That's it!! I'm ordering the damn book! If only they recorded those sound checks!Quote:
Originally Posted by UndertheWire
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That's it!! I'm ordering the damn book! If only they recorded those sound checks!Quote:
Originally Posted by UndertheWire
There's not a lot more Eagles but there seems to be plenty of Joe.
Wow, I'd never read about those soundchecks before. How awesome to be able to witness something like that.
Yeah I have daydreams about the two of them in the Trousdale house, listening to a bunch of R&B records, singing along...*dreamy sigh*Quote:
Originally Posted by Freypower
"Roadwork: Rock and Rolled Turned Inside Out" by Tom Wright and Susan VanHecke is the book we're discussing.
Walk this Way: The Autobiography of Aerosmith is the book I mentioned earlier.
I agree with everyone that it is natural for every individual to have their own version of the truth. I expect that anyone who tells a story does so with their own biases, recollections, and value systems. But Luna, I have to say I do have a problem when autobiographies contain lots of contradictions, inconsistencies, and facts that can be easily refuted. To me, it is incumbent upon the author to do some basic fact-checking if they want their story to be viewed as credible. I personally feel cheated as a reader if they neglect to make a good-faith effort to get their version as accurate as possible.Quote:
Originally Posted by luna65
Oh I agree, and due diligence concerning those facts which can be verified and are considered valid across several accounts absolutely should be done. That's the bedrock of historical research. It's just that there are situations in which a fact might not be verified if there are conflicting versions of details. I have encountered this situation several times in the course of this project, and in one particular case there's no way I can absolutely verify one version over another because the documentation is non-existent and one of the key participants is deceased.Quote:
Originally Posted by Ive always been a dreamer
This talk about conflicting versions of a story makes me think of the Barney Hoskyn's book (Hotel California). It has a wonderful opening with a tale of five naked young men in a sauna and that got used in newpaper articles and promotional blurb (link to an article). There's just one problem. In another book (probably Marc Eliot's), Don Henley tells the same story but with one difference - instead of Don in the sauna, it's JD. I believe Don because a) it's Don-fricking-Henley and he should know if he was there and b) in 1971, JD was more part of that crowd than Don.
i still love that opening.
Yes it is Don who tells that story in To The Limit.
Here's another version of a conflicting story: in the HotE documentary, Kenny Rogers says it was Don who asked him to come and see Shiloh, but in To The Limit Michael Bowden relates it was Jerry Surratt, who of course was later killed in a highway accident before Shiloh relocated to Los Angeles.
I noticed that one, too. These differences aren't really significant but they do show how easily things gets mixed up.Quote:
Originally Posted by luna65
It just shows again that people see and remember things differently. So the way people tell a story is what is sitting in there mind. It is neither the whole truth or a blatant lie.
I agree with you here. If there are conflicting versions that can't be verified, then the best anyone can do is to rely on their recollection. However, IMO, there are so many times when seemingly little or no fact-checking is done - all the author does is rely on their recollection. But, I think we agree that if someone is going to write an autobiography and sell it for a profit, then they owe it to their audience to get the facts straight when possible. JMHOQuote:
Originally Posted by luna65
Absolutely! As a researcher I certainly hold to this credo as much as possible; although it can be said that biographies are held to more stringent standards than autobiographies/memoirs.Quote:
Originally Posted by Ive always been a dreamer
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Originally Posted by Midnight Visitor
I could have wrote this myself, except it's Randy for me instead of Joe. My family & co-workers have taken to making fun of me over it! lol
It is great to not feel alone in your obsession. That's why I love you guys!
For sure! I can relate in my own family! One member will remember something that I don't remember at all and vice versa! Happens all the time! And sometimes, over time, 'stories' become the truth in our minds! We have heard it so long that eventually we forget it was 'just a story' and believe it really happened!Quote:
Originally Posted by The Thrill Is Never Gone
ETA: I read Steven Tyler's book, but am thinking I need to read that autobiography too!
One more paragraph from Tom Wright about soundchecks. It's following a paragraph in which he says soundchecks were infrequent for the Who.
How I'd love to see some of that! It's the kind of "heaven" that's missing from Don Felder's book.Quote:
The Eagles, on the other hand, would race each other to soundcheck. Whoever got there first would ppick the tunes, and they rarely had anything to do with the show. It was more like "Stump the Band"." They'd do "Barefootin'" or "Memphis," tons of old bar blues tunes. When the Eagles did them, just pulling them out of the blue, they'd sound spectacular. Even if the guys had never played the songs together before, or couldn't remember the words, they'd fake it. It was breathtaking how good they were, even when they were goofing around.
There's also this about Joe Walsh and the James Gang reunion.
Quote:
When he's playing with the Eagles, Walsh is the colorful sidekick, the raw rocker in an otherwise fairly mellow band. But he's still the new guy. With the James Gang, he's the chief and leader, Mister Responsibility. Music director and choir coach. In the early days, he'd have to sell his ideas to everyone. Now, the sheer clout of his resume gives him full authority. Still, Joe's trying to discover while leading. These days, he's after the profound like a bloodhound on a scent.
Thanks for posting those quotes, UTW. And I have to agree about how breathtakingly good the Eagles are! :thumbsup:
oh , i love all u guys, this is happening to me too with the hote, but also the randy photo tribute!!! cant stop watching it, and feally like part of a family, randy eagles family!!:partytime:Quote:
Originally Posted by randymeisnerrocks
Sorry if this has been asked / answered before (I can't get together the motivation to read 140 posts ;)), but what is the best all-round book if you want an Eagles biography? I'd always assumed Marc Eliot's To The Limit was best?
