Amazon.com
If you're not inclined to read individual biographies of Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, and Sammy Davis Jr., Shawn Levy's Rat Pack Confidential is a perfect one-stop resource. Less a group biography than a series of impressionistic snapshots, the book is loaded with can't-miss material--the dirt on the making of Ocean's Eleven, information about Sinatra's wild stint as a casino owner, deep background on Peter Lawford's habit of introducing Jack Kennedy to glamorous starlets, wiretap transcripts of mobsters Sam Giancana and Johnny Formosa discussiong Dean Martin's lack of respect.
Levy, whose previous book, King of Comedy, is a serious consideration of Jerry Lewis's life and career, offers similarly well considered insights into the members of the Rat Pack. He covers Davis's lifelong struggle against racism and the complicated intertwinings of the Kennedy political machine and "the Clan," as the performers preferred to be called (they often denied anything like the Rat Pack even existed and resisted collective references).
The book's debts to its predecessors are often apparent; much of the material on Sinatra's friendship with Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall, for example, appears to have been gleaned from recent Bogart biographies. The writing style, which tries to capture the ring-a-ding-ding feel of the era, also owes serious debts to Nick Tosches by way of James Ellroy, while only intermittently reaching their level of mastery. But these are minor quibbles. As a synthesis of thirty years worth of journalism and celebrity biography, Rat Pack Confidential succeeds in portraying the supernova blowout of old-school showbiz in all its dazzling glory.
Book Description
For the first time, the full story of what happened when Frank brought his best pals to party in a land called Vegas
January 1960. Las Vegas is at its smooth, cool peak. The Strip is a jet-age theme park, and the greatest singer in the history of American popular music summons a group of friends there to make a movie. One is an insouciant singer of Italian songs, ex-partner to the most popular film comedian of the day. One is a short, black, Jewish, one-eyed, singing, dancing wonder. One is an upper-crust British pretty boy turned degenerate B-movie star actor, brother-in-law to an ascendant politician. And one is a stiff-shouldered comic with the quintessential Borscht Belt emcee’s knack for needling one-liners. The architectonically sleek marquee of the Sands Hotel announces their presence simply by listing their names: FRANK SINATRA. DEAN MARTIN. SAMMY DAVIS, JR. PETER LAWFORD. JOEY BISHOP. Around them an entire cast gathers: actors, comics, singers, songwriters, gangsters, politicians, and women, as well as thousands of starstruck everyday folks who fork over pocketfuls of money for the privilege of basking in their presence. They call themselves The Clan. But to an awed world, they are known as The Rat Pack.
They had it all. Fame. Gorgeous women. A fabulouse playground of a city and all the money in the world. The backing of fearsome crime lords and the blessing of the President of the United States. But the dark side–over the thin line between pleasure and debauchery, between swinging self-confidence and brutal arrogance–took its toll. In four years, their great ride was over, and showbiz was never the same.
Acclaimed Jerry Lewis biographer Shawn Levy has written a dazzling portrait of a time when neon brightness cast sordid shadows. It was Frank’s World, and we just lived in it.
Customer Reviews:
Quick read.......2007-07-24
Not a lot of new knowledge in this book. Most of it has been written about before but it was interesting to see how the author linked the lives of these men together to show how their relationships evolved over time. I enjoyed reading this book.
Light fun and then the dark fall of the Rat Pack.......2007-04-29
Rat Pack Confidential gives a 101 level course of the group, highlighting the fun they had together makes movies and showing off at the Vegas clubs. It then chronicles the toubles they had together (Why did Sammy alientate himself from Frank?) and then their downfalls as indvidiuals (Dean's descent into alcoholism). Longer books could (and have been) written about each of them indivdiually, but this succinctly captures their spirit in both the glamour and their squalor. It accomplishes what it sets out to do.
Rat Pack Confidential.......2007-03-31
I found this book to be enlightening and enjoyable, filling in some gaps in my knowledge of the Rat Pack. It did, however, suffer from something that happens fairly often in popular histories, and that is a shading of facts to fit the premise of the book. In this case, the premise is that "It's Frank Sinatra's world, we're just living in it". Author Shawn Levy makes that point over and over again at every turn, sometimes making bold statements about Frank's superior style or entertainment abilities, which really was unnecessary and took away from the book, in my opinion.
