No comments about Fear Of Music: The 261 Greatest Albums Since Punk and Disco.

No comments about Panic! At the Disco - A Fever You Can't Sweat Out (Gtab).

5 comments about Saturday Night Forever: The Story of Disco.

1. I purchased the first edition of this book and was very unhappy after reading it and seeing just how much history was left out. The authors did not go into much detail regarding the disco disc jockey's, disco television shows, nor disco radio.

   When I heard through discomusic.com that a revised version of this book was out I was thrilled. I thought maybe they cleaned it up and made history right. WRONG AGAIN! They just rehashed the first edition and added a few more photos...and some more wasted words on songs.

   No mention of IDRC (International Disco Record Centre and Eddie Rivera), no mention of Disco Step-by-Step Dance show, the first all disco television show, no mention of the New York Record Pool, no mention of Soap Factory Television, a quick blurb of Dance Fever .... slight mention of American Bandstand and Soul Train.

   Oh well .... believe me I will not spend another nickel on the next revision...if there ever is one.

   Don't get me wrong. This book does have a lot of information and for newbies it is fine but for someone who lived through the disco era I am very disappointed that more research did not go into it so that it would cover the entire realm.




2. I purchased the first edition of this book and was very unhappy after reading it and seeing just how much history was left out. The authors did not go into much detail regarding the disco disc jockey's, disco television shows, nor disco radio.

   When I heard through discomusic.com that a revised version of this book was out I was thrilled. I thought maybe they cleaned it up and made history right. WRONG AGAIN! They just rehashed the first edition and added a few more photos...and some more wasted words on songs.

   No mention of IDRC (International Disco Record Centre and Eddie Rivera), no mention of Disco Step-by-Step Dance show, the first all disco television show, no mention of the New York Record Pool, no mention of Soap Factory Television, a quick blurb of Dance Fever .... slight mention of American Bandstand and Soul Train.

   Oh well .... believe me I will not spend another nickel on the next revision...if there ever is one.

   Don't get me wrong. This book does have a lot of information and for newbies it is fine but for someone who lived through the disco era I am very disappointed that more research did not go into it so that it would cover the entire realm.




3. As a child of the '70s who was not disco shy back in the day, I thought I knew disco ... that is until I read an earlier edition of this book. The wonderful world of Eurodisco is at SNF's core, a world that remained quite underground in the U.S.A. Thus, this ain't the Bee Gees, folks (nor Disco Duck), and cover chanteuse Donna Summer is only a starting point.

   If, like me, you thrill at the thought of discovering obscure musical delights, making new musical connections and exploring a secret scene that -- 30 years on -- has barely been uncovered, this book will rev your engines.

   It also works overtime to dispel those pesky rumors that disco sucked; that it put musicians out of work; that it was homogenous, mindless, faceless; and that it is dead. The authors also do an admirable job of connecting disco genres to their various geographic and demographic sources, as well as connecting the music and movement to larger themes such as art, fashion, theory, lifestyle and even interior design.

   The book is very particular to its authors and their biases (or, at least, personal histories), but that makes it a lively and thought-provoking read. Couple this book with the wonderful Last Night a Deejay Saved My Life, and you have a crash course in the secret music of the night!




4. A brilliant well researched, and entertaining account of disco - ok I have seen some of the other reviews bemoaning about some of the exclusions, however dont let that put you off. I guess the 'whole story' still needs to be written but this is a first class valiant attempt.And puts the whole era (which I was to young to appreciate) into perspective. It deserves an extra star just for the chapter on Amanda Lear, finally getting the recognition she is due.
   Definately recommended for all disco lovers.



5. All other reviews aside, what I appreciate most about the book are the photographs by Joel Brodsky, appropriately chosen for this project, as he is known for creating the photos for hundreds of album covers....

5 comments about The Last Party: Studio 54, Disco, and the Culture of the Night.

1. Readers hoping to understand Studio 54, the rise and fall of the disco phenomena, and the evolution of the New York club scene will be disappointed. The book lacks clarity, continuity between the players and clubs, and depth of analysis and explanations.

