Harrison Ford (Bios)

Book Description

As the hero of Star Wars and the immortal Indiana Jones with his legendary hat and whip, Harrison Ford is just an ordinary man in the street that everyone can identify with. HF is certainly no poser, he leads a quiet life (despite a succession of wives, which is about par for the course), and his seductive charm emanates from his simplicity and intelligence. The actor is a genius (the best paid actor in Hollywood), spilling over with ideas during his film shoots. A perceptive biography from a true fan moved by both the man and the actor. who will soon be back on our screens as Indiana Jones!

Average customer rating:

Useful and entertaining...
It was really, really informative!

The Films Of Harrison Ford Updated
Lee Pfeiffer
Manufacturer: Citadel
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books

General | Movies | Entertainment | Subjects | Books

Guides & Reviews | Movies | Entertainment | Subjects | Books

General | Foreign Languages | Reference | Subjects | Books

General | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

General | Performing Arts | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

The Hero with a Thousand Faces (Mythos Books)

ASIN: 0806519983

Customer Reviews:

Useful and entertaining..........2002-09-02

This book is really useful, as it provides an easy reference to Harrison Ford's films and allows the reader to find the ones that are worth watching.

Besides the blurbs of reviews and general information on the movies, however, this book is made really interesting (and at times really funny too) because of the stories about the production experience for each of the movies that it includes as well. Seriously, it is hard to imagine, when viewing the finished products, the disasterous, strange, and hysterical events that occurred during the making of some of the films.

So, if you are a fan of Harrison Ford or are just a big movie fan who is especially interested in behind-the-scenes type information, this book is highly recommended. If you don't care for either of the above things, why are you looking here anyhow?

It was really, really informative!.......1997-04-05

This was one of THE best HF books I have read! (It's one of the ONLY ones!) Even if you hate HF you would like this book! It has many off-screen photos. It has SO many pictures! The only thing I can say is, READ IT!!!!!!

American Film Magazine December 1986 - Harrison Ford (Vol. XII No. 3)

Average customer rating:

American Film Magazine December 1986 - Harrison Ford (Vol. XII No. 3)

Manufacturer: The American Film Institute
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Movies | Entertainment | Subjects | Books
ASIN: B000GGW8ZI

Average customer rating:

Harrison Ford
Manuel Maria Calvin Muslares
Manufacturer: Royal Publishing Company
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Movies | Entertainment | Subjects | Books

General | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

Spanish | Foreign Language Nonfiction | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

Average customer rating:

Harrison Ford
Alberto Ubeda-portugues
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Movies | Entertainment | Subjects | Books

History & Criticism | Movies | Entertainment | Subjects | Books

General | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

General | Performing Arts | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

Spanish | Foreign Language Nonfiction | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

Average customer rating:

Harrison Ford a Biography
Robert Sellers
Manufacturer: Robert Hale Ltd
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Actors & Actresses | Arts & Literature | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books

Entertainers | Arts & Literature | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books

General | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books

General | Movies | Entertainment | Subjects | Books

General | Music | Entertainment | Subjects | Books

General | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

General | Performing Arts | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0709048289

Harrison Ford ù Imperfect Hero: Imperfect Hero

Average customer rating:

Harry, You Rock!
Go Harry Go
A More Balanced View....
Experienced Bio Author At Work
Just Average

Harrison Ford ù Imperfect Hero: Imperfect Hero
Gary Jenkins
Manufacturer: Citadel
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Actors & Actresses | Arts & Literature | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books

Entertainers | Arts & Literature | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books

General | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books

General | Music | Entertainment | Subjects | Books

General | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

General | Performing Arts | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

ASIN: 080658016X

Customer Reviews:

Harry, You Rock! .......2005-07-21

Before I read this book, I thought Harrison Ford was a selfish and air-headed movie star. It proved me wrong. I learned about his struggle through his childhood, his rise to fame and how he is a perfectionist, finding that just by being myself, I have lots in common with the man who created wonderful heroes such as Indiana Jones, Han Solo and Jack Ryan, to name a few. He is selfless and modest, a condition hard to find in a movie star.
So if Mr. Harrison is reading this-keep making great movies, sir, and I'll keep watching and rooting for you all the way!

