Rock Books

Really cool book that includes artist biographies, favorite acoustic guitars, method explanations, and more. The mini lessons that are tabbed out and are on the CD are a great learning technique...they give the reader a window into the minds of these great artists.

This book is designed to be a primer on getting the guitar sound of several famous players in the world of acoustic rock. It features a chapter on each of the players it designates, most of which are fairly obvious choices, though the inclusion of R.E.M.'s Peter Buck was a pleasant surprise and the primary reason for my purchasing it.

Each chapter includes four main features. First, there is a personal biography with information about the player's life and a rock profile that chronicles the player's journey to fame. Second, there is a section on the player's style, explaining how it is that each gets his particular sound. Third, there is something akin to a box score in the "quick look" box that runs down the player's gear, strings, finger/plectrum style, string action height, and so on. Finally, each chapter ends with a "play like them" section (normally about one page) of sound-alike riffs. The book also includes a useful preface about the how to acquire these sounds by using mic-ing techniques specific to acoustic guitar.

Most of the information made available in the book is of the sort that only people who play already would enjoy; it is by no means written for new learners. While some of the information is interesting (like the mic-placement preface), it is probably too thin to be of any use to people who want to learn how to mic guitars. You'd be better off buying a book that is about just microphones. Also, the sound-alike riffs, while interesting, by no means will teach you how to play just like these guys. You will get a taste of what makes James Taylor himself, but you will certainly not be copping any of his dates any time soon.

That isn't to say the book is a wash. I would add that what makes this book worthy of five stars is that there is a very narrow segment of guitar players of a certain skill level that will think this book is great, as I did. These are the players who have gotten out of the basic guitar books and want to explore music that they like. For example, the sound-alike riffs are good, short practices on playing new music because they are not direct copies of known songs; on the other hand, an advanced player would simply be able to buy a book of a particular players songs and dissect them him/herself. The microphone section is just enough of an intro into getting your guitar on tape that it should satisfy the advanced beginner's curiosity to see if they want to get more detailed books on home recording. And finally, the biographical information (by far the largest chunk of the book taken altogether) is the kind of fun-fact stuff to keep a new player interested and supply hints for trying new things. And, the inclusion of players people might not immediately categorize as "acoustic" (like Pete Townshend, just for one) makes for a book with lots of room to explore. Not to mention the action pose photos.

As I said, I just happened to be that player who would benefit from this approach and was extremely satisfied with the book. And what is more, there are a number of other books in the "Masters" series. Piquing your interest in the style of music you or a newer player you know might want to investigate is just a matter of finding the right one.

If you're a practicing guitarist, this book will really help your chops--it's been terrific for my acoustic playing.

Lots of good info, easy-to-understand music examples and a great CD. Highly recommended.

"Air War Against Hitler's Germany" by Stephen W. Sears.
Simon & Schuster, New York, 1964 & 2004.

The famous author, Stephen W. Sears ("Landscape Turned Red", 2003), has produced a concise history of the air war against Nazi Germany. The author's emphasis is on the USAAF Eighth Air Force, which flew out of England against the Nazi Occupied continent. The very first chapter, "Mission Number 52", recounts the first real mission that the Eighth Air force had against Nazi Germany: the bombing of the Focke Wulf aircraft factory in Bremen, April 17 1943. From then on, the author retraces the history of air war, how the RAF took over the night while the USAAF took on daylight "precision" bombing. The book builds up to the build-up of thousand aircraft raids, the fire storms in cities such as Hamburg and the need for fighter escort for the daylight American attacks.

The author likes (in my humble opinion) the B17 Flying Fortress more than the less "pretty" B24 Liberator, and he provides much detail about the development and general workings of the B17, how the aircraft is started and taken off from an airfield, the B17 ability to fight off fighters, and the ability of the B17 aircraft to carry bomb load. Having said this, I point out one of the most interesting chapters is Chapter 4, (page 45), entitled "Target: Ploesti". The raid on Ploesti was flown by B24 Liberators (for a single book that addresses the Ploesti raid, see, "Into The Fire: Ploesti" by Duane Schultz).

