Download The Bob Dylan Encyclopedia, by Michael Gray
Below, we have many publication The Bob Dylan Encyclopedia, By Michael Gray as well as collections to read. We also offer alternative kinds and also type of guides to search. The enjoyable book, fiction, past history, unique, scientific research, as well as various other sorts of books are readily available here. As this The Bob Dylan Encyclopedia, By Michael Gray, it comes to be one of the favored publication The Bob Dylan Encyclopedia, By Michael Gray collections that we have. This is why you remain in the appropriate website to view the impressive e-books to have.
The Bob Dylan Encyclopedia, by Michael Gray
Download The Bob Dylan Encyclopedia, by Michael Gray
The Bob Dylan Encyclopedia, By Michael Gray. Allow's check out! We will certainly frequently learn this sentence almost everywhere. When still being a kid, mommy utilized to get us to consistently review, so did the teacher. Some publications The Bob Dylan Encyclopedia, By Michael Gray are totally read in a week as well as we need the responsibility to assist reading The Bob Dylan Encyclopedia, By Michael Gray What about now? Do you still like reading? Is reading only for you who have commitment? Not! We below supply you a brand-new book entitled The Bob Dylan Encyclopedia, By Michael Gray to read.
Well, book The Bob Dylan Encyclopedia, By Michael Gray will certainly make you closer to exactly what you are ready. This The Bob Dylan Encyclopedia, By Michael Gray will be always great close friend any sort of time. You may not forcedly to consistently complete over checking out a book in other words time. It will certainly be simply when you have extra time as well as spending couple of time to make you feel pleasure with exactly what you check out. So, you can obtain the meaning of the notification from each sentence in the e-book.
Do you know why you should read this website and also exactly what the relationship to reading publication The Bob Dylan Encyclopedia, By Michael Gray In this modern-day era, there are lots of ways to acquire the e-book and they will certainly be much easier to do. One of them is by obtaining the e-book The Bob Dylan Encyclopedia, By Michael Gray by on the internet as what we inform in the link download. The e-book The Bob Dylan Encyclopedia, By Michael Gray can be a selection because it is so proper to your necessity now. To get guide on the internet is quite easy by just downloading them. With this possibility, you could review the e-book anywhere as well as whenever you are. When taking a train, awaiting list, and also hesitating for a person or various other, you could review this online book The Bob Dylan Encyclopedia, By Michael Gray as a great close friend again.
Yeah, checking out an e-book The Bob Dylan Encyclopedia, By Michael Gray can add your close friends lists. This is among the formulas for you to be effective. As understood, success does not mean that you have terrific points. Recognizing and also knowing greater than various other will certainly provide each success. Beside, the notification as well as impression of this The Bob Dylan Encyclopedia, By Michael Gray can be taken as well as picked to act.
The Bob Dylan Encyclopedia is one of the most wide-ranging, informed, entertaining, provocative, and compulsively readable books ever written about popular music. It's the culmination of over thirty years of dedicated research and scholarship by Michael Gray.
Inside these pages, you'll find a world of ideas, facts, and opinions. It's a world in which Baudelaire flows on from the Basement Tapes and A.S. Byatt looks out at the Byrds; in which Far from the Madding Crowd follows Ezekiel and Bob Geldof introduces Jean Genet; and in which Hank and William Carlos Williams stand side by side while J.R.R. Tolkien trails the Titanic. Most of all, of course, it's a world in which everyone and everything interconnects, in endlessly fascinating ways, with one of our greatest living artists: Bob Dylan.
"Michael Gray... probably Dylan's single most assiduous critic." -New York Review of Books
"Fans of Bob Dylan have a multitude of choices when it comes to biographies and retrospectives, but author Michael Gray outdistances them all with this voluminous collection of all things Dylan. ... Insightful and entertaining, Gray's tome will broaden appreciation of the artist, his influences and his legacy." -Publishers Weekly (starred review)
"...has all you need to know, and more" -Richard Corliss, Time
"This is no mere catalog of facts, but a work of oceanic immersion. It has wit, opinion, style, and asks to be read, not just consulted." -Village Voice
"Deeply impressive...destined to be the most important Dylan book, bar none."-Gerry Smith, The Dylan Daily
"Utterly idiosyncratic." -Janet Maslin, New York Times
"Amazingly well-researched and surprisingly readable work." -Library Journal (starred review)
"Door-stopping detail." -Toronto Star
"Magnificent...won't just astonish readers with its detail about Dylan's work...contains so many insights and refutes so many myths about the rock 'n' roll era in general that it's invaluable as both a reference guide and a personality study." -Nashville City Paper
"Comprehensive and up-to-date." -Slate
- Sales Rank: #172829 in Books
- Brand: Brand: Bloomsbury Academic
- Published on: 2006-06-15
- Released on: 2006-09-21
- Ingredients: Example Ingredients
- Original language: English
- Number of items: 1
- Dimensions: 10.32" h x 2.03" w x 7.12" l, 3.35 pounds
- Binding: Hardcover
- 755 pages
- Brand Name: Gray, Michael Mfg#: 9780826469335
- Shipping Weight: 3.32 lbs
- Manufacturer:
- Genre:
- All music products are properly licensed and guaranteed authentic.
From Publishers Weekly
Starred Review. Fans of Bob Dylan have a multitude of choices when it comes to biographies and retrospectives, but author Michael Gray (Song & Dance Man #3: The Art of Bob Dylan) outdistances them all with this voluminous collection of all things Dylan. Over the course of 823 pages Gray considers everything from railroad imagery in Dylan's songs to his use of nursery rhymes, covering the topics thoughtfully and thoroughly. An entry on Rubin "Hurricane" Carter details the plight of the wrongfully jailed boxer immortalized in Dylan's song "Hurricane," including not only a biography of the fighter, but details of the song's recording and live performance. Even the briefest of encounters merits an entry, such as when Neil Diamond challenged Dylan to top him as he came offstage. Dylan's reply: "Waddaya want me to do-go onstage and fall asleep?" Gray's knowledge of his subject is seemingly boundless, yet he manages to maintain a critical eye and keep Dylan's work in perspective. "Unbelievable," a song off Dylan's Under the Red Sky album, is called "a hopeless piece of rockist sludge picked from the obscurity of the album and issued as a single. Almost any other track would have fared better ." While Gray is certainly a fan, it's this impartiality that fuels the book and gives it weight. Insightful and entertaining, Gray's tome will broaden appreciation of the artist, his influences and his legacy. 100 b&w illustrations.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
From Booklist
Rock 'n' roll historian and Bob Dylan authority Gray offers a detailed volume featuring entries related to Dylan's life, artists who influenced him and were influenced by him, musical styles he created, and background stories of specific Dylan songs and recordings. Gray states in his preface that this work was prompted by friends and readers of his books (Song & Dance Man: The Art of Bob Dylan, 1972, and its 900-page revised edition, 2000) who suggested that he present some of that material in a more "reference-based" way.