   First, readers who want a Studio 54 story will be disappointed. Only about one-third of the book covers Studio 54. (For a much better explanation, see VH1's "Behind the Music" which did a 90-minute show on Studio 54.) While the story of this nightclub is told in disjointed segments with some interesting anecdotes, coverage of the celebrities and their stories is sparse, the role of the founders is incompletely explained, and the rise and fall of the club's fortune with Disco lacks analysis. The story is interesting, but incomplete. You will not have all of your questions answered.

   After the Studio 54 story, the book then goes into a story loop of: some semi-legitimate person opens a hip new club without all of the necessary paperwork, the club rocks for a while and attracts the latest NY scene, the club gets stale, and then goes out of business two years later. Repeat cycle. With the maze of players, it's easy to get confused with who's who and what they did.




2. I got partway through this book and started to wonder just WHAT the author was taking while he was writing it!
   It is a disjointed history that darts around all over the place dropping names that appear to have little relevance to the main story. Whats more its poorly proofed - I started to spend more time trying to pick the spelling mistakes and incorrect words than read the content.Sorry a big yawn!
   On the other hand the pictures are very interesting - thats what gives this tome 2 stars!



3. Summing up the quality of this book, and it contents, just can't be done. What I can do is shed a minute amount of light on this and the 1970's disco scene. Yes I am only 19, but from the information provided in "The Last Party," I feel like the the Elite 54, like Steve Rubell and Ian Schrager at Studio 54, twenty some years ago. Steve was so smart, he partied like no other and still managed to open up the most legendary club in history. Ian, was the quiet guy, the man who did the behind the scenes work. Only those two men could take a dungy old basement of a production studio and turn it into a commodity filled status room. If you lived during the 70's and thought '54' was just your Dad's age, then more than likely you were a pastor at the local First Church Of God. Studio 54 was about as holy and unholy as a place ever existed. It was the first stomping grounds for the strange; it was the trendy, the vogue, a melting pot like no other. As Steve referred to it as "Mixing The Salad." 54 was not just a disco; it was a place for everyone and everything. read this and you'll know what I mean! Bravo Anthony Haden-Guest!



4. This book is an excellent in-depth analysis of the New York City Nightworld from the disco-elite 1970s into the Club-Kids of the 1990s. The title might mislead readers into thinking this is "The Studio 54 story." This book does not focus solely on the rise and fall of Studio 54. Anthony Haden-Guest focuses on the rise and fall of the entire NYC nightclub scene, with Studio 54's Steve Rubell and Ian Schrager taking center stage.
   
   If you are looking for a book that mainly emphasizes the celebrities, the glitz, and wild parties in Studio 54, this book may not be your cup of tea. These topics are covered, but the book emphasizes the chaotic, competitive ---and often cutthroat--- business nature of nightclubs. In doing so, Haden-Guest does a great and even job of illustrating Nightworld's sharp businessmen, the starry-eyed dreamers, the junkies, the megalomaniacs, the doormen, and the party-goers. You read the frightening ups & downs of the business players, and their mad scrambles to try and duplicate the success of Studio 54. And often, some of these key players are all the abovementioned items rolled up into one.
   
   I was surprised to read just how unstable the nightclub business was during this "Boom" period. There was no club that matched Studio 54's once-in-a-century money making machine. But even its best competitors found numerous obstacles in running a successful night-scene, and very few lasted more than two years. You will read about the fickle Nightworld party-goers, how they tired quickly of even the hottest parties, eventually abandoning the hot club in hopes of a newer, hotter nightspot.
   
   It is equally astounding to see how many would be entrepreneurs sought funding to duplicate Studio 54's achievements; some well equipped, others incompetent. There are the brief triumphs of Maurice Brahms, the drive of Arthur Weinstein, the mixed success of Scotty Taylor, and the sad story of Uva Hardin, the volatile dreamer that never even got a club off the ground.
   