The importance of fighter escort for the bombers is presented in Chapter 6, "Little Friends"; this chapter is a concise summary of the impact of P51 Mustang and its ability to prevent the German Luftwaffe from interfering with the American Air Force's bombing of Nazi Germany. In fact, this small book (only 124 pages) is a concise summary of the air war in Europe, the pros and cons of the bomber war and the highlights of the actual events. The paper back that I borrowed from the library was profusely illustrated with black & white photos of the B17 in action, the insides of the bomber itself and action-torn aircraft.

Very good for young adults to learn about the WW2 bombing campaigns against germany.

My favorite television show as a kid was "Twelve O'Clock High," and for me there has never been an airplane as important as the B-17. I know I bought models of the "Memphis Belle" several times and it was not until about ten years ago that I finally got to not only see but climb inside an actual Flying Fortress, only to be amazed at how small these bombers actually were. That becomes an important fact when reading "Mission Number 52," the opening chapter of Stephen W. Sears' book on "Air War Against Hitler's Germany" for the American Heritage Junior Library. The story of the 52nd mission flown by the U.S. Eighth Air Force was a raid on the Focke-Wulf aircraft factory at Bremen in northwestern Germany. Sears details the entire mission, from the pre-dawn briefing, to the bomb run over Bremen, to the finally tally of how many American bombers did not return from Mission 52.

Sears presents Mission 52 as providing his readers with both the promise and the problems of the American air offensive against Hitler's Nazi Germany and the controversial policy of daylight precision bombing; after all, the Luftwaffe's attempt to use daylight bombing during the Battle of Britain had not succeeded. After a thorough explanation of the debate over the theory, Sears provides a look at what the Germans were doing to defend the Third Reich. Other chapters are devoted to the famous raid on the oil refineries at Ploesti, the "Autumn Crisis" of the American daylight bombing offensive, and the P-51 Mustangs and other American fighters that served as "Little Friends" to the bombers. The final chapter details the victory that was won in the air, despite German advances in creating the first jet aircraft, and covers the fire-bombing of Dresden, which becomes the European theater equivalent of the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, with three RAF and American raids doing what it took one atomic bomb to do to a city in Japan.

The editors of this book take a dual perspective, that the air war over Europe proved to be more that Billy Mitchell and other advocates of air power had ever conceived, and that from a contemporary perspective these lumbering propeller-driven bombers carrying payloads of "conventional" bombs are considered obsolete. However, in this interesting volume Sears shows exactly what they accomplished to win the war in Europe. This book is not only illustrated with historic photographs taken during World War II, including combat photographs, but also by paintings and sketches done by American, British, and German artists. "Air War Against Hitler's Germany" is not a comprehensive look at what the 8th Air Force accomplished, but it certainly covers the main points with enough depth and insight to make reading it well worth the effort for young students interested in the subject. For older readers it is a reminder what the "Memphis Bell," which I finally got to see on display at Mud Island, and thousands of other Flying Fortresses and Liberators accomplished during World War II.

Me gustaría saber dónde puedo conseguir libros del autor, tales como "The Flights of Icarus" o "Views". Gracias, y espero que se reimpriman pronto. Un saludo

This valuable art and reference work contains a lengthy introduction by Dominy Hamilton exploring the history of vinyl record covers up to 1977 plus an appendix on how the job is done, from the design phase to the printing. It also includes short biographies on Storm Thorgerson, James Slattery, Roger Dean, Diana Korchien, Dominy Hamilton and Dave Howells.

The full colour reproductions of the record sleeves are divided into the following sections: 1. Jazz, 2. Psychedelia, 3. Recent Years (1967 - 1977), 4. Influence and Coincidence, 5. Miscellany - a section that includes examples of various packaging strategies, 6. Portfolios, which features the work of eight sleeve designers in the form of small individual portfolios and include Rick Griffin, John Kosh, John van Hamersveld, Pacific Eye and Ear, Rod Dyer, Hipgnosis, Roger Dean and John Pasche, and 7. Devices and Disguises, that deals with ingeneous alternatives from 1970 onwards and includes sleeves with extra flaps, covers imitating old singles, concert tickets, sleeves in the form of newspapers and covers with movable parts.

