Mr. Tambourine Man: The Life and Legacy of The Byrds' Gene Clark
by John Einarson, Gene Clark
List Price:
Our Price: $12.56
You Save: $7.43 (37%)
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Category: Book
See more book details and other editions
Book Summary Information
Author: Gene Clark, John EinarsonEdition: Paperback
Audio: English (Original Language); English (Unknown); English (Published)
Published: 2005-02-01
ISBN: 0879307935
Number of pages: 339
Publisher: Backbeat Books
Book Reviews of Mr. Tambourine Man: The Life and Legacy of The Byrds' Gene Clark
Book Review: A word for the general reader
Summary: 4 Stars
A while ago I found a section of my local library that I had been unaware of: Rock Biography. Over the years I've read and enjoyed many books in this genre (the most interesting perhaps being Sting's Broken Music). Taken in a concentrated dose, however, there is a certain gloomy sameness about many of them.
The current opus is a case in point. I see that other reviewers rate it highly; and from an objective stand-point I have no reason to disagree. But although Gene Clark wrote some of my favourite songs, I found this book even more depressing than Hank Bordowitz's Bad Moon Rising.
It would certainly be rash to judge anyone on the basis of a single biography that may be biased, incomplete or simply incompetent (although I notice that this one has the endorsement of his estate -- which presumably includes his family).
And obviously no one can be blamed either for having bipolar disorder (if indeed this was the case) or for fear of flying. Nor can I even say with these reservations, that of the parade of egocentric drink- and drug-sodden oafs filing past me on the printed page over the past few weeks, Gene Clark appears to be the most selfish: the competition is much too stiff for that. As depicted here, though, he would certainly seem to be a contender.
He was one of thirteen children raised by hardworking parents just above the poverty line. After he became successful, they heard nothing from him for months. I searched this book for some evidence of any generous act on his part. The best I could find was the gift of a television to his mother and father (p.76 -- possibly so that they could watch him in colour, although the book doesn't actually say so). I could have missed something, of course, and if you think this might be the case, you should read the book and judge for yourself. I'd love to learn that this is a false impression.
I found incomprehensible the author's repeated insistence that the Byrds' roots were in Folk Music; but this could be simply culture gap due to the fact that in the States, "folk musician" seems not refer simply to someone who sings traditional songs of unknown authorship, but to anyone who plays an acoustic guitar.
Mr. Einarson's research looked painstaking and thorough. His prose style seemed to me no better than serviceable, but this may be unfair. It could be that no writer can make a good story of this sad Rake's Progress from athletic and talented teenager via pugnacious drunk to 46-year-old corpse lying in a pool of vomit.
The fours stars reflects how well I think Mr. Einarson has done with the material he had to work with. In terms of general interest alone, I'd give the book two.
SUMMARY
If you're a major Byrds or Gene Clark fan, this is probably essential reading. If your interest is only cursory, though, I'd advise you to give it a miss -- unless you're a masochist.