Most of the entries are sketches of musicians, although Gray includes actors, authors, and other nonmusicians. These entries provide brief biographies and then explain how the people are connected to Dylan: how they worked with him, influenced or were influenced by him, and which of his songs they performed or recorded. The 3-page entry for Johnny Cash, for example, tells of Cash's defense of Dylan when Columbia Records wanted to drop him, their first meeting at the Gaslight Cafe in Greenwich Village, and their duo performances and recordings.
Gray's opinions and editorializing are prevalent throughout. This makes for unique entries, such as Interviews and the myth of their rarity (in which he claims Dylan actually averaged one interview per month over 40 years) and Dylan being "bored" by his acoustic material 1965-66, the myth of. In fact, the entire book is written in a refreshingly relaxed manner, as befits a music critic and fan.
The volume comes with more than 100 black-and-white illustrations and an accompanying CD-ROM with a searchable PDF version of the text. Although there is another published Dylan reference work, Oliver Trager's Keys to the Rain: The Definitive Bob Dylan Encyclopedia (Billboard, 2004), the current volume is a valuable addition to academic and large public library collections, primarily because of Gray's knowledge and reputation as a Dylan expert. Steven York
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved
Review
Mention - Today's Books, March 2006
"Comprehensive and up-to-date" -David Yaffe, Slate, May 2006
"...all you need to know, and more, about the little big man." —Richard Corliss, Time Magazine
"Michael Gray, who has spent years trying to capture Mr. Dylan's lightning in a bottle, has produced Bob Dylan Encyclopedia, a heavy, utterly idiosyncratic compendium. It's even up-to-date enough to make reference to The Essential Interviews and include a snarky reference to Mr. Cott. Among its many other categories: 'book endorsements, unfortunate,' 'blues, inequality of reward in,' ' co-option of real music by advertising, the,' ' radical political activity in 1960s-70s US, the strange disappearance of' and 'repertoire, Dylan's early, unsuited to commercial radio.' —Janet Maslin, The New York Times
Article promoting photographic exhibition of Bob Dylan, and theauthor signing of Michael Gray's book. In Durham Advertised - 10th June 2006 and Chester Le Street Advertiser - 10th June 2006.
'Some of the 850 entries in this 800-odd pages read more like highly enjoyable essays, which which the man who has analysed Dylan's works on the closest detail adds his own critical view to the know (and many little-know) facts.' 'the book is a feast for Dylan geeks and less zealous but nostagic lovers of his best works alike. No artist has been so discussed, argued and written about.' Mention on Michael Gray's book signing. (Sheena Hastings Yorkshire Post)
"The Encylopedia majors on its author's unparalleled expertise, his critical judgment and a ready intelligence and authorial finesse... in three quarters of a million words, he paints a massive canvas. Over 730 pages, its daunting breadth of coverage and sheer level of detail is deeply impressive... from today, Michael Gray's new Encyclopedia is destined to be the most important Bob Dylan book, bar none."
—The Dylan Daily
"This is a book to fall in love with."
—The Daily Telegraph
Read thisThe Times Magazine
Michael Gray... is arguably the pre-eminent Dylan scholar - enviably knowledgeable, scabrously tart and enthusiastically iconoclastic... [and his] irreverence is one of the joys of The Bob Dylan Encyclopedia... It won't be the last word on Dylan but it is easily the most comprehensive.The Sunday Herald (Scotland)
"A great labour of love... It stands comparison with David Thomson's Biographical Dictionary of Cinema as a sustained piece of entertaining, opinionated, heartfelt and argumentative writing... The book is thronged with life... [and] leads you irresistibly from one connection to another... Throughout there is a rich sense of what these people have meant to Dylan - and what he has meant to them, and to all of us who have merely listened and been moved."
—London Evening Standard
'It won't be the last word on Dylan but it is easily the most comprehensive.' (Alan Taylor, Encyclopedia Dylannica, 9 July 2006)
Interview with Michael Gray's about his book.
'there is always room for a volume as utterly brilliantas Michael Gray's, The Bob Dylan Encyclopedia. ' Strikingly intelligent, poetic subtly humorous and buzzing with an awareness of the richness of life, he'sthe perfect match for his subject.'
What's in in London, Joe Cushley, 13 July 2006 (Joe Cushley)
'I had no doubt that this would be a monumental work from the man who us probably the world's leading authority on the iconic singer-songwriter. No other artist in the history of popular music could deserve or justify the compilation of such an enormous reference work, which is also a great tribute to Dylan's cultural genius, as well as to his standing in the spheres of literature and academic study as well as music.'
