia, we got the U.K. versions of their
albums - which are the REAL versions & are better. Read this book & you
will see how the record company milked the music for all they could.
Capitol never wanted them but when they were forced to take
The Beatles...they became the most succesful act to have records released by the label. And you payed for that privilage. A facinating book.

This was the second Bruce Spizer book that I had bought and like it's companion "Part 1 - The Singles" it is an amazingly enjoyable book to behold. I've got these US versions in my collection though they are Orange Label 70's variations. It's great to learn about the logic behind their releases and it's equally interesting to listen to a US "Rubber Soul" especially as I was used to the UK/Australian 14 track version all these years... the US Version sounds like a Folk/Pop/Rock Album ALA the Byrds The "Butcher Cover" saga is a production almost bigger than "Ben-Hur". Bruce Spizer takes you right into the minds of those involved with that drama. No wonder Alan Livingston was reluctant to take those 20 "Butcher" LP's home..he'd had enough of them! The Author's thoroughness is never in question and the quality of his books consistently put many others to shame. The label reproductions are wonderful and helpful if you've bought the original US LP's. To think that now those US LP's are now deleted and replced by their UK counterparts. Overall the quality is superb and Mr. Spizer's books sit in the same class as those of Mark Lewisohn's "Complete Beatles Chronicle" & "Abbey Road" books as well as the massive "Beatles Anthology" tome. While each part stands alone quite well you must buy Part 1 to complete the set as they complemment each other really beautifully. I thoroughly recommend these books to any Beatles fan and lovers of Rock Music books.

A great book to find treasures with your old LP's. To find out what version or issue numbers you might own. Pictures are extremely good! With glossy photos!!

If you enjoy good story telling, colorful characters and just plain fun. Buy this book. As a female living in high-desert country I really appreciate the every day facts L'amour weaves into his tales. Plus, I just really like Louis L'amour.

I am buried up to my nose in work but I had to come in and give my review on this one. These are great great stories, written by a man who believed in things he told you about and knows how to tell them good. I have not even completed the book, but oh man, it is so good... "By the waters of San Tadeo", "Beyond the great snow mountains", "Meeting at Fallmouth", "The money punch" and "The gravel Pit"...they will leave you to wonder at the versatile man who wrote them and the fact that he is known as a "great western writer" ? Western, my foot! He is a GREAT WRITER - Period ! And oh, for the fans of Jeffery Archer (I am one too) The Gravel Pit,The Money Punch and Meeting at Fallmouth will delight you for sure, although Louis always has his flavour in what ever he writes ( and I am glad of that) And for hard core louis fans - it has a Ward McQueen story too.

I started with Louis L'Amour when I was 13. I'm 50 now and he still gives me immense satisfaction. His books, all of them, grace my small home library and they are somewhat dog-eared from the many times I've re-read them. "Beyond" is a small compilation of short stories that are pure enterntainment and L'Amour at his best. He takes you to places you will probably never visit, introduces you to people and circumstances of intensity and all in the comfort of your favorite reading chair. I look forward to the promised release of several new works.

This review refers to "Beyond The Great Snow Mountains"(Short Story Collection) by Louis L'Amour.

L'Amour fans, this short story collection is fabulous. Ten captivating classic stories that will have you turning the pages, as fast as you can. Each story is a fresh new experience. Adventure, Mystery, Intrigue, Suspense, Action and even a little romance. The action takes place on land, in the air, and on the water. And yes, some Western adventure as well. The main characters and heroes are always charismatic. Some are even based on real life adventurers he knew.

L'Amour's own turn at being a miner and a boxer(as told in the Afterword by Beau L'Amour), is put to good use in some stories revolving around those subjects. The mining story "Under The Hanging Wall", is a suspense packed murder mystery, with all the usual suspects, and the action taking place in an abandoned and dangerous part of a mine. "The Money Punch" is the story of a young fighter with lessons to learn.

In "By the Waters of San Tadeo" and "Beyond the Great Snow Mountains", women are the main character and heroines of the stories. One has a woman trying to escape danger and the other a woman torn between the Tribe she has become a part of and a chance to go back to her home.

