Music Books

When reading this book lovers of music will appreciate the passion that Bjorn and his fellow air guitarists have for all things music. Lovers of peace will respect the greater message that air guitar promotes - that if every person in the world were to hold an air guitar then they would not be able to carry a gun. Bjorn Turoque's air guitar journey which started innocently enough but then quickly escalated to odd proportions is both riveting and hilarious.

Bjorn Turoque and "To Air is Human" have done with air guitar what Al Gore and "An inconvenient Truth" have done with climate change.

This book is quite difficult to put down, as it drills you to your seat: leaving you to wonder why you're not the one rocking on an invisible instrument.

I thought I had no interest in Air Guitar. I just didn't get it. (I'm
referring to the rise of public air guitar competitions, not unselfconscious, instinctive standing-on-the-bed performances). I couldn't believe it wasn't an ironic, nostalgia-addict-generation trend that would flare up, then die out. I thought it sprang from the same impulse that drives people to watch endless episodes of their seventies childhood tv shows.

After Crane's hilarious page turner I am schooled. I won't say what the impulses are that leads one, or at least the subject of this book, to perform in front of an audience with nothing but their bare hands, because that would spoil the author's eventual revelations, and the adventure of coming to those revelations with him is part of the fun of this read. And it is a pretty much non-stop fun read.

But not entirely airy; like any good book it taps into the human condition, as the title promises.

Crane had me hooked from the first competition; I read the book practically in one sitting. He's got perfect comic timing, an addictive voice, and an immensely likable persona --even if you're not drawn to any iteration of [...], narcissistic rock n' roll endeavors, air or otherwise, you'll find it hard not to identify with Crane's struggle to find some place in life that isn't freighted with self-seriousness, corporate-banality, or deadening adult legitimacy. It's a little bit like Bridget Jones in that it makes you feel better about your own [...] dissapointments.

Fellow female [is that an oxymoron? ed.] readers: there's a great scene at a strip club that lifts the veil over what really goes on in there (and in the male brains) that will have you horrified but hanging on every word. Scandalous! Even, maybe, sad.

Another added bonus: for anyone who's been feeling kindof out of it (suddenly finding oneself with children, or locked at work, or locked into a disturbingly lasting depressive stupor) To Air also serves as a crash course in what the kids are up to these days. With quick, deft, lol sketches, Crane captures a demographic ethos in an inclusive way that leaves you feeling cheerfully in the know.

My only complaint: I wish he'd given more than just tiny peeks into his failing relationship. The book returns repeatedly with little butterfly-wing brushes to interpersonal juicyness issues -- is Bjorn stealing away from commitment and Air Guitar is just the getaway car, or there another reason the romance ends? -- but never fully explains what happens.

But maybe this was enough generous self-exposure for one book. If so, I look forward to the next.

Bjorn Turoque has given his audience a Roque solid, chAIRsmatic, and hilarious tale of his determination and perseverance to not only become the "World's Greatest Air Guitarist", but to also emulate the true spirit and message of Air Guitar - World Peace.

I'm eager to see Air Guitar and it's competitive circuit sweep the nation and hope that America will embrace it as the Finns have!

I was in a hurry to pick up some books for a transatlantic flight and I picked this book up, without much expectations. After all, how good could a book be about one man's quest to become the world champion in "air guitar" play? Then I started turning the pages...

In "To Air Is Human: One Man's Quest To Become The World's Greatest Air Guitarist" (304 pages), author Dan Crane brings the improbable tale of how he decided on a whim to enter the 2003 NY regionals and subsequently the world championships, and what happened next. The book is "co-authored" by Crane's alter-ego, the air guitarist Bjorn Turoque (get it?). With tongue firmly planted in cheek, Crane tells of his encounters with (semi)celebraties like Carson Daly and others along his way to try and become the world champ. Most of the tales are quite funny, which is what kept me turning the pages. Some of his observations are so off-kilter (such as "Air guitar, I had learned, is about commitment. It's not unlike love, really") that I just couldn't stop smiling as I was reading. Many of the better moments in the book are about the many side-characters that pop up.