All-in-all, a good and informative read for Rat Pack fans.
A Curiosity.......2006-07-10
The author sets the scene well in the prologue. He paints the conductor of this orchestra of self-absorption, Frank Sinatra, as a revered singer and actor, who somehow decided to set up a situation where people he was curious about would be set up around him, so he could watch them, contrast them and influence them.
The stage thus set is almost like an extended form of performance art. "T am so unique and so invulnerable that I can make this happen, and make people like it." Many "American Idols" have done this, but few did what Frank did: set up a group like the Rat Pack to bounce along with.
Two figures of great significance emerge outside the perimeter in this story: John Kennedy and Marilyn Monroe. The former seems most similar to Sinatra himself: glad to have others feel that they are taking advantage of him, while constantly doing just the reverse. The latter is just awfully sad: a directionless icon who loses all sense of life purpose and whose end is almost a relief.
The part I liked the best was how Frank builds an extensive compound, including Secret Service and helicopter support, which Kennedy completely spurns. It was a comeuppance that Frank totally deserved.
You'll enjoy this book. And, as others have observed here, Nick Tosches' book, "Dino," is a natural companion.
Rat Pack Confidential Review.......2006-03-16
Several things to say about this book. It's a great anthology of the Rat Pack during their Vegas years. I'm a big fan of Sinatra et.al, and find this book to be very fascinating reading for anyone who is enamoured with these entertainers and their great era.
Average customer rating:
|
Rat Pack Confidential
Shawn Levy
Manufacturer: Fourth Estate
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
 Arts & Literature
| Biographies & Memoirs
| Subjects
| Books
| Actors & Actresses
| Artists, Architects & Photographers
| Authors
| Composers & Musicians
| Dancers
| Entertainers
| Movie Directors
| New Age
| Television Performers
| Theatre
General
| Biographies & Memoirs
| Subjects
| Books
Performing Arts
| Entertainment
| Subjects
| Books
| Dance
| Magic & Illusion
| Theater
General
| Performing Arts
| Arts & Photography
| Subjects
| Books
ASIN: 1841150010 |
Average customer rating:
|
Rat Pack Confidential
Shawn Martin Levy
Manufacturer: Doubleday Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding
Acting & Auditioning
| Theater
| Performing Arts
| Arts & Photography
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Performing Arts
| Arts & Photography
| Subjects
| Books
ASIN: 0385492049 |
Book Description
Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Jr, Peter Lawford and Joey Bishop. They were the most famous entertainers on the planet and they made the rules. Their world was full of charisma, talent and charm, gambling, private jets, drink, drugs and girls to excess.
Download Description
Rat Pack Confidential offers an "exuberant, opinionated, and irreverent" (San Francisco Sunday Examiner and Chronicle) look at Frank Sinatra and company during the heyday of the group. 16 pp. of photos. 352 pp. Author promo. Radio giveaways. 17,500 print.
Book Description
It's no secret that Beethoven went deaf, that Mozart had constant money problems, and that Gilbert and Sullivan wrote musicals. But what were these people--and other famous musicians--really like? What did they eat? What did they wear? How did they spend their time? And--possibly most interesting of all--what did their neighbors think?
Discover the fascinating and often humorous stories of twenty famous musicians--people of all shapes, sizes, temperaments, and lifestyles, from various countries and historical periods. Beginning with Vivaldi and ending with Woodie Guthrie, Lives of the Musicians brings musical history to life!