The stories range from 10 pages to 40 pages. And in that short time, L'Amour manages to tell great tales. Other works included are "Meeting at Falmouth", :Roundup In Texas", "Sideshow Champion", "Crash Landing", "Coast Patrol", and "The Gravel Pit". A Dedication, and Afterward by Beau L'Amour and a short informative, "About Louis L'Amour" is also included in the book.

I was delighted with every story in this collection. Louis L'Amour fans will love this one.

Enjoy....Laurie

It has been some time since I read BEYOUND THE GREAT SNOW MOUNTAINS, but I checked to see what I wrote on the first page of the book, something I always do when I finish one. This is what I found " some excellant stories" to be excellant in my opinion a story (or book) must have a good plot, good characters and get to the end without losing the reader. These stories I will read again and again.

This book is an Essential as a Gift to a FAN(s) of These GENRES old & New.From the Ink Spots to Jermaine Jackson from Ja Rule & Ashanti to Ray Charles & Al Green this Books got'em All!Find Out How Successful in Sales & Airplay The Hits You Remember down to Your Bone Thugs N Harmony to Anita Bakers/Your Body+Soul.This Richly Illustrates in printed form some of the most premier recordings of pre-rock era soul to todays Rappers.Highly Qualified Purchasing Quotient & Highly Enjoyable esp4 Fans!

Any avid follower of R&B and hip-hop hits will have to make Billboard Book Of Top 40 R&B And Hip-Hop Hitsa part of their collection: it does far more than detail hit charts; it provides artist and song title for quick reference, extensive biographies of artists and groups, lists of record holders, and more. Author Joel Whitburn's company Record Research has compiled extensive references to music based on Billboard charts: Billboard Book Of Top 40 R&B And Hip-Hop Hits is one of the best of his works, packing in a wealth of information. A 'must' for any serious follower of the genre.

Any avid follower of R&B and hip-hop hits will have to make Billboard Book Of Top 40 R&B And Hip-Hop Hitsa part of their collection: it does far more than detail hit charts; it provides artist and song title for quick reference, extensive biographies of artists and groups, lists of record holders, and more. Author Joel Whitburn's company Record Research has compiled extensive references to music based on Billboard charts: Billboard Book Of Top 40 R&B And Hip-Hop Hits is one of the best of his works, packing in a wealth of information. A 'must' for any serious follower of the genre.

Any avid follower of R&B and hip-hop hits will have to make Billboard Book Of Top 40 R&B And Hip-Hop Hitsa part of their collection: it does far more than detail hit charts; it provides artist and song title for quick reference, extensive biographies of artists and groups, lists of record holders, and more. Author Joel Whitburn's company Record Research has compiled extensive references to music based on Billboard charts: Billboard Book Of Top 40 R&B And Hip-Hop Hits is one of the best of his works, packing in a wealth of information. A 'must' for any serious follower of the genre.

I highly recommend this book to any fan of the music genres charted in Billboard's R&B Top 40. If you grew up on music like this, it's perfect for review during the years when you were in school--no matter if it was back in the 40s, 60s, 90s or 00s. You'll be surprised of all the music you have forgotten, you'll then find yourself looking for it to bring back fond memories.

If, like me, you grew up during Hip-Hop's baby years (early 80s to early 90s), some great jams didn't make the top 40. Keep in mind that Hip-Hop from that period was not fully appreciated until recently, and Billboard recognized mostly Pop-Rap that crossed over like "Parents Just Don't Understand", "You Can't Touch This", "Wild Thing" or "Bust A Move" at that time. For those jams not on the list, you'll see the artist's music from the sophomore or third album (which happened to A Tribe Called Quest and Big Daddy Kane).

Excellent! We bought this book to take a tour of the blues through Missippi. We followed many of the suggested spots and even met some of the people mentioned in the book. Use it as the definitive tour guide to the blues.

Some of the directions could have been better, like Robert Johnson's grave site. It wasn't really clear how to get to downtown Greenwood, MS, but we eventually got there!
Lots of good information. Stumbled upon MS John Hurt's grave while trying to find Robert Johnsons, so that was a plus.
All blues lovers and enthusiasts should get this book before your journey. Lots of good information about the area, and details about the musicians you want to know more about!