Summary of Mr. Tambourine Man: The Life and Legacy of The Byrds' Gene Clark
Mr. Tambourine Man: The Life and Legacy of the Byrds' Gene Clark is the story of a pivotal figure in the evolution of popular music. A founding member of the Byrds, one of the '60s' most influential groups, Gene Clark pioneered several important genres, from folk-rock and psychedelic to country-rock. His leadership within the Byrds and his subsequent acclaim as both a solo artist and member of Dillard and Clark mark Clark as one of rock music's key innovators and visionaries. Yet his troubled life hampered his career at critical junctures, inhibiting what should have been one of popular music's greatest contributors. While revered by a new generation, his legacy remains clouded. Told through the personal recollections, insights, and reflections of those closest to Gene Clark throughout his life and career, Mr. Tambourine Man offers a rare glimpse into one of America's greatest groups, the Byrds. Based on over 100 first-person interviews, the book features rare and previously unseen photographs.General Books
Book Subjects
- Arts & Photography
- Audiobooks on Cassette
- Audiobooks on CD
- Biographies & Memoirs
- Business & Investing
- Children's Books
- Comics & Graphic Novels
- Computers & Internet
- Cooking, Food & Wine
- e-Books
- Engineering
- Entertainment
- Gay & Lesbian
- Health, Mind & Body
- History
- Home & Garden
- Horror
- Law
- Literature & Fiction
- Medicine
- Mystery & Thrillers
- Nonfiction
- Outdoors & Nature
- Parenting & Families
- Professional & Technical
- Reference
- Religion & Spirituality
- Romance
- Science
- Science Fiction & Fantasy
- Sports
- Teens
- Travel
Most talked about in General Books
Will You Take Me As I Am: Joni Mitchell's Blue Periodby Michelle Mercer
Free Press; Published: 2009-04-07; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $13.90
Price in other shops:
Roses & Thornsby Bret Michaels
Simon Spotlight Entertainment; Published: 2009-06-23; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $17.16
Price in other shops:
Home: A Memoir of My Early Yearsby Julie Andrews
Hyperion; Published: 2009-04-07; Paperback; Book
Best price: $7.73
Price in other shops:
Clapton: The Autobiographyby Eric Clapton
Broadway; Published: 2008-05-27; Paperback; Book
Best price: $2.40
Price in other shops:
The Protest Singer: An Intimate Portrait of Pete Seegerby Alec Wilkinson
Knopf; Published: 2009-04-21; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $13.81
Price in other shops:
Slashby Slash, Anthony Bozza
Harper Paperbacks; Published: 2008-11-01; Paperback; Book
Best price: $7.98
Price in other shops:
Motley Crue: The Dirt - Confessions of the World's Most Notorious Rock Bandby Tommy Lee, Vince Neil, Mick Mars, Nikki Sixx, Neil Strauss
HarperEntertainment; Published: 2002-07-01; Paperback; Book
Best price: $10.35
Price in other shops:
Off the Rails: Aboard the Crazy Train in the Blizzard of Ozzby Rudy Sarzo
TOO SMART! Publishing; Published: 2008-09-04; Paperback; Book
Best price: $14.65
Price in other shops:
Girls Like Us: Carole King, Joni Mitchell, Carly Simon--and the Journey of a Generationby Sheila Weller
Washington Square Press; Published: 2009-04-14; Paperback; Book
Best price: $10.28
Price in other shops:
Might As Well Laugh About It Nowby Marie Osmond, Marcia Wilkie
NAL Hardcover; Published: 2009-04-01; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $11.99
Price in other shops:
Similar Books and other products
So you Want to be a Rock and Roll Star The Byrds Day-By-Day 1965-1973by Christopher Hjort
Jawbone Press; Published: 2008-10-01; Paperback; Book
Best price: $17.93
Price in other shops:
The Byrds' Notorious Byrd Brothers (33 1/ 3)by Ric Menck
Continuum; Published: 2007-01-30; Paperback; Book
Best price: $5.84
Price in other shops:
Carla Olson, Gene Clark - So Rebellious a LoverRelease date: 2003-11-25; Music CD
Best price: $11.14
Price in other shops:
Gene Clark - RoadmasterRelease date: 1994-06-16; Music CD
Best price: $11.45
Price in other shops:
Gene Clark - Silverado '75-Live & UnreleasedRelease date: 2008-06-10; Music CD
Best price: $6.49
Price in other shops:
For What It's Worth: The Story of Buffalo Springfieldby John Einarson
Cooper Square Press; Published: 2004-07-25; Paperback; Book
Best price: $9.90
Price in other shops:
Gene Clark - No OtherRelease date: 2003-08-18; Music CD
Best price: $6.15
Price in other shops:
Gene Clark - Gene Clark (aka White Light)Release date: 2002-09-24; Music CD
Best price: $5.35
Price in other shops:
Dillard & Clark - The Fantastic Expedition of Dillard & Clark/ Through the Morning, Through the NightRelease date: 1999-03-08; Music CD
Best price: $6.83
Price in other shops:
Hot Burritos: The True Story of The Flying Burrito Brothersby John Einarson
Jawbone Press; Published: 2008-11-30; Paperback; Book
Best price: $11.87
Price in other shops: