Rock The Books

Having spent my teen years in the late 50s/early 60s and being a big fan of the music from that era I definitely could relate to Dee Dee Phelps story. But truthfully, with the exception of the song "Turn Around", I never got particularly excited about Dick & Dee Dee's catalog of music and I picked up this book imagining that it would be a relatively lightweight piece of fluff. Very quickly I found out that Dee Dee was pulling no punches in describing both the light and the dark side of the 60's music industry and her partner Dick St. John (who comes across as somewhat of an obnoxious egotist). Her accounts of recording sessions and adventures while touring the country by bus with other music notables make for great reading. Highly recommended!

Dee Dee Phelps did a wonderful job on this book and capturing her adventures as a teenager thrusted in the music industry and the ups and downs of touring the world. Great stories thruout the book -- if you love 60's Rock and Roll -- This is a must read! Thank you Dee Dee for telling this wonderful part of Rock and Roll History!

I like this book 'cause I could easily relate to it.... kinda'. Dee Dee is just like me... she is one of us -- a every-day kid growing up in the 50s and 60s. That was me... riding in the car, listening to the music. I could imagine the DJ playing my song. Only Dee Dee din't just imagine it. She did it. It was the beginning of a decade-long ride on the roller coaster of rock and roll. Dick Clark, Quincy Jones, the Beach Boys, Glenn Campbell, Dionne Warwick, Bobby Vinton... Dick and Dee Dee rubbed shoulders with all of them. There were good times and there were bad times. This is her "behind the scenes" story. It's pretty cool.

Vinyl Highway: A Memoir is the true-life story of singer Dee Dee Phelps. Packed with stories that tell both the bright and dark sides of fame, Vinyl Highway relates the experiences of performing with such legends as Dick Clark, The Rolling Stones, The Beach Boys, and other memorable recording artists of the 60s; Dee Dee's role in creating five Billboard gold records; and her routine as a semi-regular on the ABC show "Shindig". An up-close and personal reminiscence of the thick of the 60's music scene, and a treat for anyone who remembers the sounds of the 60's fondly.

Dan Klein has done it again with the newest of Elvis Presley's sleuthing escapades. In addition to being frightening and funny, this book is also puzzling (some hard-to-solve murders) and alternately touching and cynical. Yes, that's a lot to pack into 264 pages, which is why I'm recommending it. You don't even have to be a die-hard (pardon the pun) Elvis Fan. You just have to know something about him and have heard the songs "Don't Be Cruel" and "Love Me Tender.

Elvis is happy to be back in Vegas after a month in Graceland where Priscilla gave him a hard time because of Ann Margaret. Elvis drops in on insult comedian Howie Pickles' show at the Sahara. Besides irritating Elvis with his irreverent references to the Lord, Pickles unmercifully picks on an obese woman. The other act, Siva Ree's exotic dance with a panther, thrills Elvis who finds he desires the performer.

The next day, Elvis learns that Pickles' victim Mrs. Donaldson was murdered and nailed to the billboard of a chapel (the same one that starred in an Elvis flick). The police arrest the husband of the deceased, but the person who found the corpse Digby Ferguson believes the local cops rushed to judgment. He tries to persuade Elvis to join with him to investigate as he knows the rock legend has experience in solving crimes (see KILL ME TENDER and BLUE SUEDE CLUES).

Though Elvis amateur sleuth takes a long time to begin, fans of the superstar will relish this tale awhile wondering if Daniel Klein had a sighting as the plot brings Presley so vividly to life. The story line engages readers with its insightful look at a complete Elvis to include frustration with movie scripts (Roustabout is the current one) and his complicated love life that is made more complex by Siva. The story is well written, but more for the Elvis guru than the amateur sleuth aficionado.

Harriet Klausner

Without a doubt, Klein's take on Elvis Presely is going to go down in US literary history as one of the most creative and dynamic treatments of the musical icon. The first two books were fantastic, and this third book goes even further in giving the reader a new way to look at the King. As soon as the New York Times and People magazine weigh in with their judgments, Klein's series of Elvis yarns will become part of American literaary culture. Viva La Klein! Can't wait for the 4th and 5th installments, too.

