When I received this book in the mail, I tore it out andstarted reading it and didn't put it down. Couldn't put it down.I've been a Funk fan for almost 30 years having grown up with their music. I was really looking forward to this book when I heard it was coming out, and it didn't let me down. Well written, lots of facts with some great quotes I've heard and some I haven't heard from all the band members. It was interesting reading about their early days, and how they felt during all that since TK didn't really let them talk at all except (with a fight it sounded like) through their music. Billy James (AKA Ant Bee) is obviously a Funk fan, but this didn't shy him away from putting in the bad press and reviews the band received over the years, which if memory serves me right were most of the reviews they received, but this didn't stop them from going gold on their albums and selling out arenas. It is written mostly it seems from articles and interviews given by the band over the years with some correction from Don Brewer and Mel Schacher. It has an extensive bookmark section from where these articles and interviews came from. Very little dirt if that's what you're looking for, but a few amusing stories. Some good pictures too. I highly recommend this to any Grand Funk fan. It's a must!

An American Band, The Story of Grand Funk Railroad is a wonderful new book by Billy James that covers the History of the American Band Grand Funk Railroad (1969-1999).

An American Band covers GFRs Meteoric rise to Rock N roll Superstardom; there fall (due to the break up with there manager and the ensuing lawsuits) and there rebirth and reunions. The Book Goes through an album by album and tour by tour synopsis. It also covers Mark Farner's, Don Brewer's and Mel Shcacher's personal lives and solo careers. An American Band covers the origins of GFR (Bossman, ? and the Mysterians, Pack and Jazz master Days), The critical disdain and loyal fan support, The break Ups, The 80s reunion and the current reunion (96-98). It also covers GFR on the Internet and has a list of all the fan based sites.

Grand Funk Railroad formed in 1968 and released there first album, "On Time," in 1969. It was a first in a series of huge selling records ("On Time", "Grand Funk", "Closer To Home", "Live," "Survival," "E Pluribus Funk," "Mark, Don and Mel," "Phoenix," "We're An American Band," "Shinin' On," and "All The Girls in the world Beware"). GFR was an underground FM type band and received little airplay and nothing but negative media attention (if not outright hostility). Even with all that, Grand Funk Railroad with the support of a huge and loyal fan base, was the largest selling Rock group in the 1970s (1970-79); they sold twenty-five million albums in the United States and another 20 million more worldwide. They were the first band to sell 12 straight Gold Albums and 10 straight Platinum albums. They charted many times (With a switch to a more polished sound in 72 and the addition of a permeant keyboard player Craig Frost) with two songs reaching #1, "The Loco-Motion" and "We're An American; with also "Bad Time" and "Some Kind Of Wonderful" reaching the top 5. In 1975, GFR won the BMI award for having the most played song on the radio, which was "Bad Time". There were thrown off the Led Zeppelin tour in 69, cause Zeppelins manager could not stand the fact the GFR was the crowd pleaser (GFR blew the mighty Zep off the stage). They went on to tour on there own. They sold out Shea Stadium faster than the Beetles, and sold out in the US and in their worldwide tours breaking records where ever they went. All this is covered in An American band in detail and Billy makes great use of critics reviews (both good and bad) and also the reactions of Mark, Don and Mel, to show what they thought about all that was happening around them. Billy also goes on to detail GFRs later and solo albums "Caught in the Act," "Born To Die," "Good Singin Good Playin," "Flint" (Don Mel and Craig's band), and Mark Farner's solo albums "Mark Farner," No Frills," "Just Another Injustice," "Wake Up," "Some Kind Of Wonderful." And GFR's New efforts "Bosnia," A double Live CD with proceeds going to the Bosnia war orphans and refugee relief fund, and "Thirty Years Of funk-1969-99," a 3 CD set Anthology covering the band from the pack days to three brand new songs.

GFR has always been the "People's Band." If they had something to say they did it, Mark Farner was always very political and it came out in his songs. His Anti Vietnam sediments were shown in songs suck as "Closer To Home," & "People Lets Stop The War;" His worry about the environment issues was shown in songs such as "Save The Land," & "Ban The Man." Overpopulation and spiritual searching in songs such as "So You Wont have to die," & "Comfort Me." Mark who was always a Christian became a devout follower of Jesus in the 80s and Mark's God Rock albums are covered in Billy's Book as well. Back in the early 1970s, GFR took a stand against hard drugs by doing promotional ads urging their generation not to destroy their lives with drugs. This was not a popular thing to do, at that time, but they showed the caring necessary not to worry about record sales and do what was right. They also helped establish the Phoenix House, which started in New York City. Phoenix House worked mostly with teens who were drug dependent. Mark, Don, and Mel named an album after the Phoenix House, "Phoenix," in its honor and played concerts for free to raise money for that institution. They also did advertisements for the Red Cross to get young people to Give Blood. Billy does a great job showing all sides of the band.

