Fabulous book, packed with facts and figures about the history of the label and artists, and full of photos, images and memorabilia.

Lovely stuff - highly recommended.

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Fame at last! Seriously though, this is an excellent reference book from Jeremy. An excellently researched and indispensable guide to Prince Buster's Jamaican singles.

Marketing spiel from Dub Vendor:

Mind-boggling discography devoted to the Jamaican releases of Prince Buster's productions from 1961's Oh Carolina by the Folkes Brothers to 1977's Uganda by Yusuf Ali & The Revolutionaries. The titles; A and B sides, are listed by year of release with matrix numbers and introductory notes for each year. Packed with information, there is a black checker which will help identifying your white label pre-releases, a list of the Rock-A-Shacka reissues and pages of full colour life size reproductions of the various label designs, as well as a sample of white labels complete with "sound man markings". Hours of fun and a useful resource, this is the result of hours of furrow-browed research and really only serves to increase ones desire to see more of Buster's music reissued immediately and properly.

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fiction, historical/history, western; film screenplay novelisation

avram mutz is chosen to be sent from a galician yeshiva in december 1849 to be yerba buena's new rabbi, despite being universally recognised by the senior rabbis as the poorest -or, at least the second poorest - student in the yeshiva, and a pisher. or possibly because of being so recognised - yerba buena's possessed of a population of five thousand at best, can't be home to more than five to ten jews, must have to scrape together a bare minyan - but they cannot deny it a rabbi. even if it's just recently changed its name, doubtless to the confusion of everyone - to "san francisco".

the set-up has possibilities - pishibilities, even - and it might make a passably (pishibly?) funny film: after all, it's got the talents of gene wilder and harrison ford to bring its script to life, and plenty of cues for puns, politically unsound prat-falls, as well as for home-spun snippets of wisdom, and fortunes to be made, and lost: when avram arrives on the east coast, the san francisco gold-rush has just got under way; but it isn't enough to be a novel, not even picaresque journey of discovery, and self-discovery, journeying across the plains.
this is simply a string of isolated encounters, with nothing to distinguish them in terms of lessons learned progressively by an innocent abroad, nor knowledge gained about the new country he has reached.


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This is probably as good a biography of David Bowie that you can get. Trynka, however, leaves me cold as a rock writer. I have read his pieces in Mojo magazine and also his biography of Iggy Pop and must say I prefer his articles to his books. This is mainly because Trynka is a serious rock journalist that takes to his work like a historian and his forensic research skills and attention to detail are admirable. However, where his books seem to falter is in a lack of personality coming through from the author. This could be explained by his emphasis on historical correctness but I think otherwise.

Now it is obvious in this book and Trynka's Iggy Pop biography that the author is smitten by both of the artists he is writing about but he tries to hide this behind facts at every turn. Ultimately, this leads to a somewhat soul-less read and the most telling part about the author in this book are his reviews and ratings of Bowie's albums tacked on to the end of the book. This seems to contradict his somewhat hagiographical accounts of the making of the same albums in the preceding chapters. He also has a tendency to avoid controversy and play down some of the less desirable aspects of his subjects. The end of the Iggy biography when Trynka eventually gets to interview Iggy and then welshes out on the more difficult questions he has uncovered in his research is particularly disappointing.

This book is in that style and while it is a fabulously detailed account of Bowie it is short on soul. That said it's still probably the best Bowie biography around.

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#1 of the four silverglass series novels featuring the adventures and sometimes smooth, sometimes strained relationship of a talented, if somewhat wilful student of magic escaping the stultifyingly boring future her wealthy family have planned for her, and a mercenary who initially regards her as a spoilt brat and something of a liability.

they're a lot better-written adventures than the laughable impracticality of the swordswoman's attire on the cover might suggest; and whilst the outcomes of the various incidents certainly matter to the characters, neither they nor the books' authors take themselves too seriously - and they're are good fun adventure reading with some thought behind them.


first published in ace paperbacks in the states; the series runs:

#1: "silverglass" (1986); this novel.
#2: "web of wind" (1987), q.v.
#3: "witch of rhostshyl" (1989), q.v.
#4: "mistress of ambiguities" (1991), q.v.

iirc, only the first two or three of the four were published by futura in the uk, in orbit p/b.

"j. f. rivkin" is/was a collaborative pseudonym, though the third was written solo by one, and the fourth by the other. the two live(d?) on opposite sides (?coasts?) of merkia, which cannot have made their collaboration any the easier (though it may've helped reduce serious arguments!).

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In case you were wondering...

...This is a very different experience than watching the recent Peter Jackson movie adaptions.