I thoroughly enjoyed this third Elvis mystery novel by Daniel Klein. It follows on the heels of Kill Me Tender and Blue Suede Clues. Elvis manages to be the hero and solves the murders. His character has been drawn so that the real Elvis shines through. Elvis would have loved the character and so will his fans. This particular novel takes place in Las Vegas and includes some very strange murders and some very strange characters. Of course he falls in love with beautiful Shiva who has a young daughter Kali and is accompanied by her black panther. A Don't Be Cruel peace concert is put together and Elvis is in the center of it. The ending is not quite what you would expect. I would recommend that you start with Kill Me Tender and then move on to Blue Suede Clues and finish up with Viva Las Vengeance. There is some slight tie-in in this book with the other books. I am anxiously looking forward to book #4!

This book puts feelings and emotions (which are rarely discussed in society) into words to help couples dealing with infertility. The authors define stages of grief dealing with infertility and give ways to handle these stages in a positive way. It has been a great tool for me as I seek to sensitively deal with friends struggling with this issue. The book steers clear of medical and technical issues and addresses handling emotions (anger, grief) in a Godly way. I highly recommend this book to anyone struggling with infertility and for anyone who knows someone who is. It would be a great small group tool also.

The best way to succinctly describe this book is as a "How-To" manual for dealing with the grief of infertility. Each of the three authors have walked this journey and they combine their experiences and expertise (they are professional ministers and a professional counselor) to walk along side the reader through the ins and outs of grief.

The book is divided into 2 sections. The first section deals with identifying the stages of grief and how it manifests specifically in infertility grief. Each chapter identifies a new stage and offers constructive, biblically sound suggestions on navigating it.

The second section focuses more specifically on overall coping and healing, rather than stage specific exercises. It concentrates on the wounded woman's possible necessity to reconcile with herself and her identity in Christ, with God, with her spouse, her family and/or her friends. The authors challenge the reader to reach beyond her grief out to others around her and encourage the reader to really internalize that God's plan for her life is not limited by infertility. My favorite line in the book is at the very end and states in a prayer,

[God,] help me to realize that the purpose of my suffering far exceeds the pain of my suffering.

While I don't agree with the authors that infertility is a "special calling" (a minor part of the book so don't dismay if you also disagree), I do know that God can redeem any pain by making His glory known through it. There is great purpose in evidencing God's glory throughout the earth, and this specific challenge from the authors stirred my heart to search beyond, rather than dwell in my pain.

At the end of each chapter, the authors offer challenging questions designed to nudge the reader to introspection. These questions would make excellent prompts for journaling, or, with some modifications for privacy, a spring board for a small group discussion. The authors also offer a specific action challenge at the end of each chapter.

What I love the most about this book is how constructive and tangible the tools are. They are very prescriptive with "do this," and "think about that." As I said, it's almost like a "How-To" manual and at this stage in my grief, I found that very helpful because at times in my Infertility Grief Journey, I found myself almost being afraid that I was doing things out of order, or too quickly or too slowly, and it was helpful for me to just have an outside reference as sort of a guide of what to expect, what to be on my guard for, etc. Of course, it goes without saying that everyone's process is different, but even in my limited interactions with other Infertility women (compared to the interactions of the authors), I noticed quite a few commonalities too, and this book draws on that. The solutions they offer are physical, emotional and spiritual changes. I appreciated this holistic approach and at this point in my journey, it's just so helpful to have someone say "Do this." "Expect that." "Guard your heart from this."

This book is very brief. They offer scriptural support for their claims, especially any about the nature and character of God and His will for one's life. However they are very matter-of-fact and do not dwell long on their point or on the exegesis of any scriptural support. The book is very simplistically written, making it easy to read and process.