   You do meet the charismatic characters that inhabited Studio 54 and the surrounding clubs, including Bianca Jagger, drug runner Tom Sullivan, Mark Benecke (probably the only guy who became famous for being a club doorman), club goer Tinkerbelle, Carmen D'Alessio, legendary attorney Roy Cohn, Rudolf and His Club Kids, and Halston. The author does not merely tell you the cool stories about their doings, he illustrates how they shaped Nightworld and/or how Nightworld shaped (and sometime damaged) them.
   
   Haden-Guest paces the story of Rubell and Schrager's unexpected success very well. Their financial boom was so intense and happened so fast that both men failed to see the potential fallout. Like many club owners, they skimmed money, only Rubell and Schrager skimmed mountains more than the average club owner, and practically egged on the IRS to investigate them. The out of control egos, the delusion of being untouchable, is all too evident in this tale. The author also illustrates the irony in Studio 54's downfall, how if Rubell and Schrager reeled in their egos just a little bit, there is a chance the Saga of Studio 54 would be an ongoing success story today.
   
   If I could point to the one thing that I enjoyed most about The Last Party, it would be the treatment of Steve Rubell. I have seen numerous articles and documentaries of the nightclub phenomenon that paints Rubell as an eccentric visionary, a maverick, a madman? and not much else. Haden-Guest does show us the manic & drugging Rubell, but we get a keen look at the soul behind the "human perpetual-motion machine." Especially moving was that after numerous whirlwind career ups-&-downs and "Hello & G'bye" sexual encounters, Rubell, in the last years of his life, found love with Bill Hamilton.
   
   If you are looking for a book on the glitz of Studio 54, a good source is the VH1 Behind the Music documentary aired around 1996-97. If you want an insightful look into the complex and unpredictable nature of the Nightworld phenomenon, this is the book for you.



5. I got this for a 'fun' read on a trip. I figured how can you go wrong with this subject? Don't ask me how, but the author manages to write a book on Studio 54 about as interesting as reading a corporate annual report. I gave it two stars only for someone who needs to know who started what club when with who's money etc etc. How dull is it? I was waiting to have my muffler replaced and had this book with me. I found myself thumbing through a Muffler Dealers Magazine instead!

2 comments about '70s Funk and Disco Bass: 101 Groovin' Bass Patterns (Bass Builders).

1. I am a fan of disco funk bass and that's why i bought the book...It is all that promisses... 101 groovin' bass paterns.
   I sincerely recomend it to anyone looking to find a good colection of disco funk grooves.
   My playing already sounds much funkier...
   Thank you Josquin des Pres



2. A must for the bass player library, if you are into Disco and Funk.

3 comments about Turn That Down!: A Hysterical History of Rock, Roll, Pop, Soul, Punk, Funk, Rap, Grunge, Motown, Metal, Disco, Techno & Other Forms of Musical Aggression Over the Ages.

1. Grossberger is a force of nature. His comedic gift blurs the lines between fact and fiction, music and mischief. He invents a history of music from the 50s to the present day, leveling the playing field. It's zany, zooey, unglued, and hyperbolic, just like the musicians themselves. It's a book for Elvis fans, Beatlemanias, Little Richardarians, Motownians, Madonna maniacs, Bowie wowies--in other words, all of us with iPods and LPs and old copies of Rolling Stone. It's the music industry unplugged, unzipped, and zapped. I can't imagine anyone else having such a smart perspective. A great read, with photos (and wayward captions) throughout!



2. This is one of the funiest books I have ever read. It has a magnificent sense of musical history and the story is told with astounding insight and humor. Buy it. Read it. You'll laugh.



3. A great buy for anyone who wants to learn about rock history without falling asleep (which would be very sad considering the topic). I'd buy it more for the humor but you'll come away knowing quite a bit aobut how music evolved and it's history. Browsing the picture captions is worth the price alone.

5 comments about The Fabulous Sylvester: The Legend, the Music, the Seventies in San Francisco.

1. Magic happens where reality and fantasy overlap. It's a space that dance music star Sylvester effortlessly occupied during the outrageous and flamboyant club scene of the mid-70s to early 80s, when those lines were happily blurred on a nightly basis.
   
