<< 1 >>
Rating: 
Summary: Informative and well-written
Review: Although my first impression of this book was mixed - originally I wasn't happy that Thompson had devoted almost two-thirds of the book to overviews of individual record labels - after I started reading it I discovered that there is a lot of essential information contained in his look at the various labels, including when they started, who founded them, and some of the collectable (and not so collectable) artists signed to them. The first third of the book is equally worthwhile. The author discusses not only the collecting of vinyl, but also delves into 8-tracks, cassettes, CDs and virtually all other types of recorded media. It's obvious that he knows what he is talking about. All too many books dealing with collecting something-or-another often are written by uninformed writers who seem to have just discovered whatever it is they are writing about. I didn't care much for his "Top Ten Collectables" boxes that are scattered throughout the book - but that's a minor point, and a matter of personal preferance. Although in writing a book of this nature, it is essential to discuss "what it's worth", but for me, that's the least important aspect of the book. Thompson has written an excellent, well-researched book on a subject that has had, with the exception of price guides, very few volumes devoted to it. One can hope that any future books dedicated to record collecting will be as enjoyable as this one is.
Rating: 
Summary: An interesting read but loaded with errors and typos
Review: Having been a record collector for over 40 years, I am always interested in new books on the topic. One can never know everything about the hobby and indeed, I gleaned quite a few new pieces of information from this book. (A collectable three 8-Track Beatles set exists, as do 78s of such 60's evergreens as Ray Charles' "Georgia On My Mind" and the Everly Brothers' "Cathy's Clown"). However, this book is littered with inaccuracies. The reference to Arturo Toscanini as an opera singer who refused to sing on record until 1936 is ludicrous - not only because Toscanini was a conductor and not a singer, but because he did in fact record with the La Scala Orchestra during the pre-1925 acoustic era. The Russian State-owned record label is referrred to as "Melodisc" rather than its correct name, Melodiya. The author claims that there was no U.S. issue of the Black Dyke Mills Band's Apple single "Thingumybob" (There was - Apple 1800 - I own it.) And from page 98, this pearl of wisdom about tape speeds: "[Reel-to-Reel] Tapes were issued at two speeds: 7 1/2ips (inches per second) and the sonically superior 3 3/4 ips, the standard to which both the later 4-Track and 8-Track cartridges adhered.." Ask any audio engineer which speed is "sonically superior". I could make this review a mile long with such examples. There are also plenty of misspelled names here too: Paul Gayton (Gayten), Hal Blain (Blaine), Deutsche Gramophone (Grammophon), and on and on, but you get the point. This book is an interesting read, but if you know the subject, these errors come frequently and get more irritating each time. Backbeat Books needs to hire a proofreader.
Rating:
Summary: An interesting read but loaded with errors and typos
Review: Having been a record collector for over 40 years, I am always interested in new books on the topic. One can never know everything about the hobby and indeed, I gleaned quite a few new pieces of information from this book. (A collectable three 8-Track Beatles set exists, as do 78s of such 60's evergreens as Ray Charles' "Georgia On My Mind" and the Everly Brothers' "Cathy's Clown"). However, this book is littered with inaccuracies. The reference to Arturo Toscanini as an opera singer who refused to sing on record until 1936 is ludicrous - not only because Toscanini was a conductor and not a singer, but because he did in fact record with the La Scala Orchestra during the pre-1925 acoustic era. The Russian State-owned record label is referrred to as "Melodisc" rather than its correct name, Melodiya. The author claims that there was no U.S. issue of the Black Dyke Mills Band's Apple single "Thingumybob" (There was - Apple 1800 - I own it.) And from page 98, this pearl of wisdom about tape speeds: "[Reel-to-Reel] Tapes were issued at two speeds: 7 1/2ips (inches per second) and the sonically superior 3 3/4 ips, the standard to which both the later 4-Track and 8-Track cartridges adhered.." Ask any audio engineer which speed is "sonically superior". I could make this review a mile long with such examples. There are also plenty of misspelled names here too: Paul Gayton (Gayten), Hal Blain (Blaine), Deutsche Gramophone (Grammophon), and on and on, but you get the point. This book is an interesting read, but if you know the subject, these errors come frequently and get more irritating each time. Backbeat Books needs to hire a proofreader.
Rating:
Summary: Which Arturo Toscanini are we talking about?
Review: In an excerpt from this book posted on amazon, the statement is made that one Arturo Toscanini set the record industry back, in the 1920s, by refusing to allow his voice to be recorded. The Arturo Toscanini that most music lovers remember was conducting La Scala and the New York Philharmonic around that time. We don't think he was singing. Can the author address this? Perhaps I read the excerpt wrong. In this case, we're not talking about an obscure historical figure.
Rating:
Summary: Which Arturo Toscanini are we talking about?
Review: In an excerpt from this book posted on amazon, the statement is made that one Arturo Toscanini set the record industry back, in the 1920s, by refusing to allow his voice to be recorded. The Arturo Toscanini that most music lovers remember was conducting La Scala and the New York Philharmonic around that time. We don't think he was singing. Can the author address this? Perhaps I read the excerpt wrong. In this case, we're not talking about an obscure historical figure.
<< 1 >>
| 