An American Band is the most documented and complete History that can be found on the great American Band, Grand Funk Railroad. Billy does a great job showing there whole history the good with the bad, the book is excellent and a must have for every GFR Fan. Billy also documents how the band was ripped of by the Manager Terry knight, and for this section alone, every young inspiring musician sound read this book. Its on SAF publishing and its ISBN is 0 946719 26 8

Rick Cappetto

This book documents the history of the legendary American rock group - Grand Funk Railroad. It tells of their early rise to fame; from a garage band from Flint, MI. to selling out Shea Stadium faster than the Beatles. From a $6,000,000 lawsuit with their former manager to ten consecutive gold records. It tells of the groups demise in 1976 to it's rebirth in 1996; still packing stadiums like they did 20 years previous! With the help of Grand Funk band members Don Brewer and Mel Schacher, 'An American Band - the Story Of Grand Funk Railroad' is the definitive source for the history of one of the world's greatest rock and roll groups! As a bonus, Don Brewer has written the forward to the book as well!

This book started me listening to the Beatles again, with more appreciation than ever. Each of the group's recordings (and films) is reviewed, accompenied by contemporary biographical info and photographs. The authors' inside knowledge of the English rock scene--and the Beatles' place in it--is invaluble. A "US Disography" is provided to help American fans relate the jumbled US releases to the originals. The book could have been much longer. I wanted more factoids such as Lennon's amusing reply to the circa-1963 query, how long would the Beatles last?--"About five years."

A really cool Beatle book originally released in the mid-70's. Lots of beautiful glossy photos (color and B&W) with opinionated reviews of all the original (British) LPs, EPs, singles and solo releases through 1975. The authors genuinely love the Beatles. The tone of their text, while occasionally harsh, is overwhelmingly objective and accurate. (They reserve their most brutal criticisim for solo LPs such as Paul's "Ram" and George's "All Things Must Pass". I'd be willing to bet they've changed their opinions with a quarter century of hindsight). Whether or not you agree with Carr and Tyler's views, you'll undoubtedly find them to be witty and almost always amusing. Also included is a rudimentary review of the Liverpool/Hamburg years, a great photo montage of the legendary Shea Stadium show (August 15, 1965) and a summary of popular Beatle bootlegs. Overall, "The Beatles: An Illustrated Record" stands out because of its magnificient array of photos and the authors' brief, but well-written text. This book's long out of print, so snatch it up if you find a used copy.

This book should be updated and put back into print. Lavish and interesting.

This book is an anthology of articles published in Rock and Ice, with an emphasis on fairly recent work. They are primarily trip reports and essays. Detailed description of the sort of climbing which often doesn't get much press gives many of the articles a fresh, interesting quality. In addition, they have only previously been published in the magazine, so they will be new to many readers. Definitely recommended!

I could have devoured five times as many of the fine stories written here as I had the good fortune to read. The variety of subject matter, coupled with the strong voices of the authors, make this book wonderfully appealing.

The best thing about this anthology is the range of subject matter, from bouldering to mountaineering, from young sport climbers to veteran alpinists. Every story gives a different view of climbing. It's also filled with good humor, from John Long to the crazy story about the guy on a road trip with his pet monkey.

I bought this book and it was a perfect birthday present for my friend's daughter.

This book is such a great present for "little ladies". It teaches them all about birthstones, and then they can use the pretty "gem" stickers and punch-out jewelry to play dress-up. I just gave it to a 6 year-old girl who loved it!

The birthday jewlery book, is a wonderfully written beautifully illustrated childrens book. We've read it many times to our children who have loved every word of it. Both our children and us learned a lot about birthstones and we highly recomend this book. This would make a great birthday gift for any child.

The Tru North series just keeps getting better. I can't wait for the next book!

I have read a total of three of this author's books to date--Have enjoyed them thoroughly-She took my breath away with this one-I am a recovering alcoholic and found Valerie a very believeable character-I was saddened by the death of the jailer/farmer...also the character Tru is a true member of gay society as she changes lovers often-I am also an orphan and can understand the pain that rises from that-this book truly kept me reading to the end as I really could not put it down-Thanks Janet-please keep them coming

I enjoyed this book to the max. This installment of the Tru North series was one of the best. Will re-read it again, and enjoy. This author gets better witheach book. I look forward to more.

The day Cityscapes arrived brought me back to the city of my childhood and of my family and closest friends. Page after page of wonderful photographs, of history remembered and learned yet again. So many places visited with my elementary school field trips and then revisited years later on my brief stays in New York. Cityscapes offers a visual feast as well as an intellectual journey to places and people seen years ago, but only now understood in historical context.