In the end, this book was much better than I expected it. Of course, I had low expectations to begin with. But this book is funny and irreverent from begin to end. If you are in the mood for that, this book is for you.

the most detailed read on so many artists&there impact on the charts.it covers Artists from A-Z&everything else in between.a very fun kind of read for folks like myself that just love Music.and also great to understand the changes with Charting&also how songs got as far they did&whatnot.a Great Read.

In recent years, the RIAA and its member record companies have bemoaned the decline of music sales, blaming digital music piracy and other hobgoblins. One look through this informative tome will tell you the real problem - the industry has destroyed its entree for the fans to new and talented artists - the hit single!! At $$$ a pop, not too many buyers are willing to try new or unfamiliar music, but at $-$, if an artist or group has several "hit" singles (established by radio air play), the subsequent investment in an album seems less risky. The music industry, in it's zeal to maximize profit by selling full length CDs instead of priming the demand pump with singles, has contributed to its own decline. If you peruse the shear breadth of music styles listed in Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Singles that have been able to make the "Top 100" over the years, you realize just how rich and exciting music WAS in the 50s through the early 80s. As the corporate entities who owned the stations became fewer and fewer due to mergers, the current blight of narrowcast programming blossomed. It worked - for a while. But a steady (and excessive) diet of your favorite food will ultimately become boring. This book is not just a dry list of song titles, artists and dates. It's our lives writ large in song - teenage crushes, first dates (and dances!), first automobile, leaving home, possibly time in military service, marriage, kids - all of these events punctuated with the musical nuggets listed in this volume. Here's hoping that a bright future continues to exist for the indelible impact of the "hit single".

This is a great collection for the music lover and for anyone who wants to get to know their favorite artist. This book features all of the songs from 1955 that hit the top 100. So if a song hit 92 you will find it in this book. the only problem I have with this is the price I think 50-70 dollars is high but it is worth it. I recommend this item to the music lover inside everyone.

You don't need to buy TOP POP SINGLES 1955-1999, because Joel Whitburn's own site (record research) will sell you the most up to date volume TOP POP SINGLES 1955-2002. I still have my TOP POP SINGLES 1955-1993. Essentially, it's the same book but updated by the year, by the inclustion of "B" sides, and Top Air Plays, making the new the edition the better buy. Why can't Amazon sell us the current most up to date record of this valuable resource? Any collector of popular music from 1955 to 2002, will find the TOP POP SINGLES 1955-2002, the best value. No school music library should be without this book as an addition to the curriculum. All songs the made the top hundred along with information on the artist is great as a resource book, a coffee table book or just for looking up your favourite song.

Joel Whitburn's book covers the pop charts from the Hit Parade era on up to the end of the century. This book is not just for collectors, but rather, it will satisfy anyone who loves music and has a desire to know more about the dynamics of the Billboard pop charts. Besides the easy, alphabetical listings by artist, the book includes features such as:

* debut date for each song
* a chronological listing, by peak date, of every song
* the peak position and weeks on chart for each song
* a listing, in the back of the book, of all song titles (listed alphabetically) in the artist selection
* assorted chart "facts and feats"

In addition, the book's typeface and bolding features makes it easy to read, without straining for particular entries. In total, this book is the most comprehensive source of info available for the music of this era. No one but Whitburn does anything close to this in terms of music factology. It's well worth the money, and if you intend on flipping through it over and over, the few extra bucks for the longer-lasting hardcover will be worth the expenditure.

I got this knowing nothing about slide guitar and wanting to learn from the very basics on up. There are tons of examples and the included CD is great (a must). However, the book jumps right into playing without a better explanation of how to play. For example, one of the first topics is on dampening - very important. But a more detailed description of dampening is required because this is very tricky for the beginner. I found out on the internet that a plucked string needs to be dampened behind the note - dampening is not just for the notes around it. Not explained in the book. And dampening is done with both hands - but how?

I really would have liked some technique passages to work on before getting into actual licks and phrases and a description of how to get the best tone and what guitars offer what qualities (acoustic, resonator, electric, etc.) would have been appreciated. Just rented Warren's DVD from Netflix so hoping that will shed some light before I continue with the book.

