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tangodiva's review
2.0
Good God was this book long. I started reading it on a flight last year but I bought it on my Nook (!) more than ten years ago. I loved Flanagan's A & R but this read like a Cliff Notes of everything that happened to every band you've ever heard of. He can write, and he keeps it moving. But an editor was so needed.
colorfulleo92's review against another edition
3.0
2.6 stats. The book had some serious promises to be fascinating but it just didn't work for me. Feelt to long and I wasn't invested in it. I can see why other people like/love it, but it was pretty boring for me
mcbolt's review
2.0
This book dragged on and on and on! It made some interesting points about the music industry, but I can't believe I finished it, it was so boring.
psteve's review
4.0
The story of the rock band Ravons, founded in the early 60s, puts out 3 albums, and what happens to the group and its members over the next 35 years. Told from the point of view of a young attorney, hired to spy on the wife of the lead singer, but who becomes their manager. Flanagan knows a lot about rock history and the different styles and circumstances that happened to various groups over the time, and he brings it all to bear here. At times I was afraid that the book was sinking into cliche, but he avoided that well, and it's also the case that the characters aren't direct versions of any specific people. It turns out to be quite a good book, memorable in a lot of its details.
That's the last of my rock reading for a while; I have a book on Jerry Lee Lewis at the bedside, but other books are beckoning me first.
That's the last of my rock reading for a while; I have a book on Jerry Lee Lewis at the bedside, but other books are beckoning me first.
victoring's review against another edition
4.0
Of course the names have been changed but they're all in here: Chris Blackwell, Allen Klein, even Brian Epstein. This wonderful story traces not only a 60's band in its 40-year journey from hitmakers to rock 'n roll dinosaurs but also shows the evolution of the music industry from payola and selling 45's to unlimited digital streaming. A great tale for those fascinated by the music industry.
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