Looks at the career and accomplishments of the Western pioneer as fur trapper, Indian fighter, scout, politician, and U.S. Marshal during the early nineteenth century
A fascinating biography of Joe Meek who was widely recognised as Britain's first real independent pop music producer and hailed as Britain's answer to Phil Spector. He turned out million-copy selling records such as 'Telstar' from his home recording studio and made the first recordings for stars like Rod Stewart, Tom Jones and David Bowie. Legendary for his obsessive secrecy and often bizarre behaviour, his private life was a tortured tangle of violence, sex, drugs, the occult and eventually murder. Includes a full discography and B & W photographs.
Joe Meek was one of the West's irresistible characters. He was dashing, devil-may-care, cheeky, irreverent, and more fun than a playful grizzly cub. Initially, he covers his early life adventuring in the Rocky Mountains, California, and the Southwest. His firsthand account of fur-traders is priceless, as are his descriptions of the country, mountains, and the life of a mountain man. Then, Joe Meek's life as pioneer, sheriff, U.S. Marshall, and legislator is told in his own engaging voice. The turbulent years in the Northwest include the story of trappers, traders, missionaries, women, pioneers, and Native Americans that finally came together and created a state--Oregon.
Telstar is the story of the world's first independent record producer, Joe Meek. He was a maverick genius who enjoyed phenomenal early success with Telstar, the biggest-selling record of its time, before bad luck, depression, heartbreak, and paranoia forced him to murder and suicide. This stranger-than-fiction true story is a brilliantly sharp and beautifully observed satirical comedy.
Full title: 'Creative Music Production: Joe Meek's Bold Techniques'. Legendary British producer and technical innovator Joe Meek - the man behind the hit 'Telstar' has become a cult figure since his death in 1967, with Meek fan clubs, CD collections and retrospectives growing in popularity everyday. Written by Barry Cleveland.
The bible of music's deceased idols—Jeff Buckley, Sid Vicious, Jimi Hendrix, Tupac, Elvis—this is the ultimate record of all those who arrived, rocked, and checked out over the last 40-odd years of fast cars, private jets, hard drugs, and reckless living. The truths behind thousands of fascinating stories—such as how Buddy Holly only decided to fly so he'd have time to finish his laundry—are coupled with perennial questions, including Which band boasts the most dead members? and Who had the bright idea of changing a light bulb while standing in the shower?, as well as a few tales of lesser-known rock tragedies. Updated to include all the rock deaths since the previous edition—including Ike Turner, Dan Fogelberg, Bo Diddley, Isaac Hayes, Eartha Kitt, Michael Jackson, Clarence Clemons, Amy Winehouse, and many, many more—this new edition has been comprehensively revised throughout. An indispensable reference full of useful and useless information, with hundreds of photos of the good, the bad, and the silly, this collection is guaranteed to rock the world of trivia buffs and diehards alike.
Outsider musicians can be the product of damaged DNA, alien abduction, drug fry, demonic possession, or simply sheer obliviousness. This book profiles dozens of outsider musicians, both prominent and obscure—figures such as The Shaggs, Syd Barrett, Tiny Tim, Jandek, Captain Beefheart, Daniel Johnston, Harry Partch, and The Legendary Stardust Cowboy—and presents their strange life stories along with photographs, interviews, cartoons, and discographies. About the only things these self-taught artists have in common are an utter lack of conventional tunefulness and an overabundance of earnestness and passion. But, believe it or not, they're worth listening to, often outmatching all contenders for inventiveness and originality. A CD featuring songs by artists profiled in the book is also available.
A Newbery Honor Award-winning book Jim Keath has lived for six years as a Crow Indian when he learns that his two younger brothers and a sister are journeying west to take up land. Although Jim finds it difficult to fit in with the family he hasn’t seen since childhood, and though they are wary and distrustful of him, Jim feels his duty is at their side. But slowly, as they survive the dangerous trek west, the perils of frontier life, and the kidnapping of their younger brother, Jim and his family realize that the only way to survive is to accept each other and truly reunite the family. “A first-rate adventure story.”—The New York Times “The grueling hardships on the journey to Oregon and in making a home provide exciting reading. Characters are portrayed so fully and sympathetically they might be alive.”—Library Journal
1919, Siberia . . . Deep in the unforgiving landscape a town lies under military rule, awaiting the remorseless assault of Bolsheviks along the Trans-Siberian railway. One night a stranger, Samarin, appears from the woods with a tale of escape from an Arctic prison, insisting a cannibal is on his trail. Only Anna, a beautiful young widow, trusts his story. When a local shaman is found dead suspicion and terror engulf the isolated community, which harbours a secret of its own . . .