This book is all you need to plan a trip to the true Delta blues spots. book is set up perfectly for a road trip and very honest and detailed. Top Notch!

If you are going south on a blues trip, you need this book. It is full of great info and directions to many, many graet sites of the blues. Highly recommended.

I highly recommend this book for anybody considering a Blues trip into the Delta. It is the best available resource on the market. Looking at its competitors, they all miss the mark due to either outdated, incomplete, or just plain incorrect information.

I have just completed a Delta blues trip and read the book after I returned. Having actually done such a trip provides a very authoritative vantage point from which to judge any such work.

Our trip was preceded by 6 months of online research into every aspect of the Delta and surrounding areas. Over 100 pages of information were accumulated prior to departure. The trip itself covered nearly a 1400 mile loop by car that began and ended in New Orleans. So many of the stops we made along the way ~ Jackson, Ms.; Greenwood, Ms.; Clarksdale, Ms.; Helena, Ark.; Memphis, Tenn.; all the historic gravesites; the prisons and the plantations were all covered in Steve's book. He certainly did his homework. (For goodness sake, he moved there as part of the overall immersion process, LOL!)

We met Steve in Helena while he was lecturing and playing at the `Blues on Main Street' exhibit opening at the Delta Cultural Center on Cherry St. He is proficient at both. It was there we bought the book that got carried home and subsequently read after the fact.

If you don't have 6 months to do your own research, just buy his book and read it in a week. He covers everything. Then take it with you and use it as a guide on the road.

(p.s. Plan your trip so it somehow involves the WC Handy awards in Memphis in late April, as well as the Beale Street Music Festival that follows that weekend).

You could fill a book with all the information I _don't_ know about Brazilian music... In fact, these guys already have! Concise, conversational, informative and very well laid out, this is an exceptionally readable book. Chapters on samba, bossa nova, tropicalia, forro and jazz include focused biographical sketches of dozens of key artists, as well as succinct historical information about the progress of Brazilian music from its European and African folk roots into its bewildering and often beautiful modern offshoots. The book's focus is nonpartisan: although there is plenty of room for aesthetic criticism within the various styles, the authors generally hold their preferences and dislikes to themselves. They do, however, give readers a good sense of which recordings might be best to check out -- an invaluable service considering how little of Brazil's vast musical output makes it to the United States. Highly recommended! Certainly the best English-language guide to Brazilian pop that you will find in print (online is a different matter), this is great for casual listeners and hardcore fans alike.

The Brazilian Sound is good as far as it goes - a who's who list and discography of 20th century Brazilian music. Although, the book has the feel of a junior college textbook, it's written in plain language. It would be a relatively easy read if it were not that a parenthetical list of Brazilian names breaks up every third or fourth paragraph. There are some very informative passages - notably the chapter on Bossa Nova and the "Escolas de Samba" section of Chapter 2. At their best, the authors provide clear and comphrensive explanations of the geneology and sociological context of the music.

Unfortunately, unless a person is willing to spend countless shopping hours and a couple of thousand dollars building up collection of Brazilian records, he or she will gain almost no insight from this book into what the music feels like. The authors describe individual works and artists in only vague terms - terms often identical to those previously used to describe others. They beat the term "syncopation" into irrelevance - it's clear only that all Brazilian music is syncopated. The authors habitually refer to folk music genres and song forms ala "Composer X's work is all based on the Y song form..." But they provide no practical examples or definitions of those genres or forms.

The authors stridently dumb-down their text, accepting as axiom that one has to "hear it to believe it" and that it is meaningless to describe Brazilian music in technical terms. They generally refrain from even using common musical terms - bar, measure, pulse, key, etc. - to give the reader a clearer understanding of Brazilian rhythmic and harmonic structures. They use few effective musical comparisons or verbal metaphors. It is understandably difficult to describe music in writing. But it is possible. Judicious use of metaphor, comparisions, and technical descriptions would have greatly fleshed out what in the end comes off as a skeletal text.