5 stars
Western Daily Press (Bristol), Geoff Ward, 13 July 2006 (Geoff Ward)
Title mention in The Idependent on Sunday, 16 July 2006 (Independent, The)
Collector's Item - New Statesman (New Statesman)
'Michael Gray now unleashes an authoritive reference tome...Gray's critical powers remain top rank and it will be well nigh impossible for you to ever just dip in and read only one entry.' ~ Guitar and Bass Magazine, 1 Sept 2006
' Hank Williams rubs shoulders with William Carlos Williams in this monumental work, which seeks to pin down the many influences on Dylan's work, and to tease out the literary, autobiographical and musical references within it. Michael Gray has devoted half a lifetime to Dylan scholarship.' London Review of Books, 3 August 2006 (London Review Of Books)
'Nobody could possibly fault Gray's book for lack of diligence...We Dylan admirers will happily put in on our shelves next to the RIck's book and pull it down on noisy gin-soaked evenings with friends.'~Kevin Jackson Sunday Times, 23 July 2006 (Kevin Jackson Sunday Times)
"Few will be disappointed by The Bob Dylan Encyclopedia. It's likely to become the biggest selling Dylan book of all. The Encyclopedia majors on its author's unparalleled expertise, his critical judgment and a ready intelligence and authorial finesse rare among writers of Dylan books. The Bob Dylan Encyclopedia's strengths include authoritative essays positioning Dylan's work in the context of other artistic traditions—notable the Bible, English Literature, the blues, rock 'n' roll, nursery rhymes and film. Gray's analysis of the influence on Dylan's work of the Book of Ecclesiastes is the most evocative piece of writing on the musician you're likely to encounter." —CHOICE
"Seriously now, do get two new books on the artist: Bob Dylan: The Essential Interviews, a collection of 40 edgy conversations edited by Jonathan Cott and Michael Gray's The Bob Dylan Encyclopedia, which has all you need to know, and more, about the little big man." —Time Magazine, May 2006
"As much a fascinating portrait of an era as a thorough, detailed study of a master singer/songwriter. Gray's book also spotlights Dylan compositions and associations, often providing the real story behind the song of the collaboration rather than the conventional or accepted version. It only reaffirms his commitment to the creative process and knowledge of many different idioms, plus his ability to get inspiration from non-musical sources as well. It contains so many insights and refutes so many myths about the rock 'n' roll era in general that it's invaluable as both a reference guide and personality study." —The City Paper, June 2006
"This massive effort covers many of his songs, albums, and film work, as well as just about every personality associated with the folk singer/rock star. But this is no dry reference tome. Gray freely quotes from a variety of sources, in addition to relying on his own considerable knowledge. Overall, this is an amazingly well-researched and surprisingly readable work." —Library Journal Starred Review, June 2006
"This is no mere catalog of facts, but a work of oceanic immersion. It has wit, opinion, style and asks to be read, not just consulted. Gray details every artist Dylan has ever interpreted or collaborated with along with all of his critics and chroniclers, logger and bloggers, trash collectors and microbe hunters." —The Village Voice
"Author Michael Gray outdistances them all with this voluminous collection of all things Dylan. Gray's knowledge of his subject is seemingly boundless, yet he manages to maintain a critical eye and keep Dylan's work in perspective. While Gray is certainly a fan, it's this impartiality that fuels the book and gives it weight. Insightful and entertaining, Gray's tome will broaden appreciation of the artist, his influenced and his legacy." —Publisher's Weekly, June 2006
"This heavyweight tome is loaded with facts about Mr. Funny Voice and the world/mythology that has grown up around him." —The Fader Magazine, July/August 2006
"There is always room for a volume as utterly brilliant as Michael Gray's The Bob Dylan Encyclopedia. It is a wonderfully serendipitous read. There's plenty for everyone from the most hardened Bobcat to the general music lover. Strikingly intelligent, poetic, subtly humorous and buzzing with an awareness of the richness of life, he's the perfect match for his subject." —What's On in London, July 14, 2006
"It's a great labor of love. It stands comparison with David Thomson's Biographical Dictionary of Cinema as a sustained piece of entertaining opinionated heartfelt and argumentative writing masquerading as an objective gazetteer. Gray has chosen to base most of his entries around people rather than songs, dates, and tours; the book is thronged with life." —London Evening Standard, July 11, 2006
"It's a great labor of love. It stands comparison with David Thomson's Biographical Dictionary of Cinema as a sustained piece of entertaining opinionated heartfelt and argumentative writing masquerading as an objective gazetteer. Gray has chosen to base most of his entries around people rather than songs, dates, and tours; the book is thronged with life." —London Evening Standard, July 11, 2006
" Gray presents another indispensable installment for Dylan fans: An encyclopedia of Dylan's life detailing the lives behind the songs and the faces behind the ghosts—an encyclopedia stitched together by the invisible thread of ghostly faces who came to cross the poet's path during the last 50 years. Encyclopedia is a bold undertaking that pierces its target at the center-heart of the bull's eye. The book traces Dylan's life in a music event-by event, person-by-person, major song by major song. And it is a thrilling ride, indeed, Gray providing traditional encyclopedic sketches of Dylan's great body of work, each morsel of information presented in an alphabetized form. At this point, the call to Dylan fans is quite clear- if you buy one book this year on the rock-and-roll icon, this one better be it." —The Electric Review, June 30, 2006
"A masterpiece for the coolest of coffee tables. ... stylish and witty tome" Collective North East, August 2006 (Michael Gray)
"Will keep you entertained for a lifetime." Collective North East, August 2006 (Michael Gray)
"Michael Gray's book embodies a lifetime of critical engagement with Dylan's art. It's probably the most comprehensive work on the subject, and also one of the most entertaining. ...The scale of research is colossal. Facts have been assiduously doublechecked, sources scrupulously detailed. ... Gray has made excellent useof the efforts of Dylan fans who have, over the years, unearthed allkinds of data, much of it previously available only in fanzines andwebsites. ...The encyclopedia succeeds admirably in demonstrating, in Gray's words,that 'to burrow into Dylan's art at length and in detail is not to shutthe door on the wider world in pursuit of a narrow obsession but ratherto open up that wider world, to be sent down a thousand boulevards..."