I first read this at school some years ago, and in the intervening years, I've read The Lord Of The Rings, and seen the very good movie adaptations of that trilogy of books... I was particularly struck by how faithfully rendered the movies were to the books – bar a couple of scenes which would have perhaps sat awkwardly in the context of a movie (Tom Bombadil) –

...So, like many, I was a little perplexed at how Peter Jackson managed to spin out three movies from this 270-odd page book, the same as he did with the three movies from the 1000 or so page Lord Of The Rings. I'd intended to get a copy when I next saw one anyway, so I could find out, and saw this on the shelf of a charity shop; recognising the cover art from school, I decided to get it.

What I have discovered, is that the basic reason the movies have been made the way they are is that this is very different in tone than even The Lord Of The Rings books, as it seems this, being Tolkien's opening venture into that world, is the initial idea, and the Lord Of The Rings, a much more developed examination of that world, with Elvish and other languages, mythologies, histories, and characters much more evolved and involved.

...As such, this reads more as a children's book comparable to any of the genre from around that time, and would sit more happily on the shelf next to the likes of Peter Pan, The Lion, The Witch, And The Wardrobe, than it does with the depth, and more adult “Rings”.

It's quite playful, and simply presented, and more easily read by a younger audience... a kind of “fireside tale”, or bed-time story – a situation it would which it would suit very well (although a few passages could frighten younger children, I think – Large Spiders etc.).

And The Dilemma facing Peter Jackson, it seems,was to make another, single film, which was as faithful as his Lord Of The Rings, and yet contrasted wildly; Due not to this, but because of the differences in the tone of the original texts; Or, having already madethe Rings, “retro-fit” the Hobbit to match that, and so that I would sit more easily with it. In that world... and from this point of view, I think the correct decision was made.

Here, there is no Pale Orc (Completely Jackson's creation – unless he appears in some other Tolkien work?), no Legolas (Imported from Rings) or female elf (another possible Jackson creation) or accompanying story-line, The whole Barrell scene has been re-rendered for action scenes, and some of the attitudes of the Dwarfs are “enhanced”. The “Necromancer” is known only as that, and no reference to Sauron is made, and this is only briefly mentioned when Gandalf goes out of the story for a time. Radagast The Brown Wizard is mentioned only once by name, and Smaug The Dragon is a jewel encrusted red creature, who's weak-spot, and relationshipto Bard does not involve the same back-story... Finally, actually the Eagles, and the Thrush have had their roles diminished, as in the books, these birds (and a raven) can communicate, which may have seemed too quaint for the movies.

So if you read this expecting the movie experience, you may be disappointed, but then if you didn't like the movies, but like a simple adventure tale told in the best traditions of the genre, you may like this better.

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A study of those artists acclaimed as the new "Bob Dylan": Elliot Murphy, John Prine, James Talley, Dirk Hamilton, Steve Forbert, Willie Nile. Some Other "Alias" and Bruce Springsteen.

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The best book I've ever read about Rock 'N' Roll and probably also the most entertaining book I've ever read. If you have the slightest interest in The Stooges, Iggy Pop, Lou Reed, New York Dolls, Ramones, CBGB's, The Bowery, Johnny Thunders, Stiv Bators, and the like this book is for you. The story is a an oral chronology of how it all happened told in snippets from all the key players and is brilliantly pieced together by Legs McNeil And Gillian McCain.

Truth, lies, sex, dope, triumphs and disasters, a real peak inside the underbelly of rock told by those who were there. A cracking read.

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I thought this was a good and interesting read, specially in the early days of the 'Animal's'

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Lovely book and a great read 10/10
Has a nice embossed hardback cover inside the outer paper sleeve.

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Probably half of this book (about 200 pages worth) is given over to details of Crosby's drug abuse and scouting for drugs, the money he spent on drugs, his ill health because of drugs, and how he let down everybody time and again because of his addiction. The stuff that I wanted to read about, ie the music and the funny stories, is mostly skipped over in short paragraphs between the druggy episodes. The reviews go on about how open and honest the biography is, I just felt that I was reading a drug programme confessional.

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one of poul anderson's best thought-out, plotted and realised adventure-thriller sf series of novellas/fix-up novels of the fifties-through-sixties, which means one of the best such by any sf writer of the period.

humanity and the young, expanding and militarist alerion empire have rubbed up against each other, and alerion has conquered the fairly recently human-colonised planet, christened "new europe" - saying that there were, alas, no human survivors. this being so, the world federation on earth sees no point in turning a highly regrettable incident into a war - but retired captain gunnar heim is amongst a passionate minority who believe alerion's expansionism must be faced, and halted - and he meets a man who says he knows the settlers are not dead, but retreated into the haute garance - which heim already knows as good guerilla country from earlier visits to the settler-world, and where friends, perhaps including an old flame of his, are still holding out - for a while.

