Daisy Jones & The Six

 Daisy Jones & The Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid, 368 pages.

Daisy Jones was practically raised by the Sunset Strip in the 60s, and that upbringing guided her towards a meteoric career in music. The Six, and their sensational front man Billy Dunne, are pulled into her orbit as they work together on an album that will become one of the defining moments of the 70s before their equally spectacular separation. 

This fictional oral history worked very well as an audiobook. Funny enough, I'm not sure I would have enjoyed this book had I not been listening to it. Very little happened in the way of plot, and to hammer home the nature of unreliable narrators in an oral history much of it was covered repeatedly from different angles, which made the book move at a crawl at times. It is also guilty of something that's relatively common in books where the characters know the end at the beginning, wherein they allude to a big, bad event for the whole time that, on it's arrival, is ultimately pretty anticlimactic. All of that being said, I did still find myself invested in the characters and the book. I suspect people who enjoy celebrity stories and messy interpersonal drama as the driving force of their books would like this one, but for my tastes I'm afraid it was only fine. 

The Real Frank Zappa Book

The Real Frank Zappa Book by Frank Zappa and Peter Occchiogrosso  352 pp.

I bought this book for my husband a long time ago but never read it. This time I went for the audio book read by Frank's son, Ahmet Zappa. It's surprising how similar Ahmet's voice is to his father's. Included in the audiobook are sound recordings of comments and interviews with Frank which showcases their vocal similarities. The book covers Frank's childhood, his musical beginnings, the creation of the Mothers of Invention, his children, successes, failures, and run-ins with the "authorities". The last couple chapters are his views on a variety of music industry, political, and business absurdities. He minces no words there. I wish he was still around so we could hear his opinions on the current political insanity. Alas, we lost him to cancer in 1993. 

The Islander

 

The Islander: My Life in Music and Beyond by Chris Blackwell 334 pp.

Winner of the 2023 Polar Music Prize, Chris Blackwell was born in England and grew up in both England and Jamaica. His young life was filled with family friends like Noel Coward, Ian Fleming, and Errol Flynn. Fleming and Blackwell's mother became a couple after his parents divorced. After being expelled from an elite school in England, Blackwell returned to Jamaica. He attempted several jobs before finding himself in the music industry, culminating in the creation of Island Records. Island gave young Steve Winwood and Bob Marley and others their big starts along with many others. Marley stayed with Island for his entire (but too brief) career and became one of Blackwell's closest friends. Blackwell championed Ska, Reggae, New Wave and more marginal styles of music. It was his intent to give little known and underdog musicians of great talent their chance to shine in the music world, sometimes succeeding, other times not. His passion was for getting the best out of the musicians without focusing on monetary success, often to the detriment of the business. In later years he produced Grace Jones (who became another great friend), U2, Tom Waits, Robert Palmer, and many others. After sixty years in the music business he went on to produce films. His later life has been that of a hotelier, creating and renovating properties into unique and boutique hotels with the first being on the property of Ian Fleming's Goldeneye estate where the James Bond books were written. Now in his eighties, Blackwell is still active and, while in his 70s introduced his own brand of rum, Blackwell's Black Gold. The audiobook was narrated by actor Bill Nighy.

The Album of Dr. Moreau

 The Album of Dr. Moreau by Daryl Gregory (2021) 176 pages

Kara previously reviewed this book here. I listened to the audiobook on Hoopla narrated by Luis Moreno. It is quite short, which was great for my short commutes. The weird concept of Dr. Moreau hybrids and boy band culture is what hooked me. The murder mystery plot followed the regular procedure. All the witnesses are gradually interviewed: the ocelot boy, the bonobo boy, the elephant boy, the pangolin boy, the bat boy, the victim's wife, the stage manager, and the leaders of the fan club. The detectives examine the area surrounding the hotel penthouse. The assisting detective, Banks, makes lots of corny jokes. The lead detective, Luce Delgado, used to perform a magic act with her dad here is Las Vegas. Now she is a mother to a pre-teen, who is the biggest fan of the WildBoyz. Luce has special skills and knowledge that make her the perfect detective for this case. On top of the murder mystery there is the mystery of the boys' background. Who created them? How? I'm not sure I totally buy the twist at the end. Luce gives us a simple and a complicated explanation for the murder. That is fine. But the bigger mystery of these genetic experiments remain largely a mystery.