   Gamson does an excellent job of showing Sylvester's `six-degrees of separation' influence - he worked with emerging stars like Bette Midler, Patti LaBelle, The Weather Girls ("It's Raining Men"), American Idol judge Randy Jackson and Patrick Cowley (Megatone Records).
   
   By focusing mainly on Sylvester, Gamson gives the reader an inside look and feel of the gay club scene that was a mix of Broadway and Bowery Row. Sylvester epitomized that drama and contrast with his falsetto voice but powerful vocals and androgynous but commanding stage presence. He created a propulsive musical genre ("Do Ya Wanna Funk?" "You Make Me Feel") that defined the era's manic, raw and pulsating energy.
   
   AIDS turned the party lethal, killing off both his audience and the mood for high energy music. Soon, Sylvester, along with hundreds of others in the arts and entertainment community, was dead. There are lots of devil-may-care musicians whose audiences escape through their lives and music, but there will probably never again be a time when the audience and the artist were so intimately in synch, both feeling and living the beat.



2. Joshua Gamson took the reader on a magical journey of Sylvester's glitter world of music, sex, and drugs with the abandonment that was the time of the 70's. Sadly, there was no gold at the end of the rainbow and we, like Sylvester, saw the decline with terrible retribution.
   
   I highly recommend this book; it's a quick read and you won't be able to put it down.



3. The Fabulous Sylvester is a fascinating recounting of the life of Sylvester, the dance scene and Sylvester's career. This book explores the life of Sylvester from his early childhood days to his development into an international dance icon. This book does not sugarcoat any part of Sylvester's life. It is detailed and honest and shows us all aspects of his life and career. This book is as interesting and fabulous as Sylvester was.



4. At last, a beautifully-written book about a beautiful artist - Sylvester. I have been waiting for this book to arrive for years and, finally, here it is!
   
   I was hooked by the opening chapter which tells the story of a young boy named Tiki Lofton who sneaks out of his bedroom window at night and over to a friend's apartment where, in 1960's South Central, with the help of a young Sylvester, he transforms himself into a "Disquotay." The Disquotays were a group of boys who liked to dress up as sophisticated ladies. And Sylvester, or Dooni as he was known then, was in charge of the wigs.
   
   "The first Disquotay bash that Tiki went to was over on 120th and Athens, at Etta James's house, sometime around 1965. Etta, who would later be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (largely on the strength of her 1961 hit "At Last") and the Betty Ford Center (largely on the strength of her smack addiction), was already a recording star and a friend to many local Los Angeles drag queens . . . The house, with its swimming pool and fireplace, had stunned her. Women, drag queens, and guys, all sending joyful noises in Tiki's direction; the music had been jumping; Walter Jackson's version of "Lee Cross," Jr. Walker & the All Stars' "Shotgun," "Nowhere to Run" by Martha and the Vandellas, Fontella Bass singing "Rescue Me." Gay kids all perched on gigantic speakers, singing and carrying on . . . Tiki had said to herself. "This -- honey, where is this world?" Within months, she would be a full-fledged Disquotay, made-up, bewigged, bejeweled."
   
   Joshua Gamsom recreates this world vividly in that first chapter. Simultaneously, he introduces us to the members of Sylvester's family. His beautiful and beloved mother and grandmother. His twin sisters, Dette and Dean. The quotes are full of heart and expertly placed and the story unfolds like a fine silk fan. I can't help but think that Sylvester would be very pleased to read this biography.
   
   I had the honor of meeting with Sylvester to discuss a project a few years before his death. It was mid-afternoon and he was sewing sequins on something, which was his favorite pasttime. He was always sewing, a talent he picked up from the women who raised him. He walked over to the turntable and put on Patti LaBelle's "If Only You Knew" and said he was dedicating the song at his One-Night-Only concert the following night to his fans and supporters in San Francisco, the city in which he always felt most at home. That night, with Martha Wash at his side, they performed that song together, bouncing their voices off each other inside the Castro Theater. Those two powerful voices, the acoustics of the Castro Theater, and the magical spell he wove with Patti LaBelle's song was something to behold.
   
   That Sylvester could hold his own with the amazing Martha Wash is a testament to the power of his falsetto. He didn't have a thin, reedy falsetto. His was full-bodied, gravelly even, and very much in evidence on one of his biggest hits, "Do You Wanna Funk."
   
   "So when I tell you, that you're really something, baby, will you stay, or will you go away."
   
   Joshua Gamson captures the essence of Sylvester's personality, the diva fits as well as the immense kindness and sensitivity, and wraps it all together into an highly readable book that I wholeheartedly suggest you pick up. Although some have faulted him for not having an encyclopedic knowledge of music, Gamson lets experts like Joel Selvin provide insightful commentary.
   
   It is my hope that someone has optioned the book for a movie and we can expect to see this wild individual portrayed in all his glory.
   
   John Waters wraps up "The Fabulous Sylvester" pretty well in his cover blurb: "A well-written, touching, dignified biography of a gay black diva who never really fit into any minority but managed to achieve his dreams of stardom. Now that's what I call a man."
   
   Five Stars. Great Read.



5. I am still reading the book and have been quite pleased with all the details of Mr Sylvester James Jr. Life, I am sure when a read the final pages it will be as smashing as the life he lived!! I also found a DVD, Filmed in San Francisco, in 1985 or 1987 when he celebrated his birthday, the video is grainy and not what I expected which was Him and the Famous (Two Tons of Fun,) what I have is Sylvester in his what I call break out years his voice was not as vibrant during this period but to have anything of him suits me just fine. He came into his own he perfected his voice and character, I still miss his presence on earth just as I do all the Great Ones.
   
   Sincerely,
   LEE

2 comments about DJ Handbook.

1. Are you a DJ? If you are, then this book is for you! Author Charles Slaney, has done an outstanding job of writing a second edition of a book that is an essential read for every DJ.
   
   Torres, begins by providing you with an introduction to Mixing and how its done; as well as, an explanation about the mechanical process and the musical or performance side, that is essential to modern DJing. Then, the author covers some specifics that may assist you, assuming of course that you want to get paid for what you do and that you want to get work in the first place. Next, he concentrates on the types and some makes of equipment you'll encounter. The author then covers sound basics in greater depth and what you need to know bout the technical aspects of the controls you'll operate. He continues by taking a quick look at the mix, the different types of mix and the way to achieve them. Then, the author takes a quick look at some things that might help the mobile DJ. Next, he makes you aware of the potential hazards of being a DJ: health and safety, etc. The author then discusses career progression. He continues by explaining the art of Djing: Knowing exactly what to play and when. Next, he covers the real life account of a real DJ: James Camm. The author then discusses copyright and licensing. He continues by covering various DJ products. Finally, he introduces you to a list of sites that he has visited in the course of his own activities and in researching this book.
   
   In this most excellent book, you'll find advice in choosing equipment; as well as, setting it all up and getting the best sound out of it--whatever the venue. More importantly, don't forget that there's more to being a successful DJ than just playing records.



2. Deserving of ongoing mention and recommendation is the second revised, updated edition of a fine handbook for either mobile or club DJs. THE DJ HANDBOOK surveys the entire art of the DJ business, from music selection and mixing to fostering DJ contacts, troubleshooting audio problems, and understanding equipment. While the equipment is the major focus of THE DJ HANDBOOK, it's also notable for its background details on the industry and experience as a whole.
   
   Diane C. Donovan
   California Bookwatch

5 comments about Turn the Beat Around: The Secret History of Disco.

1. Turn The Beat Around: The Secret History Of Disco is the story of a music genre born from the social and economic turmoil of the 1970's. Blending elements of post-civil rights African-American culture, the newly out-and-proud gay movement, and the syncopation of the recently developed synthesizer, disco became a craze that flared brilliantly in its time, then fell by the wayside to fond memories and derisive scorn as its pop-culture peers of punk and hip-hop rose in its place. Chapters of Turn The Beat Around explores New York, where disco originated; disco's links to sexuality, its feverish era of popularity, its movement underground, and its legacy today. Turn The Beat Around is a thoroughly researched, plain-terms, no-holds barred scrutiny, recommended for ordinary disco fans and music students alike.



