Music Related:
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FM:The Rise and Fall of
Rock Radio
by
Richard Neer
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Richard Neer, one of the well known voices of progressive rock radio in New York for almost three decades, tells the story of the legendary New York radio station WNEW-FM, interspersing bits and pieces of history from other like-minded stations in places like Boston, Cleveland, LA, and San Francisco. These were stations where the air personalities once had the freedom to program their shows as they saw fit, and devoted listeners like myself were turned on to so much of the music we still love today because of the artistry and enthusiasm with which these musicologists plied their trade. Here's all you need to know as to why such stations are rarely found on the commercial radio dial today.
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Bad Moon
Rising
by
Hank Bordowitz
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I was always a huge fan of Creedence Clearwater Revival while growing up. I had read on
occasion that there were hard feelings between John Fogerty and the label execs at Fantasy
Records, which released all of the original CCR albums. I had no idea of the extent
of those hard feelings, nor of the depth of animosity between the original band members.
This is a real eye opener and may be of interest to you if you were ever a fan of the band.
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Take Me
Home
by John
Denver
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It hasn't always been "hip" to say you liked this guy. But I grew up on the
Greatest Hits, and when I go back and revisit those songs, I can't find a thing wrong
with 'em. Sorry. Fact is, they've mostly held up pretty well, as opposed to a lot of other
70's fare. (OK, not every last one, but most of 'em!) And geez, what the man could do with
3 or 4 chords! This is his story told in his own words.
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All You
Need Is Love
by
Pete Fornatale
and
Bill Ayres
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The full title is
All You Need Is
Love : ...and 99 Other Life Lessons from Classic Rock Songs, co-authored
by NY radio icon Pete Fornatale and Bill Ayres, who, along with Harry Chapin,
co-founded World Hunger Year. (The book's dedication is to Harry.) The authors
take a look at a number of pop/rock philosophers who gave us "words to live by"
in their music. 100 songs are discussed from the standpoint of the life-lessons
contained in the lyric, supplemented by a short series of questions to help you relate
the topic to your own circumstances. Neat idea, nicely executed.
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Who Can
It Be Now?
The Lyrics
Game
by
Peter T. Fornatale
and
Frank Scatoni
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If you're into pop music lyrics, or the decade of the 80's,
check this
out! You'll have a blast. This is co-authored by the son of the above-mentioned
radio personality, and is a lighthearted look back at the music which provided the backdrop
for his own coming of age. If you think you know the eighties like it was yesterday, pick
this up and put your skills to the test!
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Raffi:
The Life
of a
Children's
Troubador
by
Raffi
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If your kids grew up mesmerized by the music of this outstanding children's entertainer,
you may be interested in this autobiography. Raffi tells his own story, from his early
childhood days in Cairo, to his adult years as a folk musician in Canadian coffee houses,
and on to stardom. Along the way, he develops a keen awareness of environmental concerns,
as well as of the need for adults to respect all children as unique individuals.
Be forewarned, the author can be preachy at times, and yet there is a lot to be gleaned from
his particular point of view. There's also an excellent bibliography in the back of the book
for those interested in the aforementioned topics.
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The Truth Is....
My Life In
Love and Music
by
Melissa Etheridge
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I found this book gripping in the way that a copy of a tabloid magazine can grip you while you wait on a checkout line at the supermarket. I'm a fan of Melissa Etheridge's music, but not what you'd call an avid fan. I like a couple of her albums, but could honestly take or leave a few of the others. Her autobiography chronicles the recording star's rise from her troubled childhood in Kansas to her eventual rock star status, intending, it seems, to set the record straight about all the topics the tabloids have feasted on for years. I was a bit surprised at the amount of intimate detail about Ms. Etheridge's relationship with Julie Cypher, complete with quotes from joint therapy sessions which one might presume to be confidential. Can't wait for a book from Ms. Cypher to hear her side of the story.
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Summer Reading:
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When my daughter was in high school, I liked to read the books on her summer
and independent reading lists, for two reasons. For one, it gave us a common interest and
a jumping off point for discussion. And secondly, it gave me another chance
to get reacquainted with some of the great literature I either missed altogether or
read perfunctorily when I myself was in my youth. Thank heaven for second chances of any
kind!!!
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A Separate Peace
by
John Knowles
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Moving tale of intense friendship (in all its intricacies) and lost innocence.
Outstanding character development - I felt as if I knew Phineas and Gene, both coming of age
during wartime, after a couple of chapters. This was one I had read in high school, and remembered
liking, and I enjoyed it just as much all these years later. I had worried it might be a "guy thing" but
my daughter seemed to enjoy it as much as I did.
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The Natural
by
Bernard Malamud
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I had been aware of (but had never seen) the Robert Redford film by this name. However, I was not
aware that it was a screen adaptation of a classic American novel. I admit I had a little
trouble getting into this one, and several of the early plot twists were puzzling - I
put it down more than once going "huh?" - but I stuck with it and eventually reached that point
where I couldn't put it down (rare for me). Protagonist Roy Hobbs is a kind of flawed 20th
Century hero - likable enough while at the same time pitiable - and the more I got to know him
the more I came to root for him. Being a baseball fan may be a prerequisite for enjoying this
one. Oh, and don't rely on the movie if you need to pass the quiz!!!
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A Tree Grows
In Brooklyn
by
Betty Smith
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It took me forever to read it, but I enjoyed this one a lot. To me this is ultimately a book that reminds us there's more to life than money. It's the story of the coming of age of Francie Nolan growing up poor in Brooklyn in the early 1900's. My favorite thing about this book is the relationship between Francie and her "papa" Johnny Nolan, a ne'er-do-well by most standards, yet much beloved by his two children.
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