This is one of the best book/cds on guitar that I own, and I have a couple. Warren teaches slide guitar in standard tuning which is great. Everyone else wants to do it in some open tuning.He starts by teaching some basics like muting and simple lick examples. The cd is high quality and the backing tracks are performed bv govm't mule rhythm on one channel lead (warren) on the other. The licks get more interesting and then lead to a 24 measure example. There are several of these examples a couple are 60 measures.He teaches playing over chord changes utilizing triads and dyads along with some scales. Then gets into advanced soloing and more involved chord changes. Some of this stuff is tricky but really fun, again the cd is really cool, there are even 5 backing tracks at the end. About 40 pages long and 50 examples this should have cost much more. great value great book\cd, a must for anyone who wants to play slide.

Warren Haynes is the best slide guitar player since Duane Allman. I've been playing for over 30 years because of Duane Allman and I love the stuff Warren puts out. You can definitely learn some cool licks from this book/CD combination. A good investment.

Learning slide guitar in standard tuning is a great way to add another dimension to your guitar playing with the benefit of not having to retune your guitar. That's not to knock open tunings, they are great too, but playing slide in standard tuning allows the player to use all of their knowledge of scales, chords etc when playing slide. A highly recommended book by a great guitar player and teacher.

This is NOT a beginner's book, but provides excellent samples and written examples of very useful slide guitar licks.

Note that this book teaches slide guitar in STANDARD tuning, not in various open tunings like other books. Practically speaking, this method can provide a non-slide guitar player with the ability to add some slide flair to a song withou having to swap guitars.

Lots of fun at a friend's birthday party! Really took us back to our high school days!

I was one of those 1980s teenagers who watched MTV when it used to play music videos 24 hours daily, and this book has a lot of the music artists who performed on MTV, including the song titles in the book. It even has a picture of Ronald Reagan, the Rubik's Cube, and other 1980s nostalgia that I remember so well. Oh yeah, it also made me remember seeing Courtney Cox on that Bruce Springsteen music video doing that swinging dance on his stage when I read about Bruce in this book...also that old Madonna look complete with the Boy Toy belt and wedding dress. :) If you want to remember the great music artists of the 1980s, their songs, and the memories, get this book!

"Who Can It Be Now?," named after the Men at Work song, is just over 200 pages of music and pop culture trivia taken from the '80s. Most of the book is devoted to just one-liners (not the entire song), with the lyric on one side of the page and the song title, band/artist, and bits of trivia on the opposite side. Some of the sections in the book feature one-hit wonders (like Kajagoogoo {"Too Shy"} and Toni Basil {"Mickey"}), actors-turned-singers (like Patrick Swayze {"She's Like the Wind" in 'Dirty Dancing'} and Rick Springfield), as well as bits of movie, TV, and celebrity trivia, but only if it pertains to a certain '80s song. There are also lots of black-and-white photos (pretty much on every page) of singers/performers/actors, like Debbie (Deborah now) Gibson, Michael and Janet Jackson, Mr. T, Weird Al, and the Brat Pack, just to name a few.

Despite some of the catty remarks and photo alterations (see Mary Lou Retton and Lionel Richie), this book will certainly make you laugh and reminisce if you're a child of the '80s. It's hard to digest all of the info in this book in one sitting (flipping back and forth between the lyrics and answers does lose its appeal after awhile), but halfway into it, you'll be dusting off your old CDs/cassettes/vinyls and playing them while reading this book. The only gripe I have is that there's no index or table of contents to find certain pages quicker; other than that, "Who Can It Be Now?" is a fun and nostalgic trip back to the '80s. Worth reading if you're an '80s fanatic like I am.

This book brought back memories of some great times. I love the many references to "Proctor" from the Police Academy movies. I forgot what bumbling idiots those Police Academy characters were!!!

If my review title makes you scratch your head and say to yourself, "hmmm, where do I know that from?", you should really buy this book. (It's from Styx.) Anyway, this book is a little tongue in cheek, obviously, but it does more than just make fun of Tommy Tutone, Bananarama, The Human League, songs like 867-5309 Jenny, etc. It has dozens of little quizzes, where you see the lines from songs on one page, and then when you flip to the next page you find out the names of the groups that sang them. Interspersed throughout the book are tons of little articles (blurbs, really) about various groups, which tell you, in all likelihood, more than any human would ever want to know about, say, Spandau Ballet. But it's still a good book. I recommend the living daylights out of this one, it's hilarious, especially at parties.

Amazing illustrations and charming storyline surrounding innovation. The music CD was an interesting idea! Great storytime book.