—Mike Marqusee, The Guardian
(Mike Marqusee The Guardian)
"The scale of research is colossal. Facts have been assiduously double checked, sources scrupulously detailed. ... Gray has made excellent use of the efforts of Dylan fans who have, over the years, unearthed all kinds of data, much of it previously available only in fanzines and websites." (Mike Marqusee The Guardian)
"...Bertolt Brecht, John Donne, Lord Buckley, Kenneth Patchen, ... Gray ... shows a balanced appreciation of their connection with Dylan." (Mike Marqusee The Guardian)
"He editorialises freely and intelligently." (Mike Marqusee The Guardian)
"The encyclopedia succeeds admirably in demonstrating, in Gray's words, that 'to burrow into Dylan's art at length and in detail is not to shut the door on the wider world in pursuit of a narrow obsession but rather to open up that wider world, to be sent down a thousand boulevards..." (Mike Marqusee The Guardian)
'As well as being a vert informative writer, Michael Gray displays a great wit.' Country Music People, Spencer Leigh, 1st September 2006 (Country Music Questions)
'An almost one-stop shop for anything Dylan related, it's mix of humour and the most specific, unparalleled knowledge, as is Gray's talent.'Record Collector, 1 October 2006 (Record Collector)
'This impressive book could be a life's work in itself...a consitently well-written and endlessly fascinating book. it ;s wonderful for dipping into. And above all, it takes you back to the music that still says so much.'Coventry Evening Telegraph, Charles Barker, 'Delve into the deep and wonderful world of Dylan', 16/09/2006
'What will Bob Dylan make of Michael Gray's lit-crit heavy new book? Fun, I imagine.'Word Magazine, 01/09/2006
"Thoroughly researched and highly idiosyncratic, The Bob Dylan Encyclopedia is a fascinating reference - with essential information and cool arcana in entries like 'Aaronson, Kenny' (Dylan's bass player, 1988-89), 'nursery rhymes, Dylan's use of, pre-1990' and 'Zimmerman, David' (Dylan's kid brother). Michael Gray eschews the dispassionate voice typical of reference books for a highly opinionated take on his muse's work. The entry for the 1983 album Infidels offers, 'Another ragbag collection of insipid material'; the 'Victoria's Secret' item merely reads, 'See co-option of real music by advertising, the.' Still, where else can Dylan fans find detailed information on the two unnamed women ('Dylan, Sara' and 'Dennis, Carolyn') Dylan refers to as 'my wife' in Chronicles?" (Andy Greene for Rolling Stone)
So many books have been written about Bob Dylan that one would wonderat the need for another — but this isn't a reference book alone; itprovides a fun, readable text which packs in over eight hundredentries, over twenty pages of illustration, and everything there is toknown about Dylan, including a searchable cd-rom to boot. CriticMichael Gray has written about Dylan before, but this is his mostdefinitive work and represents the culminating achievement of a worldauthority on the topic: if there's only one Dylan reference your publiclibrary holding can afford, it should be this definitive guide.
-California Bookwatch, October 2006
(California Bookwatch)
"...an encyclopedia of American music that plays "6 degrees of separation from Bob Dylan", with extensive, perceptive, thoughtful analysis and commentary on each entry, not just as they relate to Bob, but where each stands on its own right. The book offers some of the keenest, most carefully researched information and commentary on each person, place or thing as is likely to be found in succinct form.... Plus there's a ton of information on forgotten influences, 1930's string bands and such. So, if there's room on your shelf for one more..."- Tom Peterson, Victory Review, October 2006
mention- Today's Books/ Fall 2006
(Review in the Guitarist)
"Rock 'n' rollhistorian and Bob Dylan authority Gray's...opinions and editorializing areprevalent throughout. This makes for unique entries, such as " Interviewsand the myth of " their rarity (in which he claims Dylan actually averagedone interview per month over 40 years) and " Dylan being "bored"by his acoustic material 1965-66, the myth of" . In fact, the entire bookis written in a refreshingly relaxed manner, as befits a music critic andfan. The Bob Dylan Encyclopedia...is avaluable addition to academic and large public library collections, primarilybecause of Gray's knowledge and reputation as a Dylan expert." -Booklist, October 15, 2006
"In truth, this is a work of criticism disguised as an encyclopedia, with lengthy analyses and commentary on songs such as "Highlands," "Gotta Serve Somebody" and "Love Henry" to name a few.... Gray's range of subjects, from "Dylan interpreters" to "Blow, Kurtis" (a rapper) to "co-option of real music by advertising, the" makes The Bob Dylan Encyclopedia far more provocative than the title would suggest."- Alex Rawls, offBeat
"...this isn't a reference book alone; it provides a fun, readable text which packs in over eight hundred entries, over twenty pages of illustration, and everything there is to know about Dylan, including a searchable cd-rom to boot... his most definitive work and represents the culminating achievement of a world authority on the topic: if there's only one Dylan reference your public library holding can afford it should be this definitive guide."- The Midwest Book Reviewv (Midwest Book Review)
"...highly amusing and entertaining , the type of book to leave on a coffee table and absorb in intervals."- Bill Holdship, Los Angeles City Beat
"The depths of scholarly effort applied to Bob Dylan's artistic and cultural legacy know no bounds. One of the most startling demonstrations of this is Michael Gray's massive Bob Dylan Encyclopedia, which is an alphabetical amplification of research and opinions that he delivered in a more journalistic form in the critically acclaimed Song and Dance Man: The Art of Bob Dylan. Gray's myriad entries cover songs and albums, events in Dylan's life, along topics, Dylan's collaborators and influences, and seemingly anything in popular music that intersected, however obliquely, with Dylan or his work.... Gray has his own opinions, often expressed strongly, but this is a fascinating tome to peruse and a splendid source for Bob Dylan arcane."- Michael Parrish, Dirty Linen, October/November, 2006 #126
"Michael Gray is a renowned authority on Dylan, and from his 700-plus-page tome, it's clear that he's forgotten more about Dylan's music, his influences, cultural impact and songs than the man himself ever knew. The diverse selections of topics covered ranges from frying an egg on stage to Baudelaire, and includes esoterica such as Dylan's relationship to the blues, as well as musical insight and scathing criticism- mostly of musicians other than Bob."- The Guitarist, November 2006v
"This is an eccentric book, perhaps more so than its subject, and it is Gray's unfettered subjectivity that makes it so engaging. The book thrives on unexpected connections and little-known facts... Gray's passionate subjectivity mirrors his subject's wholly idiosyncratic journey through life, as well as the complexities and contradictions that make Dylan who he is... Gray's approach is characterized by a mixture of undiluted opinion and genuine fairness... There is an endearingly spontaneous feel about the book, unusual for something so rich and weighty. And this freewheeling quality is in tune with the essence of one-tale-and-no-overdubs Dylan, an artist too spontaneous to be cramped by perfectionism."
- Times Literary Supplement
mention- Sign On San Diego, Oct. 19, 2006
mention- Today's Books, Sep. 20, 2006
mention- The Word, Nov. 2006
"A musical map of the 20th century with which you can wander for hours, learning about obscure folk heroes and tarrying in the long-forgotten scenes."
—Melissa Katsoulis, Sunday Telegraph
"Erudite, idiosyncratic, witty and caustic- like its subject- Michael Gray's The Bob Dylan Encyclopedia provides more than 850 entries on sidemen, songs, friends, family and more, reaching from "Aaronson, Kenny" (Dylan's 1988-89 bassist) to "Zimmerman Family.
