Brilliant

Great book about the music biz and the era by Joe Boyd who produced most of my favourite artists.

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Possibly the best book on music I've ever read

Utterly fascinating book, both funny and moving in places.

Many books on music can be dry and opinionated, however Joe Boyd's reflection on this era through his own experiences and career are heartfelt and genuine without falling victim to glowing nostalgia, for this book also shares insight into the darker parts of the decade.

A must read for any musician, the conclusions drawn in closing chapter are worth the purchase alone.

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Wonderful account

One of the best music books you will read. He was there at the heart of it all.

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An inside story of 60's music and counterculture

A thoughtful and interesting account of the music and culture of the 60's. Anyone interested in the music Boyd produced and was involved in will enjoy this very well produced and performed audio book. plenty of anecdotes for the general music fan. overall an enjoyable few hours.

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A Music lover's Dream

I haven't read too many truly great biographies, but this was surely one of the first. No excessive name dropping or peacocking, just a brilliant read from start to finish. Putting characters to the music we love.

Also worth your time is the Chris Blackwell book that compliments this really well.

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This one wont dissapoint!

I recently wrote a review on another 60's/70's music producers biography; Dave Courtney's 'The Truth Behind the Music', which i gave 3 stars, after reading this I'm tempted to go back and reduce it to 1 star.
In short, this is how it's done.
As a music business practitioner and lecturer, I've read countless books on the music business and cultural critiques, OK maybe not countless, as I can actually count them on the bookshelf in front of me as I type this (there's 57 but even more on the bookshelves upstairs). This is one of the best I have read, granted if you like Nick Drake you might get a little more of thrill than those that don't, but there's plenty here for everyone, you name it Joe was there - Pink Floyd, Abba, Fairport Convention, Dylan et al. Not to mention a veritable whose who of Jazz and Blues legends.
Boyd had a unique experience jetting between the UK and USA rock music scenes as they formed out of the late 50's Jazz and folk scenes, literally in front of his eyes and often through his direct intervention. Boyd is like Forrest Gump on um... Acid (literally!), actually he makes Gump's adventures seem unremarkable and dull in comparison.
What lifts this from the usual, rock n roll, drugs fugue meanderings is Boyd's thoughtful and intelligent comparative analysis of the era in which he was active and his ability to bring it all back to life. There are plenty of rock historians who should be using this book to revise their ill informed perspectives of how various 60's music scenes started. Boyd actually takes the trouble to correct a couple of these ill informed perspectives.

I enjoyed Boyd's reading of his book and usually I cant stick American readers for too long.

It's a keeper, which I will come back to and listen to again. Buy it.

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A must for anyone interested in the 60s and music

I loved hearing Joe's tales. The musicians he worked with are among my favourites, he had an amazing position, a kind of birds eye view on many greats. His writing is unpretentious and vivid, and I liked his voice.

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Best book I've read/heard on the 60s

Do yourself a favour and buy this book. I've read many books on the 60s but nothing approaching this. Joe Boyd is a fantastic writer and conjures the excitement of the time brilliantly. He would now be one of my fantasy dinner party guests. He seems to have been involved in so many pivotal moments. I'm now going to buy the book for two people I know.

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A valuable piece of music history.

Such an engaging and personal account of Joe’s journey through music’s titans. Brilliant in every way and well spoken by the man himself.

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A Truly Excellent Book

This is easily one of the best audiobooks I’ve heard since joining Audible over 5 years ago, made all the more delightful a find as I’ll admit I bought this on impulse.

It deals with author Joe Boyd’s experiences working as club owner, gig promoter, road manager and record producer during the heady days of the 60s, and the many talented and potentially ill-fated people he met along the way. From the early pre-pop days of jazz quartets and endless one-night stands through The Beatles, Woodstock, Altamont and beyond the book never flags and manages to convey the sights, sounds and mood of probably the most important decade in pop music history. And it’s not all name-dropping and tales of expensive parties (although there is some of that of course). Whilst some of the acts Boyd deals with go on to worldwide fame and acclaim (Pink Floyd and Fairport Convention most notably) many more never quite achieved their potential as with The Incredible String Band or, worse, only found fame posthumously as with Nick Drake.

Joe Boyd also narrates his tale brilliantly, and is both engaging and entertaining so that you can feel his excitement at a pending opportunity, his anger when he is being lead a dance by record labels, and his sadness and regret at the many vulnerable souls (Syd Barrett, Sandy Denny, Jimi Hendrix, Nick Drake) who fell along the way. The final chapter is possibly the finest piece I’ve heard on the music business and how it, and life in general, has altered since the heydays of the 60s.

Joe Boyd disproves that oft-quoted saying, as he does remember the 60s, and he WAS there. Highly recommended.

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3 people found this helpful