2. I teach a history of popular music class at the college level and am always looking for extra source material to augment my own notes. Thanks to Shapiro's book, I learned more about disco in the first chapter than I have since I started teaching the class. His research is thorough, including specific names of pioneering individuals, groups, and songs, along with vivid descriptions of related places and events. I appreciate the documentation, which includes at the back of the book, insightful end notes, a bibliography of interesting sources, as well as what every history teacher loves - a time line! I will admit, with so many names I actually took notes so I could keep up with all the personalities. I'm glad I did; I also purchased the DVD Disco: Spinning the Story [[ASIN: B0007X1NVU]] and my list helped me recognize and realize the significance of the interviewees. I wish this book had a soundtrack, but since it doesn't, the DVD is the next best thing.



3. TURN THE BEAT AROUND:THE SECRET HISTORY OF DISCO is a well researched and brilliantly written book by Peter Shapiro that provides an eye-opening look at the underbelly of the disco phenomenon.
   
   Focusing on the clubs, djs, and producers that shaped the "disco sound," Shapiro follows the music of the late '60s from the New York City boroughs to the underground gay clubs in Manhattan to the evolution of music that finally swept across America in the '70s.
   
   With biting humour, Shapiro provides in-depth critical analysis of the night life culture that created the disco craze and provides ample research to back it up. Not only does the author go into analyzing songs, djs, and nightclubs, he also explains what was going on in daily life that caused people to search for "something" outside of themselves.
   
   I found the book exciting and informative. However, if you are looking for a book that focuses specifically on the disco superstars of the day (i.e. Donna Summer, The Bee Gees etc.), this might not be the book for you. Although they are mentioned, TURN THE BEAT AROUND... concentrates on the djs/producers and nightclubs that created disco and not the commercialization of it.



4. THIS WAS SOME HARD READING. I LOVE THE DISCO ERA. THIS BOOK HAS VERY SPECIFIC INFORMATION WITH VERY DETAILED ACCOUNTS OF HAPPENINGS THAT LED UP TO THE DISCO ERA. I FELT LIKE I WAS READING A HISTORY BOOK BACK IN SCHOOL INSTEAD OF AN INTERESTING FUN FILLED ACCOUNT OF WHO WAS DOING WHAT. IF YOU WANT STRAIGHT UP FACTS THIS IS THE BOOK FOR YOU...IF YOU ARE MORE INTO JUICY STORIES OF WHO WAS DOING WHAT AND TO WHOM LIKE AT STUDIO 54 DONT WASTE YOU TIME.



5. This could have been such a great book... the sermonizing is braided into the text in such a way that you can't skip the preachy segments. Wall-to-wall sub-collegiate sociology clichés.

5 comments about Bar Mitzvah Disco: The Music May Have Stopped, but the Party's Never Over.

1. Cool book. I took it to work to show all my gentile co-workers and they loved it.



2. I just received this book for the holidays. I was going to bar/bat mitvahs in the early eighties and throughly enjoyed this book. Then came the photo. I graduated junior high with the entire table!!!
   
   There are no words to describe how happy I am with this book, except to say that reading it was pure enjoyment.



3. Loved the Disco Bar Mitzvah. Great collection of antecdotes and fantastic photographs. Oh Vey, to be 13 again - NO WAY.
   
   Highly recommend this book.



4. This book is awesome - it perfectly captures this bizarre subculture of over-the-top celebrations of puberty among Jews in the 1980s, primarily in the New York metro area. If you are one of the chosen people that celebrated Bar and Bat Mitzvahs during that time, you will laugh until it hurts reading this book.



5. This book is so much fun. Beyond the great photos that are too campy to be believed, this book is jammed with the reflections of others on their mitzvah experiences. No poignancy here, just a lot of laughs.