Jean-Luc Godards early films revolutionized the language of cinema. Hugely prolific in his first decade--Breathless; Contempt; Pierrot le Fou; Alphaville; and Made in USA are just a handful of the seminal works he directed--Godard introduced filmgoers to the generation of stars associated with the trumpeted sexuality of postwar movies and culture: Brigitte Bardot; Jean Seberg; Jean-Paul Belmondo; and Anna Karina. As the sixties wore on; however; Godards life was transformed. The Hollywood he had idolized began to disgust him; and in the midst of the socialist ferment in France his second wife introduced him to the activist student left. From 1968 to 1972; Europes greatest director worked in the service of Maoist politics; and continued thereafter to experiment on the far peripheries of the medium he had transformed. His extraordinary later works are little seen or appreciated; yet he remains one of Europes most influential artists.Drawing on his own working experience with Godard and his coterie; Colin MacCabe; in this first biography of the director; has written a thrilling account of the French cinemas transformation in the hands of Truffaut; Rohmer; Rivette; and Chabrol--critics who toppled the old aesthetics by becoming; legendarily; directors themselves--and Godards determination to make cinema the greatest of the arts.
#316478 in eBooks 2014-01-14 2014-01-14File Name: B00HUTQX7S
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful. Hal Blaine and the Wrecking CrewBy John PietaroHal Blaine is renowned globally as the greatest studio drummer of all time; surely this credit can be modified to "greatest studio musician" without any rational argument. Blaine set the standard for all who followed; much as he held the pulse of a music within the grip of his hands.In this book; Blaine offers us a wonderful insight into his own life; from humble working class beginnings to the first-call status hes known for---West Coast drummer to the stars. As a drummer myself; I have always admired the hell out of this man---it took me a few years to realize that many of my favorite rock and pop drummers were actually Blaine; for he usually went uncredited in liner notes. This book brings to mind many of the tracks he immortalized; from the hits of the Beach Boys and the Byrds to the Mamas and the Papas; the Carpenters and beyond. Frank Sinatra called on Blaine for his 1960s classics whenever they had even the slightest pop-rock feeling (think "Thats Life"; "The Summer Wind"; "Something Stupid"; etc) and he was also heard in most of Elvis hits from the movies. Phil Spectors wall of sound had Blaine written all over it (remember those huge drum fills on the fade-outs?). Truly; you cannot conceive of most US-produced hit records in the period bridging 1958 and 1975 without Hal Blaine driving the whole thing.Blaine also led the loose studio band known as "the Wrecking Crew". Here was a hand-picked collective which included bass players like Carol Kaye (the most recorded bassist in history) and Joe Osborne; guitarists Tommy Tedesco; Barney Kessel and Glen Campbell; keyboard players including Leon Russel and Larry Knechtal and so many others. Jack Nitsche arranged and sometimes Blaine even brought in drummer Earl Palmer to augment the sound (ha! the Batman theme is a good example of the powerhouse sound they created in tandem). Together these musicians would change the vision of the studio musician for all time; morphing it from from suit-and-tie older caucasion men; to a wide variety of faces; sounds and styles. Blaines musicians wore jeans and tees to work and while most of them had serious musical training and backgrounds that included jazz; they embraced the new generation of rock musicians; adding compelling accompaniments and collaborated with them to produce the music that would speak for the future of the record industry.The information found within the pages of HAL BLAINE AND THE WRECKING CREW is invaluable to musicians; collectors and historians; however it is unfortunate that Blaine chose to offer it all up in a conversational manner; that which usually excludes specific dates and personnel of these immortal sessions. His memories are often sentimental remembrances; which give the reader a great inside view yet leaves one wishing--always--for more. Blaine breaks down his career into segments; including whole chapters on his work with certain recording artists. Yet; the details are never uniform. He does give specifics on some of the sessions with Phil Spector and Brian Wilson; as well as his close collaborations with John Denver (including touring in the latters case); but this book could easily have included a companion volume which offers us a detailed scenario of the sessions; musicians; and songs. This music is far too important to be left to a simple remembrance; regardless of how welcoming that may be.Still; I offer this book as a 3 star title on the basis of the information provided within. And the book opens with a listing of every top-10 hit Blaine played on between the late 50s and early 70s. Scanning over it; one is in awe of the mans sheer tenacity in the studio. Clearly; he was in the drivers seat of a generations soundtrack; and his story is one to ponder and enjoy. But with any luck; a musical historian will sit down with Blaine and go over all of his well-kept files (Blaine has records of every session hes been on; his actions with the Musicians Union is also famous as he set the standard for proper pay scales and royalties for all studio players). Buy HAL BLAINE AND THE WRECKING to make a statement on just how important it is to have masterful; varied performances on popular music recordings; regardless of genre. His story is our story; no matter which side of the turn-table we were sitting on...-John Pietaro is a musician; activist and writer from New York- [...]1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. HAL BLAINE DRUMMING UP THE MUSIC IN OUR LIVES!By Graham HillTHE WRECKING CREW is by no means a definitive or even a half-way detailed book on the worlds most recorded musician Hal Blaine. But it is a sentimental; no dirt; no secrets look at the life and career of this great drummer; co-written by the man himself. Now at age 78; he can look back at a wonderful life; if not after six divorces; a not very financially profitable one.Last night I attended Denny Tedescos superb documentary tribute to his father Tommy and the musicians and music of THE WRECKING CREW itself. And the highlight was Hal and fellow crew member Don Randi playing live. I was also honored to meet Hal in person and found him to be a real gentleman and every bit the iconic statesman he has become in the musical industry.This book is a work of gentle memories; looking back on a legendary career that will never be again for anyone. A time in pop music when you not only heard the lyrics but remembered them as well. A time when the records had such great musical intros and arrangements. THE WRECKING CREW were the sound of their time; the unsung few who made such a difference in our lives.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Very good readBy JohnC.This is the Hal Blaine story; not a detailed accounting of the recordings he was a part of. This book is a good read along with The Wrecking Crew which spends more time on individual songs . Real Hal Blaine fans and drummers will enjoy and appreciate this book.
