Book finished: Blue Smoke
So good I bought a copy
03/10/2014
My thanks to the author for all the work that has gone into this comprehensive look at New Zealand's popular musical history.
I found it a fascinating read, which put some facts and stories to artists who were not much more than names to me, as well as much more about those more familiar to me from the Sixties. He even managed to tell me more about my Grandfather's career than had filtered down to me from my own family. I had already heard my family refer to players such as Crombie Murdoch, but this book has so much more information, all well integrated with a narration sprinkled with quotes and anecdotes, and not just a dry listing of names and dates. For instance his relating of an early Twenties outing (below) made me realise how cutting-edge it must have seemed at the time, with music magically piped wirelessly to the scene. NZ has been up with the play musically ever since. |
There is far more in this book than I can even begin to relate. The link on the cover picture is to the library's outline, which will suffice.
The illustrations are also great: posters, publicity shots, artist's personal photo's, record covers, you name it. Plus, there is a huge section of Notes with source references, a Bibliography and a very comprehensive Index. (82 of 634 pages).
I was so impressed I have ordered a copy as a present for my Mother, as it spans all her life and more.
A fantastic and interesting book which anyone with an interest in popular music would enjoy.
The illustrations are also great: posters, publicity shots, artist's personal photo's, record covers, you name it. Plus, there is a huge section of Notes with source references, a Bibliography and a very comprehensive Index. (82 of 634 pages).
I was so impressed I have ordered a copy as a present for my Mother, as it spans all her life and more.
A fantastic and interesting book which anyone with an interest in popular music would enjoy.
Read as an e-book borrowed from Auckland Libraries via Overdrive, on my Kobo Touch e-reader.
My e-reader is a basic black-and-white model. Fortunately I was able to look at the illustrations in colour on my computer
via the EPUB e-book file that is downloaded from the library for loading into the reader.
Update 2023
Sadly, my Mother passed away some years ago. It is a small consolation that I inherited this book.
via the EPUB e-book file that is downloaded from the library for loading into the reader.
Update 2023
Sadly, my Mother passed away some years ago. It is a small consolation that I inherited this book.