Just as Frank Sinatra had an additional and invaluable career as the great preservationist and evangelist of the American popular song (with particular focus on the Lost and Found), so author-actor-singer-director Bruce Kimmel has additionally served the
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
15 of 15 people found the following review helpful
By Larry
Format:Paperback
When Bruce Kimmel announced his plans to write this book, I was a bit terrified. I was around for many of the events that occur within its pages, and when things got tense in the studio, as they often do in moments of pressure, it wasn't always pretty for either of us. Though I consider Bruce Kimmel one of my dearest friends, I had no idea how any of us who worked with him would come off since I find Kimmel an honest scribe. So, it was with some trepidation that I began this new memoir, which begins where his wonderful and moving "There's Mel, There's Woody, and There's You" ends.
When I finished "Album Produced By," I was moved to tears by its generosity of spirit and enormous heart, mourning with Bruce the passing of friends and colleagues (Donald Johnson with whom I worked at Goodspeed in 1988 on a Gershwin show, composer Claibe Richardson, and the radiant Laurie Beechman) and loathing the ugliness and lies of several petty, vicious individuals and their attempts to destroy or control. Yes, Virginia, there are monsters in this book.
Although these horrible and tragic events occur during the course of this wonderful memoir, the book's tone is neither one of loss nor being a victim, but rather that of a scrappy optimist, picking himself up, dusting himself off, and starting again. Kimmel's humor, ingenuity, and affection for his colleagues doesn't allow him much time to feel sorry for himself. And, amazingly, as he is told several times in the book, he does land on his feet. And he continues to work.
I contacted Bruce about possible work after I had been one of several victims in a power trip around 1990. I would guess my initial contact was during the period when Bay Cities was on its last legs. My work with him put me back on my feet and brought in a lot of other work. As my work from other employers increased, there were times when Bruce would call me about a recording and I'd have to turn him down. I passed up Liz Callaway's "The Beat Goes On" and "The Night of the Hunter," among others, and I now regret that. I should have made the time. Life in the Kimmel Recording Factory was often tense and very busy, but it was never dull, and it was always a party. Who wants to miss a party?
Read this book. It wasn't always a party, as you will learn, but I prefer to remember it that way. Trust me, I was there for a lot of it. Take my advice on this as well: don't pass up "There's Mel, There's Woody, and There's You" either. I dare you not to be moved by Kimmel's charm, talent and enormous heart.
When I finished "Album Produced By," I was moved to tears by its generosity of spirit and enormous heart, mourning with Bruce the passing of friends and colleagues (Donald Johnson with whom I worked at Goodspeed in 1988 on a Gershwin show, composer Claibe Richardson, and the radiant Laurie Beechman) and loathing the ugliness and lies of several petty, vicious individuals and their attempts to destroy or control. Yes, Virginia, there are monsters in this book.
Although these horrible and tragic events occur during the course of this wonderful memoir, the book's tone is neither one of loss nor being a victim, but rather that of a scrappy optimist, picking himself up, dusting himself off, and starting again. Kimmel's humor, ingenuity, and affection for his colleagues doesn't allow him much time to feel sorry for himself. And, amazingly, as he is told several times in the book, he does land on his feet. And he continues to work.
I contacted Bruce about possible work after I had been one of several victims in a power trip around 1990. I would guess my initial contact was during the period when Bay Cities was on its last legs. My work with him put me back on my feet and brought in a lot of other work. As my work from other employers increased, there were times when Bruce would call me about a recording and I'd have to turn him down. I passed up Liz Callaway's "The Beat Goes On" and "The Night of the Hunter," among others, and I now regret that. I should have made the time. Life in the Kimmel Recording Factory was often tense and very busy, but it was never dull, and it was always a party. Who wants to miss a party?
Read this book. It wasn't always a party, as you will learn, but I prefer to remember it that way. Trust me, I was there for a lot of it. Take my advice on this as well: don't pass up "There's Mel, There's Woody, and There's You" either. I dare you not to be moved by Kimmel's charm, talent and enormous heart.
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful
By WRG
Format:Paperback
I actually picked up Bruce Kimmel's book because I felt I owed him something for all the wonderful music he has given to me through his shows and albums. When I needed something to pass the time on a long flight, I decided to take a flutter on his newest book. I had read his liner-notes, so I knew he was articulate, intelligent and witty, but there's quite a different between a three page essay about the Sherman Brothers, and a book. And this is quite a book! Full of the drama, personalities and challenges involved with producing music. I learned so much about that business from this wonderful book, but also there is a Quixotic inspirational feeling to the book. Bruce pursued (and continues to pursues) his dreams, and for anyone with a dream, I think the book is a wonderful explanation of what it really takes-what you may have to go through-to make your dreams come true. Entertaining, revealing and thoughtful, with more than a few chuckes along the way (I particularly liked his encounters with Carol Channing), I recommend this book for theatre-lovers, folks interested in going into the music business, or anyone who has the determination to keep going when things are rough. Thanks, Mr. Kimmel for allowing us to share your adventure!
