Considering that no one has ever been able to explain Bob, you’ve done a fair job of describing him. All of us that have grown up and grown old with him realize that what he means is mostly what you choose to make of it. Thanks for your take, as always.
Thanks for this, Steve. You and I differ mostly on the art direction, which I see as sticking very closely to the the FOB circle that helped him get this thing turned into the publisher. You will know what I mean when I say the design feels to me like being trapped in Joe Edwards' basement. The writing is, shall we say, up and down? But I love the things you mention, and the essay on Doc Pomus/Elvis is brilliant. I love your intro to this piece -- that second person voice feels like how he got 'er done!
Hah! Trapped in Joe Edwards' basement. Maybe, but then again, the first time one goes down there, it might be pretty fascinating. Also, nice inadvertent foreshadowing, as Joe Edwards appears in the next book I'll be reviewing. Thanks for the kind words.
Not done yet, but it's a trip. That's a very smart review and I'm with you all the way, though I might be a little more disappointed than you. He's still on a hustle after all these years; some of 'em work on me, some of 'em I let work, some of 'em I'm invulnerable to. I'm not laughing as much as I go further, because it feels a little schticky. The thing I'm happiest about is his recognition of Alvin Youngblood Hart's rendition of "Nelly Was a Lady" on the out-of-print BEAUTIFUL DREAMER. It is heartbreaking and on-the-money, even with some apparent production flub that's on every version I've heard (I have a physical copy, but it's that way digitally as well). Good work, Steve!
Thanks, Phillip! I probably should have found a way to mention that roughly 2/3 of the way in, I raced through the "You are / You did" sections, as they were, as you say, schticky, and less funny the more of them there were. And, d'oh! I forgot the Alvin Youngblood Hart was another post-1979 inclusion. I think I have that Beautiful Dreamer CD, but I haven't pulled it out in ages if I do. Probably only played it once or twice back when I was reading about Stephen Foster songs.
That's really the only gem on the collection. I am a dyed-in-the-wool AYH fan and always surprised that folks don't note what a GREAT singer he is on top of the picking.
Considering that no one has ever been able to explain Bob, you’ve done a fair job of describing him. All of us that have grown up and grown old with him realize that what he means is mostly what you choose to make of it. Thanks for your take, as always.
There's also a John Trudell song that's 2001.
Thanks for this, Steve. You and I differ mostly on the art direction, which I see as sticking very closely to the the FOB circle that helped him get this thing turned into the publisher. You will know what I mean when I say the design feels to me like being trapped in Joe Edwards' basement. The writing is, shall we say, up and down? But I love the things you mention, and the essay on Doc Pomus/Elvis is brilliant. I love your intro to this piece -- that second person voice feels like how he got 'er done!
Hah! Trapped in Joe Edwards' basement. Maybe, but then again, the first time one goes down there, it might be pretty fascinating. Also, nice inadvertent foreshadowing, as Joe Edwards appears in the next book I'll be reviewing. Thanks for the kind words.
Not done yet, but it's a trip. That's a very smart review and I'm with you all the way, though I might be a little more disappointed than you. He's still on a hustle after all these years; some of 'em work on me, some of 'em I let work, some of 'em I'm invulnerable to. I'm not laughing as much as I go further, because it feels a little schticky. The thing I'm happiest about is his recognition of Alvin Youngblood Hart's rendition of "Nelly Was a Lady" on the out-of-print BEAUTIFUL DREAMER. It is heartbreaking and on-the-money, even with some apparent production flub that's on every version I've heard (I have a physical copy, but it's that way digitally as well). Good work, Steve!
Thanks, Phillip! I probably should have found a way to mention that roughly 2/3 of the way in, I raced through the "You are / You did" sections, as they were, as you say, schticky, and less funny the more of them there were. And, d'oh! I forgot the Alvin Youngblood Hart was another post-1979 inclusion. I think I have that Beautiful Dreamer CD, but I haven't pulled it out in ages if I do. Probably only played it once or twice back when I was reading about Stephen Foster songs.
That's really the only gem on the collection. I am a dyed-in-the-wool AYH fan and always surprised that folks don't note what a GREAT singer he is on top of the picking.