While this book is an excellent story-in-rhyme for older/experienced readers (the vocabulary is too difficult for the picture-book set, though the illustrations should please them), my favorite part was the CD, which is an eclectic mix of pop, new age, electronica, humor, and neo-classical that should have something to interest anyone.

W.Y.S.I.W.Y.G. (track nine) is my favorite track--it's a funny alien-love-song with a good beat that would be a great addition to a Halloween humor mix, and "Fade Away" brings back memories of the Moody Blues "Days of Future Passed" in its styling. "Ancient Melody #42", though a very short piece, is lovely and etherial. And "Alpha 10" should please anyone who enjoys the Chipmunks.

All in all, this is an interesting CD that not only adds to the book, but stands well on its own as a novelty album.

Enjoy!

Great - loved it as did my Art Club where I did a paper on Grame Base. Thanks to Mr. John Endries of Milwaukee WI from whom I purchased the book and CD. Thank you Mr. Endries, sorry my response is a year late.

Every age has its idiosyncratic vernacular. If I spoke of multi-tasking, for instance, you'll know what I mean. Allow me to introduce you to the Master Multi-tasker, Graeme Base: author, poet, artist, cartoonist, social commentator, musician and all-around madcap hyper-dimensional entity (his term). This, folks, is a mind you'll want to meld with: a veritable Dr. Seuss in hyperspace.

Billed on its eye-catching jacket as a "totally cosmic musical adventure," The Worst Band in the Universe is all that, and more. In a pithy sure-footed poetry, Base introduces us to Sprocc, a thirteen(standard)-year-old member of the Blippian Tribe who, along with his instrument of choice - the Splingtwanger - dares to defy the mandates of the Musical Inquisitor. Sprocc's crime is innovation, for which he is banished to Wastedump B19 after his band is named winner of the bogus Annual Worst Band in the Universe Contest advertising as first prize an all-expense-paid trip to Alpha 10.

On B19 Sprocc meets, among others, Skat, self-proclaimed overseer of the Wastedump and former recipient of the Worst Band in the Universe one-way-ticket to paradise lost. Skat rules since he alone can hold the indigenous flesh-devouring creepers, called Gulpers, at bay -- by hammering ear-splitting chords on his PowerAxe. But all is not lost. Fellow exile, ButtonPusher, a member of the Midimoog Tribe (proficient on all bU.Mff compatible keydevices and associated NrD electro-sonicware) holds a B.S. in SonicEngineering from the University of GalSec14. ButtonPusher turns out to be a bit of an innovator, himself, having drawn up schematics for a ship that sails on song.

Of this notion Base proclaims:

The task was huge, the concept vague, the physics somewhat moot,
But once the seed of hope was sown it gradually took root.
They labored with the flame of freedom burning in their hearts,
A hammer, seven drill bits and an endless source of parts.

And slowly from the rubble grew a glorious creation:
A flimsy pile of rusted junk - the means of their salvation.
You'll never make it fly," said Skat. "And even if you do,
The Gulpers will devour the lot - and take you with it, too!"

Sprocc, disappointed when Skat refuses to join in the scheme to escape, lifts off on F sharp and returns to Blipp in time to witness the Musical Inquistor declare all Tuneful Worlds bereft of moral principles and declare himself Ruler of the Universe. Sprocc interrupts with a slap of the musical gauntlet: A triple-octave mega-riff with whammy bar and feeling. Called on by the Eldest One to reply, The Musical Inquisitor reveals himself devoid of talent and unable to play a chord. Revealed a fraud, this Hard Rock answer to Darth Vader declares war, unleashing the unthinkable: a universally-broadcast numbing flood of drivel Base calls Random-Access-Digi-Drone.

The mindless monotonous noise fells the crowd and incapacitates Sprocc as he tries to respond to the assault with his Splingtwanger before being overcome and slumping against the speaker stacks. Who will save the day? Does Artoo appear secretly housing plans that can be used to destroy the Death Star? No! It is Skat, inspired by and following on the heels of Sprocc, arriving in another ship that sails on sound. But even the mighty PowerAxe proves no match and annihilation looms till:

Then all at once a chord rang out, a clear and ringing tone,
That soared above the blandness of the awful DigiDrone.
All ears turned to the Eldest One: her Splingtwanger had spoken.
The darkness seemed to clear away. The evil spell was broken.