Go Harry Go.......2002-06-14

It's alright that the author didn't speak with Ford while writing and researching this unathorized biography. Often the person being written about can clarify something that isn't clear. Often, the person being written about can put a positive spin on some event in an attempt to make themself look better. This is a good book about the humble actor that looked at his pre-success years, going back to his mid-west roots, marriage, and the ups-and-downs of his experience in the film industry, which was covered a lot. How did Harry get that scar?....the answers lies within these pages. One interesting note is the story of a young producer, writer and director who made a movie in the 70s. At the screening, many movie moguls approached the young creator and told him bluntly that his film would be a flop, no one would see it, and his career may be in jeopardy after producing such a poor piece of work. The name of the movie was......."Star Wars." The man was George Lucas.

A More Balanced View...........2001-10-22

The are a couple things to note when reading this book. First, is that it is unauthorized which doesn't mean that the author does not have to "sugarcoat" Harrison Ford. Sounds like a great book. Second is that the book is unauthorized...conversely, the author does not seem to have spoken with Harrison Ford.

Unlike other unauthorized biographies, this book doesn't make a big production of it. The author is not trying to sell this book on scandal. The sell is on the picture behind what you usually hear or read. From going through the notes, the author has interviewed quite a few people and has gone through a lot of background information to create this.

The book reads easily, and I don't find myself questioning the author. All his statements about Harrison Ford, like his being a perfectionist, follows from the supporting evidence. The author also does not jump around. It all flows logically.

Harrison Ford is an American movie icon. This book allows you to look at the experiences and attitudes which got him there. If you are a fan of Harrison Ford, then I would suggest you take a deep breath before reading. The author is not trying to make him into a saint.

Experienced Bio Author At Work.......2000-02-01

If you enjoyed this novel, the same author wrote a biography on Daniel Day Lewis which is just as interesting.

Just Average.......1999-07-06

When I first started reading this book I was pumped! The more I read of it, the more I got tired of it. I am an avid Harrison Ford fan, but most of the contents you can find in any magazine article.

Average customer rating:

The Definitive Filmography
Interesting book for Ford fans
Very, Very Informative Look at One of the Greatest....
Definitive Harrison Ford Filmography
The most outstanding book about the most outstanding actor

Harrison Ford: The Films
Brad Duke
Manufacturer: McFarland & Company
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Actors & Actresses | Arts & Literature | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books

General | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books

General | Movies | Entertainment | Subjects | Books

General | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

General | Performing Arts | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

Reference | Performing Arts | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

All Titles | Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007 | Stores | Books
ASIN: 0786420162

Book Description

Rugged actor Harrison Ford has been labeled one of the top 100 movie stars of all time, the sexiest man alive, the richest male actor, and the actor who has grossed more in the box office than any other in the history of film, yet he still has the appeal of an average guy, a hero to whom the common man can relate. He has worked in more than 40 films, as well as narration, documentaries, award shows, tributes, and television appearances, winning more than two-dozen awards, including the Lifetime Achievement award in 2000. This biographical examination thoroughly covers his life and career, concentrating most heavily on his films.

The work begins with Ford's early life: his birth in 1942, early stage work, and his first film role (uncredited in 1966's Dead Heat on a Merry-Go-Round). Throughout, significant events in Ford's personal life are woven into the examination of his career. The main body of the work deals with his efforts in the film industry, covering in great detail such movies as American Graffiti, the Star Wars movies, Heroes, The Frisco Kid, Hanover Street, Blade Runner, Regarding Henry, The Fugitive, Sabrina, Air Force One, and K-19, concluding with the Indiana Jones movie slated for 2006. Over 30 films are closely examined, from their inceptions, writing, casting, sets, shooting schedules, stunts, Ford's workouts, filming obstacles, clashes of personality, the films' openings, box-office earnings, controversies, and reviews. Each film's discussion is bolstered by many quotes from crew and cast, including Ford, and often includes intimate anecdotes. The work also mentions Ford's efforts for conservation (and honors: species of ant and of spider have been named after him), love of flying and carpentry, and present roles as boyfriend to Calista Flockhart and loving grandfather. The work is illustrated with a wide range of stills and concludes with a bibliography and filmography.

Customer Reviews:

The Definitive Filmography.......2005-12-17

Just the kind of book I was looking for. Being a huge fan of Harrison Ford films I wanted to read something to the point - the making of his movies. This is precisely what you get from Brad Duke's extremely well researched and complete book. Having this book along with my Netflix subsciption and I was in Harrison Ford film school. A book like this can add so much enjoyment to the movie watching experience. I would love to see more books exactely like this one for other great actors such as Gary Cooper, Jimmy Stewart, John Wayne, Clint Eastwood, or any other you care to name. Duke's style is perfect for film fans who want to aquire a deeper knowledge of the films and actors they admire without the celebrity hoopla and nonsense and on the other hand without the over the top intellectualism of much film criticism that stuffs the shelves of most book stores. In conclusion, an excellent read and a very useful reference for the work of one of the finest actors of the last 40 years. A must for all fans.

Interesting book for Ford fans.......2005-08-08

This is truly very well documented book about Ford's life and his films. The author goes into great detail about his films (maybe too much detail) and you will learn something new about Ford and his films. That is a promise. I thought I knew almost all there is to know about man - I was mistaken. But I have two complaints. First is the fact that all the photos in the book are in black and white. Not a big issue but I would have liked to see some color photos. And the second and more important is that if you are not a true 100% fan of Harrison Ford, the author's method may get boring. Although an excellent book, the author doesn't use much variety. Each chapter is filled with the same kind of information. Why Ford accepted the role, how the director got involed, how the script got wriiten, some technical element and the location, what Ford thought of the project, how it was received by critics and how much money it made. Finally we have Ford's view on the project. And although great for us Ford fans, it will certainly be a bit boring for the average reader midway through the book. But nevertheless this is a very good book for Ford fans and the best thing about this book is that it tells much more about Ford and his views than the previous books about Ford. There are more Ford quotes than in previous books. Usually it is mainly what Ford's co-worker and old school friend said about him. This is more what Ford has said and those closest to him. Therefore I recommend this book for everybody who are interesting in books about films/actors but warn the average reader that it may get tiresome midway through the book.

Very, Very Informative Look at One of the Greatest...........2005-06-24

Despite it being a tad pricey, this book is incredibly well researched - and if you're a true Ford fan - well worth the price. It truly reads like a textbook in that there's no fluff to get in the way of the facts. Mr. Duke tells the story of Ford's life chronologically and goes into - dare I say, graphic - detail into the making of his films.
Just when you thought you knew everything about the legend, it's time to think again...

Definitive Harrison Ford Filmography.......2005-04-27

'Harrison Ford: The Films' is infinitely detailed and exhaustingly researched in a way that other books simply are not. Fans and film students will find this to be a substantive and well written source for information on both Mr. Ford himself, and the trials and tribulations of film making. Moreover, Mr. Duke's work is absorbing and entertaining - not merely a bland list of the actor's acomplishments, but a witty and reverant discussion of Mr. Ford's career and life. The author graciously omits the cheap "gossip" that so often finds its way into such works, while including a well rounded look at Mr. Ford's origins and personal achievements.

In short, this book is a MUST for any Ford fan or film buff!