This 1998 edition serves as the update to the first, apparently published in 1990 or 1991. However, the amendments appear to have been quite minor - embodied by an isolated paragraph here and there, and four meager pages in the final "More Brazilian Sounds" chapter. It's as if nothing has really happened in the evolution of Brazilian music since 1990 - an impression that must be wrong.

The Brazilian Sound catalogs decent research, but is neither good writing nor effective music history.

The best book about Brazilian music in English, "The Brazilian Sound" is a beautifully written, in-depth guide to samba, bossa and other Brazilian genres. Many of the reviews below are on the mark, but BGB from WA seems not to have read the book (or to have read a different book!). The 1998 edition substantially upgrades the original 1991 version. There is much added in terms of early history, capoeira, racial issues, choro, and the blocos and afoxes in Bahia. There is more on important artists from the 1990s, like Marisa Monte, Daniela Mercury, Carlinhos Brown, Chico Cesar, Chico Science and Karnak, though these additions are in various chapters, not just the final one ("More Brazilian Sounds"). One needs to have actually read the book to know that, of course...The music is nicely described, in both musical and cultural terms. One gets a strong sense of how it sounds, and a clear understanding of its rhythmic, harmonic and melodic ingredients. Some of the writing is rather encyclopedic, dispensing a rather staggering amount of information, while many sections vividly convey a sense of the music. I often felt I was at a bossa nova club in '59, at an escola de samba rehearsal, watching one of the 1960s song festivals, or attending a forro party. "The Brazilian Life" brings to life both the current and past greats of Brazilian music. As a result, I added quite a few CDs to my collection, especially of artists like Milton Nascimento, Pixinguinha, Jobim and Marisa Monte. I can't recommend this book highly enough.

An excellent book for anyone who wants to explore Brazilian music beyond the well-known classics. Helps place current and past musicians in their historical contexts; helps you understand who influenced whom, etc. The book will pay for itself just by helping you guide your ever-growing collection of Brazilian CD's (hard to stop once you get started)!

A lively and well-written book, The Brazilian Sound provides a broad overview of the remarkable spectrum of musica popular brasileira, from samba, bossa nova and forro to tropicalia, choro and Brazilian rock. It takes us on a journey both through the evolution of Brazilian music and the history of Brazil, and places artists like Jobim within a cultural context that helps us appreciate their music all the more. One comes away with a solid grasp of the major artists and genres of Brazilian music, as well as their impact on the "North American Sound." There is an extensive glossary at the end that is worth the price of the book alone, and an exhaustive discography.

The authors succeed in bringing the music to life, whether they are conveying the playfulness of the choro musical style, placing the reader at an Olodum concert in Salvador, or describing a samba-school rehearsal on a "hot and humid night in Rio de Janeiro." For the latter, they write, "Surdos (bass drums) pound out a booming beat, and their incessant drive provides the foundation for the rest of the bateria, the drum-and-percussion section that will later parade triumphantly during Carnaval. Snare drums called caixas rattle away in a hypnotic frenzy, and above them tamborins (small cymbal-less tambourines that are hit with sticks) carry a high-pitched rhythmic phrase like popcorn in an overheated pot. Enter the sad cries and humorous moans of the cuica (friction drum), the crisp rhythmic accents of the reco-reco (scraper), and the hollow metallic tones of the agogo (double bell). Other percussion instruments add more colors, the ukelele-like cavaquinho adds its high-register plaintive harmonies, and the puxador (lead singer) belts out the melody...." Such vivid and elaborate descriptions helped me make sense of the wall of sound that is samba, and made me want to book the next flight to Rio de Janeiro for Carnaval.

The second edition adds more historical information and brings the book up to date with musical developments in the `90s. There is extensive additional information about the origins of capoeira (the Brazilian martial art which is accompanied by music in training and which is gaining increasing popularity all over the world), and about racial issues in Brazil as reflected in popular music. There are new profiles of contemporary artists such as Marisa Monte, Nacao Zumbi, Karnak, Daude, Chico Cesar, Daniela Mercury, Timbalada, and Carlinhos Brown. The descriptions of Bahian percussionist-songwriter Carlinhos Brown's collaboration with Sergio Mendes (on the 1992 album Brasileiro) and his groundbreaking 1996 solo album Alfagamabetizado are especially memorable. This is a classic study of Brazilian music, a must for any world-music aficionado.