A month or so after I fell into Cityscapes, I was delighted to host a young couple from New York. They saw the book on my coffee table and picked it up. Hours later, the two of them were still pouring over the book, learning new and fascinating slices of urban life in their recently adopted city.

Just as New York offers something for everyone, Cityscapes brings light to the eyes of anyone who opens its cover and enters its world.

There is no place like New York, and there is no book about New York like this one. As revealing as the superb choice of photos, sketches and maps are, so is the narrative story linked with the visual: colonial seaport blossoming into a republican town, fragmented city becoming the immigrant metropolis, and finally the cosmopolitan community and global village we celebrate today. The authors have opened for us vista after vista and close-up after close-up of the poignancy and power of this magnificently restless, creative and changing Empire City.

The destruction of the World Trade Center has altered the New York City skyline forever and has forced people to confront a new image of New York. The next generation of New York observers will only know the Towers from their images - several magnificant ones appear in this book's final chapter.

Cityscapes is more than just a history of New York City and it is more than simply a book of beaufitul pictures. It is a unique social history that explores the timely question of how New York, the City, has been both constructed and reflected in images captured over four hundred years.

So far, this is my favorite book of New York City history.

This is a great resource and the presentation of material is excellent. Bill and Hans are part of the growing breed of speed climbers - people that have busy lives and search to do more in less time. Speed climbing brings more risk to the equation and this book helps one to make the right decisions in a wide variety of circumstances. Some may feel that speed climbing takes away from the "stop and smell the roses" attitude, but the truth is, when one learns to be efficient, there is more time available for relaxing activities. Or, as Bill and Hans do, more time to climb more routes. This book is a classic and is a cornerstone of instructional climbing literature. I read it cover to cover in 38 minutes and 43 seconds. Is that a record?

This is the definitive work of Speedclimbing from a paradoxical pair of authors. Hans Florine is the godfather of speed climbing - one of the early pioneers of the sport and a multiple record holder. Bill Wright is a weekend warrior, who finds a way to pursue his passion despite the constraints of a day job.

The book mixes three distinctive components - theory behind how to climb faster, practical hands on tips, and fireside annecdotes that will inspire you to get on the rock. The book will provide useful tips for the beginner and experienced climber alike.

Title of my review says it all.

Short stories are interspursed with unique, new, and useful knowledge on the art of squeezing more climbing out of your: day, weekend, or evening.

Alan Watts did an excellent job in putting together this guide. The topos and maps are high quality, the photos are excellent and it's easy to navigate. But what really sets this guide apart from many others is the quality of the historical perspective and the overall readability of the text. Watts played an important part in the development of sport climbing in the US and thus was a controversial figure for years. His treatment of those tumultious times is worth the cost of the guide.

One of the best guidebooks out there. The topos and pictures are clear and the descriptions are detailed. The author has probably done all the climbs so he should know. The topos even give specific gear needed at certain places on the climb. Where the author's climbing style lays is obvious, he seems to dislike anything with a chimney. Quality of routes are measured by a 4 star system. The author uses R and X rating. This guide has everything you could ask for. If you only want one guide to the area, this is it.

This is the greatest guide book to Smith Rock State Park ever. It has it all. That is all there is to it. This is the perfect guide to the perfect climbing area.

This is a great book!It gives tips on:lyrics,make-up,dancing,hair dtyles,etc.This is a really good book if you want to create your own band or just have fun with some friends!

i read it at camp and now im buying it because me my sister and my bff are making a band!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I like this book because it's very detailed and this book got me interested in my fave writer.

This book is more of a collectible for dedicated Cure fans.It just shows you rare Cure items found mostly in Europe such as singles, maxi-singles,vinyl records, and other Cure promotional gimicks.Also, it includes useless information about the singles and album covers and how long the promos were out. Buy this book if you're itching to find out what's missing in your personal Cure collection but don't purchase it if your looking for some sort of biography story or something.

this is what us hard-core cure collectors have been waiting for...a nicely designed, thoroughly exhaustive guide to all things cure (and cure-related). i've actually been able to use this book as a comprehensive, visual checklist for taking inventory on my collection...much, much better than any silly discography. required for any serious cure collector.

Yes, wow. That sums this baby up pretty good! This book, it's large and it will depress you it's so amazin! I've looked through it wholy several times so far and only got it 2 days ago.. Amazing, it contains so.. SO many albums and things i could only dream of ever holding! And the pictures of Robert Smith in there, oh don't make me go into great detail! *slobber drool* Well I'm not going to do the generic thing and say "a great Cure collector item" or "a must-have!" 'cause really it's totally your choice, it's just that I have it, and it rocks.