Music in Books

Lately I've been reading and purchasing a lot of books about music. I've really got heavily into the blues. I never had been a fan, but I learned to appreciate this form of music with the help of the genres of blues/rock and British blues. British Blues and British Blues like music I've been listening to since I was a kid, in the form of Eric Clapton and his peers. I am also a huge Led Zeppelin fan, so after years of not reading anything about them, I've decided to read some newer stuff.

The First Time We Met the Blues: A Journey of Discovery with Jimmy Page, Brian Jones, Mick Jagger and Keith Richards by David Williams

This book is not easy to find, and when you do find it, it can be pricey. I really don't know why, but I didn't pay too much for it, around $15USD.

What attracted me to this book was Jimmy Page's name. I love Jimmy Page, have loved him for 39 years. David Williams was a childhood friend of Jimmy Page and as a teenager hung out with Mick, Brian and Keith.

The first part of the book was a memoir of sorts about what him and Jimmy did as mates back in their childhood. How they learned to appreciate American blues together. It was charming to hear about Jimmy Page's childhood in England. We only see him as a big rock god, but he started out just like the rest of us. The second part Williams speaks about his time hanging around Brian, Mick and Keith and how he discovered the blues with them as well. Eric Clapton was mentioned in this book as well. The final part of the book talks about how they all went to American Blues concerts when they came thru their town. It was all very interesting, and it is interesting to see how the British Blues scene begain with these 4 white boys.


Blues for Dummies by Cub Koda and Wayne Baker Brooks

I've always found Dummies books very informative, this one was no different, and it even came with a CD filled with different types of Blues tracks. This book takes us through the different genres of Blues, from Dixiland blues to Chicago Blues to Electric Blues and to my favorite British Blues.

I have only read 1/2 this book, but I have already learned a great deal. Gives you a deeper insight into a musical genre that few understand, but benefit from everyday.



Deep Blues by Robert Palmer


Yet another book I haven't read. But to be fair, I did just get most of these within the past few months. Late musician Robert Palmer wrote this book. It goes deep into the blues genre. I think this book will be ann education to say the least.





Led Zeppelin: The Story of a Band and Their Music - 1968-1980 by Keith Shadwick

This is a big book. It is about 320 pages but each page has 2 columns, so it is packed with a lot of information, 12 years worth. I have no finished this one either, this is something you need to take a break from.

Lots of detailed information about the band and how their music came to be what it was. Not too much in the way of personal stuff, also sort of dry, but a real Zep fan will not mind. Anyone who wants to read about the band and their antics will do better to read Hammer of the Gods by Stephen Davis.



Symbology and Led Zeppelin
published by Studio 16

Real hard core fans will love this book. It can be found at This Site.

It might take a while to come if you do order it, because it comes from New Zealand. But well worth the wait.

I've not read this one yet, but it is filled with the symbology that is associated with Led Zeppelin. I became interested in all of the symbology after I dove deep into Jimmy Page's symbol Zoso. Which I had tattooed on my back.

Filled with a lot of mysticism and interesting tidbits (from what I can see).


Stevie Ray Vaughan: Caught in the Crossfire by Joe Nick Patoski and Bill Crawford

I just got this one the other day, so it hasn't been read. But I've been so curious about SRVs life. I read bits and pieces here and there, so I decided to read a biography about the man. Hope it is worth my time.

Projects

The bookcase is looking better than it did, but still needs some work. Since I have time now, I will be working on this, this is an ongoing project and the books just keep coming in.

Also will be working on my friends baby blanket. She is due in November, and I found it hard to find time to work on it. It is crocheted, so it isn't that difficult.

And now on to books. I was planning to read "War and Peace" next year, but since I'm home, I think I'll start tackling this soon. I also have "Crime & Punishment" waiting in the wings. I started that one a few yeras ago, but never finished. Luckily both of these are on my Kindle so no heavy books to carry around. Nothing like reading the Russians when there is nothing else to do.

I am way behind on my book reading this year. I had planned 100 but I'm only at 32 books for the year. I'll be lucky if I make it to 75.

Moderated Comments

Sorry to have to do this to my viewrs, but my comments are now on moderation. I am being spammed up the wazoo, so I have to do this now. What a pain in the butt!

Laid Off Today

After 12 years at my job, I was let go. My boss retired and I was a victim of the economic downturn. I'm OK with it for now. I got a good severence, unemployment, Child support and I have no bills. I have no credt cards, I got rid of my car last year, so really all I have are living expenses, and my kids school. My son is in college, but I have the money to pay for this year at least. Next year, he might have to go to a local school, but maybe not. I am confident I will have a job before the years end. If not, I will have to reassess.

I will lower my cable package, but that is about all I can do. My daughter and I still take guitar, but that won't stop just yet. Maybe by September, it is a package deal anyway.

Financially I will be OK for about 9 months to a year, if I watch what I spend.

I am kind of relieved. I started to really hate my job. Not the job itself, just the people. I will miss my friends though. It was time to move on, if I wasn't pushed out the door, I would never have an opportunity to look for something better, and somewhere I will be happy.

For now I will be reading a lot, and watching a lot of stuff. New York Public Library....here I come!!!

Such a Long Time

View from Rooftop Resteraunt
Originally uploaded by kelsokraft

It has been such a long time since I posted here. Life has been busy, but nothing tragic has happened. Still reading and watching movies. Although I have decided to scale back on the TV/Movie watching.

