Category: Book Revue

Book review: “I Don’t Fit In” by Paul Collins

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Paul Collins

I Don’t Fit In: My Wild Ride Through the Punk and Power Pop Trenches with The Nerves and The Beat

by Paul Collins (Author), Chuck Nolan (Author)
HoZac Books 2020

Paul Collins gives us the full story from his childhood in New York to the birth of The Nerves, The Breakaways, and The Beat. This is an unvarnished biography showcasing the beginnings of the DIY Power Pop movement in the late 1970s. The story is lively, and Paul’s inner voice comments on some of those crazy moments through his timeline, often referencing career advice from his bandmate and mentor Jack Lee.

Paul’s story is a definitive record of his dogged persistence in the early days, and how he overcame the long odds to become the rock and roll legend he is. In 1977 The Nerves undertook a cross country tour with no manager, no label, and no money. Often playing clubs where the audience was not friendly, but they got to open for The Ramones and supply a hit song for Blondie. Paul goes through all the quirks of touring back then, and how The Nerves gave way to The Breakaways. But it isn’t until he forms The Beat that his career really takes off. The Beat’s debut was one of the best power pop albums of that era and the band’s major-label career is a musical Cinderella story, full of heroes and villains. Paul’s passionate narrative reveals all the drama, victories, and defeats. Plus, it’s got loads of previously unseen photos, flyers, and ephemera from each band. This is a highly recommended book.

Get it on Amazon

 

Book Review: The Death and Life of Mal Evans

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Mal Evans

What if The Beatles never broke up and made a few more albums? Fellow blogger and author Peter Lee (www.hooksandharmony.com) puts in print what Beatle fans have argued and guessed about since that fateful year 1970, when the world’s greatest band called it quits.  Peter’s  narrative is in first person from the point of view of  former Beatles assistant Mal Evans, who in 1976 died from a gunshot wound by police.

Lee magically transports Evans prior to the the band’s breakup at a critical point in John Lennon’s history.  This creates an alternate timeline where Evans stops the break-up and The Beatles continue to create great music beyond 1970. Its all meticulously researched and a blazing good read as you feel like you’re in the room with the John, Paul, George, Ringo and the select group of people who knew them well. Peter sets up these great fictional albums, made up of tracks the solo Beatles produced in the years after their partnership dissolved and lists them in his blog as well. An excellent book that’s a must read for Beatle fans and musical historians will enjoy too.
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hIpglscU6Jg

“Now and Then” is officially the last Beatle track that can ever be made, as it was part of the Lennon demos that included “Real Love” and “Free As A Bird.” Unfortunately the remaining 3 Beatles agreed to pass on it because of the sound quality, but producer Jeff Lynne and Paul McCartney indicated they might return to it someday.

Book Review: “A Man Called Destruction: The Life and Music of Alex Chilton, From Box Tops to Big Star to Backdoor Man “

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Alex Chilton’s story is rags to riches in reverse, beginning with teenage rock stardom and heading downward. Following stints leading 60s sensation the Box Tops (“The Letter”) and pioneering 70s band Big Star (“the ultimate American pop band”—Time), Chilton became a dishwasher. Yet he rose again in the 80s as a solo artist, producer, and trendsetter, and senior power pop icon ushering him back to the spotlight before his untimely death in 2010.

The full story of Alex Chilton is written by long time acquaintance Holly George-Warren. She has interviewed more than 100 bandmates, friends, and family members to give a full portrait of the reluctant visionary. His early influences are clearly pronounced…”When the Beatles came along, I got swept up in it” Alex recalls, and by 1965 told friends he thought “Brian Wilson was a genius.” Who knew after seeing the Beach Boys concert that year, he’d tour with them 3 years later. Each chapter goes into the details of the formation and acclaim given to The Box Tops and Big Star as well as each albums development. Here is one of my favorite quotes from the book…
 “Soon the phrase “power pop” would enter the rock & roll lexicon (though it had originally been coined by Pete Townshend in the ’60s), with Big Star being hailed as its leading proponent. In Memphis, New York, and the Midwest, particularly bands were forming to emulate the Big Star sound, while their albums became a sort of “Holy Grail,” as R.E.M. guitarist Peter Buck would later call them.”

Overall an excellent book that goes through what Alex Chilton was feeling and it doesn’t whitewash the unattractive side of his personality. Between this and the film Big Star: Nothing Can Hurt Me you get the entire story. On Sale at Amazon

Book Review: "I Slept With Joey Ramone"

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Mickey Leigh literally grew up with Joey Ramone (Jeffrey Hyman) and wrote it all down from the humble family beginnings in Forest Hills, Queens to the final days of Joey’s battle with lymphoma (and beyond). Often cited as the first punk rock band, The Ramones were born through Joey’s frustration and love of classic rock and roll. The days of Max’s Kansas City and CBGB’s are told through Mickey’s eyes as a part diary and commentary on the history of the band.

Leigh has numerous descriptive passages from Joey as a “strange-looking figure towering over a curious crowd of onlookers” and taking pride in being “different.” The narrative succeeds in making you feel like you’re in the room listening to the first time Mickey heard “Judy Is A Punk” or playing through numerous injuries and dealing with band in-fighting. The fact that the band continued on for so many years despite all the conflicts and shuffling memberships is proof of Joey’s toughness. And Leigh does make himself look good here in the story, after all it’s his POV. For Ramones’ fans this is a must-have. Even if you aren’t a big fan of their music, you will still enjoy reading this book.

Buy at Amazon

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Book Review: John Lennon – Life is What Happens

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John Lennon – Life is What Happens
 By John Borack
With the 70th birthday of John Lennon, this timely book tracks his legacy of music, art and activism in an exciting and memorable way, with more than 400 photographs, including many rarely seen in print before. The book is wonderfully designed with plenty of quotes from famous rock and rollers and life-long Lennon fans. I’ve read many, many Beatle books and the style and format of this one makes it a unique combination of biography, critical commentary and memorabilia catalog all in one. And because the focus is on John, we find many great post-Beatle photos, posters, sketches and rare letters by him in full color (most items have an auction price listed too).

Lots of credit goes to John Borack, who vividly recalls his Lennon obsession and has painstakingly gathered all the quotes and photos together. I highly recommend this book to even the casual fan, and if you want your kids to know who John was, and why he was so important to generations of people, this is a perfect introduction.

Buy John Lennon: Life is What Happens on Amazon.com

power pop reviews, power pop and rock and roll opinions. Power pop and even more power pop and rock and roll.