Customer Reviews:
Musicians, Musicians' Lives.......2007-04-14
A pleasure to read this book. I listen to a classical music station which includes interesting facts about the musicians' private lives. One day a guest mentioned that she knew where the host was obtaining these interesting facts. So it is a secret no longer; it's this book. Lives of the Musicians is light reading with approx. 2 pages of facts per musician, so it is not an in-depth look at their private lives; however put it on your "Fun" reading list. It is a highly amusing book and a great source of dinner conversation. Also Check out Lives of the Artists:Good Times, Bad Times (and What the Neigbors Thought)
Great musical resource!.......2007-03-12
My daughter has been studying piano for two years and she is fascinated by the people who score the compositions she learns to play. In school she learns about a different composer each month and always wants to know more when she comes home. She also has a love for anything historical. This book was a great addition to our reference collection because it reaches her on several levels. We happened to come across it at the library and, after reading a few entries, we decided we'd like to buy it. Lots of bookstores stocked the paperback edition, but only Amazon had the hardcover in stock. This is the kind of book you really want in hardcover so that young children can more easily flip through the pages and study the humorous illustrations.
The book includes entries on 20 musicians from a wide range of styles, backgrounds, and historical periods. The entries are engaging for adult readers, yet accessible for a younger audience. My daughter is six and was totally engrossed in the stories of Chopin, Mozart, Clara Schumann and others. I know we will come back to this book again and again.
Great Book!.......2007-02-11
This is a great book! My piano teacher checked it out from the library and loved it so much I had to buy her a copy! The illustrations are adorable and the bio's are so interesting. A lot of interesting stories that really give the great masters a very human quality! I love reading about the musicians that I'm currently playing! If you are into music and want to know just how human they really were this is a great book!
GREAT for kids - first exposure to composers tough for little ones.......2006-09-06
My daughter's piano teacher gave her the assignment to read about Mozart as she started her first Mozart Minuet. My daughter was 7 at the time, and although she was reading at above 3rd grade level, I was shocked to find that there was NOTHING available on the internet or in her school library that give her information on composers at HER level. I finally found "Lives of the Musicians" and have actually purchased the book. It's just that good. She is able to read about each composer (for the most part the language is about her level, although she DOES need help with some of the words), and each section is engaging enough to keep her attention.
This book is a must for anyone with a child that wants or is assigned to learn about the great composers.
Gift.......2006-06-28
I got this book for my daughter who is a music teacher. I thought it would be a good reference and teaching tool for her.
Book Description
THE OFFICIAL METALLICA ILLUSTRATED CHRONICLE
From their early days in the 1980s as young, exciting, abrasive, and loud unknowns through their current multimillion-selling album, St. Anger (including the 2004 Grammy-winning title track), Metallica has earned its reputation as one of the most highly regarded and hard-rocking bands of all time. Based on material created for their official fan club’s magazine of the same name, So What!: The Good, the Mad, and the Ugly is a unique Metallica “scrapbook.” Including transcripts of exclusive round-table discussions, journal excerpts, and personal comments scribbled by band members throughout—plus festival reports, fan questions answered by the band, and approximately one thousand rare photos-- So What! celebrates many milestones and memories of the longest-running and most popular metal band ever. The book also gives the honest inside track on some of Metallica’s darker days: their search for a new bassist, insight into singer/guitarist James Hetfield’s rehab, and notes taken during their extended hiatus from 1999 to 2002. The only complete and fully authorized book of its kind, So What! offers Metallica’s legions of fans an all-access pass to the band, onstage, backstage, and beyond.
In the Fall of 1993, Metallica had just finished a 302-date world tour, and sold 15 million copies of the “Black” album worldwide. It was time, Metallica decided, to speak directly to fans through their own publication devoted entirely to an uncensored, inside look at the band. In early 1994 they launched So What! magazine, exclusively for fan clubs members. A decade later, it remains the only place in print to meet and mingle intimately with Metallica.
So What!: The Good, the Mad, and the Ugly, the first-ever official illustrated chronicle of Metallica, draws on the magazine's colossal resources to create the ultimate book for all Metallica fans.
Customer Reviews:
Good Read.......2007-07-06
Some people viewed this book as a bunch of hype or a bunch of BS from guys who are really full of themselves. I didn't feel it was that kind of book. I felt it was them looking back on how full of themselves they were and how much they had to learn and had learned. I thought the book was worth reading.
A Coffeetable Book, for Metallica Fans with a Coffeetable.......2004-12-12
This book really could have been called "Written Sh*t: Binge and Purge", as it's really the literary equivalent to Metallica's live music box set. Like the box set, it's a bloated, excessive and sometimes self-serving overload to the senses, and it's up to the individual's tolerance for the personalities in the band that will determine whether or not that this a good thing or not.
The book is beautifully put together. Tons of pictures on high-gloss paper make this a feast for the eyes. The articles are of varying quality. Peppered between the yearbook and scrapbook looking sections -- usually put together using notes, pictures and art created by the band - are some of the best interviews of the band in the last 10 years (particularly the round table discussions which, in light of Jason Newsted's departure, are quite revealing). There are even glimpses of James Hetfield's struggle with his demons before going into rehab, that in hindsight should have been pretty obvious to everyone. Weak are the Q&A sections (the band never seems to give straight answers), a lack of great detail in events in the pre-Load era (understandable as these items are pulled from the fanclub magazine started in the mid-'90s), and Lars Ulrich making love to his ego (haters like to say how much the band has changed, but Lars and his ego have remained pretty consistent over the years, if you ask me).
Complaints are relatively minor. Metallica fans that have been members of the Metclub since it's inception will pretty much have all the items in here already (from So What!, the fanclub magazine). The magazines don't look nearly as good as the book though, but it may not be reason enough to buy this for some. At times, the self-indulgence can get a mite irritating, but the honesty and candidness makes up for a lot. The band at times seems more relaxed and sincere in some of the interviews, more so than they have for industry magazines and the press, although any fan with an axe to grind will find plenty of fuel to feed their accusations that the band has sold out, only cares about money and have sucked since (fill in the blank). Those who don't will find quite a lot of revealing details on what makes their favourite band tick - even if one has to be read between the lines sometimes.
As we're not likely to see any autobiographies from the band anytime soon, So What! is the only source for words straight from the horse's mouth and something that fans won't be able to resist.
Oh, Well...........2004-12-07
Ok, I'll admit that it's been a while since we've heard anything from the guys, but this is absolutely the most funniest book I've read all year. Though it's filled with massive amounts of interesting material, it's still an utter and complete ego trip. But I'd have to say that it's the best book Metallica will ever come out with.
Metallica should loosen their ego. .......2004-10-31
I got this book right in front of Metallica and they signed it too! The sad part about this book though is that it starts from their "Load" era - the era when they started to suck majorly. All their creative juices went down with the drugs, alcohol and fighting. They do show us eventually how Jason Newstead started getting alienated from the band, but do not show any signs of regret. Jason Newstead was the only member of Metallica who did not have the rock star ego (and still doesnt). They did a huge mistake by bringing in Trujillo (who is a pretty bad bassist). There is an article by Torben Ulrich (Lars's dad) that is one of the most pretentious and bombast articles ever written. They should have done without it real easy. Also, they did not include any information about Dave Mustaine who deserves at least some recognition for writing the 'Kill em all' album. Instead, they added useless information about their first bassist Ron McGovney (who hasnt achieved anything and is hatching eggs). People care about Dave Mustaine and no one really wants to hear about Ron McGovney. I am a Metallica fan, but I think this book tries to polish their ego. After all this "some kind of monster" crap, fighting, whining, rehab and losing a band member (Jason), fans would expect a little more humble approach from Metallica. But this book is all "me, me, me, me." And it is really irritating to hear Lars misspell words because he thinks its cool and hip. And yes, there are a TONNE of pix in this ego booster...sadly, a lot of them are of Lars trying to look like a GAP model, James trying his best to look intimidating and Kirk dressing up like a drag queen, trying his best to hide his insecurity by repeatedly mentioning how he doesnt care about other people's opinions. The only cooling factor in this book is Jason. He's the one who comes off as a genuine nice guy, fan friendly, ego free, respectful, courteous, generous, humble, mindful, caring and sensitive. And the funny part is, he left the band! haha!
This is a compilation of Metallica's SO WHAT magazine from 1993 till 2004. The band did not put any effort in making the book. They only wrote tiny introductions to the chapters. For being Metallica's first official book, I hoped to see more band participation. If the band explained matters personally, I would not be giving them a 1 star. But its all just 'copy and paste.' The band just ripped off fans by trying to show they care about what fans have to say. The book is entertaining if you want to study how big rock stars behave (and whine), but you will be turned off by "Larz, Kirk and Jaymz." They are grateful to none.