My reading since the last post:

May

Under the Dome - Stephen King
When The Soul Mends - Cindy Woodsmall
Rumble Fish - S.E. Hinton
The First Time We Met The Blues - David Williams
The Outsiders - S.E. Hinton

June

Life After Death - Deepak Chopra
Know It All- A.J. Jacobs *
I Am Nujood Age 10 and Divorced - Nujood Ali
Island Beneath the Sea - Isabel Allende *

July

Beatrice and Virgil - Yann Martel

* Recommend

The Movie List would be too Massive, but I will l put my recommendations. Feel free to read about them on IMDB or Netflix:

The Stoning of Soroya M. (This may be a tough watch for some)

Ong Bak (The original Thai language movie with Tony Jaa)

Monsieur Vincent (Older French language movie about St. Vincent de Paul)

Amazing Grace - Hymns that Changed the World (A documentary about 4 of the most popular Hymns and how they came to be)

It Might Get Loud (I watched this documentary twice, in a matter of weeks. It is rare for me to watch anything twice, and even rarer for me to watch it within weeks of seeing it. Wonder if it has anything to do with Jimmy Page?)

Hachi: A Dogs Tale (have your tissues. Based on a real life story that took place in Japan in the 1920/1930s. Updated and Westernized).

Kick-Ass (I was not prepared to like this movie at all...LOVED IT!)

Interstate 60 (a little unheard of Gary Oldman film, with a cameo by Michael J. Fox. What a great film).

The Pope of Greenwich Village (I was in a Mickey Rourke mood for a while. This was one I hadn't seen, great performances all around).

The Killers (1946) (There are 2 versions of this film, one from '46 and one from '64. I recommend the earlier).

Killer Diller (Most people probably never heard of this one. Autistic young man plays piano for a group of young offenders and their blues band).

The Sinjuku Incident (Jackie Chan movie from 2009, only released in theaters overseas. It is dubbed. What I liked about this film is what happens to Chan's character throught the movie and at the end. First time I've ever seen a Chan movie end this way, and I've seen about 50 Chan movies).

The Karate Kid (Kung Fu Kid) (I will say, I am just a big fan of the original, but I gave this one a chance, mainly because of Jackie Chan. Where it lacked the originality of the original (it was almost a carbon copy), it had cute updates and awsome Kung-Fu moves demonstrated by Smith.

That's all for now. I will promise to keep this up more.

Home for a month

I had shoulder surgery, so I am home for a month, and I've been trying to read what I have here, but it is odd how when you have so much time, you find other things to fill the time.

Currently reading: The Walk by Richard Paul Evans

This is his latest book that doesn't revolve around Christmas. I understand this will be a 5-part series, this is part 1. This is only the 2nd non-Christmas book that I've read by him, and I am enjoying this.

Since I have not finished I cannot give my opinion on this yet. But here is what Booklist had to say:

“The idea of a man leaving on a soul-searching cross-country trek is an intriguing one, and the pages turn quickly. Future installments will prove whether Evans’ concept holds up, but this initial offering is definitely a journey worth taking.”– Booklist

Starting Sunday, I am going on 'The Master Cleanse'. The minimum time to do this is for 10 days, I hopefully will go for longer. I will be writing a seperate journal about this, mainly to help others who are looking for info on the day to day ins and outs of it. I know reading blogs about it has helped me. Hopefully I won't sound like a crazed mad-woman.

March Reads, March Movies

A Very Very Slow Month!!

Books

Tennessee Williams Notebooks by Tennessee Williams & M. Bradham Thornton

This was a very big book. It was over 800 pages (although only 765 were actually the book), but it was a hardcover, and a pain to carry back & forth to work. It was the Journals of Tennessee Williams from the 1930s until the 1970s. Although a huge chunk from the 50s and 60s is missing. So it jumps from somewhere in the mid-50s to mid-70s. They are not sure if those volumes were lost or just not written. It was a very depressing read, it is sad to see such great talent suffer. If you want to understand the man and his works, this is the book to read. Although it was big, I really did enjoy it.

The Master Cleanse by Stanley Burroughs

A very small book. About The Master Cleanse (aka Lemonade Diet) which I plan to do next week. I'm also reading another book about this at the moment.

This was a slow month for two reasons. The first book was very long, and I'm only reading one way on the train as I meet up with friends on the way home. However, I have a feeling April will be a heavier month for books.


Movies

Also a slow month, as guitar lessons take up my time.

What Are Dreams? Nova - Documentary about dreams.

InAliable - Wanted to see it because Andrew Koenig was in it and I wanted to see one of his later projects

A Man Called Peter - This is a Classic film about a Minister named Peter and his rise to become a very loved man. He caught the attention of the D.C. Bigwigs and they wanted him to be their spiritual adviser. Very interesting bio-pic.

Jimi Hendrix - A Documentary about him. This was produced in 1972. But it was fun to see a young Clapton, Jagger and Townsend. Also highlighted some of his best performances. Don't think I learned anything new, but it was still a fun watch.

And the Rest

2012
Precious
Cold Souls
Old Dogs
Disney's Alice in Wonderland
Did You Hear About the Morgans
Armored
The 39th Steps (2008)
The Sound of Music
Red Cliff: Theatrical Version
Alice in Wonderland: 3D
Cream: Classic Artists