Of the books I have seen, this has to be one of the best! Peter Black was the only photographer granted 'all access' on the Sixteen Stone tour. The book contains pictures/notes from the very beginning of Bush's career to the time when it is certain that the band are true rockstars!

I loved this collection of photos from the Sixteen Stone Tour! Very good collection of backstage and on stage pics. A must for any Bush fan!

I loved this book so much! If there are any bush fans who don't have it ,I recomend that you get it. I Also think that the photos in this book are so meaningful they don't even need a caption to know what they are.

This book has some unique and incredible black and white photography of Bush both on and off-stage. It gives the readers a glimpse into Bush's life with some comedic commentaries that are always good for a laugh. You can't use it for a book report, but it's one you'll enjoy for a long time. And hey it makes a great gift for Bush fans!

This book gave Bush fans an idea of what the group has to go through during a tour. The photography was excellent (especially of Gavin cuz he a hottie!) and was creatively put into book form. GAVIN IS SO FINE! ~Lara~

This is a great lullaby CD. My daughter listens to it daily and I never tire of it either!

This is wonderful soothing collection of lullabyes for new babies and I am sure older children as well. Our newborn is 2 months old and enjoys just listening for a period before going off to sleep.

All three of my children have listened to this every night as they went to sleep when they were little. It is by far the best lullabye music I have ever found.

I have frequently ordered the CD "A Child's Gift of Lullabyes" as a gift for new parents. It seems to be very well-received and is of the quality parents appreciate and children seem to like hearing often. It is one of several similar CD's well-worth exploring.

We bought this on tape when our first son was a baby. Now he's 19, and we still listen to it. It is so unusual in its simplicity. Everyone who has heard it loves it. I've used it to accompany a slide show presentation of our kids growing up. Brought tears to people's eyes. I've given it as a baby gift, and am still being thanked. Thank you J Aaron Brown.

If you pretend you are a 'serious fan' and have not read this book, you surely are a fake.
This monumental detailed work will give you half the things you need to read to be say you're a real beatles fan. The other half you can find it in the Anthology book.

I got the book as a gift from my sister and initially dismissed it as a bargain bin cheapie that she picked up last minute. A fearful, insomniac child prompted me to begin reading it and, am I glad that he did.

This is ESSENTIAL READING.

The diary-like entries give you day-by-day accounts of every single session the Fab Four did, as the title promises. But... well, it just gives you a whole new insight to the band. Yeah, the recordings retain the original magic, and maybe even gain a little more because you can see that it took a whole lot more than talent and luck for them to make it big and change music. The book lets you see just HOW MUCH HARD WORK was put in by not only the band, but by everyone around them: George Martin, the engineers, the assistant engineers, the tea boy, everyone!

It's like a musical version of Michael Jordan or Tiger Woods: not only were they the most talented around, but also the hardest-working.

A whole new appreciation.

As somebody mentioned before, don't start reading before bed because you will not be able to put it down.

This book is required reading for the diehard Beatles fan. I suspect that the studio documentation was just the normal level of detailed information they kept on those who recorded there, but in hindsight, having this particular info and retaining it looks pretty genius. A detailed account of every time the Beatles were in the recording studio with documents from the studio and the recollections of those who were present. The author is meticulous and obviously a fan himself. I really consider this book the Beatles bible.

As the author of the Jefferson Airplane book "Take Me To A Circus Tent" I know the years of research it took for me to compile the information on 121 live shows, 60 unreleased songs, 266 questions and answers, and prepare for 32 interviews.

Mark Lewisohn had to dig even deeper because of the amount of material that could be documented. The work is super-human. The Beatles deserved George Martin and Mark Lewisohn.

It is easy for those that wish to find fault even with a Rolls Royce but don't worry if you would have used different words for an A Flat Augmented 7th Chord or a bridge in a song, he gave you the most complete information at your fingertips and this can't be improved!

