by Dick Weissman | Jan 22, 2018 | Archived Reviews (pre-April 2020), History, Music
Following up on his book about the legendary L.A. hit makers The Wrecking Crew, Hartman takes a different tack in this book about LA Rock in the 1970s. He weaves the story around producer Keith Olsen, his studio Sound City, and session guitar player Waddy Wachtel. The...
by Dick Weissman | Jul 17, 2017 | Archived Reviews (pre-April 2020), Current Events & Politics, Social Science
Periodically we hear about wealthy multi-millionaires and billionaires establishing foundations in order to give away substantial chunks of their wealth during their lifetime, or after they pass on. Callahan points out that there is nothing new about this, and he...
by Dick Weissman | Jun 30, 2017 | Archived Reviews (pre-April 2020), Biographies & Memoirs, Music
John Doe has put together a history of L.A.Punk Music in the 1970s. The contributors include his band-mate Exene Cervenka, Charlotte Caffey, and Jane Weidlin of the Au Go-Go’s, and a half dozen other musicians, music critics, and record producers. The book does a fine...
by Dick Weissman | Apr 20, 2017 | Archived Reviews (pre-April 2020), Biographies & Memoirs, Music
Rhodes has concocted an unusual format for this memoir, which is also in development as a feature film. The chapters are titled as “Tracks,” as one would find on a record album. Each track includes an introductory page that references a specific performance of a piano...
by Dick Weissman | Mar 14, 2017 | Archived Reviews (pre-April 2020), Biographies & Memoirs, Music
Although this is a slim 95-page book, it is essential reading for anyone who cares to explore the roots of the DIY (do it yourself) movement in music. The author sketches the odyssey of the town, which he describes as a rust belt remnant with high unemployment, and a...
