High Times Hard Times
by Anita O'Day, George Eells
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Book Summary Information
Author: Anita O'Day, George EellsBrand: Limelight Editions
Edition: Paperback
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); English (Published)
Published: 2004-08-01
ISBN: 0879101180
Number of pages: 376
Publisher: Limelight Editions
Product features:
- Published by Limelight Editions 376 Pages
- by Anita O'Day and George Eells
- Author: George Eells
Book Reviews of High Times Hard Times
Book Review: In her jargon , this memoir captures the life of Anita O'Day
Summary: 5 Stars
I gobbled this one up. Fascinating, intimate , deeply honest.I agree that parts of Anita's story do sound like a gritty hardboiled paperback pulp novel- but that's the way it was.Interesting to see the effects of the first foray in the "war against drugs"- Anita was set up several times by government officials and she served hard prison time for a couple of pot seeds, insane! Anita seems part Bille Holiday- part Frances Farmer- because she definitely lived on her own terms and paid the price.
An interesting part of the book is the background,where the authors painted a realistic portrait of a single parent household in the depression ;Anita's mother was one of the coldest I can recall- although not outright abusive, she was just not capable of warmth period.Readers will find a rare look at the show business of the Depressin 30's where Anita cut her teeth in the walkathon circuit. This arena has not been covered to death in memoirs- a large swatch of the public, looking for cheap live entertainment, went to traveling shows of a sort - a cross between vaudeville and the circus I suppose, where a living could be made by show biz aspirants , by marathon dancing.This was tough stuff.
I find that Anita's passion for jazz- song styling- is immense, it is essentially the the only beacon in her long rough and tumble life.She is able to articulate just what it is that she is learning all along the way. Never commercial, she was a true non-diva bohemian. The 14 year heroin addiction is a sad story- but it goes right along with the program. After two jail stints and upon discovering a tea-totalling religious fanatic that has one small caveat ( he only likes things he can inject with a hypo), Anita figures- I got the name, why not play the game? She figured it would keep the cirrosis at bay. No kidding...
This book is about her life- the multi dimensions, unlike other showbiz memoirs, it 's not about name dropping, it's just about how it was for her, and much time is spent on the "craft" and what it means.
Summary of High Times Hard Times
"...in the tradition of the best jazz autobiographies...a fascinating travelogue through the jazz world, filled with vivid images of Gene Krupa, Stan Kenton, Roy Eldridge and Billie Holiday...Her prose is as hip as her music." -The New York Times Book ReviewHistory & Criticism Books
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