The index at the front of the book lists all the sleeve art inside, from Abba and Alice Cooper through Kansas and Three Dog Night to Neil Young, Frank Zappa and Zzebra. Some sleeves have a whole page for themselves, like Zappa's humorous Weasels Ripped My Flesh and Boz Scagg's Silk Degrees. My favorites, to list just a few, include Cheap Thrills by Big Brother And The Holding Company, Abraxas by Santana, Bowie's Pinups, Bowie's Aladdin Sane, Patti Smith's Horses, Lou Reed's Rock 'n Roll Animal, Captain Beefheart's Trout Mask Replica and Joni Mitchell's Blue.

This Album Cover Album is a fascinating look at art in music up to 1977, and also a valuable research and history guide.

This book is a must. If you only like music or if you love the covers more than the music inside or if you are learning to design covers...Well, this book has it all. The covers are show by elements in commom, so you can judge by yourself about the criativity of the designers. Roger Deam is a famous artist well know by his covers and stages for the rock group Yes. But this does not interfere with the overall result. The guys did a fantastic job compiling all the covers in this book. There are rock covers, jazz covers, latim, dance, disco, and so on. All possible covers are there. Don't hesitate. Buy it now!

Alex Sab

in the deep of british blues with the complete and accurate work made in this book!
Great and rare photos within' an very good analysis of musicians and his music with date concerts over the years make of this book an must for fans and collectors.

There are fans, and there are FANS. And after paying several thousand dollars at a London auction house, a couple of years back, for the Gibson 345 guitar used by Alvin Lee at the 1970 Isle of Wight festival, Massachusetts-based long-time Ten Years After fan, Herb Staehr, has most definitely earned his place in that latter category. But he didn't stop there. For during the last few years Staehr has been meticulously marshalling his extensive collection of TYA and Alvin Lee memorabilia into the production of this mightily impressive book - to the best of my knowledge, the first one ever written about either this seminal British band or its brilliant guitarist frontman. It is - as its title implies - primarily a photographic history of the development of TYA, from its early sixties roots as a three-piece teenage band known as The Jaybirds, to its evolution into the four-piece stadium supergroup of thirty years ago. And what astonishing photographs there are. Staehr has not only unearthed literally scores of rare and previously unseen photos of the band in its glory years, but also fascinating images of the aforementioned pre-TYA Jaybirds. Following the break-up of the band in the mid-seventies, he has produced here a comprehensive catalogue of pictures detailing the development of Alvin Lee's solo career right up to the present day. Photos of the various TYA comebacks and reformations are also included, as well as images relating to the solo careers of other band members. So, if its photos you want, there will never be a better place to come, or a better book to buy. They include not only the examples listed above, but concert posters, album sleeves, ticket stubs, magazine covers - you name it, it's here. But Staehr has also provided a wealth of literary information too. There is a band biography, an impressively researched and massively detailed "concert chronology", album and gig reviews, extracts from interviews with band members and associates, all concluding with a comprehensive discography, a listing of T.V., film and video appearances, and finally an extensive biography. It goes without saying that this superb book is a "must buy" for all fans of Ten Years After and Alvin Lee. Yet its appeal should go wider than that. Anyone who was a fan of late sixties and early seventies blues-rock, or who counts themselves a member of the "Woodstock generation", or who just likes a darn good rock and roll read, will find themselves glad they purchased this book. No band rocked the blues like Ten Years After. No-one has recorded and written about that fact as well as Herb Staehr has done here.

I've been a TYA fan for 25 years. I own every album TYA and Alvin Lee has produced including seeing them when possible. All these years, it's been a search for more info on the band. Herb Staehr did an incredible job documenting the band and writing this book. It is certainly a must. The info you can pick up is priceless and really gets you "behind the scenes". You'll appreciate how hard the band worked, touring constantly and still produced some of the greatest rockin blues ever. Thank you Herb. Many links have spawned from the excellent book which have led to many live show recordings and web sites out there.