—Goldmine Magazine
" This Bob Dylan book is for extreme fans, critics, scholars and practitioners of cultural studies. It's a 730 page encyclopedia of all things Zimmerman."- Jewish Herald Voice, August 24,2006
"Weighty and phenomenally comprehensive...This meticulously researched book with its many insights, shrewd opinions and rewarding digressions, is clearly a labour of love and will avidly devoured by Dylan fans everywhere... Indispensable!" (New Classics, 2007)
"This massive addition to Bob Dylan lore should be more than enough to satisfy even the most rabid fans of the man and his music. Michael Gray has here added to the material from his voluminous Song and Dance Man III (Continuum, 2001) and put it into encyclopedic form, making it easy to peruse and a handy reference tool.
The encyclopedia is thoughtful and engaging, offering some interesting analysis of songs and periods in Dylan's oeuvre. Entries on people such as Blind Willie McTell really make the book a worthwhile addition, and the author's sometimes humorous and opinionated writing makes the book lively and entertaining. It is the organization of the book that is somewhat difficult and at times comical: I am not sure who would ever look for entries such as 'co-option of real music by advertising, the.'
This is a worthwhile book for Dylan completists and scholars. It is a good choice for public, college and university libraries."
-American Reference Books Annual
(American Reference Books Annual)
"Designed for Bobby Zimmerman fanatics, this mammoth tome provides a stupendous amount of information on the folk-rock bard's long, enigmatic career. ..and his thoughtful essays on Elvis Presley, Chuck Berry, Jerry Lee Lewis, and the Everly Brothers transcend boilerplate bios, offering genuine insight into their music and impact."—Association for Recorded Sound Collections Journal (Association for Recorded Sound Collections Journal)
Title mentioned in The Bookseller.
"...this mammoth tome provides a stupendous amount of information on the folk-rock bard's long, enigmatic career. Separate alphabetical entries on Dylan's songs, records, tours, sidemen, heroes and influences, books, films, and assorted ephemera comprise Gray's amazingly comprehensive encyclopedia..."- Bill Dahl, ARSC Journal, Spring 2007, Vol. 38 No. 1 (Association for Recorded Sound Collections Journal (ARSC Journal))
"It catalogs virtually anybody and anything with at least aperipheral connection to Dylan... it is astonishingly complete."- Sing Out!, Spring 2007 Vol. 51 No. 1 (Sing Out!)
Gold winner of the 2006 ForeWord Magazine's Book of the Year Award for Music.
''this mammoth tome provides a stupendous amount of information on the folk-rock bard's long, enigmatic career'' Michael Gray, ARSC Journal, Spring 2007
"Gray disguises his book of Dylan criticism as a reference book, andoften a funny and pointed one. ...Ifyou pull it out to look something up, you'll stay with it to readanother entry or five." -San Diego Union-Tribune
"Memphis Slim, Ricky Nelson, John Donne, Kenneth Patchen, Charlie Sexton, Mavis Staples, Jack White, Paul Griffin, Ray Charles, Sam Lay, and hundreds of other musicians, song titles, and albums make up the bulk of this book of knowledge. You might not be able to carry it on the back of your bicycle without tipping over as you chase down Dylan's tour bus, but it'll certainly come in handy as you ponder Bob's connections to Franz Kafka." - T.J. McGrath, Dirty Linen, No. 138, October/November 2008 (T.J. McGrath)
"a massively comprehensive work... cross referencing is thorough and helpful, end notes to entries detail source material... More unusual and extremely helpful, is the CD accompanying the Encyclopedia which provides the book duplicated as a PDF... An exceptional facility"Whitby Music Port
"Michael Gray's Encyclopedia is a mind-blowingly detailed source of information about Dylan and everything Dylan-related"
David Sinclair, Classic Rock Magazine, September 2008
"Author Michael Gray is recognised as a world authority on the work of Bob Dylan and is an expert on rock'n'roll history and the blues"M Magazine, september 2008
“Comprehensive and up-to-date” -David Yaffe, Slate, May 2006
“…all you need to know, and more, about the little big man.” –Richard Corliss, Time Magazine
“Michael Gray, who has spent years trying to capture Mr. Dylan’s lightning in a bottle, has produced Bob Dylan Encyclopedia, a heavy, utterly idiosyncratic compendium. It’s even up-to-date enough to make reference to The Essential Interviews and include a snarky reference to Mr. Cott. Among its many other categories: 'book endorsements, unfortunate,’ 'blues, inequality of reward in,’ ' co-option of real music by advertising, the,’ ' radical political activity in 1960s-70s US, the strange disappearance of’ and 'repertoire, Dylan’s early, unsuited to commercial radio.’ –Janet Maslin, The New York Times
Article promoting photographic exhibition of Bob Dylan, and the author signing of Michael Gray's book. In Durham Advertised - 10th June 2006 and Chester Le Street Advertiser - 10th June 2006.
'Some of the 850 entries in this 800-odd pages read more like highly enjoyable essays, which which the man who has analysed Dylan's works on the closest detail adds his own critical view to the know (and many little-know) facts.' 'the book is a feast for Dylan geeks and less zealous but nostagic lovers of his best works alike. No artist has been so discussed, argued and written about.' Mention on Michael Gray's book signing. (Sanford Lakoff Yorkshire Post)
"The Encylopedia majors on its author’s unparalleled expertise, his critical judgment and a ready intelligence and authorial finesse… in three quarters of a million words, he paints a massive canvas. Over 730 pages, its daunting breadth of coverage and sheer level of detail is deeply impressive… from today, Michael Gray’s new Encyclopedia is destined to be the most important Bob Dylan book, bar none."
—The Dylan Daily
Michael Gray… is arguably the pre-eminent Dylan scholar - enviably knowledgeable, scabrously tart and enthusiastically iconoclastic… [and his] irreverence is one of the joys of The Bob Dylan Encyclopedia… It won’t be the last word on Dylan but it is easily the most comprehensive.The Sunday Herald (Scotland)
"A great labour of love… It stands comparison with David Thomson’s Biographical Dictionary of Cinema as a sustained piece of entertaining, opinionated, heartfelt and argumentative writing… The book is thronged with life… [and] leads you irresistibly from one connection to another… Throughout there is a rich sense of what these people have meant to Dylan - and what he has meant to them, and to all of us who have merely listened and been moved."
—London Evening Standard
Interview with Michael Gray's about his book.