"Arise!" she cried. "The hour has come. Together we must fight.
Let Ancient Song and Innovation finally unite!"
The crowd took up their instruments and rallied to the call -
The Lost Musicians, Blippians, united one and all.

Yes, estrogenic influence is the agent that extinguishes the testosterone-fed fire of war. My sentiments, exactly.

As a homeschooling mom with a poetry-loving nine-year-old learning to play electric guitar, The Worst Band in the Universe struck gold. And talk about building vocabulary. It comes as no surprise that Base is the father of three. His picture on the inside flap calls to mind a sort of down-under Dave Berry-Dana Carvey contemporary. Other works by Base include Animalia, The Eleventh Hour, The Sign of the Seahorse and The Discovery of Dragons.

Base, who refers to his books as "paper/ink/glue composite products for small Earthlings," rounds out this keeper with a music CD of his own - selections from The 18th Annual Worst Band in the Universe Competition, including titles like, Let's Go Back to the Big Bang, by the Omnivores; Planetfall, by The Mesh; and W.Y.S.I.W.Y.G. (What You See Is What You Get) with howl-along lyrics like:

Good to see you here my love, I've missed your bulging eyes
Come a little closer now, I've got you a surprise
It's nothing much - a simple gift to show my love for you
A box of slimy squirtlegreebs in sticky yellow goo

I strongly suspect if Spock would have melded with this mind, his icy Vulcan exterior would have cracked. I know mine did. Now I'm froozled in the head.

I'll admit, I expected a biography of the Dave Matthews Band but was pleasantly surprised--this is a clever book with some wacky characters (and an even wackier sci-fi premise) with weird names and a bizarre (albeit short) cd (evidence) included. Great fun for old and young alike. And no mention of that "band" from Charlottesville.

Well please, I got just what they said. The book is well written, easy to apply-thanks.

The book, "Twelve Essential Skills for Great Preaching" is an excellent book for student ministers, lay persons and even seasoned ministers. We can all learn some valuable tips and "essential skills" on how to improve our preaching and by so doing remove boredom from our congregations and encourage and motivate all audiences in strengthening their faith in the Gospel of jesus Christ. This book will assist us to enliven our messages and communicate far better with our community of believers.

With a desire to provide a "skills development approach" for training in the art and science of preaching, Dr. Wayne McDill pens a volume that aims to "identify and strengthen the specific skills needed for more effective sermon preparation" (ix). McDill serves as professor of preaching at the Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary in Wake Forest, North Carolina. He has over forty years of experience as a pastor, denominational leader,
and a teacher of homiletics and is the author of numerous books, including Evangelism in a Tangled World, Becoming Who You Are, Making Friends for Christ, and The Message.

McDill contends that there are twelve essential skills to help preachers provide more and better content in their sermons. While he observes that God calls and His preachers, we have the responsibility to develop these specific skills through "discipline, hard work, and a commitment to clear thinking and Bible-based sermons" (15). He notes that:

This book is designed with a self-improvement format, a do-it-yourself approach which will let you concentrate on your own skills, at your own pace, and in the areas you see need to be strengthened (7).

Summary

McDill presents the first skill for great preaching in that the preacher must "get the text in view" by way of observation (17). With this skill, he desires to "recogniz[e] and not[e] details in the wording of the text and their significance for its meaning" through the means of structural diagramming via inductive Bible study (43). The second skill is "seeing what is there [through] recognizing and noting details in the wording of the text and their significance in the meaning (42).

The next skill is in "asking the right questions ... for the best research to interpret the writer's meaning" -- also known as hermeneutics (59, 61). The challenge here lies in trying to know what someone's intentions are when they are so far removed by historical, literary, and theological distance (63-64). One these questions are answered, the preacher moves to the next step which is "naming the textual idea" (80). Here, the preacher discovers "the writer's idea in the text and designat[es] it with precise terminology" (83). Once accomplished, the next step is to touch human needs by "tracing from theological concepts in the text to corresponding needs in contemporary hearers" (102).