- unable to gain any official support for military action by the world federation, nor from any of its member states, the gunnar heim of heimdall space motors outfits a ship at his own expense - and sets out "armed" with letters of marque and reprisal - for no-one has thought to close a loophole of national powers unexploited since the nineteenth century, and never since used - nor ever contemplated by anyone as being seriously even in possibility being applicable in space...

- after initial successes, gunnar heim discovers unexpectedly that time is not on the colonists' side, as he had thought it would be - and therefore, nor can it be on his side; and he must bring matters to a critical decision point where the advantage is not his: how he responds, and how his moves are answered by the alerion commander he faces, eventually presents him with a decision difficult on more than one level, on top of the gamble he and his comrades've been prepared to make, of their own lives.

- good, absorbing adventure sf with food for thought, in which the aleriona are not evil; nor are they depicted as being so.

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contains many decades-long favourites, if few truly great poems (tm°), not least gertrude strong's "when he killed the mudjokivis" ("the modern hiawatha: from 'the song of milkanwatha'"); james clerk maxwell's "rigid body sings" ("gin a body meet a body/flyin' through the air..."); "how i brought the good news from aix to ghent (or vice versa)" by w. c. sellar & r. j. yeatman; percy bysshe shelley's "on a painted woman" and george outram's heart-rending epic tale in fifteen verses of "the annuity"; and small but perfect gems, such as john wilmot, the earl of rochester's original (and more insulting) epigram on charles II, which deserves quoting in its full glory:

"here lies our mutton-eating king
whose word no man relies on,
who never said a foolish thing,
nor ever did a wise one."°°;

(°° - charles got his reply in, though:

"my sayings are my own; my actions are my ministers'.")

° - vide, "the week-end book"

- and many, many more, including some to delight the truly young, as well as the young at heart; no home should be without a copy; nor public, nor school, library, neither.

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This is the book that bridges the gap between the 2015 edition of Pop Memories (which covers 1900 - 1940) and the Top Pop Singles books (which start in 1955).

The catalogue page illustrated above gives all you need to know, really, but here's a summary of the various sections:-
1. List of all entries on the Billboard singles charts between 1940 and 1954, in alphabetical order of artists, with the hits in date order. Date of entry, highest position, weeks on chart, label and number, title of B-side.
2. Yearly lists of each hit, ranked in order according to chart performance.
3. Song title index.
4. Singles wrap-up - lots of lists (e.g. top artists, top songwriters, Top singles, #1 singles).
5. Weekly top 10 singles charts.
6. Album chart summaries from 1945 - 1954, including titles of all tracks, #1 albums and various lists.

If that ain't enough to convince you to get a copy, then nothing will!

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I've explained in the Notes section what you get, but to expand slightly... each week's chart is presented on one page. Over the years, Cash Box changed their presentation a number of times, so some charts are clearer than others. From October 1964, they started to include an alphabetized (sic) list of the hit songs beneath the Top 100 - you might need a magnifying glass to peruse those lists. There is also an alphabetical list of all the hit songs which gives the date of its first chart appearance, so if you want to follow a particular hit record's progress, it's easy to find where to start. The book itself is up to Record Research's usual exemplary standard (quality of paper, binding etc.).

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The long-awaited update to the original Pop Memories book is available at last!. If you are familiar with books published by Record Research in the last decade or so, so will know that they set the standard that no other series of chart books anywhere in the world can match. I've mentioned in the Notes section what the book covers but as well as the list of hit records, there is also a comprehensive list of the publications used to compile the charts themselves as well as a music history chronology, summarising the key developments in American popular music prior to and during the period covered. ...And of course, there is a list of all the #1 records and the 100 biggest hits. ...And an alphabetical list of all the hits.

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It's crime fiction, Jim - but not as we know it: Fred Vargas is a marmite author whose quirky approach may either delight or infuriate.

For quite a while I was put off myself not by the genre but by the author's name, not realising that Fred Vargas is female , a very learned academic in real life, and a bit bonkers sometimes - in the best possible way.

This is the first novel in the Inspector Adamsberg series, introducing her anti-detective, his colleagues and other recurring characters. Despite this it was not the first of the series to be translated into and published in English - here by Siân Reynolds.

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A bit of a disappointment...I was left with a feeling that I had just read through the minutes of a large company's management meetings. Lots of corporate facts, share prices, which director never got on with which director.
A bit too much "how giant corporations are run" and really not a lot on the things I was interested in

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Vick is the man responsible for the James Bond lick..why so much weight is put on that simple fact beats me..but his career as one of the UK's top session guitarist is fascinating to read.
His time with The John Barry Seven and early UK Rock & Roll TV shows .....the sessions with famous singers and groups and how they behaved in the studios........sessions for Oriole for the Embassy label..its all here
Well recommended

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Although this is a work of fiction, the setting has been carefully researched to reflect the situation in Mexico during the Conquistadors' conquest of the Aztec Empire. This is an absolutely brilliant book which does take a bit of getting into. After I had read it, I read it again very soon after and found it even more enjoyable. It is the first in a series of "Aztec" books by Gary Jennings.