The most outstanding book about the most outstanding actor.......2005-03-10

Brad Duke's years of research, interviews and extensive travel have paid off in the biggest of ways in the form of 'Harrison Ford: The Films'. Duke's chronological peek at the stellar career of Harrison Ford is unarguably the most thorough, complete and compelling work that has ever come to the literary marketplace.
Commencing with Harrison's working class upbringing and intricately weaving it's way through years of legendary films, directors, actors, friends and business associates, 'Harrison Ford: The Films' could certainly be used as a textbook in a college course about Ford's life and career. This extraordinary book gives the reader a fly-on-the-wall look at the reclusive star's life, loves, personal passions, films and little-known philanthropic efforts. It is a rare feat when a Hollywood-themed book can manage to side-step gossip and innuendo and wind up with a true and accurate depiction of a man, an actor, a crazy business and the passion that fuels all three.
Utilizing little-known stories and interviews with industry big-wigs and insiders, the reader is "a-FORD-ED" with a rare glimpse of the movie industry and all it's workings and complications. Duke further encourages the reader with the use of easy-to-understand terminology and funny stories that, some of which, until now, have not been committed to print. You will certainly find this an easy read and an extremely insightful and funny look at the world's most popular movie star. Starting with Harrison's earliest work in television, the book faithfully chronicals the trials, tribulations and triumphs in such areas as co-stars, film budgets, script problems, studio clashes, risky stunt work and the toll that his work has taken on Mr. Ford himself.
I bought the book when it first came out and did not put it down until I was finished reading it. I found it poignant, interesting, insightful and absolutely charming. I'm sure you will too.

Desabrida historia de amor.(reseña cinematográfica)(TT: An insipid tale of love.)(TA: film review)(Reseña): An article from: Siempre!

Average customer rating:

Desabrida historia de amor.(reseña cinematográfica)(TT: An insipid tale of love.)(TA: film review)(Reseña): An article from: Siempre!
Mario Saavedra
Manufacturer: Edicional Siempre
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Digital
ASIN: B0008GVU5K
Release Date: 2005-07-28

Book Description

This digital document is an article from Siempre!, published by Edicional Siempre on January 20, 2000. The length of the article is 1458 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Citation Details
Title: Desabrida historia de amor.(reseña cinematográfica)(TT: An insipid tale of love.)(TA: film review)(Reseña)
Author: Mario Saavedra
Publication: Siempre! (Refereed)
Date: January 20, 2000
Publisher: Edicional Siempre
Volume: 46 Issue: 2431 Page: 80

Article Type: Reseña

Distributed by Thomson Gale

ALAN J. PAKULA: HIS FILMS AND HIS LIFE. Foreword by Harrison Ford.

Average customer rating:

ALAN J. PAKULA: HIS FILMS AND HIS LIFE. Foreword by Harrison Ford.
Jared. Brown
Manufacturer: Backstage Books,
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000N7E80I

Book Description

In the spring of 1969, the inauspicious release of Captain Beefheart and the Magic Band's Trout Mask Replica, a double-album featuring 28 stream-of-consciousness songs filled with abstract rhythms and guttural bellows, dramatically altered the pop landscape.

Yet even if the album did cast its radical vision over the future of music, much of the record's artistic strength is actually drawn from the past. This book examines how Beefheart's incomparable opus, an album that divided (rather than) united a pop audience, is informed by a variety of diverse sources. Trout Mask Replica is a hybrid of poetic declarations inspired by both Walt Whitman and the beat poets, the field hollers of the Delta Blues, the urban blues of Howlin' Wolf, the gospel blues of Blind Willie Johnson, and the free jazz of Ornette Coleman. This book illustrates how Trout Mask Replica was not so much an arcane specimen of the avant-garde, but rather a defiantly original declaration of the American imagination.

Customer Reviews:

Good overview.......2007-09-18

Good commentary on TMR. With the lack of material about CB out there, anything is refreshing. Lots of interviews with MB members, some good funny insights and comments, not too much overintellectualising, a quick read. A good choice for Beefheart fans

Average customer rating:

Identity Crisis
More of a biography on the music and not the MAN
Tells a story, but Van Vliet remains obscure...
Warms The Cockles Of My (Beef)Heart
A Fair Biography of a Great Artist

Captain Beefheart
Mike Barnes
Manufacturer: Quartet Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books

Look Inside Entertainment Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books
Similar Items:

ASIN: 0704380730

Book Description

Born Don Van Vliet in 1941, Captain Beefheart is one of modern music's true innovators. The owner of a remarkable four-and-one-half octave vocal range, he employs idiosyncratic rhythms, absurdist lyrics, and an unholy alliance of free jazz, Delta blues, latter-day classical music, and rock & roll to create a singular body of work virtually unrivalled in its daring creativity.

Customer Reviews:

Identity Crisis.......2007-05-13

I'll try to keep this brief.

Certainly it contains some fascinating biographical insights, but I felt it was more consumed with page after page of review-type song-by-song analyses of each album, and the aforementioned biographical insights seemed to be overwhelmingly comprised of anecdotes about Beefheart's ego & paranoia.

More of a biography on the music and not the MAN.......2004-12-21

This book is pretty good as it is a fast and interesting read. As it progresses, it analyzes the albums in order (which is good for those who don't know much about them).

However, the author is not a great writer. I'm not talking about grammar, I'm talking about creativity and the ability to bring the people to life. He doesn't do this. Good biographies make you feel like you KNOW the people (not just the main person) after you read it, but sadly, this book doesn't describe the people at all. Also, he quite often mentions a person as if we should KNOW who they are (he did this a few times, like with Grannie Annie. Maybe i'm not a big enough fan to already know who that person is).

Also, Beefheart himself doesn't even feel like the focus. Its more of a musical biography and when I mean music I mean the music from the other bandmembers. The author analyzes the music from a musicians view.. which I can understand since he's a musician. But still, to just call this "Captain Beefheart: The Biography" is sort of a stretch. We don't get too much into his personal life. The author jumps around and makes mention of one of Beefheart's girlfriends and then BOOM!, a little while later, Beefheart is married to a different woman. A good biography would go into that. Or, if the information is unavailable, the author should have made note of that.

Basically, this is a dry clinical approach yet is somehow interesting. Like I said, its a fast read and its good for people who want to know information about the songs.

Also, a small criticism.. In most biographies the author does not make an appearance.. they do not use the word "I" and talk about themselves. Some biographies DO, and there's nothing wrong with that. They make it a more personal thing (if they knew the person in question). However, this author does not mention himself at all until more than halfway in the book in just one sentence. Strange!! What do we care about him buying a Beefheart record? We KNOW he is a fan and has listened to the music, why else would he be writing this?
Anyway, I do recommend it to be read by Beefheart fans but I wouldn't call this a "biography".. more of a book ABOUT beefheart's music career and an average one at that. The author's gotta learn how to be more creative.

Tells a story, but Van Vliet remains obscure..........2004-11-07

Don Van Vliet (alias "Captain Beefheart") has become one of the most elusive and enigmatic figures in rock history. Strangely, a veritable paucity of information exists on his life and work. Internet webpages and blurbs in CD booklets provide one of the largest current trove of insights. This leaves a large knowledge gap for the curious, and there's plenty to be curious about. His self-abdication as the king of avant-garde rock (or so subsumed by many) to the painterly recluse represents a massive - and intriguing - change for an artist to undertake. Also, he's disappeared. Sightings of and interviews with Van Vliet have gone the way of the dodo bird. Add to that rumors of failing health, and the gossip fountains spurt prodigiously.
Given such a situation, those interested in the life of Van Vliet must embrace the appearance of a new biography (or at least a reissue; this book was originally published in 2000, and, according to the title page, was republished in 2002 with "textual emendations"). Surprisingly, not many biographies of "Captain Beefheart" have made their way into print. Or maybe this shouldn't surprise fans. The lack of material, especially valuable primary source material (in the form of interviews with Van Vliet himself) would daunt the most driven biographer wannabe.
In light of the startling limitations, one has to give Mike Barnes some credit for this undertaking. Unfortunately, the lack of really juicy material shows in this 365 page linear telling of Van Vliet's life. Plenty of dates and amusing and insightful anecdotes appear. And if one wants to know just the basic story behind Captain Beefheart and His/The Magic Band and his subsequent (or continuous) morphing into Don Van Vliet the painter, then dig in. Unfortunately, what one won't find is depth. Don Van Vliet the man and his methodologies remain in relative obscurity by the book's end. True, what happened to him gets a fair outline, but not much else. The book generally feels like a compilation of magazine, audio, and television interviews with sequeways filled in by the author. Consequently, anyone who has undertaken a study of Van Vliet will find much of the material familiar. Don't expect any earth shattering surprises.
Other flaws not related directly to lack of information also exist. The author's abrupt transitions to the first person are jarring. This happens only a few times, but when it does, the flow suffers. Placing these personal reflections into footnotes or endnotes would preserve the narrative flow (particularily the author's recollections of trying to get an interview with Van Vliet; they're very interesting but would have fit better in an epilogue or an appendix; they also come off like an apology for the lack of material). In addition, typos dot the text frequently enough to further strain the flow.
The photograph section presents another puzzle. The book covers all of Van Vliet's life (up to around 2001), but the photos only cover the years 1980 - 1982. Maybe permissions for photos were difficult to obtain? The included photos are great, but they beg the question as to why only an extremely small part of Van Vliet's life made it into this section.
Not only that, the book does not include an index, so returning to specific passages becomes tedious. Of course indexers cost money, so dropping the index probably helped the book get into print. Still, it makes the book less useful as a reference.
On a lighter note, one of the most amusing anecdotes related by Barnes is Van Vliet's run-in with Bono of U2. Following an offer made by Bono to tour with U2 and collaborate, Van Vliet supposedly kept asking his friends "Who's this Bongo?"
Lastly, the multifarious members of various Magic Bands get airtime here. Some of them feel cheated. Others feel fortunate. Some even feel cheated and fortunate. Many of their stories clash with Van Vliet's own version. In the end, what exactly happened is difficult to reconstruct.
Overall the book reads quickly and tells the story of Van Vliet. Those who have no prior knowledge of Captain Beefheart apart from the music will learn a great deal. Longtime fans will probably not learn too much. Barnes is obviously a big fan, and his enthusiasm shows. Nonetheless, the book contains flaws, but not insurmountable ones. Perhaps this book will lay the groundwork for a more detailed study in the future. Or at the very least get Van Vliet's music some more well-deserved press.

Warms The Cockles Of My (Beef)Heart.......2003-04-02

Having discovered Captain Don a couple of years ago, Beefheart has risen from curio to obsession in my humble little universe. Quite eager to indulge that obsession, I read this bio in one sitting and I have found it to be most satisfying. Combine this book with (Zoot Horn Rollo) Bill Harkleroad's Lunar Notes, and one seems to get a fair enough picture of Van Vliet's personality & artistry, as well as what life was like living underneath his oppressive regime.

All of the key Magic Band members were interviewed, and their opinions range from bitter/disillusioned (Harkleroad & Ry Cooder), ambiguous (John French, Jimmy Carl Black) to downright hero-worship (Gary Lucas). What this biography makes plain is that all of these attitudes are justified when in reference to the good Captain. Van Vliet has that curious blend of charisma, charm, cruelty, and authoritarianism that seems to part & parcel of many great artists.

The music is discussed in great length, and I find the author's opinions to be mostly sound. The writing style is fast-paced, yet doesn't skimp on analysis. Beefheart's love-hate relationships with Frank Zappa and Ian Anderson are discussed in some detail. It's interesting to note that both Zappa and Anderson were (and in Anderson's case still is) very successful entrepreneurs in the rock music biz, something that completely eluded the financially hapless Beefheart.

If you're ready to shed the ordinary, banal junk that plays on the radio, buy the discs Trout Mask Replica, Safe As Milk and Clear Spot (to start), order this book, and enter a new world.

A Fair Biography of a Great Artist.......2002-12-21

Thorough and informative, but unfortunately Mike Barnes is only a mediocre writer. This is a must have for fans and, for that matter, anyone interested in the milestones of American music. But prepare yourself for a less-than-satisfying literary experience.

Lunar Notes: Zoot Horn Rollo's Captain Beefheart Experience (Music)

Average customer rating:

It Comes To You In A Plain Brown Wrapper
Love Over Gold. Zoot Apparently Didn't Get Either From CB.
A Typical Music experience in a Unconventional Band
He's Somewhat Bitter
For the Beefheart fanatic...

Lunar Notes: Zoot Horn Rollo's Captain Beefheart Experience (Music)
Bill Harkleroad
Manufacturer: SAF Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books

General | Music | Entertainment | Subjects | Books

Look Inside Entertainment Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books
Similar Items:

ASIN: 0946719217

Book Description

"At last, the inside story of the best rock band of the 20th century. Zoot Horn Rollo tells all and opens the doorto the secret history of Captain Beefheart and the Magic Band."-Matt Groening, creator of The Simpsons.Rechristened as Zoot Horn Rollo, guitarist Harkleroad recalls what it was like to live, record and play with a temperamental genius such as Captain Beefheart on landmark albums such as Trout Mask Replica.

Customer Reviews:

It Comes To You In A Plain Brown Wrapper.......2003-04-18

After reading Captain Beefheart interviews for decades it's refreshing to hear what the other guys in the Magic Band have to say about creating their innovative music.
This book is a very rare glimpse into the Magic Band by one of their most talented members. Beefheart prefers to shroud his work in mystery, but Zoot Horn Rollo is here to tell the tale. I enjoyed his book a lot.

Love Over Gold. Zoot Apparently Didn't Get Either From CB........2003-04-02

This is a fascinating glimpse into Planet Beefheart. Bill Harkleroad was Beefheart's guitarist (and quite possibly co-composer), and he's written something that will be enjoyed by all of us Beefheart fans. Zoot's attitude towards the music varies a bit: he loves Lick My Decals Off (rightly), has a guarded respect for Trout Mask, loathes The Spotlight Kid (have to disagree with him on that one), really likes Clear Spot, and utterly dismisses Unconditionally Guaranteed (quite rightly).

As a writer, Zoot is a great slide-guitarist. The anecdotes and discussion about the music are mostly enjoyable, and sometimes very disturbing. Unfortunately, the book lacks real cohesion. As a previous reviewer stated, this book is more of a conversation with Zoot than a literary work. Bill Harkleroad seems awfully bitter about the Captain after all these years (probably justifiably), and I feel that this book was written in order to, at least partially, close a chapter in Bill's life. In any event, thanks to both Zoot and the Captain for creating some of the greatest music of the twentieth century.

A Typical Music experience in a Unconventional Band.......2002-12-24

Bill aka Zoot Horn Rollo may sound bitter regarding his days with Captain Beefheart but it in many ways is typical in the Music Business. The money goes to who set themselves up to get it with contracts and the like. Zoot signed a bad deal and in retrospect is bitter. That being said this book is very insightful on the real persona of Don Van Vliet(Capt Beefheart)Like most successful people he got there by using others to his advantage. A nice easy read that is less than flattering at times to the beef but the truth is kinda funny that way.

He's Somewhat Bitter.......2000-11-21

Sounds like Zoot is tooting his horn about a lot of bad experiences in The Magic Band, mainly not getting paid, or given credit for his writing work. His bitterness has obviously influenced his insight on his Beefheart years. An interesting, but short read for a Beefheart fan that sort of leaves you wanting more. Reportedly drummer John French is writing a book too. It will be interesting to compare his version of the story with Zoot's.

For the Beefheart fanatic..........2000-05-27

This is a very worthwhile book if you want to know what REALLY happened during the time that the CB band was first formed. At least, according to Zoot Horn Rollo, this is how it was...

Not that I doubt Zoot, you understand. I just think that he has his view, and the Captain has his, and everyone has their own...

Nevertheless, I imagine most of what Zoot says here is a fairly accurate portrayal of those early Beefheartian times... and for that, it is very enjoyable, very interesting reading...

If you're a fan of Beefheart and his music, you've got to read this. It's the only book in town, for the time being.

"There are only 40 people in the world, and 5 of them are hamburgers." - Don Van Vliet

-Dr. Whitestein was here on 05/26/00

Average customer rating:

Critical Essay

Definitely not worth whatever they're charging for it

Trout Mask Original

A Decent Read

Riding Some Kind Of Unusual Skull Sleigh: On The Arts Of Don Van Vliet
W. C. Bamberger , and William C. Bamberger
Manufacturer: Bamberger Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books
20th Century | Poetry | United States | World Literature | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
General | Poetry | United States | World Literature | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
United States | Single Authors | Poetry | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

Captain Beefheart: The Biography

Frank Zappa, Captain Beefheart and the Secret History of Maximalism (Salt Studies in Contemporary Literature & Culture S.)

Captain Beefheart's Trout Mask Replica (33 1/3)

ASIN: 0917453352

Book Description

Biography. Art Criticism. For more than seventeen years, Don Van Vliet made music under the name Captain Beefheart. When he walked away from music, he turned to his other art and is now an internationally known and collected abstract painter. RIDING SOME KIND OF UNUSUAL SKULL SLEIGH looks at the phases of Van Vliet's musical career through the lens of the new, ecological theories of mind which were emerging at the time Captain Beefheart and the Magic Band were beginning to record. The result is a unique interpretation of Van Vliet's music and motives -- "Van Vliet as Gaia microcasm" -- which looks at both his genius and the darker side of his Captain Beefheart persona. The author also offers a detailed analysis of Van Vliet's drawings and paintings and suggests that art world acceptance has drastically changed his art -- and perhaps the artist himself.

Customer Reviews:

Critical Essay.......2002-01-22

Well I like to read any piece about Don, and I wish more people would get turned onto his musical work; a lot of the painting stuff I can do without.This book is really no revelation if you already are a big fan,but may provide some background for a Beefheart neophyte. It basically quotes Bill Harkleroad's "Lunar Notes" which is recommended over this, and a lot of info comes from the Radar Station website,which you can read for free. Typos are a plenty, and a couple of things strike me as a little misinformed, like his reference to co-writer Herb Bermann on "Safe As Milk" who has pretty well been exposed as a fictitious person created by Don for some type of royalty scam, and I thought that was common knowledge; just read the liner notes for the "Safe As Milk" re-master.Too much of this is opinionated rather than factual.

Definitely not worth whatever they're charging for it.......2001-01-30

I was so hugely disappointed in this book i can barely describe it. This was by far one of the worst written and most poorly edited books I have ever read. Bamberger really takes it over the top trying to intellectualize Beefheart's music & paintings. Leaving the reader to say "who cares?". It really just ends up taking away from how great his music & art really is. Left me with a bad taste in my mouth...Definitely not worth the high price.

Trout Mask Original.......2000-08-08

Bamberger is to Beefheart as Sandberg is to Lincoln. This is the primer and reference book for the subject. Bamberger's detailed descriptions and thoughtful insight will give any reader a greater appreciation of this phenomenal artist. If you have listened to "Trout Mask Replica" more than once or are curious about Van Vliet the artist, you must have this book.

A Decent Read.......1999-12-02

This book reads like a thesis on Don Van Vliet, drawing comparisons between his art and his music. Informative to those unfamiliar with Captain Beefheart/Don Van Vliet.

Frank Zappa, Captain Beefheart and the Secret History of Maximalism (Salt Studies in Contemporary Literature & Culture S.)

Average customer rating:

Frank Zappa, Captain Beefheart and the Secret History of Maximalism (Salt Studies in Contemporary Literature & Culture S.)
Michel Delville , and Andrew Norris
Manufacturer: Salt Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books

General | Music | Entertainment | Subjects | Books

History & Criticism | Music | Entertainment | Subjects | Books

Look Inside Entertainment Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books
Similar Items:

ASIN: 1844710599

Book Description

A comparative account of the musical and cultural acts of Zappa and his cohort, collaborator and antagonist Captain Beefheart. Written in the iconoclastic spirit of Zappa's art, this book traces the mixed media experiments of California freakdom through the dada blues of Beefheart, mapping out the pleasures of imaginative excess.

Average customer rating:

Captain Beefheart
Ken Brooks
Manufacturer: Agenda Ltd
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Music | Entertainment | Subjects | Books

General | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 1899882111

Fast and Bulbous: the Captain Beefheart Story

Average customer rating:

Fast and Bulbous: the Captain Beefheart Story
Ben Cruickshank
Manufacturer: Agenda Ltd
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books

Books:

Books Index

Books Home

Recommended Books