After this step is executed in the interpretation stages, the time comes to bridge from text to sermon (121) followed by the writing of the sermon divisions which "clearly state the teachings of the text on its subject" (139). Next is the step of planning the sermon design which determines "the arrangement of sermon materials for the most effective communication" (159) followed by the development of sermon ideas which will aid in the "understanding, acceptance, and response of the hearer" (182). The next step in this area of understanding and acceptance is in "exploring natural analogies ... for illustrating sermon ideas" for, as McDill notes, "a concept does not impact our thinking unless we can see it" (203). Along this line of thinking, the next skill deals with "drawing pictures, telling stories" in an imaginative and creative way to bring biblical and contemporary stories to life in the mind of the listener (223).

Finally, the culminates all the steps thus far into this final step which aims to "[conform] every aspect of sermon design to the aim of a faith response in the hearer" (244) for it is the "only appropriate response to God and His Word" (258).

Critical Evaluation

As stated earlier, McDill's purpose in writing this book consists of "identify[ing] and strengthen[ing] the specific skills needed for more effective sermon preparation" (ix). By focusing on the content of the sermon, he succeeds for the most part in making a user-friendly volume that deserves a place on every pastor's bookshelf.

What immediately strikes the reader's cursory glance of this work is the layout. McDill deserves praise for achieving his goal of presenting a "self-improvement format [and] a do-it-yourself approach" (7). Each chapter contains a sentence that clearly and succinctly tells the "skill [McDill hopes] to develop with this exercise" (83). Each chapter also contains easily identifiable headings and subheadings, a box or boxes containing key definitions, guidelines for each exercise, a chapter summary, study questions, and examples of how to implement each exercise. He helps the preacher in his studies who is pressed for time. McDill's layout allows the preacher a quick reference guide as needed.

Another appealing aspect of this work is its practical nature. This is not a theoretical book on homiletical philosophy but a basic `how-to' manual for preachers to work their own pace (11). He notes that "just because you think you understand something doesn't mean you can do it. Practice is the only way to master a skill, even in sermon preparation" (4). McDill takes the preacher step-by-step through each of the skills he presents. As mentioned just previously, each chapter contains a segment guiding the reader through an exercise for each skill (32, 52, 73, 90, 114, 131, 146, 171, 193, 215, 235, 257). In these segments, the author certainly practices what he preaches in that not only does he tell the reader what each skill entails, he also helps the reader apply it step-by-step from the ground up . This portion is so helpful for the young preacher finding himself overwhelmed with the thought of sermon preparation. McDill figuratively takes the young preacher by the hand and guides him carefully through each process.

A highly commended chapter ib this work is Chapter Ten, "Exploring Natural Analogies" (201). A `natural analogy' takes a "relationship, circumstance, event, or other factor" in the natural realm and parallels it with a theological concept (207). McDill notes that an "incarnational (in human form) principle must guide us today as se seek, through preaching, to be channels of God's ongoing revelation" (203-204). He rightly notes that we must "look for analogies that will help your hearer understand the idea" (211) and are grounded in our respective "arenas of life" (216). This skill is vital in connecting with our contemporary audiences and is the same style of preaching that Jesus often used with the common people with His use of parables, which took a common situation, event, or person's position and used it to instill a heavenly truth.

Two weaknesses are found in this work. The most noticeable is the title. This reviewer finds the title a bit presumptuous, as if acquiring and applying these twelve skills will automatically make one's preaching `great.' For McDill, great content equals great preaching and clearly his focus is on fleshing out the content of the Scriptures in "the skills necessary to sermon preparation" (10). The title implies this would be a more comprehensive approach to sermon preparation and delivery in the whole realm of preaching. Instead, he minimizes the effect of delivery in favor of content alone.

The delivery style is not the critical factor in what we recognize as great preaching. Great delivery without effective content is often only "sound and fury, signifying nothing." On the other hand, striking content is of real interest to the hearer, even if the delivery is weak. (10).

Yet again, the title of the book implies preaching and delivery is part of the preaching process. Plus, the Scriptural accounts of the preachers and prophets indicate that the content and the way they communicated that content was part of the message. The Apostle Paul notes that:

My speech and my message were not in plausible words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit of power, that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men but in the power of God (1 Corinthians 2:4-5, ESV).

The point here that Paul makes is that content alone does not a message make, but it is how the message crafts the speaker's heart and thus persuades passionately through the Spirit. McDill seems to miss this point completely. A better title would be "The 12 Essential Skills for Great Sermon Preparation."

