Harper Tony Visconti: The Autobiography, Literature, Culture & Art, Paperback, Tony Visconti, Foreword by Morrissey
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Price: £10.99
Brand: Harper
Description: A name synonymous with ground-breaking music, Tony Visconti has worked with the most dynamic and influential names in pop, from T. Rex and Iggy Pop to David Bowie and U2. This is the compelling life story of the man who helped shape music history, and gives a unique, first-hand insight into life in London during the late 1960s and '70s. Harper Tony Visconti: The Autobiography, Literature, Culture & Art, Paperback, Tony Visconti, Foreword by Morrissey - shop the best deal online on thebookbug.co.uk
Category: Books
Merchant: Harper Collins
Product ID: 9780007229451
Delivery cost: Spend £20 and get free shipping
Dimensions: 129x198mm
Keywords: David Bowie,80s,Morrissey,London,insider,music,glam rock,U2,Wings,pop,70s,glam pop,Thin Lizzy,music industry
ISBN: 9780007229451
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Author: Mark T - Wizard
Rating: 5
Review: The first time I came across the name Tony Visconti was when I was teenager, recently hooked on the Thin White Duke. It was my older sister who was responsible. She'd just bought `Stage,' and I took to it like a young duckling to water. Over the decades I've watched the Visconti name come up time and time again and not just through Bowie's work. Perhaps my favourite `quasi-punk' record of my teenage years was Hazel O Connor's Breaking Glass, another Visconti masterpiece. I saw Hazel O Connor in concert earlier this year and she still has the ability to bring tears to my eyes with that hauntingly beautiful piece Will You. Anyway, let's get to the book. The first part is a fast paced and exhilarating read, taking you through Mr. V's early years as a musician who took his art very seriously. Even as a youngster he wanted to learn properly, and mastered various instruments as well as learning music theory (which would be come invaluable in his studio days). He takes us around mid20th C Italian Brooklyn, with it's Mob elements and colourful characters. This part of the book is almost novel-ish. You can tell, from the first few pages that you're in for a real adventure. I'll need to skip a little now (or we'll be here for ages) suffice to say that Mr. V eventually discovered that while playing musical instruments would always be part of his life, is was producing music and making records that was his real passion. The next part of the book tells the tense and humourous tale of his move to the UK in an attempt to discover the British sound and the British method of record making. Of course, we eventually meet the man who was to change Mr.V's life - a certain Marc Bolan. Now I must confess that I've never `got' Bolan in the way that I've `got' Bowie (or Zappa, Prince, Kate Bush or other music heroes of mine). However I loved reading his story as described by Visconti, painful though it was. Clearly the two were close and respected each other enormously. But (also clearly) Bolan suffered from `Rock Star Grandiosity' and at times acted quite selfishly and thoughtlessly toward Visconti (and others), not least by failing to credit him in Album sleeves for all his extra work. A couple of Amazon reviewers have criticised Mr. V for discussing Bolan's egotistical ways and for trying to take credit for more than they think he should. But they have failed to recognise two different aspects of the situation: 1) The huge contribution Visconti made to the music itself in terms of string arrangements etc. and the Wizardry that occurred behind the glass. One critical said that producers just `twiddle a few knobs.' What a jerk! If that's the case why are the top record producers so sought after by the best musicians? 2) The fact that under all the obvious hurt and disappointment there's a deep brotherly love oozing out towards Bolan - you can sometimes taste it. In fact I wouldn't mind betting that, all these decades later, the man still occasionally weeps over the loss of his friend. Yes Mr. Visconti cared deeply for a man who was a friend, a brother and most certainly a wasted genius. The Bowie part of the story is equally captivating. I was amazed when I discovered that the throbbing bass I've always loved in The Man Who Sold the World was Visconti's. Again we see the meeting of a man who would become a crucial part of this legendary producer's life. And occasionally `the shutters are lifted an inch' on a truly intimate and beautiful relationship between artist and producer. For example there's a lovely moment when Visconti, jaded by a long flight and sorrowful because of problems with his marriage, snaps at Bowie. Later on he hears a knock at the door and expects to be fired and sent home. But Bowie holds him by the shoulders, looks into his eyes and askes with genuine concern, `What's wrong Tony?' And he falls into his arms and sobs, letting out the story to his caring friend. Beautiful. Darn, I'm going on too long. So just a few more points: Visconti's family life runs through the book like a golden thread. While he has loved and lost various women, his children quite obviously mean everything to him. He probably wishes that he'd been able to spend more time with them while growing up, but you can feel the warmth between them. He's a very proud father. The book has its spiritual moments too. Visconti has nurtured a long term passion for the East and various martial arts. He also followed Tibetan Buddhism, and there are various glimpses into the psychic / paranormal side of things. It must be stressed though, that while he has a clear spirituality, he has no time for organised religion. There's lots of drug taking through the book, but also many sensible warnings about drugs. At one point he delivers the myth busting statement that drugs and the studio don't mix. Bowie's first wife Angela's place in the story as unofficial manager is mentioned warmly (a fact often missed out in the documentaries we see). There's a wonderful story about the time when John Lennon arrived to do some work on Young Americans and a truly priceless insight into the relationship between him and `Macca.' I won't tell what Lennon said here but, ****, it's hilarious. All in all this is a book that kept me fascinated and entertained and I wholeheartedly recommend it to all who have any interest in the story behind any of these characters. However Bowie, Bolan and The Brooklyn Boy is not primarily a book about either Bowie or Bolan, and rightly so. It is, of course, about the Brooklyn Boy himself and I have truly enjoyed being privileged to see (through this book) his world from the inside. It's a world of pleasure and pain, reward and let down, recklessness and sobriety. **** - it's a ****- ing awesome story of one of the greatest record producers of all time. Mark Townsend - October 2013
Author: Lawrence Daniels
Rating: 3
Review: I really like TV & have followed his career since he produced Tyranasaurus Rex & early Bowie. This is a pretty interesting biography with quite a lot of insight but ultimately I think that it’s a slightly mundane read. This has not so much to do with the content but with the writing. Such a pity but worth a read nevertheless.
