Follow the Music: The Life and High Times of Elektra Records in the Great Years of American Pop Culture

Amazon.com

The Doors, Love, Judy Collins, Tim Buckley, and Phil Ochs were all products of the nurturing environment at the Elektra Records of the '60s and early '70s. With help from coauthor Gavan Daws, the label's then head, Jac Holzman, collects his reminiscences and those of many of his cohorts in the enlightening, often hilarious Follow the Music: The Life and High Times of Elektra Records in the Great Years of American Pop Culture. This oral history follows Holzman's exploits from his days as a producer of small pressings of obscure folk music to his signing of rockers like Jim Morrison and Arthur Lee and his eventual sale of the company and subsequent departure. Before he left, though, Holzman and friends had irrevocably altered, as he says, the "recording technique, packaging, marketing and the behavioral sciences of rock and roll." --Rickey Wright

Book Description

Jac Holzman witnessed a cultural transformation during the time he ran Elektra Records from 1950 to 1973. Follow the Music captures pivotal scenes of pop culture as Holzman saw them, from what happened backstage when Bob Dylan went electric to Jim Morrison's legendary shenanigans.

Customer Reviews:

Simply the best.......2006-07-20

I have read my share of music industry books and this is by far the best one. And what is inspiring is that you do can make good business in this industry and still keep your integrity, just follow Jac Holzmann's example describe in this book. Awesome read!

Top Shelf.......2006-06-27

One of the best books on the music industry I have ever read. When you read a book about a band or artist, or about an era in music or whatever, what you mostly want is to feel like you were there at the time these people were recording and gigging and just being bands. Follow the Music gives you a first-class seat in Elektra's offices, at its artists' concerts, in rehearsal spaces, in restaurants where biz wheeling and dealing is done . . . You come away knowing Jac Holzman underpaid his staffers and artists, but that he genuinely cared about the quality of music his label put out, and about artists' integrity. I wish there had been as much on Arthur Lee and Love as there is on the Doors, but then the Doors were Elektra's biggest-selling act, so I guess it makes sense that they get the most ink in the book. I also didn't like the way the sections on the MC5 and the Stooges - two of the most important bands in the history of rock - are so short, while the one on Carly Simon is so long. But that's because I like the MC5, love the Stooges and wish Carly Simon would go away. But these are quibbles. I loved the book. How much did I love the book? I don't even like the Doors, save for 5 or 6 of their songs, yet I drank in every word about them, and went back and listened to their debut and L.A. Woman because the chapters on those two albums were so moving.

Worth the price for the CD!.......2006-05-09

This is a must read for music fans! There is something for nearly everyone here: The story of the founding and growth of Elektra Records (how an energetic young man, Jac Holzman, with a few hundred dollars, good musical taste and a ton of ideas could actually start a thriving record company). The history of many early folk music performers such as Theodore Bikel, Judy Collins, Jean Richie and many others. The story of the creation of Nonesuch Records (a low-cost Classical division). The history of many Rock performers (including Jim Morrison of the Doors). There is even enough technical info about early recording, studio design and Dolby units to satisfy a tech geek (such as myself)! The image conjured up of a young Holzman setting out with a Magnacord P-6 recorder strapped to his Vespa scooter, to record folk music performances in NYC really conveys the "shoestring" attributes of Elektra Records in the early days. At the other end of the scale, the design of studio "B" was perhaps representative of the "excesses " of the rock era.

The copy of this book that I got from Amazon included a "bonus" CD that contains many tracks of early Ekektra performers that have not been re-released on CD. To me, this CD was worth the price & the book was essentially "free"!

It is sad that only a few recordings from the early Elektra "folk period" have been re-issued on CD. This situation is starting to improve, (see my other reviews for some early Elektra folk "gems" that I have found on CD).

Lovely telling of Elektra and the '60s music industry.......2005-04-29

Elektra emerged from the '60s as one of a very few independent labels to match the majors success. While others had fleeting commercial success or labored in record-collector obscurity, Elektra managed to maintain its artistic roots as it found its way up the top-40 charts. Label founder, Jac Holzman, and co-writer Gavan Daws re-tell the music industry's transformation to a conglomeratized business through the prism of Elektra's emergence in Greenwich Village folk clubs to its absorption into the WEA triad.

Holzman's first-person reminiscences are brilliantly interwoven with interviews from many of those who were there, providing additional shades to many of the story's events. The first half of the book is particularly fetching, following Holzman as he founds his label amid the folk revival of the early '60s, and makes up business practices to match his feel for the art and artists. Also of great reward are Holzman's tech-rich descriptions of equipment and recording sessions. Less incisive is Elektra's flight into the arms of Warner Brothers, no doubt reflecting Holzman's relative disinterest in the business of music.

