- Paperback: 272 pages
- Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing PLC; New edition edition (27 Oct 1999)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0747546223
- ISBN-13: 978-0747546221
- Product Dimensions: 29.6 x 20.8 x 2.2 cm
- Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 616,698 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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Product Description
Product Description
John Cale was born in the Brecon Beacons, in a household where nothing but Welsh was spoken. He made his way to New York via Leonard Bernstein's music workshop at Tanglewood, and then entered the 60s scene there, joining The Velvet Underground. This is his story, through the 60s and beyond.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
13 of 13 people found the following review helpful
I devoured this book about my top music hero and pronounce it good! It's not perfect though, I would have liked more background on some of the albums (people involved in the recording, events etc) especially his work with e.g. Nick Drake, and the editing is really sloppy: in one place early in the text, the title of a newspaper has just been left out, and Cale's collaboration with Bob Neuwerth is called Last NIGHT On Earth (it is DAY). It provides valuable insights into his personal life and artistic development, and early reflections on Andy Warhol and The Factory. Great photographs and illustrations too make for a very pleasing design. Certainly worthy of the man and his achievements.
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
A must-read for all serious music fans.
Cale is very honest about his past, brutally honest in fact.
The design is fresh, modern. A joy to read. I've read it through twice, and gone back to it on a thousand occasions.
Mr Bockris has done a very good job (he's the key writer on the Velves), and Cale picked the right man for the job.
Will be enjoyed by core fans and general fans of the Velves.
5 of 6 people found the following review helpful
Amazon Verified Purchase
OK, I did enjoy this book, but it does get a bit tiring after a while.
But first, beware that this is a large format book (A4) with drawings, photos, lyrics.
It is all a bit self-consciously "arty", and lyrics aren't JC's strong point so I'm not sure that the format really helps him. More photos & less drawing wouldn't have hurt.
This design is original but makes it difficult to read on the move or on holiday. Also, despite the attention to detail, the proof reading is poor.
I enjoyed the first half, then started to feel a bit tired.
The list of people Cale has fallen out with (usually because they are an arsehole) does go on, then the drug-taking, then the album which doesn't sell, Cale is dropped by record company, goes on tour, falls out with musician, gets new record deal, meets bonkers woman and cycle begins again.
How did he keep getting record deals despite such low sales? A chapter on that skill would have given a bit of variety.
He is the greatest living Welshman, a fine musical mind, but somehow the disappointment of not having that big hit single/album seeps through.
The Lou Reed stuff is of course interesting, but one does feel that Cale is too obsessed with him & kinda resents the greater success of people he feels are his musical inferiors (describing Brain Eno as a gifted amateur is a bit much).
A good read, but you may find yourself skipping through the 70s & 80s (as did John).
But first, beware that this is a large format book (A4) with drawings, photos, lyrics.
It is all a bit self-consciously "arty", and lyrics aren't JC's strong point so I'm not sure that the format really helps him. More photos & less drawing wouldn't have hurt.
This design is original but makes it difficult to read on the move or on holiday. Also, despite the attention to detail, the proof reading is poor.
I enjoyed the first half, then started to feel a bit tired.
The list of people Cale has fallen out with (usually because they are an arsehole) does go on, then the drug-taking, then the album which doesn't sell, Cale is dropped by record company, goes on tour, falls out with musician, gets new record deal, meets bonkers woman and cycle begins again.
How did he keep getting record deals despite such low sales? A chapter on that skill would have given a bit of variety.
He is the greatest living Welshman, a fine musical mind, but somehow the disappointment of not having that big hit single/album seeps through.
The Lou Reed stuff is of course interesting, but one does feel that Cale is too obsessed with him & kinda resents the greater success of people he feels are his musical inferiors (describing Brain Eno as a gifted amateur is a bit much).
A good read, but you may find yourself skipping through the 70s & 80s (as did John).
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