This is one of the best visual compilations of American Jukeboxes for the collector and devotee. Recalls pre-radio and TV days when people met in person not electronically.

Every coffee table hould have one. Every house should have an original box for the family to dance around.

This color glossy photographic celebration of "the Classic Years" of American Jukes is drop dead gorgeous. It is a "must-have" for the jukebox collector.

For essential descriptions, histories, and values of various makes and models, this jb afficianada recommends Michael Baulte et. al's *the Always Jukin Official Guide to Collectible Jukeboxes* with its periodic updates.

Buy `em both for an excellent composite resource of these Grand Old Music Machines. /TundraVision

This is an excellent reference photo book for anyone interested in classic jukeboxes. The photos are outstanding and there is a reference section at the back that gives a brief description of the jukeboxes and related equipment.

Exccellent book, oth for lawyer and economists,

Katra

A first time global review of corporate law explaining everything. I loved it

I do agree with the former reviewer. This is a great book if you do want a comparative perspective of corporate law. It is concentrating on how different legal systems have solved the same problems with minority shareholders, agnecy costs etc. with examples from Japan to US to Europe. We are using it as required reading on two different law school courses.

Mike is an artist, photographer and art director.

He can see great talent and know's how to put it to work. He has launched many careers in the process and has kept several great artists alive, by throwing them work, over the years.

Mike has worked with "The Best" in his 50 years of experiencs and has helped shape the present culture by utilizing his, and other's, talents.

This is a great collection of his work, presented with tongue in cheek humor. Totally entertaining and enlightening. Lots of smirks and laughs too. And... some cheesecake as well!

Mike Salisbury has long been one of my heroes, both for his innovative design work and strong knowledge of marketing. This book provides great insight into how Mike approaches a project and why he brings so much more than design talent. And the vivid examples from his extensive portfolio are inspirational, to say the least.

lotsa big bright pictures! An autobiographical account of this mike salisbury guy, a celebrity art director/graphic design type who came up with some of the most unforgetable commercial graphics and campaigns of the last 30 years (Joe Camel, Rolling Stone magazine, Jurassic Park, and even Micheal Jackson!). The guy's kinda pompous, but I guess that's the gig in the promotion and marketing game. Worth reading!

This is a remarkable little book, about something simple, yet as important as anything we do - enjoying the moment. And reading this was a pleasure, as the writer took me on a simple journey, and isn't a thing like rock-skipping fascinating? Well done!

This book is a little gem. It made me smile and relax just to read it! What a wonderful book for all your friends who need to get back in touch with how amazing the simple pleasures are in life. Great to help with new year's resolutions! I couldn't recommend it more.

This is a very nice gift to give to just about anyone male, female, young & old. Most people grow up trying their hand at skipping and the book brings back those memories. I was surprised at the back of the book gift. I think the inclusion of the rock is a great idea.

My daughter (9) loves these books. Unfortunately, they are too easy and fast for her to read now. She started reading them when she was 7 and they were perfect. However, she still loves them and I buy each book for her as they come out.

There is no smarter or cannier look at school life than Jennifer L. Holm and Matthew Holm's Babymouse series. The traumas that plague Babymouse and her classmates are universal. Gym uniforms ARE ugly, lockers DO attack, school meat loaf SHOULD be regarded with suspicion and riding the school bus is ONLY for the very VERY brave.

In Babymouse: Rock Star, music is a solace and joy for our heroine but even there, chair tests create yet another pecking order, this time in Band. Hoping to work her way up from last chair for the school concert, Babymouse resolves that she will practice hard for the tryout. Alas, the results of her efforts are, "Screeech!" With the help of a friend, she learns that real music is something you feel in your heart. Band parents will completely identify with this story.

Babymouse's wonderful imagination (she is a reader) carries her daily struggles into the world of the Wizard of Oz and the Pied Piper of Hamelin and her musical dreams into the realm of American Idol-ness.