Journey of 1000 miles begins with a step.......2003-04-28

Once, in the MUSIC business, there were men and women in charge of labels who, with a combination of passion about great music,
and just the right amount of business acumen, were able to nurture the explosion of musical creativity in the 60s. Jac Holzman is just such a person.

The exciting and interesting story of Elektra records is told using an oral history approach; illuminating the story with a fascile balance of viewpoint.

I had never heard the full story of how Love and then, The Doors,
became labelmates at Elektra. There were moments in the telling of that particular story where I felt that I could almost reach out and touch the participants.

FOLLOW THE MUSIC is an entertaining, engrossing, sometimes funny-sometimes tragic account of one of the titans of American music and his lovechild; whose ability to follow his dream to it's fruition has enriched us all. Oh, if we could all be so blessed.

Book Description

The longest-running music showcase on television today commemorates a quarter-century of the best of America's music-from country, blues, and folk, to rock, bluegrass, tejano, and more--with an informative and highly entertaining illustrated book for Austin City Limits and music fans everywhere. Drawing on the huge archives of "American roots music" presented on the PBS series, the book documents in words and pictures, anecdotes and behind-the-scenes images, the performances of the more than five hundred stellar recording artists who have appeared on the show. This book features a foreword by Lyle Lovett and over 200 color illustrations.

Customer Reviews:

Texas Roots in American Music.......2006-09-11

This book has great text, but is also highly pictorial history of the development of the television series that made the "Austin Sound" in music known worldwide. John Newton, the photographer for the television Austin City Limits (ACL), has documented the history of ACL and performances of some of America's best musicians in his 200 or so colour plates throughout this book.

Willy Nelson was a primary mover in the development of Austin, Texas, as an alternative to Nashville, Tennessee. The book includes details of that liaison, and other background personalities and relationship I had not known before. Out of Austin in the last three decades has come some of the most talented and creative music acts in almost every form of contemporary music.

Notable for blues, and country sounds, as well as certain modern jazz, the city of Austin has produced some creative new styles which have given outlet to some of the new ideas in music in the last quarter of the 20th century. A weekly television program named "Austin City Limits" began broadcasting in 1976.

This book discusses the personalities that have participated in the weekly musical presentations of the program Austin City Limits over the first 25 years of its life. I noticed that the publication date on the edition I bought gives a publication date of 2000, which would mean it would be available for the actual 25th year in 2001. Amazon.com however, reports a date of 1999.

The program is produced weekly in the studios of KLRU-TV, on its own sound stage, in Austin, Texas. ACL gives an amazing benefit to performers in editing the mixes of the programs of their appearances on ACL. Many have released live albums from those performances. The technical quality and love of the music as an art are unique in this approach to a television program.

This prestigious program is now a hallmark of the Public Broadcasting System (PBS) network in the US. Those outside the US may not be aware that this network and its local stations are totally funded by private funds. Local PBS stations have annual fund-raisers and receive grants for operational and programming funds from various indivuduals, foundations and commercial companies.

This means that commercial considerations are not present in the focus of program production. This has enabled ACL to become an innovative and creative nationaide program of contemporary and classic American musical styles. ACL runs a full hour of nothing but music, with a mix of artists across genres that makes for a unique experience every week. This book documents the ofundaiotns and much of the character of the program as an artistic endeavour.

ACL is now syndicated worldwide, nurturing a worldwide fan base for the "Austin Sound" and the individuals and bands responsible for this creative world of musical expression. Includes a foreword by Lyle Lovett, an adept of almost every form of music in his versatile career, with hits and a strong following in - among other areas - Country and Western and Jazz, both big band and contemporary.

I learned very much about some individuals and groups. I also read about many artists and songwriters I had never heard of. ACL has been the start of national recognition for many young artists. I was especially glad to learn details about the Austin Blues community, which is more extensive and dates earlier than I had known.)

20 Years of Rolling Stone: What a Long, Strange Trip It's Been

Average customer rating:

A pleasure to do business with
Good coffee table book

20 Years of Rolling Stone: What a Long, Strange Trip It's Been

Manufacturer: Friendly Pr
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Music | Entertainment | Subjects | Books

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Rolling Stone Magazine: The Uncensored History

ASIN: 0914919105

Customer Reviews:

A pleasure to do business with.......2005-10-03

Item arrived carefully packaged, lightning-fast shipping!