'there is always room for a volume as utterly brilliantas Michael Gray's, The Bob Dylan Encyclopedia. ' Strikingly intelligent, poetic subtly humorous and buzzing with an awareness of the richness of life, he's the perfect match for his subject.'
What's in in London, Joe Cushley, 13 July 2006 (Sanford Lakoff)
'I had no doubt that this would be a monumental work from the man who us probably the world's leading authority on the iconic singer-songwriter. No other artist in the history of popular music could deserve or justify the compilation of such an enormous reference work, which is also a great tribute to Dylan's cultural genius, as well as to his standing in the spheres of literature and academic study as well as music.'
5 stars
Western Daily Press (Bristol), Geoff Ward, 13 July 2006 (Sanford Lakoff)
' Hank Williams rubs shoulders with William Carlos Williams in this monumental work, which seeks to pin down the many influences on Dylan's work, and to tease out the literary, autobiographical and musical references within it. Michael Gray has devoted half a lifetime to Dylan scholarship.' London Review of Books, 3 August 2006 (Sanford Lakoff)
'Nobody could possibly fault Gray's book for lack of diligence...We Dylan admirers will happily put in on our shelves next to the RIck's book and pull it down on noisy gin-soaked evenings with friends.'~Kevin Jackson Sunday Times, 23 July 2006 (Sanford Lakoff Sunday Times)
“Few will be disappointed by The Bob Dylan Encyclopedia. It’s likely to become the biggest selling Dylan book of all. The Encyclopedia majors on its author’s unparalleled expertise, his critical judgment and a ready intelligence and authorial finesse rare among writers of Dylan books. The Bob Dylan Encyclopedia’s strengths include authoritative essays positioning Dylan’s work in the context of other artistic traditions—notable the Bible, English Literature, the blues, rock 'n’ roll, nursery rhymes and film. Gray’s analysis of the influence on Dylan’s work of the Book of Ecclesiastes is the most evocative piece of writing on the musician you’re likely to encounter.” –CHOICE
Bob Dylan: The Essential Interviews, a collection of 40 edgy conversations edited by Jonathan Cott and Michael Gray’s The Bob Dylan Encyclopedia, which has all you need to know, and more, about the little big man.” –Time Magazine, May 2006
“As much a fascinating portrait of an era as a thorough, detailed study of a master singer/songwriter. Gray’s book also spotlights Dylan compositions and associations, often providing the real story behind the song of the collaboration rather than the conventional or accepted version. It only reaffirms his commitment to the creative process and knowledge of many different idioms, plus his ability to get inspiration from non-musical sources as well. It contains so many insights and refutes so many myths about the rock 'n’ roll era in general that it’s invaluable as both a reference guide and personality study.” –The City Paper, June 2006
Library Journal Starred Review, June 2006
The Village Voice
Publisher’s Weekly, June 2006
The Fader Magazine, July/August 2006
"There is always room for a volume as utterly brilliant as Michael Gray’s The Bob Dylan Encyclopedia. It is a wonderfully serendipitous read. There’s plenty for everyone from the most hardened Bobcat to the general music lover. Strikingly intelligent, poetic, subtly humorous and buzzing with an awareness of the richness of life, he’s the perfect match for his subject." –What’s On in London, July 14, 2006
"It’s a great labor of love. It stands comparison with David Thomson’s Biographical Dictionary of Cinema as a sustained piece of entertaining opinionated heartfelt and argumentative writing masquerading as an objective gazetteer. Gray has chosen to base most of his entries around people rather than songs, dates, and tours; the book is thronged with life." –London Evening Standard, July 11, 2006
"It’s a great labor of love. It stands comparison with David Thomson’s Biographical Dictionary of Cinema as a sustained piece of entertaining opinionated heartfelt and argumentative writing masquerading as an objective gazetteer. Gray has chosen to base most of his entries around people rather than songs, dates, and tours; the book is thronged with life." –London Evening Standard, July 11, 2006
" Gray presents another indispensable installment for Dylan fans: An encyclopedia of Dylan’s life detailing the lives behind the songs and the faces behind the ghosts—an encyclopedia stitched together by the invisible thread of ghostly faces who came to cross the poet’s path during the last 50 years. Encyclopedia is a bold undertaking that pierces its target at the center-heart of the bull’s eye. The book traces Dylan’s life in a music event-by event, person-by-person, major song by major song. And it is a thrilling ride, indeed, Gray providing traditional encyclopedic sketches of Dylan’s great body of work, each morsel of information presented in an alphabetized form. At this point, the call to Dylan fans is quite clear- if you buy one book this year on the rock-and-roll icon, this one better be it." –The Electric Review, June 30, 2006
"A masterpiece for the coolest of coffee tables. ... stylish and witty tome" Collective North East, August 2006 (Sanford Lakoff)
"Will keep you entertained for a lifetime." Collective North East, August 2006 (Sanford Lakoff)
"Michael Gray's book embodies a lifetime of critical engagement with Dylan's art. It's probably the most comprehensive work on the subject, and also one of the most entertaining. ...The scale of research is colossal. Facts have been assiduously doublechecked, sources scrupulously detailed. ... Gray has made excellent useof the efforts of Dylan fans who have, over the years, unearthed allkinds of data, much of it previously available only in fanzines andwebsites. ...The encyclopedia succeeds admirably in demonstrating, in Gray's words,that 'to burrow into Dylan's art at length and in detail is not to shutthe door on the wider world in pursuit of a narrow obsession but ratherto open up that wider world, to be sent down a thousand boulevards..."