They might have to big an ego to tell the truth as it is?.......2004-10-16
Not to sure what to think? I'm buying the book of course and I've been a fan a long time! 85/until now...
Just saw them "10/06/04" in Toronto, Canada but think they have to much ego or it's been to long (or if only buy default of each other) to show things to be, good, mad, or ugly?
There is nothing to lose but their pride, and a massive (for a long time) self-bulit ego? After selling 90 million records who can say anything but great about them???
I'm sure it's tuff but they've got it now? Hope the can be truthful and show the real facts as they are/were...
Book Description
1898. Contents: The Qualities of Good Music: The Essentials of Form; Rhythm, Melody, and Harmony; Polyphonic Forms; Monophonic Forms; Romantic Forms; Fundamental Forms. Vocal Forms: Church Counterpoint; Simple Song Forms; Operatic Forms. The Content Of Music: The Sensuous; The Intellectual; The Emotional; Aesthetics of Music. The Performance of Music: The Orchestra; Chamber Music; The Piano; The Violin. Vocal Performance: The Works of a Chorus; Solo Singing.
Book Description
8 songs, including: Bad Omen * In My Darkest Hour * Peace Sells * Set The World Afire * and more.
Customer Reviews:
Great Songs - Bad Transcription.......2005-08-16
Megadeth is a fantastic band and the songs included in this book are all great songs however, these are some of the worst transcriptions to the songs I've ever seen. I can figure them out better myself with a banjo and earplugs!. The book would honestly only be any good for getting the very basic chords to the songs. If you are an average player or better, don't bother with this book.
You'll be thrashing all night long!.......2005-01-13
These are very catchy songs that are fun to play. If you are good at playing guitar, then be sure to get this. All the songs are awesome and sound just like the recording. I play these songs often and it helps me develope playing techniques.
This is a guitar tablature book (no text)........2000-04-15
Based on the other review on amazon.com of this book, I bought it. The review said: "This book is an awesome source for an incredibly interesting historical look at a couple of Megadeth's greatist albums! It includes facts that lay behind the recording session".
<---this is NOT true!
If you play guitar, this is an AWESOME book, as it is ALL tablatures for the 2 albums. There is NO text & certainly NO history or "facts behind the recording sessions".
...now I wish I DID play guitar. Dave Mustaine is an awesome musician.
Book Description
For hundreds of thousands of loyal listeners throughout the United States, Jim Svejda's weekly radio program The Record Shelf is not to be missed. Now, this amusing and irreverent guide captures the special flavor of Svejda's unique program. Without fear or favor, he recommends his choices of CDs and cassettes for hundreds of compositions from the standard, and not-so-standard, fare. You'll enjoy reading this wryly humorous and candid collection time and time again.
"No one on the air treats both composers and performers with such personal devotion or has such a fine ear for differences in inflections and interpretations."
—New York Times
"The best, most searching and fascinating review of music around."
—Dudley Moore
"If you want to expand or enrich your musical horizons, this book is indispensable. No matter how sophisticated you may be about the world of classical music, Jim Svejda's book will introduce you to new performances and perspectives."
—Michael Medved, PBS's Sneak Preview
"Great fun to read."
—Sir André Preven
Customer Reviews:
Way too biased, but somewhat entertaining.......2005-07-15
I think Svejda is a great salesman, but beyond that there is little, if nothing, that shows me that he knows much about music beyond his own narrow personal favorites which are questionable at best.
Give him credit for being a great con man though
love-but proceed w/ caution.......2005-02-28
It's rare to come across a music guide and end up enjoying it like a literary work. The fact that he is also as obsessed as I am with Mozart's music above all other composers is another point in his favor. Most recommendations have been true, I've disagreed with a few. But he's always entertaining. And what i most love is his passion for classical music. Long live the Svejda! But proceed with caution if you want a guide couched in dry, polite, bloodless prose.