Conclusion

After reading this work in its entirety, I would highly recommend this work to someone looking for a manual on sermon preparation. Even though the title is misleading, once the preacher enters into the contents of the book and sees the helpful way McDill fleshes out these various skills, he will be thankful for having such a wonderful volume in his hands.

I would recommend using this volume as a tune-up to specific areas of your preaching preparation that need work rather than trying to work from the beginning to the end of this book, for that would take a large amount of time. Absorbing this book little-by-little, however, will certainly transform your sermon preparation and your congregation will thank you all the more for this transformation.

I must admit as a recent Bible college graduate I was intimidated by the task of expository preaching. However, as I finished each chapter I thought to myself, "I can do that." Soon I was through the entire book confident I could preach an effective expository sermon on any passage of Scripture.
McDill takes you through from text to sermon and everything in between showing exactly how to do everything. I readily admit that my preaching has changed since reading this book. It has added depth and meaning and my sermons are not just an exegetical speech but messages that connects with the hearts and spirits of the congregation.
This book is a must-read for the expository preacher!

McDill has captured the essence of expository Preaching. No other preaching method I have studied is as God honoring and powerful. It teaches you how to preach God's Word and not your own or anyone elses. At the same time it helps you to use your own life experiences to illustrate the points you pull directly out of God's Word. It takes the best of Inductive study methods and couples them with the art of expository preaching.

In this most excellent work, ( "Abbey Road to Zapple Records, A Beatles Encyclopedia") Judson Knight uses the "encyclopedia" format to take the reader on a guided passage through a virtual labyrinth of information, ... a ship navigated expertly across a small ocean of one brief, but incredibly productive segment of pop music history. Simply put, these are fascinating stories about the greatest rock band that ever lived, told by someone who knows how to write, and in a way that mere information blossoms into entertainment of the highest caliber.
In "Abbey Road...", Judson Knight profiles the background of each member of the group, their families, their amazing albums, films and songs that changed the world; and in doing so, he helps to explain what happened and why. Knight analyzes many of the Beatles' lyrics, answering questions that have persisted in the backs of our minds for decades (and perhaps ones you didn't even know you had), most importantly, "What made these guys and their creations so phenomenal?" Judson Knight does a superb job answering that question and hundreds of others in a way that reads like so many allegorical vignettes..... vignettes sometimes mired in the irony that occasionally there are questions which really have no answers.
There have been lots of books written about The Beatles. If you only read one, this should be the one.

My Beatles CDs sound ten times better thanks to this book. In addition to the songwriting, one of the things I love most about the Beatles is how lushly produced their music is. Thanks to this book, I can quickly look up any song title and get "the stories behind the songs".

Basically, this is a well-researched, well-written guide laid out in an incredibly useful format. A must.

This book is definitely entertaining, I found out some new things about my favorite group. I noticed though, that there are many mistakes in information. Some of them were small, like mistakes in picture captions. Others stuck out like a sore thumb and would surely be noticed by a true Beatles fan. This is a good book for someone that is looking to learn about the Beatles, but it may not be the best choice for someone that already knows a great deal.

With Abbey Road to Zapple Records, Judson Knight presents an encyclopedia of detailed information about the fab four's music. It is an collection of musical moments, in the true tradition of aphoristic thought, about a piece of the mosaic of the Beatles professional career. The rationale for this book by Judson Knight is one formulated by John Cage for any exegesis of music. It is, that „a composer knows his work as a woodsman knows his path he has traced and retraced, while the listener is confronted by the same work as one is in the woods by a plant he has never seen before". Abbey Road to Zapple Records is the woodsmen's novices guide to the genesis if the Beatles' music. In enjoying, listening and studying the Beatles' work, this book is, what the Gilbert is for reading the Ulysses. Anyone who sincerely considers The Beatles` will have to take Knights' book at hand.

This was a great book! All of my Beatles questions were answered. I would definently reccomend this book for any Beatles fan.

excellant review of strengthening practices for finger, hand and wrist. Nothing new, older book, but man what a value for an aspiring percussionist!

That quote stuck with me from a Peter Erskine video in which he pays homage to (though doesn't directly mention) the genius of Jim Chapin. I spent part of my workday cutting and pasting from this book to get the exercises to fit on one page because I wanted to remove distractions such as turning the book page mid-exercise! This requires we focus.