—Mike Marqusee, The Guardian
(Sanford Lakoff The Guardian)
"The scale of research is colossal. Facts have been assiduously double checked, sources scrupulously detailed. ... Gray has made excellent use of the efforts of Dylan fans who have, over the years, unearthed all kinds of data, much of it previously available only in fanzines and websites." (Sanford Lakoff The Guardian)
"...Bertolt Brecht, John Donne, Lord Buckley, Kenneth Patchen, ... Gray ... shows a balanced appreciation of their connection with Dylan." (Sanford Lakoff The Guardian)
"He editorialises freely and intelligently." (Sanford Lakoff The Guardian)
"The encyclopedia succeeds admirably in demonstrating, in Gray's words, that 'to burrow into Dylan's art at length and in detail is not to shut the door on the wider world in pursuit of a narrow obsession but rather to open up that wider world, to be sent down a thousand boulevards..." (Sanford Lakoff The Guardian)
'As well as being a vert informative writer, Michael Gray displays a great wit.' Country Music People, Spencer Leigh, 1st September 2006 (Sanford Lakoff)
'An almost one-stop shop for anything Dylan related, it's mix of humour and the most specific, unparalleled knowledge, as is Gray's talent.'Record Collector, 1 October 2006 (Sanford Lakoff)
"Thoroughly researched and highly idiosyncratic, The Bob Dylan Encyclopedia is a fascinating reference - with essential information and cool arcana in entries like 'Aaronson, Kenny' (Dylan's bass player, 1988-89), 'nursery rhymes, Dylan's use of, pre-1990' and 'Zimmerman, David' (Dylan's kid brother). Michael Gray eschews the dispassionate voice typical of reference books for a highly opinionated take on his muse's work. The entry for the 1983 album Infidels offers, 'Another ragbag collection of insipid material'; the 'Victoria's Secret' item merely reads, 'See co-option of real music by advertising, the.' Still, where else can Dylan fans find detailed information on the two unnamed women ('Dylan, Sara' and 'Dennis, Carolyn') Dylan refers to as 'my wife' in Chronicles?" (Sanford Lakoff)
So many books have been written about Bob Dylan that one would wonderat the need for another – but this isn't a reference book alone; itprovides a fun, readable text which packs in over eight hundredentries, over twenty pages of illustration, and everything there is toknown about Dylan, including a searchable cd-rom to boot. CriticMichael Gray has written about Dylan before, but this is his mostdefinitive work and represents the culminating achievement of a worldauthority on the topic: if there's only one Dylan reference your publiclibrary holding can afford, it should be this definitive guide.
-California Bookwatch, October 2006
(Sanford Lakoff)
“…an encyclopedia of American music that plays “6 degrees of separation from Bob Dylan”, with extensive, perceptive, thoughtful analysis and commentary on each entry, not just as they relate to Bob, but where each stands on its own right. The book offers some of the keenest, most carefully researched information and commentary on each person, place or thing as is likely to be found in succinct form…. Plus there’s a ton of information on forgotten influences, 1930’s string bands and such. So, if there’s room on your shelf for one more…”- Tom Peterson, Victory Review, October 2006
(Sanford Lakoff)
“Rock 'n' rollhistorian and Bob Dylan authority Gray’s…opinions and editorializing areprevalent throughout. This makes for unique entries, such as " Interviewsand the myth of " their rarity (in which he claims Dylan actually averagedone interview per month over 40 years) and " Dylan being "bored"by his acoustic material 1965-66, the myth of" . In fact, the entire bookis written in a refreshingly relaxed manner, as befits a music critic andfan. The Bob Dylan Encyclopedia…is avaluable addition to academic and large public library collections, primarilybecause of Gray's knowledge and reputation as a Dylan expert.” -Booklist, October 15, 2006
"In truth, this is a work of criticism disguised as an encyclopedia, with lengthy analyses and commentary on songs such as “Highlands,” “Gotta Serve Somebody” and “Love Henry” to name a few…. Gray’s range of subjects, from “Dylan interpreters” to “Blow, Kurtis” (a rapper) to “co-option of real music by advertising, the” makes The Bob Dylan Encyclopedia far more provocative than the title would suggest.”- Alex Rawls, offBeat
“…this isn’t a reference book alone; it provides a fun, readable text which packs in over eight hundred entries, over twenty pages of illustration, and everything there is to know about Dylan, including a searchable cd-rom to boot… his most definitive work and represents the culminating achievement of a world authority on the topic: if there’s only one Dylan reference your public library holding can afford it should be this definitive guide.”- The Midwest Book Reviewv (Midwest Book Review)
“…highly amusing and entertaining , the type of book to leave on a coffee table and absorb in intervals.”- Bill Holdship, Los Angeles City Beat
“The depths of scholarly effort applied to Bob Dylan’s artistic and cultural legacy know no bounds. One of the most startling demonstrations of this is Michael Gray’s massive Bob Dylan Encyclopedia, which is an alphabetical amplification of research and opinions that he delivered in a more journalistic form in the critically acclaimed Song and Dance Man: The Art of Bob Dylan. Gray’s myriad entries cover songs and albums, events in Dylan’s life, along topics, Dylan’s collaborators and influences, and seemingly anything in popular music that intersected, however obliquely, with Dylan or his work…. Gray has his own opinions, often expressed strongly, but this is a fascinating tome to peruse and a splendid source for Bob Dylan arcane.”- Michael Parrish, Dirty Linen, October/November, 2006 #126
“Michael Gray is a renowned authority on Dylan, and from his 700-plus-page tome, it’s clear that he’s forgotten more about Dylan’s music, his influences, cultural impact and songs than the man himself ever knew. The diverse selections of topics covered ranges from frying an egg on stage to Baudelaire, and includes esoterica such as Dylan’s relationship to the blues, as well as musical insight and scathing criticism- mostly of musicians other than Bob.”- The Guitarist, November 2006v
“This is an eccentric book, perhaps more so than its subject, and it is Gray’s unfettered subjectivity that makes it so engaging. The book thrives on unexpected connections and little-known facts… Gray’s passionate subjectivity mirrors his subject’s wholly idiosyncratic journey through life, as well as the complexities and contradictions that make Dylan who he is… Gray’s approach is characterized by a mixture of undiluted opinion and genuine fairness… There is an endearingly spontaneous feel about the book, unusual for something so rich and weighty. And this freewheeling quality is in tune with the essence of one-tale-and-no-overdubs Dylan, an artist too spontaneous to be cramped by perfectionism.”
- Times Literary Supplement
“Erudite, idiosyncratic, witty and caustic- like its subject- Michael Gray’s The Bob Dylan Encyclopedia provides more than 850 entries on sidemen, songs, friends, family and more, reaching from “Aaronson, Kenny” (Dylan’s 1988-89 bassist) to “Zimmerman Family.