Thank you for your time,
Craig Fenton
Author of the Jefferson Airplane book "Take Me To A Circus Tent"

First, I find it amazing that anyone kept this information in such detail in the first place.
Secondly, it is amazing that it was ever complied and put into a book.
Thirdly it was amazing that anyone would a.) Publish the book, b.) Buy the book in the first place and c.) Actually read it, which I have. Perhaps most amazing of all is how imminently readable and enjoyable it really is.
I imagine prerequisite being that it is important for the reader to have a love of the art of recording as well as a serviceable knowledge of the Beatles' collected body of work. Mine is the first edition and, yes, there are minor flaws, but honestly they are few in number and nothing of the "glaring" type which actually demeans the book.
I had initially picked up the book in a shop and glanced through the photographs, then I absently read an entry and was hooked. I think this is, all-in-all, a very exceptional journal and a valid history of one of the greatest recording acts of all time. Over the years I have met numerous musicians who, although they might not be dyed in the wool Beatles fans, still recognize their incredible contribution to recording technique and innovation. Kudos of course to Sir George Martin as well.
I cannot conceive of a more definitive account than this.

Just purchased this rightoff on Alibris and was real excited to read this even tho I'm into music conducting, arranging, writing, hearing by ear, all of it.

This is deeply a Music Must if u're interested of being a most-talented musician, bandleader, music director, conductor, and/or just trying it out for practice.

Alot of people been recommend 'cuz the man himself Brock Elheran tells it right here from the heart and it's rocks on to this day 4ward.

I just begun conducting while in high school with the band and duggin' up everybody who can do that. I'm also a talented musician myself so ya'll know the basics 'bout that. I look 4ward of reading more books like this in the future and 'mos definitely on arranging, composing, orchestration, theory, composition, leadership, music production, all of the above.

I'm proud to say that I studied with Brock. He is an amazing conductor with great passion for music. While his book was required reading for his undergraduate conducting class, his concepts are used every day is my choral rehearsals. I've been conducting for 12 years now, and know that his concepts and rehearsal techniques have served me well. A very simple, concise, and practical guide by an incredible teacher and conductor.

I bought this book shortly after I'd agreed to conduct an adult community choir, and studied it with fearful concentration through the first tentative weeks while the choir and I developed some trust in each other's good will and ignorance. I'm still a novice conductor, but I've now stood in front of some big groups of singers, experienced and beginners, and I trust this book. Even when it's not hidden in the music in front of me.

There's room for argument with some of what McElheran says, and I haven't yet seen a choral conductor who works as he recommends, but the book is clear, sensible, brief, and practical. What's more, it's in better shape than most of my music, although it's travelled further and lived rougher.

I've found the exercises very useful, especially those with "a group of friends". I tried these with my novice choir, in a spirit of "let's explore", and we all learnt from them.

Warmly recommended for anyone interested in conducting, even those who are not about to try their hand, with or without baton, at it.

This is the best book for technique I've come across, period. The style is not unnecessarily abtruse and the clarity of the book in explanation is magnificent. What appealed to me is the fact that logical, scientific explanations are given for most of the technique encompassed, and the author does not take refuge in 'tradition'. It is as suited to the absolute beginner as it is to the professional looking to polish his/her tehnique.

This book has become a common introductory text for undergraduate level conducting gesture in the United States. In this respect, the book is extremely effective.

McElheran's treatise is laid out in ultra-clear chapters, all of which are concise and contain possible "Assignments." Not to get too bogged down in the mire of conducting gesture, McElheran's first chapter is on Inspiration. In short, "make the performers want to do their best," he says.

The next few chapters cover aspects such as the baton, beat patterns, the left hand, dynamics and other aspects of music, cues, off-beat accents, fermatas, and some aspects about rehearsals and performance. There are more chapters but you get the picture. All are good.

Some readers may wonder if this is meant for "orchestral" or "choral" conducting. McElheran states clearly that there is (or should be) little difference and that choral conductors should develop an orchestral technique. While I would say that good choral and orchestral conducing are about 95 % similar (perhaps even more so), choral conductors should be aware that there are some differences, especially in ideas of always "hitting the imaginary table" or conducting every single beat. Nonetheless, Conducting Technique can be very helpful for the beginning choral conductor.