Thanks for the speedy service!!

Rob

Good coffee table book.......2000-04-04

Read it for nostalgia or read it for enlightenment. A collection of major articles published in Rolling Stone between 1965 and 1987. Several are interviews, including Keith Moon, John Lennon, Mick Jagger, Sting, Bob Dylan, and Jack Nicholson. Then there are the "following the celebrity around for a day" pieces, and the political and social commentary, including that of Hunter S. Thompson. It's just a survey of Rolling Stone-ness for 20 years. Excellent journalism, and that goes for the substantial collection of photos here too.

Average customer rating:

American Popular Music: The Rock Years
Larry Starr , and Christopher Waterman
Manufacturer: Oxford University Press, USA
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0195300521

Book Description

Rock, country, pop, soul, funk, punk, folk, hip-hop, techno, grunge--it's all here. In American Popular Music: The Rock Years, Larry Starr and Christopher Waterman take readers on a fascinating journey through the rich historical and stylistic landscape of American rock. An abridged version of the authors' acclaimed American Popular Music: From Minstrelsy to MTV, this volume includes chapters 8-14 of the longer book along with new introductory and concluding chapters. American Popular Music: The Rock Years traces the development of rock from its roots in the mid-1940s to its current state in the twenty-first century, integrating in-depth discussions of the music itself with solid coverage of the attendant historical, social, and cultural circumstances. It strikes a balance between musical analysis and social context, showing how rock and American culture have continuously influenced each other over time. Using well-chosen examples, insightful commentaries, and an engaging writing style, the authors highlight the contributions of diverse groups to the development of rock music, explain the effects of advancements in recording technology, and chronicle the growth of rock music as an industry. The book is enhanced by a rich illustration program; boxed inserts on significant individuals, recordings, and intriguing topics; and well-organized listening charts for recordings that are discussed in detail in the text. Remarkably accessible, American Popular Music: The Rock Years is ideal for introductory courses in the history of rock and roll and will encourage readers to become more critically aware listeners of rock music.

Bandstand the Untold Story: The Years Before Dick Clark

Average customer rating:

Interesting . . . . . .

Bandstand the Untold Story: The Years Before Dick Clark
Stanley Blitz , and John Pritchard
Manufacturer: Cornucopia Publications
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0914207148

Customer Reviews:

Interesting . . . . . ........2002-01-11

If everybody thinks Dick Clark started "American Bandstand," you're wrong. This book tells about "Bandstand" before Dick Clark became the host. It goes into great detail about the years between 1952 and 1956.
However, the book was slightly disappointing. I bought it in hopes the author would talk a little more about the kids who used to dance on the show (since learning my favorite disc jockey danced on the show in 1953), and it didn't. Can't win 'em all, right? Also there were many spelling and punctuation errors as well. But those can be easilly overlooked. All in all, this was a good book.

Amazon.com

Whether you're looking for a cross-section of a Bajoran tricorder, plan drawings of the USS Defiant, or a detailed explanation of station wastewater treatment, you'll find everything you need in the Deep Space Nine Technical Manual. This is a fascinating and useful reference for the dedicated DS9 fan, or the Star Trek collector. Intricately detailed, colorful illustrations show you things like the station layout, its cargo and security systems, crew quarters, and transportation facilities. You'll also see DS9's position in relation to the wormhole, the Bajor-Cardassia sector, Ferenginar, and the Romulan and Klingon empires, not to mention the current location of Voyager and (shudder) Borg space.

Book Description

UNLOCK THE SECRETS OF TEROK NOR!

It was once a battered Cardassian ore-processing facility orbiting the planet Bajor. But Terok Nor took on new life when the Cardassians evacuated and were replaced by Starfleet personnel. With the discovery of a nearby stable wormhole connecting the Alpha Quadrant with the Gamma Quadrant, the newly christened Space Station Deep Space 9™ became one of the most important installations in known space.

Filled with hundreds of schematic diagrams and illustrations, the Star Trek: Deep Space Nine Technical Manual is essential for anyone interested in the ships, technology and weapons of Starfleet and the many different species, who frequent the station, including the Klingons, the Bajorans, the Romulans, the Cardassians, and the Jem'Hadar.

As an added bonus, four full-color gatefolds have been specially created for this book. In addition to providing an in-depth look at the exteriors of the station, these illustrations also show the Promenade, and highlight the U.S.S. Defiant.