—Goldmine Magazine
“ This Bob Dylan book is for extreme fans, critics, scholars and practitioners of cultural studies. It’s a 730 page encyclopedia of all things Zimmerman.”- Jewish Herald Voice, August 24,2006
"Weighty and phenomenally comprehensive...This meticulously researched book with its many insights, shrewd opinions and rewarding digressions, is clearly a labour of love and will avidly devoured by Dylan fans everywhere... Indispensable!" (Sanford Lakoff)
“This massive addition to Bob Dylan lore should be more than enough to satisfy even the most rabid fans of the man and his music. Michael Gray has here added to the material from his voluminous Song and Dance Man III (Continuum, 2001) and put it into encyclopedic form, making it easy to peruse and a handy reference tool.
The encyclopedia is thoughtful and engaging, offering some interesting analysis of songs and periods in Dylan’s oeuvre. Entries on people such as Blind Willie McTell really make the book a worthwhile addition, and the author’s sometimes humorous and opinionated writing makes the book lively and entertaining. It is the organization of the book that is somewhat difficult and at times comical: I am not sure who would ever look for entries such as 'co-option of real music by advertising, the.’
This is a worthwhile book for Dylan completists and scholars. It is a good choice for public, college and university libraries.”
-American Reference Books Annual
(Sanford Lakoff)
“Designed for Bobby Zimmerman fanatics, this mammoth tome provides a stupendous amount of information on the folk-rock bard’s long, enigmatic career. ..and his thoughtful essays on Elvis Presley, Chuck Berry, Jerry Lee Lewis, and the Everly Brothers transcend boilerplate bios, offering genuine insight into their music and impact."—Association for Recorded Sound Collections Journal (Sanford Lakoff)
“…this mammoth tome provides a stupendous amount of information on the folk-rock bard’s long, enigmatic career. Separate alphabetical entries on Dylan’s songs, records, tours, sidemen, heroes and influences, books, films, and assorted ephemera comprise Gray’s amazingly comprehensive encyclopedia…”- Bill Dahl, ARSC Journal, Spring 2007, Vol. 38 No. 1 (Sanford Lakoff)
“It catalogs virtually anybody and anything with at least aperipheral connection to Dylan… it is astonishingly complete.”- Sing Out!, Spring 2007 Vol. 51 No. 1 (Sanford Lakoff)
“Memphis Slim, Ricky Nelson, John Donne, Kenneth Patchen, Charlie Sexton, Mavis Staples, Jack White, Paul Griffin, Ray Charles, Sam Lay, and hundreds of other musicians, song titles, and albums make up the bulk of this book of knowledge. You might not be able to carry it on the back of your bicycle without tipping over as you chase down Dylan’s tour bus, but it’ll certainly come in handy as you ponder Bob’s connections to Franz Kafka.” - T.J. McGrath, Dirty Linen, No. 138, October/November 2008 (Sanford Lakoff)
Most helpful customer reviews
36 of 38 people found the following review helpful.
The most amusing enyclopedia ever
By Masked and Anonymous
Michael Gray's Dylan encyclopedia is enormously impressive as a piece of research, but this is not simply an academic tome by any means. Gray's amusingly opinionated observations about songs, concerts, band members, etc. permeate each of the entries, making for an interesting read. One of the best parts of the book is that persons who have their own entries are listed in CAPS, so you can read one entry at random, find a reference to another Dylan-related figure or event that catches your eye, and skip right to the corresponding entry. Gray also includes entries for other Dylan biographers/scholars, including relatively obscure folks who've done interesting work and the legendary super-fan/scholar Olof of internet fame.
What really makes the book is that despite Gray's obviously obsessive interest in Dylan, he doesn't treat Dylan as a god or waste time defending in the indefensible among Dylan's enormous output as an artist. If anything, his judgments (such as his putdown of the 1983 album Infidels) strike me as excessively harsh, although he also takes pleasure in calling attention to his appreciation of records that he likes more than most, like Under the Red Sky.
In any case, this is a highly entertaining Dylan book. It'll be of much greater value of course to those who've read at least one of the standard biographies and are familiar with Dylan's career in some detail. But I would rank this book, and also the Cott book of Dylan interviews just out, in the VERY top shelf of Dylan-related books (and God knows there are a lot of those....)
25 of 28 people found the following review helpful.
One Of The Very Best Bob Dylan Books
By Bornintime
There are very few people who could (or should) create something of this scope on Bob Dylan. Michael Gray has an obsessive knowledge of Dylan. Not only is the information here well researched, but you can tell that Gray has lived and breathed this stuff for the last 30 odd years. Gray ably walks the line between other Dylan fanatics like Paul Williams (who gushes about everything) and Clinton Heylin (an amazing writer who may complain too much). Michael Gray obviously has a love for Dylan's work but it doesn't stop him from criticizing when necessary. He has a writing style that is often humorous. What's great about this book is that it is user friendly. You can read a quick couple paragraphs on a particular Dylan album or musician who worked with Bob, or, if you're looking for something a little deeper, a 4 page essay perhaps on Dylan's use of nursery rhymes or the Blues. There's so much in here you'll be reading for months at least.
16 of 18 people found the following review helpful.
Opinionated and great fun
By Phil the Hypothetical
A little surprised to be given this for my birthday a few weeks ago (I'm not the world's most devoted Dylan fan, although I do find him fascinating), it took me several days before I even opened the book. Fully expecting it to be a dry compendium of facts and short biographies. It turns out this is, instead, a great mix of opinion, information, and critical judgment - not all of it polite, but always nicely written. The author, Michael Gray, takes on all-comers, and is often amusingly "politically incorrect" in his views on figures like Bono, Pete Seeger, Eric Clapton, and Dave Stewart. Gray is also generous in his praise for many, many others including Elvis, Joni Mitchell, Jimi Hendrix, and dozens of old blues singers - so the book ends up painting a vivid picture of decades of American music and culture in general. My only complaint (so far) would be that the entries on Dylan songs and albums are uneven - but if you can cope with that, and with an author who has strong opinions, you'll find a great deal to love (and probably something to hate!) in this genuinely unusual and thoughtful book.
The Bob Dylan Encyclopedia, by Michael Gray PDF
The Bob Dylan Encyclopedia, by Michael Gray EPub
The Bob Dylan Encyclopedia, by Michael Gray Doc
The Bob Dylan Encyclopedia, by Michael Gray iBooks
The Bob Dylan Encyclopedia, by Michael Gray rtf
The Bob Dylan Encyclopedia, by Michael Gray Mobipocket
The Bob Dylan Encyclopedia, by Michael Gray Kindle
Tidak ada komentar:
Posting Komentar