Thanks a lot, Mr. Kibblewhite

 

Thanks a lot, Mr. Kibblewhite by Roger Daltrey  259 pp.

Yes, that is the Roger Daltrey of The Who. This is his autobiography which is only half as long as the one by his bandmate Pete Townshend. While Daltrey covers the main events in his life and that of the band, he spends a bit too much time attempting to justify his behavior when compared to some of the bad behavior of other band members (e.g. They were all getting wasted but I didn't do drugs . . . until I did.) The audiobook was read by Daltrey. Warning, a sort of spoiler: Mr. Kibblewhite was a teacher who told young Roger he'd never amount to anything.

Testimony

Testimony: A Memoir by Robbie Robertson  500 pp.

I am a big fan of guitarist/songwriter Robbie Robertson and this book opened my eyes to his amazing talent and life. Jaime Royal "Robbie" Klegerman Robertson grew up in Toronto. His mother was Cayuga and Mohawk and his father was a Jewish gambler by the name of Klegerman who was killed in an auto accident. He grew up using his stepfather's last name, Robertson. After playing in local bands he left Toronto at sixteen and headed south to be a musician. He ended up with Rockabilly legend, Ronnie Hawkins band The Hawks where he met drummer Levon Helm who would become a lifelong friend. The Hawks split from Hawkins and became the legendary group The Band who toured with Bob Dylan during the controversial 1966 tour and played with a wide range of amazing musicians. The book follows the development of The Band from their residency at Big Pink, the house/studio in Woodstock, N.Y. (and the base for the album titled "Music from Big Pink") to their relocation in Malibu, California. I did not realize how many well known songs recorded by big name performers were written by Robertson. Sadly the book ends after the "The Last Waltz", The Band's swansong album and film with only brief mentions of some of his work with other performers. It does not extend into his work on several film scores and the development of his Native American group The Red Road Ensemble and his albums focusing on his Native American ancestry among other recordings and performances. The book starts out slow but picks up speed once The Band is established.

From Cradle to Stage

From Cradle to Stage: Stories from the Mothers who Rocked and Raised Rock Stars by Virginia Hanlon Grohl  240 pp.

Virginia Grohl, mother and biggest fan of Foo Fighters founder and frontman, Dave Grohl interviewed the mothers of many popular musicians to find out what their lives were like bringing up their musical stars. The mothers she chose have children in the Pop, Country & Western, Rock, Rap & Hip Hop, and Heavy Metal genres. During these interviews virtually every parent discussed how their children were different from other children they went to school with and that almost every one of them had displayed musical talent and a desire to perform from a very young age. It is surprising how the stories told by the mothers were often so similar in spite of their financial circumstances, education level, and marital situation. Each one of them supported (with varying degrees of enthusiasm) their children's decisions to do what they loved and to tackle the difficulties of trying to make it big in the music industry. Some, like Kurt Cobain's and Amy Winehouse's mothers ultimately dealt with tragedy. Others, like Grohl herself, have enjoyed the success of their children's careers. Between the interviews with the mothers, Grohl has included "vignettes", stories of life with her son Dave before and after his fame. Bedsides those already mentioned the book includes the mothers and/or stepmothers of Michael Stipe, Tom Merello, Geddy Lee, Miranda Lambert, Dr. Dre, Pharrell Williams, Adam Levine, Mike D, Josh Groban, Dave Matthews, Zac Brown, Gary Clark, Jr., Haim sisters, Warren Haynes, & Adam Levin. The audiobook is read by the author and includes a conversation between Virginia and Dave Grohl at the end.

The Last Sultan

The Last Sultan: The Life and Times of Ahmet Ertegun by Robert Greenburg  431 pp.

As books about the recording industry go, this one is just okay and a bit of a slog. Ahmet Ertegun was raised in luxury as the son of a Turkish Ambassador to various countries including the U.S. Ahmet and his brother, Nesuhi, became fans of jazz while in their teens. Soon the two young men became experts in the field and owners of a tremendous collection of jazz records. Eventually they both went into the record business in order to support and promote the talented African-American musicians who were being ignored by agents, promoters, and record manufacturers. Eventually Neshuhi set out on his own with a small record label but later rejoined with his brother after  Ahmet created Atlantic Records with co-founder Herb Abramson. Atlantic became a giant in the industry eventually signing many big names in jazz, blues, and rock including Ben E. King, Percy Sledge, Ruth Brown, LaVern BakerBobby Darin, Ray Charles, and later, The Rolling Stones,  Led Zeppelin, Crosby, Stills, Nash, & Young, and many more. This book details shady deals, and double crosses, Ertegun's love-hate relationships with both industry collaborators and competitors, and Ertegun's wild life of partying. While he's not a man to be admired for his personal life, his contribution to the music industry cannot be understated.  

Sound Man

Sound Man by Glyn Johns  314 pp.

Music producer and sound engineer Glyn Johns chronicles his career from his start as a teenager through his days of recording such musical giants as The Rolling Stones, Steve Miller Band, The Beatles, The Who, Crosby, Stills, & Nash, The Eagles, Joe Cocker, Led Zeppelin, The Band, Eric Clapton, and an extended Who's Who of the rock music industry. This book is a slow starter and I had trouble keeping interested but Johns soon hits his stride when talking about the musicians and the different methods he used to record them. While I can't say this book is as well done as The Wrecking Crew I still enjoyed reading about the work that went into creating so many of the albums I love. Johns presents his life in an unapologetic and honest way, never denying his mistakes or sugar coating problems that occurred with difficult artists.

Rhythm Ride

Rhythm Ride: A Roadtrip Through the Motown Sound by Andrea Davis Pinkney  166 pp.

In 1959 Berry Gordy borrowed $800 from his family to begin a recording company in Detroit. He enlisted teenagers from his neighborhood like Diana Ross, Stevie Wonder, Smokey Robinson, and others to develop what would come to be known as the Motown Sound. During the years of the Civil Rights movement, the music of Motown played an important part. This book covers the rise of many of the performers that I first heard as a child, and tells the story of Gordy's influence and vision.

The Wrecking Crew

The Wrecking Crew: The Inside Story of Rock and Roll's Best Kept Secret by Kent Harman  292 pp.

Many people do not realize that a large portion of the popular music recorded in the 1950s, 60s, & 70s was really performed by a collection of very talented studio musicians who were never credited on the albums featuring their talents. With the exception of a few, like Glen Campbell, Leon Russell, and Billy Strange, who went on to have successful musical careers outside of the studios, they are names few recognize. However, their music is known by millions from recordings by Sinatra, Streisand, The Beach Boys, Johnny Rivers, The Mamas & The Papas, The Carpenters, Simon & Garfunkel, and so many more. Some members of the Wrecking Crew toured in the bands with a variety of big name acts. Others moved into the production end of the business. These talented musicians were paid well for their work but also worked long hours, frequently late into the night. This is a very readable and fascinating look at the unsung heroes of the music industry. I enjoyed reading about what went into recording the songs I grew up with. And how many remember a thirty year old Glen Campbell being called an "overnight sensation" after he'd been working in the business since he was sixteen years old? Ah, show business.

Legends, Icons & Rebels

Legends, Icons & Rebels: Music That Changed the World by Robbie Robertson, Jim Guerinot, Sebastian Robertson, Jared Levine  128 pp.

I'll start by saying I rarely watch Tavis Smiley's talk show but when I saw that Robbie Robertson was the guest I had to watch. Robertson, musician, songwriter, member of the iconic group The Band, was promoting this book. This book was inspired by a conversation Robbie and his son, Sebastian about how the children he worked with responded better to good music by great artists instead of the usual "kiddie music" they were offered. From that conversation the concept of introducing children to some of the greatest musical artists of all time was born. Louis Armstrong, Billie Holiday, Ella Fitzgerald, The Beatles, Johnny Cash, Carole King, Marvin Gaye, and many others are featured in brief articles about their unique contributions to popular music. The book is lavishly illustrated by fifteen different artists. Included are two cds containing performances by each of the twenty-seven legends in the book. I may have to buy this one for my niece's children.