These graphic novels are rich in humor for young readers but junior highschoolers will also identify. If you have not added this series to your library collection yet then do so asap!

Brava!

Babymouse is back in "Babymouse: Rock Star," the fourth volume of the Babymouse series.

This time, school and music are getting her down. Oh, and her number-one enemy Felicia Furrypaws.

How does Babymouse cope? She daydreams, of course. First, she's a rock star. Then, on a boring Wednesday, a tornado whisks her out of school. But, daydreams won't save her from her biggest problem: she wants to play the flute better. She wants to move from last chair in the school band.

Felicia Furrypaws is second-to-last chair and torments Babymouse. Fortunately, Babymouse finds help from a fellow Furrypaws victim and succeeds in the end with a little practice, instruction, and targeted daydreaming.

Jennifer L. Holm and Matthew Holm triumph again with this latest installment in the tales of your average school-aged mouse. Babymouse's daydreams are fun and action-filled, but the beauty of the books is in the everyday. Everyone has angst about their position in the band, everyone fears a school bully, and everyone hates the bus.

The bus is the star of my favorite sequence in "Babymouse: Rock Star." The bus screeches up, the driver says, "Let's get moving! What do you think I am anyway? Your own personal chauffeur?" Then Babymouse comments that the bus "was like an obstacle course." The obstacles? "Doesn't open. Talks too much. Gets bus-sick. Soda spill. Bumpy. Rickety. Kind of scary. Gum. Picks nose. Yells." True, true, true.

"Babymouse: Rock Star" is highly recommended for school-aged children five and up. And, even though "Babymouse" is written at approximately a third-grade level, I've found young middle schoolers love Babymouse as well.

This is a very well translated and annotated edition of this great work.

Reviewed by Paige Lovitt for Reader Views (9/06)

Matsuo Basho (1644-94) was a famous Japanese haiku poet. In 1689, he took a 1,233 mile journey across Japan. His travels lasted five months. He was joined by his friend Kawai Sora. Basho wrote about this trip. He titled it, "Oku No Hosomichi," which translates to "Narrow Road to the Interior." This story is considered to be a masterpiece of Japanese literature. He took four years to write it and revise it.

Basho started this trip when his house burned down. He had two goals. One goal was spiritual; it involved "poetic truth." The other goal was a practical one in which he would use his travels to become well known as a poet. Sora developed stomach problems and had to end his travels with Basho. Basho wrote a short piece for him. In the second part of this book, there is a translation of "A Farewell Gift to Sora."

Basho funded his travels with donations from wealthy friends and students. He felt that there were three types of poets. The first type is confused noisemakers. The second type is wealthy people who desire to write instead of gossip. The third type is poets who work hard at writing true poetry. These poets write to "soothe their heart." Basho was the third type of poet.

Hiroaki Sato includes annotations to go along with the writings. This adds richness to the story and helps explain more about the culture and what was happening at the time. I read the story first with the annotations to gain understanding of what I was reading; then I went back and reread the story by itself so that I could feel how it flowed. Without the annotations, I would have enjoyed Basho's story, but I would not have understood much of what was written. Sato also includes pages of notes and commentaries. This is a well researched piece. "Basho's Narrow Road" is a beautiful story about Basho's travels. In it he reflects on the beauty of the countryside and the spirit of the people that he encounters.

I recommend "Basho's Narrow Road" to people that enjoy Japanese poetry, especially Haiku. It would also be a great book to use for a college literature class. I really enjoyed Basho's journey.

This was the first time that I have read Basho's Narrow Road to Oku, snd I enjoyed it a great deal. Actually I read it twice this week. The first time I read through it I tried to read it without using the notes. I was lazy, so it came out that I really didn't enjoy what I was reading because I really didn't know what was going on throughout most of the book, so I read it again using the notes, and I got much more out of it. The annotations are on the left page while the actual text is on the right page, so there is no flipping to the back of the book every time that you need to look up something. There are endnotes that give more information about the haiku Basho writes. This is a very cool book, that gives the reader a glimpse at the literary world of japan back during the 17th century.