Moreover, McElheran's writing style is very fresh and full of self-effacing wit. Reading the book gives one the impression that Brock McElheran is the type of person who takes the art of music seriously but not himself seriously. I think any beginner of conducting should consult this book, and even professionals might want to have it around just as a reference.

This is the first novel I've read by Sherri L. Lewis and it WON'T be the last! What an INSPIRATIONAL treat. I was CAUGHT UP in the lives of her well-developed and MEMORABLE characters. I enjoyed actually witnessing the PERSONAL GROWTH of each of the main characters in their relationships with one another and with God. Ms. Lewis will DEFINITELY keep you turning the pages with this HEARTWARMING, romantic, and sometimes humorous read.

Dance Into Destiny is a wonderfully "edgy" yet not "preachy" novel that tackles real issues people deal with in their daily lives. Through the lives of Keeva and Shara, the reader experiences what it's like to live a life abundant with material wealth, yet be miserable; to know your purpose and destiny, yet not be able to enjoy the freedoms God provides.
Ultimately, through special relationships, both women gain balance in their personal and professional lives. This is a coming of age story that is worth reading.

Sherri Lewis did another fantastic job with this book. The story was written in a way in which I could feel the emotions from the characters as if they were right here next to me. I love the Christian message that the books gives to its readers. I can't wait to read Sherri's next book.

Once again Sherri Lewis has pulled it off. Just as she did in "My Soul Cries Out", Sherri creates a believable story of friendship and love.

What I liked most about this book is how important having a personal relationship with God is shown and how without that relationship, one can't be truly happy.

And just like I told Sherri after reading "My Soul Cries Out", I need a sequel.

In the book Dance Into Destiny by Sherri L. Lewis, Keeva Banks had been kicked out of one prestigious school and was now on the brink of flunking out of another and being cut
off financially by her parents. Keeva was used to getting everything that she wanted from
her parents as long as she lived the life they wanted for her to live. Keeva's dreams
of becoming a dancer as a little girl died when her father pretty much planned her profession and pushed his ideas of success on her. Keeva was in a relationship that long ago lost its luster and had a group of girlfriends that she could care less about hanging out with. It was now the end of the semester and grades were soon to come. She needed to study and get a good grade on her finals. Keeva did not think that things could get any worse until she was assigned to work with a homely looking girl on a school project. The stress was unbearable and her only release was going back to her first love, but little did she know that she would find a greater love during this journey.

Shara Anderson worked hard in school and for the youth in her community. She
wasn't into fashion, dating, and all of the frills and thrills that many sought after in
college. Shara, the daughter, of a strict pastor had always been in the church and was now saved. Shara's passion was the youth and helping to motivate them to achieve good grades and instill faith that they could be more than what their environment dictated. From the outside it seemed as if everything in Shara's life was in order, and things perfect. Shara was more concerned about helping people than having a personal life. Shara focused on helping the kids and her new project partner, Keeva but did not feel
that she could do enough for either. She met the potential youth pastor, Quinton and fights the growing attraction to him Shara could not deny the similarities between him and her. Shara had a hard time breaking free from the strict teachings of her father concerning men and allowing herself to get a complete makeover to be the woman of God that He created her to be.


Quinton Mercer was in a new town, ready to work with the youth of Kingdom Builders Christian Church, which was located in the inner city, to build up the kingdom of God. Quinton's motives were pure although not well thought, thinking that money could buy
the kids and was only temporary. Quinton and Shara had to work together since he was
seeking the position of youth pastor and she was one of the youth leaders. Quinton felt
something in his spirit stir as she began talking about her vision for the youth. He did not worry too much about her disheveled look. Quinton fell for Shara at first sight and was glad that she did not recognize him from the basketball court. He was trying to outrun his own demons. God can only heal what is revealed!



It was a great book ; I could barely put it down and I was done with it too quickly. I could visualize the storyline and connected with each character. It is an excellent read! It is heartbreaking and inspiring at the same time, but truly is exemplary of our God and how he uses what the devil means for the bad and turns it into something good.

Reviewed by: Lacha' Mitchell
AAMBC -Book Reviewer