Yeah, I agree about the too much information especially if it's about the fights or bad personal stuff. I read a book written by groupies once and pretty much hated everyone in the music industry for a while.Quote:
Originally Posted by Freypower
I hear what you're saying. Patti Boyd's book made me hate Clapton and dislike George Harrison. Now that's saying something when you dislike George. However, I've regained my respect for George. Clapton? Good guitarist is about all I can.
I'd say Marc Eliot. I know it isn't a popular choice here but it seems to be most comprehensive and best researched of the ones I've read. That doesn't means it's perfect, balanced and without errors but at least in most cases he shows where he got his information.Quote:
Originally Posted by thelastresort
I started to put together notes on some of the other books, so I'll post what I have so far.
"Flying High" by Laura Jackson
It's an easy read and she writes like a fan. In places it read like a novel with the author describing what the characters were thinking and feeling when she has no way of knowing this. The source material appears to be old interviews and other books rather than any new interviews or research and there are some glaring errors (how could she think that the Desperado cover shoot took place in London?).
"Eagles Taking it to the Limit" by Ben Fong-Torres
Possibly the newest of the books, being published in 2011. The author worked for Rolling Stone magazine when the band was in its prime, took part in the famous soft ball game and interviewed the band during the Farewell 1 tour. He makes use of old stories, record reviews and, presumably, his notes and memories . He was there – sort of. There are errors (at one point he mixes up Randy and Bernie) and there isn’t much new content but it’s an easy read and maybe as good an overview of the band’s history as any. And then there are the photos…
Over a hundred of them, mostly colour, many full page. Even Bernie gets two full page photos just of him. If you’re tempted to buy a tour book just for the photos, then this offers much better value. I paid just £5.99. Seriously, the photos are good.
"Hotel California" by Barney Hoskins
This is the one that opens with five naked young men in a sauna.
I really enjoyed this. It has a broader sweep covering The Byrds, Buffalo Springfield, CSN&Y, Joni Mitchell, David Geffen which all gives context and perhaps a better perspective. Hoskyns interviewed lots of people, including JD, Jackson and Bernie. Lots of good anecdotes.
Thank you for the overview! I was experiencing information overload.
Not that it's a bad thing!
Has anyone read Andrew Vaughan's book: The Eagles: An American Band? It has good reviews on Amazon.
Vaughan's book was mentioned earlier in this thread https://eaglesonlinecentral.com/foru...8&postcount=91
It also has it's own thread. Comments about the book itself start around page 8
https://eaglesonlinecentral.com/foru...vaughan&page=8
IMO there are only three books you really need:
To The Limit
Eagles Taking It To The Limit
Hotel California
The latter is more about the Avocado Mafia but it's a great read. Although another good book of that ilk is Canyon of Dreams.
Canyon of Dreams is a gorgeous book. There's only one chapter on the Eagles but it has some different stories and they paint a picture of life in the early days.
Cheers guys. Will take a look in town tomorrow to see if either of the bookshops have Eliot's or Fong-Torres's books and if not I'll Amazon them. Everyone else at uni marks the end of exams by getting drunk and I mark it by buying Eagles books :D
I bought the Marc Elliot book on Thursday from ebay. I should be getting it sometime this week.
Good choice TLR!:thumbsup:Quote:
Originally Posted by thelastresort
So I've Amazon-ed Marc Eliot's To The Limit in the expectation of it being here early next week. According to the dispatch email they sent me yesterday (Tuesday) it should be here by Thursday. I wouldn't mind usually, but my last exam's on Friday morning and I know if I get the book before then I'll be reading that and not exam notes :|
I just bought the book Willin' about Little Feat and the eagles are mentioned in there a bit.
Havent started it yet but will post about it in the book club thread.
To the Limit actually came on Wednesday! Haven't dared to look at it too much yet but I've had a few quick glances: I don't think it'll tell me anything new about their songs but it should offer a lot of insight into the behind the scenes events, a lot like HOTE. Safe to say I have already gathered Don Henley don't care too much for it :lol:
Read the book by Ben Fong Torres. It was good because there are alot of pictures, especially of Randy!:partytime: Anyway, the History of the Eagles has almost all the same info as the book, so if you've seen History CD and don't want to see the pic's I wouldn't waste $$ on the book.
:soda: "I believe we can Chug All Night".
I like my eagles books just because there aren't that many of them around .
good or bad I enjoy them .
It's funny...I'm in one fandom where there are literally dozens of books (Pink Floyd, and I own over twenty books on them myself) and another with very few (Yes), same as with the Eagles, and it's made me very picky - that and my job as a researcher - good rock bios are hard to come by; a great book for me always has a good number of primary sources and lots of photos.
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Originally Posted by LuvRandy
hi can anyone tell me what dvds r available , especially with randy, as i only have felders book and thote, and finally found earybird, but i think i saw a couple of others still with randy, does anyone know where i can get them, which ones r worth getting and im in australia, thanks any info would b apprieciated
thanks so much luvrandy:cheers:Quote:
Originally Posted by LuvRandy
I'm reading Elliot's book at the moment and somebody here said there are mistakes in it and I'm wondering what I should and should not believe, for example the writing credits oh The Long Run, the book says Shmit, Henley, Frey but I don't recall seeing Timothy credited for that song anywhere else:shrug: anyway, enjoying the book
The sleeve in my The Long Run cd says written by Don H & Glenn.Quote:
Originally Posted by bluefeather