My reason for pointing this out is that I think it is important that any potential reader identify where she is at and what she is ready to handle before picking up this book. The frank, matter of fact approach can come across as "rushing" you through the grief process if you're not ready to move on. It can almost come across as judgmental because an issue is so black and white and already resolved to these women, while you may be fresh and wrestling in your grief.

However, on the other hand, this might serve to equip you as sort of a road map of what to expect in the future, or as a good review of where God has already taken you. In my particular case, I was wishing that I had read it earlier so that I could have the book to accompany me through the various stages, but I can see easily how someone of another temperament might want to read this with a little more emotional distance from the situation.

I will say that I personally detected no hint of insensitivity or judgment from the authors, but I've also already digested and processed a lot of my emotions to date. If I were still reeling, I might respond differently. On the other hand again, this might have been doubly "useful" were I still reeling.

All of that to say, search your heart for the kind of tool that you need right now. If you need an empathetic, heartfelt, gentle encouragement, try something like Hannah's Hope. If you need something a little more clinical, or more of a kick in the bloomers, this is an excellent resource. The two books are not at all similar or interchangeable but are appropriate for different places in someone's Infertility journey.

I will say that I did not do the written exercises. I may find the book even more challenging if I go back and do them, but I also recognize what is realistic for my lifestyle and know that it is unlikely that I will prioritize time to complete them. However, I appreciate that I was able to learn from and be challenged by the book without the exercises. I can only imagine how much more I would be challenged if I were to complete the written questions.

This book is unlike any other Infertility book I've read or have in my ever-growing pile to read. I appreciate the fresh approach and the practical tools. Now knowing what to expect from the book, and preparing your heart accordingly for where you are at in your grief process, I would encourage you to trust the authors' virtuous intentions and their submission to God's leading as they wrote this and when you are ready, pick up this book and read it. Whether this will serve as a GPS for your yet to be arrived at destination or a chronicle of where God has already faithfully taken you, I assure you that you will be edified, equipped and challenged by this book.

Recommended: Enthusiastically

I have read many books on infertility and this one is a definite must have. Every chapter touches on exactly what I have been through, or am experiencing right now. It's great to have a Christian outlook, and reflection questions at the end of each chapter. A+++

I would highly recommend this book for anyone going through or who has just gone through infertility treatment. It helps you understand the grief process and confirms that your feelings while going through the infertility journey are real. The chapters are 1. Denial/Shock, 2. Desperation/Panic, 3. Anger/Resentment, 4. Sadness/Depression, 5. Inadequacy/Guilt, 6. Hope/Peace, 7. Reconciliation/Integration, 8. Does Time Heal All Wounds?, 9. Relationship, Reconciliation, and Restoration, 10. Renewing Your Mind, 11. Refuge in the Rock. It is really a MUST HAVE.

I've owned this book for more than a decade -- bought it directly from the author. Great reading for real rockabilly fans. It will expand your knowledge.

this book is great,there is not many rockibilly books out there. great pictures too.

Mr. McNutt has penned a real winner here, in my opinion. Yes, it is self published, and no, it isn't very slick or glitzy. What it is is readable. As I began flipping through "We Wanna Boogie" I quickly became hooked and then started reading every word, lingering and re-reading many chapters, basking in Mr. McNutt's considerable "way with words." Even now, years after first reading it, sitting down with the book usually produces a new gem or two. The reader is treated to extended comments by guys like "Orangie Ray Hubbard" and many others who blazed the way for rockabilly in the early days. Yes, many may not be well-known, but By giving these guys a page or two to tell their story, in their own words, it goes a long way toward making this book enjoyable and believable. Get it....You'll like it. It's a real sleeper!!!

WoW what can I say, one of the best books I have ever read.
I stay awake in every site.
It have all the ingrediens ,that I as A Rockabilly & Hillbilly fan is looking after. Not like many other so called Rockabilly books with its softness I didn`t like. I like it more on the rough edge, and this book has done it.
thanks

This book is a treasure chest of professional photographs and anecdotes. This book has something for everyone, from the inveterate Beatles' fan to people who are becoming familiar with them. This book is indeed a masterpiece that will long register in the minds of those who read it.

if you are a Beatles fan you must see it, and return in a paper time machine to the beginning of the most fantastic line of the music story.

For anyone who is interested in music (and who isn't today?), this book is different in the kind of material in it. The book is comprised of pictures from the early Beatles' career, and have a captioned story line given by their first professional photographer,the late Dezo Hoffman. Any music lover should take a look because if it wasn't for the Fabs, you may still be listening to your Big Band and Swing Time, with a little Blue-Grass on the side.. (I know most of you probably aren't into that!) I thought it was entertaining, considering I am a Fab Fan.. Some pictures never-before seen.. Some interesting comments.

This book is a collection of very early pictures of the Beatles, some of which we have seen on promotional material. In my opinion several of those pictures are the Beatles' best. It is also very interesting to read Dezo's comments as to where and when the pictures were taken. He was their first official photographer. Great memories, great book!

I think this book is GREAT!!! It reminds me of the great spice girls and geri.I just love them!! Cant wait for the next book!

I THINK THAT IT IS ONE OF THE BEST SPICE GIRLS BOOKS EVER IT GIVES LOTS OF FACTS ABOUT THEM AND IT HAS REALLY GOOD PHOTOS!!!!!

i think this book is great. I have never read anything like this before.If you are a die-hard fan of the spice girls then, you must have it.

The book "Unofficial Guide to evrything Spice" has articles about each of the Spice Girls,and some facts about them like what kind of music they listen to,their birthdates,and ...I'm not about to spoil the rest for you! This book also has a trivia about the Spice Girls to see how much of a Spice File you are.It also has an excample of a day in life of the spice girls schedule.Plus it talks about their movie Spice World. At the end of the book it has a discography of the Spice Girls and websites you should visit,and a WHOLE lot more and it's filled with colored pictures!! If you are a Spice Girl fan like me you should definitely get this book.

About a year ago a teacher/performer friend asked me who my first guitar teacher was. Larry McCabe, quite a few years ago. My friend looked surprised, and told me he uses Larry's books in his own teaching, and that Larry had written something like 80 books to date. I had no idea, as Larry was in the process of writing his first book when I had lessons with him. So when it came time to brush up on some basic blues licks for a band I'm in I ended up obtaining some of Larry's books.

This book of blues turnarounds is where I started. What a great book - full of excellent turnaround licks. At this point I've only played through about half of them note for note, but have used those as a basis for coming up with my own licks. And to me, that is the mark of a great book - lots of useful information if read note-for-note, but can also be used as a springboard for creating new ideas.

The licks I've learned from the book thus far are all in the key of C, but can be easily used in other keys if one has a basic knowledge of the notes on the fretboard. I'd highly recommend this book for a beginner wanting to learn stock blues licks, or intermediate players who need to expand their blues vocabulary.

An Excellent Choice for the Early Intermediate Blues Guitarist

A turnaround is a lick played at the end of a section of music. A blues turnaround would be played in measures 11-12 of a 12-bar blues, or measures 7-8 of an eight-bar blues.

Electric urban blues turnarounds are fairly easy to play, and the difference from one to another is subtle. Having the ability to play a variety of turnarounds is an important skill in blues guitar playing. This is the best book I know of that addresses exclusively the subject of electric blues guitar turnarounds.

This a book for a VERY ambitious beginner, or an early intermediate guitarist who has an interest in Chicago blues in the classic style of Muddy Waters, Howlin' Wolf, Jimmy Reed, etc.

The licks are all arranged in the key of C. This is for ease of analysis and comparison. The user is encouraged to transpose the licks to other keys - a worthwhile project for exploring and learning the fingerboard. Very, very good practice for learning the art of blues phrasing.

Great book from one of our leading authors. My students (and myself) have consistently benefited from the interesting instruction contained here.

My students and I work from several of Larry McCabe's guitar books and find that the books produce consistently high results.

This book, like the others, is exceptionally well crafted, specific in intent, and the guitar lines are accurately written exactly as they are heard on the CD. Larry McCabe books are the work of a dedicated teacher who has achieved a high level of respect nationally in the field of music education.

Larry asked me to write a review for this book, and I am happy to do so. The object of this book is to teach the art of playing blues guitar turnarounds to a guitarist who has some prior experience but is just beginning to explore electric blues.

If a student knows how to bend the strings and perhaps play slurs, slides, and hammers, blues turnarounds are not difficult to play. What is important is to play them authentically and with conviction. This book does a very good job in advancing those objectives.

A component of this book that is quite effective is that every phrase is written in the Key of C. The student should then transpose each lick to other keys, a desirable skill that encourages individual incentive and ability to solve arranging problems.

The turnarounds sound exactly like the ones played on classic blues recordings by the great artists from Chicago and other urban areas.

I know other teachers who swear by Larry's books, and I am one of them. Great book- effective in its aims, ambitious content, fun to work through, and a great value.

I don't really have the kinds of friends that know a lot about what's out there. If I tell one of them that I think I want to by a new fridge or sofa, or that I wish I could find a good pair of jeans, they tend to stare back blankly. They certainly don't have any good advice or suggestions. So I use this book like a directory of quality. I don't have a lot of money to waste on things trying to find what I want. I only want to buy something once and be happy with the result. That's why this book is perfect for me. It has suggestions on just about everything as well as what to look for and where to get it. I've used the book to buy about a dozen things and all of them have been exactly what I was looking for.

And a lot more interesting tidbits that make this book not only fun to read but also a learning experience. After reading about it, makes perfect sense why civet coffee should cost so much. And the colorful pictures are a great complement to the descriptions. Okay, so no-one absolutely needs the best expresso maker before they go to the great Starbucks in the sky, but a pair of comfy cashmere socks would be nice or the same after shave lotion that Prince Charles favors. A great gift either for that significant shopper in your life or yourself.

Ok Guys, just look at the front cover: a purse, a lipstick, high heeled shoe, diamond encrusted wrist watch and a big multi colored fabric thing.

Absolutely nothing there that you'd possibly want.

So what are you going to get her for Christmas, birthday, anniversary?

Here's a bunch of things that I guarantee you would never have thought of yourself. Well, there's the Aston Martin on page 156 - there are some Aston Martins listed on E-Bay for less than $100,000. And the Vespa motor scooter doesn't seem like such a bad idea at all in these days of $3 a gallon gasoline.

One problem is that this book is written in England. The authors are a couple of stylish British ladies. But that's OK. The high end products like these are pretty well distributed anywhere in the world. And for most of us, just knowing the brand names on things like cosmetics makes shopping a lot easier. And anyway, this is (for men) just an idea book, you can probably find something similar locally -- maybe even at Target or WalMart.

If you've already devoured and digested 'Wreckers of Civilization', 'The Industrial Culture Handbook' and 'England's Hidden Reverse', you will find this valuable reading nonetheless. Dr. Drew Daniel dissects the album in minute detail with the aid of the band member interviews and his considerable analytical acumen. Far from 'taking the wind out of it', his work amplifies ones' appreciation of TG's accomplishments. I've been unable to stay away from it since it arrived.

Pop is, by its very nature, glossy and superficial, glancing off complexity and thorny ambivalences with blithe assurance.

With 20 Jazz Funk Greats, Throbbing Gristle attempt --in their own profoundly warped way-- to make peace with pop music's influence upon them; at the same time, the album plays out with such profound ambivalence --running hot and cold all at once, constantly vacillating between attraction and repulsion and back again-- that its exploration of "pop" becomes heavily weighted --its like a mille-feuille of ironic distance. Upon its release in 1979, TG's third full-length album was received with head-scratching condescension for the most part. Daniel's artfully written little volume makes the case for this strange, unlikable album and its often unpalatable charms.