What is especially nice is that this book relates the ideas in a musical context. Not just doing a complicated rudiment that you probably won't use: this stuff you can use right away.

I agree that this is a must have for drummers regardless of style. Especially rock drummers, like myself. It has opened up a whole new world of ideas. I found it easiest to start with the dotted eighths and triplet sections (1A and 1C) before trying the eighths and sixteenths sections (1B and 1D). This book is one of the treasures of my library, and it has dramatically improved by playing in only one month. This after playing for 25 years.

This book is designed with the jazz drummer in mind, but the exercises will help all players develop independence. The cymbal / hi-hat pattern is pretty consistent through the entire book book - the dotted 16th pattern that is common in be-bop. This means that the right hand is doing the same thing in pretty much every exercise, assuming you are right handed. Despite this, the exercises can be quite challenging, especially as the book progresses. To keep things interesting, alternate the sticking so that your non-dominant hand plays the cymbal pattern. The CDs are great and are helpful in understanding the trickier patterns. It's easy to see why this book is a standard among jazz drummers, but any drummer will benefit from mastering the patterns in this book.

This book is full of challenges and inspiration!

DEFINITELY, A 5 STAR CLASSIC...DRUMMERS NEED TO HAVE THIS........IT S ESPECIALLY A GREAT EXERCISE TRY TO PLAY THE EXERCISES IN THE HIHAT, PAYING ATTENTION TO THE CORRECT ARTICULATION.AND ITS GREAT THAT NOW IT CAMES WITH 2 CDS, SO NOW WE CAN HEAR HOW THE EXERCISES SOUND , ACCORDING TO THIS TRUE DRUMMING LEGEND:MR. JIM CHAPIN!!!!

Jon's work is awesome. I was a witness to many of the events in this book, and Jon has an amazing ability to paint an entertaining, yet true picture of life with Spoke. Anyone who enjoys music, life, and the spirit of punk rock will enjoy this book. It's too bad it doesn't come with a limited edition Spoke napkin. Viva pastacore!

My son, age 15, needs to read for school and I'm constantly trying to find things that interest him. This book did it, he read it almost non-stop. He's into music and bands and this book kept his interest.

i dont remember when the last time i actually finished a whole book. i finished this in 3 days (extremely fast for me) you dont want to put it down. completely worth reading.

Okay, I loved this book. It's one of those books that you find that you're reading at three in the morning because you don't want to wait till tomorrow to finish it, and then you start laughing through your nose and snorting (something which you hardly ever do) cos it's such a riot, and cos Jon Resh is one of those authors... by which I mean, the kind of author who finds humor in the little things in life, and who can express himself with intelligence and wit. According to him, he was a (crummy)singer, but that's okay - cos he's a hell of a writer. I recommend Amped highly.

This book is a real friggin gem. Very well written (cannot say the same for most "punk" books that have surfaced recently), concise,and engaging. Though a work of non-fiction, it reads like a very modest historical account of a guy getting turned on to punk rock and how his band, friends, and life develops. Funny anecdotes, honest perspective ... Amped is about as good as it gets when analyzing a time in "punk" when punk and hardcore had gone different ways and indie rock was developing. Amped captures the spirit of many who drifted between scenes and couldn't help themselves from being underground. This paints a pefect picture.

If you love B*Witched and to know everything about them this is the book for you. It tells you about there History OF there life and there hopes and dreams for the future. There are plenty of pitures which are great.There are facts on B*Witched and even a quiz to test your knowledge. If you wanna know more about B*Witched this is most certaintly the book for you. Adam

I love this book SO much. B*Witched is my favourite band, and this book gave me SO much info on the girls and wicked pics...I REALLY suggest getting this book if you like B,

This book is must for big B*Witched fans like me. It has great pics, fab facts, and interesting stories on B*Witched. Definatly 5 stars!

The official book is a must for the true B*Witched fan ,such as myself. The book provides a delightfully fun yet informative insight about the girls, by the girls. The book doesn't take on the form of a stuffy autobiography, but rather takes on a fun narration of the story of the best group around. Simply said, a great book.

I loved this book and I am a huge fan of B*witched. There are tons of great pictures and loads of info on the group.