A hilarious romp and a labor of love.......2004-12-31
Before you read anything else, if you're one of the following, do NOT buy this book (elevated blood pressure and a desire to strangle Jim will inevitably follow):
* A die-hard audiophile (preferring a superbly recorded version of a mediocre performance to a lousy recording of a great performance),
* Someone who only listens to early music (something Jim infers most of us don't do), and
* An afficianado of recordings by Harnoncourt, Leonhardt, von Karajan or Robert Shaw.
With this caveat on the table, I'll say without reservation that this is a must-have book for any music enthusiast. Even if it were not packed with excellent recommendations for your music library, Jim's often merciless humor alone is worth the price and will supply hours of belly laughs.
I find myself giggling even when Jim is lambasting one of my favorite recordings and admitting to myself that perhaps he might have a point (however small).
I'm looking forward to the next edition...
His recommendations are often poorly recorded.......2001-12-26
I enjoy listening to Mr. Svejda on KUSC and enjoy his enthusiasm, immense knowledge, and many opinions. Almost without exception, I can refer to this book after hearing even an obscure piece for the first time and find a thoughtful discussion of it and its composer.
My complaint with his reviews is his lack of concern for recording quality to which he openly admits. He has a tin ear when it comes to good recording engineering. Even the recordings he describes as well recorded are often duds in terms of sound quality. For me, there is little enjoyment hearing a fine performance that sounds as if it were recorded in a freight elevator through a fluffy blanket.
Those like me who, while not minding less than audiophile grade recordings of the musical giants who preceeeded high fidelity, find little excuse for the inexcusably poor recording quality of so much classical work by contemporary artists and ensembles, should take his recommendations with a grain of salt. Several times, I've bought cds recommended in this book only to be dismally disappointed by a poorly executed recording.
Doesn't include newer recordings.......2001-10-18
Svejda's writing style is entertaining, and his recommendations are all pretty good. But even the newer, supposedly updated editions of this guide seem to ignore the thousands of new recordings that have appeared in the last five years or so. I question whether he has truly revisited some of the warhorse selections over the years and done a fair comparison with more recent recordings.
Book Description
This digital document is an article from Music Trades, published by Music Trades Corp. on July 1, 2004. The length of the article is 778 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: Deflation is Ebbing, sales look good, and is Wal-Mart getting cold feet?(Import tracker: what's coming into the U.S. and from where)
Publication:
Music Trades (Magazine/Journal)
Date: July 1, 2004
Publisher: Music Trades Corp.
Volume: 152
Issue: 6
Page: 24(2)
Distributed by Thomson Gale
Books:
- Reading the Gospels in the Dark: Portrayals of Jesus in Film
- Roman Polanski: Interviews (Conversations With Filmmakers Series)
- Round Up the Usual Suspects: The Making of Casablanca : Bogart, Bergman, and World War II
- Samuel Beckett: The Last Modernist
- Scene Design and Stage Lighting (with InfoTrac )
- Shooting Water: A Memoir of Second Chances, Family, and Filmmaking
- Silent Places: Landscapes of Jewish Life and Loss in Eastern Europe
- So You Want to Be a Producer
- Stanley Kubrick, Director: A Visual Analysis
- Star Gazing: Hollywood Cinema and Female Spectatorship
Books Index
Books Home
Recommended Books
- Food and Beverage Cost Control
- War Is a Racket: The Anti-War Classic by America's Most Decorated General, Two Other Anti=Interventi
- Study Guide for Baumol/Blinder's Macroeconomics: Principles and Policy, 10th
- Quicken 2001 for Macs for Dummies
- The Global City: New York, London, Tokyo.
- Whole Health for Happy Cats: A Guide to Keeping Your Cat Naturally Healthy, Happy, and Well-Fed
- The Gender and Consumer Culture Reader
- The Mom's Guide to Earning and Saving Thousands on the Internet
- The Cooperator's Dilemma
- Comprehensive Insect Physiology, Biochemistry & Pharmacology : Volume 2
Dino: Living High in the Dirty Business of Dreams
The Rat Pack: Neon Nights with the Kings of Cool
Memories Are Made of This: Dean Martin Through His Daughter's Eyes
The Way You Wear Your Hat: Frank Sinatra and the Lost Art of Livin'
His Way: An Unauthorized Biography Of Frank Sinatra