Days That I'll Remember

Days That I'll Remember: Spending Time with John Lennon and Yoko Ono by Jonathan Cott  240 pp.

Jonathan Cott interviewed John Lennon and Yoko Ono for the first time in 1968 when Cott was the first European editor for a fledgling magazine called Rolling Stone. It was the beginning of a lifetime friendship. His last interview with Lennon was just three days before his death. His most recent interview with Ono was in 2012 shortly before her eightieth birthday (OMG, she's 80!). In addition to his reminiscences about their meetings and what was going on socially and musically at the time, Cott includes the full transcripts of his recorded interviews. The interviews were published in part in Rolling Stone and other periodicals but reading them in their entirety is fascinating (at least to a John Lennon fan). Lennon talks candidly about his life, fame, The Beatles, his relationship and work with Yoko, the "bed-ins" for peace, and other performers/songs that influenced his music. Two haunting parts of the 1980 interview stood out for me. In one part, when talking about future plans Lennon said, "But there's time, right? Plenty of time." followed by "it will be fun to be on the cover of Rolling Stone, It will be fun, won't it, to start 1981 like 1968?" And when talking about the critics he said, "What they want is dead heroes, like Sid Vicious and James Dean. I'm not interested in being a dead f***ing hero...." Three days later, December 8, 1980, he became one. Those who aren't fans may not care about this book but I just might have to buy a copy for my personal library.

The Carter Family

The Carter Family by Frank M. Young & David Lasky  192

This is a graphic novel history of the early days of the musical Carter family. It follows the courtship and marriage of A.P. Carter and Sara and of Maybelle to Ezra Carter. A.P., Sara, and Maybelle began their professional career recording old folk melodies collected by A.P. in his travels. Later on they had a radio show and continued to make recordings. Eventually some of their children joined them in performing and recording. It's a pretty thorough history that ends with June Carter and her husband Johnny Cash discussing A.P.'s contribution to country music. I'm not a country music fan and was only familiar with Maybelle and June Carter although I knew there were other performers in the family. Interesting and well done.

A Visit From the Goon Squad

A Visit From the Goon Squad by Jennifer Egan, 273 pages

I don' t know that I've ever read a book quite like this one. Rather than tell a straightforward story about a fixed set of characters, Egan flits between characters who are tangentially related or just mentioned off-hand earlier in this book, which won the Pulitzer. A Visit From the Goon Squad starts with Sasha, a kleptomaniac who once worked for a music producer, then wends its way through that music producer, his high school friends, Sasha's uncle, the music producer's mentor, and others. It's a captivating story, full of very real characters, who suffer from all manner of neuroses, both common and uncommon. I definitely recommend this book, though I'm still trying to reconcile it in my head.

Ice

Ice: a memoir of gangster life and redemption--from South Central to Hollywood by Ice T and Douglas Century  251 pp.

If you can get past the incessant use of f-bombs and the n-word, this is a really good book. Rapper Ice T (Tracy Marrow) tells his story from being an a child in Newark, losing both parents by age 7, growing up in L.A. South Central, joining a gang and committing crimes to becoming one of the first hip-hop mega-stars, battling Congress, the police, and the NRA over the song "Cop Killer," and his transition to movies and one of the most successful television franchises, "Law & Order." Ice pulls no punches in this book. His brutal honesty about gang life in the 70s & 80s and what gang life has become now is an eye opener to anyone who didn't grow up in that life. Basically, this is a tale of a boy growing into a man, making mistakes, and learning a lot of hard lessons along the way to his success as an actor, a father, and a husband. He now spends a lot of his time lecturing and speaking to organizations like the Boys' & Girls' Clubs in an effort to keep kids out of gang life. I liked this book and I like the man Ice T has become.