Turning the ravaged outpost into a fully operational station involved much more than a simple name change. The transformation represented an arduous challenge to the Starfleet engineers who were required to merge two divergent technologies. How they achieved that feat, and how the Federation helps the Bajoran government keep the station running smoothly, is revealed in the Star Trek: Deep Space Nine Technical Manual.

Customer Reviews:

Required reading for fans-Like visiting the station! .......2006-03-16

I never picked up a copy of this wonderous guide when it was published. There were a few mistakes I made last decade, not buying this book was one of them.

There is not much storyline given away here. Mostly background info regarding the Cardassians, Bajorans and the Federation. Deep Space Nine was the best "Star Trek" series, in my humble opinion. This guide is useful to those who wish to write about the series of the future, as well as daydreamers like myself. The thrill of walking down every corridor, knowing the details of Quark's bar and Ops...

It is all like dream, now that it is over. I never watched the original broadcast in the 1990s. What a loss on my behalf. Now in the age of hopelessly dull reality T.V., what a better way to pass the time than watching the epic unfold on DVD. Though a little overpriced, to an avid fan like myself, worth every penny! Make sure you have a copy of this manual sitting close by!

So amazingly written you actually believe the tech exists!.......2003-04-07

While I am a long time Star Trek fan, I tend to stay away from books such as this one because I just see it as another way for Paramount to get into our pocket books. I just lightly browsed this book one day in a book store and next thing I knew almost an hour had gone by!

This has to be one of the most engrossing works of fictional tech I have ever seen. There are times where you almost wonder if some form of prototype exists for the items they discuss.

Both richly written and illustrated this book is a absolute must buy for the die hard Star Trek fan! And if your favorite Star Trek is DS9 (like myself), I am not sure how you have lived without this book!

A good suppliment to DS9 needs.......2003-01-19

This book is amazing. I read it from cover to cover and ended up satisfied with all the details the authors placed in them. The book carries details ranging from the subspace communications system to the weapons and even the environmental system of the station. The information on it is not contained only to details about the station but everything connected to it including the Runabouts, and the Defiant. It gives off an effect that there is really a station named Deep Space Nine. The paper used was high quality glossy paper which doesn't crumple easily and the numerous images in them were in color. Although it could have been better with a hard cover, it's excellent the way it is.

Tecknology Geek's Gospel.......2002-01-07

This is a must own for anyone who has ever needed to know why something works the way it does in Star Trek. This covers almost everything you can imagine in how Deep Space Nine and space craft work. If it isn't covered in this book it is covered in the TNG Tech Manual. If you write Fan Fiction, play a character in a Trek RPG, or operate a Trek Website You will treat the Tech Manuals as your gospal in Trek technology. Other good books are out there, but they don't compete with this book.

The tech isn't much different in manner from the TNG Tech Manual, but the images in this, the DS9, manual are far superior. All Trek Geeks (come on, fess up) need this book.

Nicely done, but with some flaws.......2001-11-28

First off, this book is anything but a disappointment. It is a packed with information on the series and its fictional technology from the station's basic layout to things like tricorders and sensor probes. It has great illustrations, mostly rendered in 3D by Doug Drexler and all in color. This is a quite obvious advancement since the STTNG Technical Manual.

One reason why I like the DS9 Technical Manual less than its "sister manual" is that its reliability is lacking. This is in part not the fault of the authors, considering that technical specs and especially the size of the station and of the Defiant were always subject to change throughout DS9. Nevertheless, it is dissatisfactory that none of the size figures given in the book correspond with the schematic diagrams in the same book, the latter of which consistently show a smaller 120m Defiant and a station diameter of at most 1000m. The section on starships is even much worse, since ship types and specs are arbitrarily and hastily made up, sizes of well-known ships are wrong and the Saber and Norway class even have exactly the same specs. Considering that many fans who took the specs for their websites didn't even notice the latter error, I may be overly critical, but from an officical manual I would expact much more carefulness than that.

The other point of criticism is that the Deep Space Nine Technical Manual isn't very technical and it isn't useful as a manual. It is rather like prose that has been supplemented with a certain limited amount of Technobabble, a couple of size figures and many nice images. It doesn't care about the technology in such detail as the STTNG Technical Manual, and if it is only shown how to operate it. Summarizing, as a novel the book is rather boring, while it is just not complete enough for a technical manual. Anyway, at least the drawings are great, especially the fold-outs, and most of the book with the exception of the starship section is pleasant reading, so I recommend to buy it.

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The Holy Grail of Network Storage Management
Jon William Toigo
Manufacturer: Prentice Hall PTR
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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