Alluring and repellent in equal measure, the group's masterwork remains indelible for the ways in which it reworks the last vestiges of 60s optimism (as evinced in psychedelia and prog) with the darker, more ambivalent strains of punk and post-punk. In this way the band doesn't simply straddle genres but whole philosophical, moral and sexual divides. This is what makes their music so enduringly strange and repugnant --yet fascinating.

I fell into this book like Alice down an unfathomably dark rabbit-hole. It reads like a riveting detective novel, so concisely has Daniel (AKA one half of Matmos) woven personal history (both TG's and his own), (un)reliable narration (thanks to the members of TG themselves, contradictory bastards the lot of them), close dissection (a forensic/anatomic tack being particularly appropriate with TG) and overarching pop-cultural critique.

I haven't read Steven Ford's Wreckers of Civilisation, but this tiny volume on only one album in the massive TG oeuvre situates the group so powerfully in the appropriate historical, personal, and musical contexts that I never wanted the book to end. It's a vivid, revealing, and very personal work that is beautifully written from start to finish, and my favorite of the 33 1/3s so far.

I have to admit some bias -- I grew up with the author and I am quite familiar with some of the places described in the book's lengthy and personal introduction. It's not often that one sees the themes and places of one's youth detailed and dissected for an audience that is not the people who shared those experiences to begin with. That said, Dr. Daniel does an excellent job dissecting the classic and maligned TG album. Each track gets its own chapter, of course, and the chapters are filled with recent interviews with various members of TG about the songs and their processes of creation. Daniel relies on his own encyclopedic knowledge of music, history, and art -- not to mention an uncanny ability to write clearly and specifically about music for a non-professional audience -- to fully paint the picture of this Throbbing Gristle album.

I have been drumming for a few years now and consider myself a desent drummer. My major problem was that I had no discipline, I would play just improvised and not really keep count of measures or anything. I would play and whenever I felt I would throw in a drum fill. Some drum fills would go a little over. With this book It made me really sit down and play with structure. The concept of the book is simple,but it is NOT drum solos. Drum solos is like most believe is just showing off speed and technique. While this book is just measures of drum beats followed by drum fills. It is more or less like for songs. It would have an intro then the beat then the fill then beat and so on. What I really love about the book is that it gradually gets harder. So you just start with one and work your way up to 66. Trust me you cant go wrong with this book.

It's my first review on a book and I decided to post it as an obligation to the writer, for the excellent work he has done.
(I play drums for about 8 months with previous long experience on keyboard (self taught) so I write the review from this point of view).

Each one of the 66 solos in this book is 12 bars long, for a duration of about 30 seconds, 1 solo per page. The solos begin from solo 1 very easy, but soon they become of medium difficulty and some are of high difficulty, especially if played at the same speed as on the included cd.

The solos are just awesome, even the simple ones. The score on each page is in a very readable form, even from 3 feet away (I have placed it just in front of the drums in a music stand and I read it while I practice).

The included cd demonstrates each solo in a very clear awesome sound. I use the cd to choose my next favorite solo to practice and then I use the score on the book to learn the solo.

It's true, the solos are "excellent exercises" for technique, independence and for improvement of your improvisational skills. Also, every new solo I learn from the score It improves my reading ability and after the 4th or 5th solo, reading the next one becomes piece of cake!

It includes: 8 Pop Rock solos, 6 warm-up solos, 6 Funk Rock (16nth note based), 6 Funk Rock (8th note based), 2 6/8 solos, 2 7/8 solos, 6 Rock Fusion, 4 Rock Fusion (accented upbeats), 2 Rock Fusion (quarter note based), 4 Hard Rock, 5 Jazz, 3 Shuffle and 12 Jazz fusion.

In short, this is the book that will make you a better drummer FAST, and you can also use it when you want to practice without getting bored!

I love this book! It is great for practicing any thing you want in easy to read format. The solos are also fun to play and change every page.