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A quite informative book for someone trying to track a song and a U.S. compact disc to which that song was included. Timings are presented mentioning "edited versions" or "special versions" OR whether the track was a "mono" or "stereo" mix. Sometimes special edits were substituted on the compact disc version of a particular album. Sometimes "best of" compilations were released and yet they weren't the "original" recordings and this book includes mentioning these, if known.

This book is especially helpful in finding those odd tracks, many of which only were available on possibly only one exclusive compilation disc. Included are speciality comps from Time-Life such as the "Sounds of the Seventies" series and from the Special Products divisions of some of the major labels.

To sum it up, this book in no way is a "complete listing" of the years included, as there were hundreds of CD's released and such a listing would require several volumes, but it is a great reference and time saver for someone wanting to track down their favorite tunes on CD.

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In which we follow manager Les Bence through a difficult season in charge of Athletico Whaddon as they attempt to negotiate the Multivite Vegeburger/Singleton's Valve Replacement League. This started life as a fanzine, and became a regular feature in When Saturday Comes. Those who spend their time closer to the base than the apex of English football's pyramid will enjoy this.

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Lyrics, notes, drawings, sleeve notes, photocopies of reviews from The Fall at the height of their powers. Plus translations of the lyrics into German. While by no means exhaustive, this contains material (e.g. "Wigan Soul Poem") which is nowhere else available. Although it appears to have been made with the co-operation of Mark & Brix, I seem to remember that Mark later denied this, and stopped any repress or further edition.

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Goldstein prints the lyrics, some with comments and others without, of 71 classic rock/pop records from 1952 - 1968. 'Classic' means that they would be known to all collectors of the period, even if they are not more widely known as 'oldies'. Each chapter is prefaced by a mise-en-scène for the genre.

This covers the period of strutting on the street, followed by the turned-on Acid Heads era of love, flowers and peace while the world was 'hanging on in' through the thread of Mutually Assured Destruction and young Americans were fighting a vicious war in Vietnam

Only one or two of the records were not released on 45s, for example Koeeoaddi There by the Incredible String Band, of which Goldstein writes:
"To read this lyric is to feel in the presence of dozen dewy-eyed children who have been asked to construct their own cosmology"

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In which a poor young woman bears her brother's child, and nothing good comes from it. As ever, McCarthy's language is magnificent. While this isn't quite up to the standard of his very best (Blood Meridian, The Border Trilogy), it's very good indeed - and much better than the better known (if only because of the film adaptation) The Road.

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A couple of years ago, I was on the North coast of Scotland, and saw a historical noticeboard about the Durness Riots. It seemed extraordinary that there could ever have been riots in such a remote place, and I picked this up to learn more about it. This book tells the awful tale of how the population of the Scottish Highlands was forced to emigrate in order to be replaced by sheep.

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336pp, detailing approximately as many Record Labels, nearly all from the USA, though details of the major labels are concise.

With biographies and guidance on the dates of releases on these labels; B&W photos for about two thirds of the labels

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An incredibly detailed book.

Everything you need to know about the small differences in issues of records on the Deram, Harvest or Regal Zonophone labels and a whole lot you probably didn't need to know unless you work in a record shop!

Hopefully volume one will be re-printed or updated sometime soon.

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One of my favourite novels by one of my all time favourite writers. I love Roddy Doyle's work (and I've a few more to add over the next few days/weeks) and this is one of his great masterpieces. Highly recommended.

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- well, what else could one do with dorian hawkmoon's brain ?°

° - see back cover blurb...

gloom, doom and the depths of despondency doing duty providing a typically moorcockian dark flavour to this stage in the central character's career towards his eventual but certain early death - or worse(!) - michael moorcock pretty much defined this style or school of sword'n'sorcery, not as a tame copy of robert e. howard's simple strongarm swordsman, but one ever at risk of being cheated or downright double-crossed by his temporary employers, even - perhaps especially (?) - if they gain very nearly all they hire his swords to win.

moorcock also introduced the idea of a constant struggle between opposing forces aimed at or personifying the dedication to the imposition of unalterable law, implacable and cruel in the name of justice - and the drive towards the ultimate chaos of purest entropy, equally unlovable and unlivable-with by humanity, a discord driving events as powerful as - or totally replacing - the hitherto traditional fantasy dichotomy of good and evil.

- and he loathed & hated tolkien's "the lord of the rings" - ignore the idiotic lancer books cover blurb.

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