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful
By G. Dougherty
Format:Paperback
I love musicals. I especially love musical cast recordings...not just of stage shows, but everything from concept albums to solo recordings of Broadway performers. For 15 years, I actually was host of a weekly program on a local community (non-commercial) radio station where I played all sorts of cast recordings, solo recordings, concept albums, etc., even foreign language cast recordings. If it was musical theater-related, I'd play it.
And a lot of what I played turned out to have been produced by Bruce Kimmel. For me, his career in the recording industry during that time was pretty much the modern golden age of musical theater recordings. Probably in no other time has anyone produced as many recordings of such variety and quality as during Bruce Kimmel's era.
Reading "Album Produced By" brought back so many wonderful memories. On almost every page I was thinking, I remember/love/have that CD! I never would've guessed that that sort of thing happened! I just HAVE to listen to that again! I love [fill in the name of just about any performer]! Reading about the history of all those recordings makes me appreciate them even more.
Of course, it wasn't all fun and games. Bruce didn't hold back when writing about the good times nor did he when writing about the bum times, but he wrote it matter-of-factly and there's not a trace of "oh, woe is me." I really enjoy Bruce's writing style. Starting with "Benjamin Kritzer," all the way to "There's Mel, There's Woody, and There's You" to this, it's like you're just sitting down with him and he's just telling his stories.
There never will be another time like that. I feel lucky that I got to experience it and I'm really glad that Bruce chose to tell his stories, which he does quite well. Thanks, Bruce.
And a lot of what I played turned out to have been produced by Bruce Kimmel. For me, his career in the recording industry during that time was pretty much the modern golden age of musical theater recordings. Probably in no other time has anyone produced as many recordings of such variety and quality as during Bruce Kimmel's era.
Reading "Album Produced By" brought back so many wonderful memories. On almost every page I was thinking, I remember/love/have that CD! I never would've guessed that that sort of thing happened! I just HAVE to listen to that again! I love [fill in the name of just about any performer]! Reading about the history of all those recordings makes me appreciate them even more.
Of course, it wasn't all fun and games. Bruce didn't hold back when writing about the good times nor did he when writing about the bum times, but he wrote it matter-of-factly and there's not a trace of "oh, woe is me." I really enjoy Bruce's writing style. Starting with "Benjamin Kritzer," all the way to "There's Mel, There's Woody, and There's You" to this, it's like you're just sitting down with him and he's just telling his stories.
There never will be another time like that. I feel lucky that I got to experience it and I'm really glad that Bruce chose to tell his stories, which he does quite well. Thanks, Bruce.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Bruce Kimmel is a Treasure
Fair warning: don't start this book thinking it's what Eddie Izzard calls "a dip-in kind of book". I picked it up to read for a few minutes before leaving for work: I'm now... Read more
Published 2 months ago by Natmama
2.0 out of 5 stars
Bruce's Ego
I was looking forward to reading this book, as I was a fan of the Varese label. However, at it's best it is a redundant , repetitive, poorly written list of "and then I... Read more
Published 8 months ago by Harry N. Cohen
5.0 out of 5 stars
NOW I know what a record producer does!
Having finished reading both "THERE'S MEL, THERE'S WOODY, AND THERE'S YOU" and "ALBUM PRODUCED BY... Read more
Published 9 months ago by Chazzz
5.0 out of 5 stars
Highly enjoyable and informative
What a marvelous book! By chance I found this book browsing through Amazon's book and music sections. Read more
Published 9 months ago by Placerville John
5.0 out of 5 stars
The man behind the music
Years ago, a friend gave me a copy of the CD "A Broadway Christmas" as a Christmas present. It's a compilation of wonderful and occasionally wacky songs from musicals that... Read more
Published 10 months ago by johngriffin0928
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Fun Read for any Musical Theatre Lover
Album Produced By . . .Before I ever met or worked with Bruce Kimmel, I was a fan of his recordings. Read more
Published 11 months ago by Musicalboy
5.0 out of 5 stars
More entertaining than the movie version!
Okay, there is no movie...and, if anything, this book would need to be a mini-series to show all the "good times and bum times" Bruce Kimmel tells us about. Read more
Published 11 months ago by Robert J. Gutowski
5.0 out of 5 stars
A gem of a book
Bruce Kimmel has had a fascinating career and what an eye opener this book turned out to be. Anyone with an interest in musical theatre needs to read this book. Read more
Published 11 months ago by Mr. G. Dexter
5.0 out of 5 stars
a class act all the way
at some point, i discovered that many of my favorite cds that i had purchased over the past 20 years had something in common: the words "produced by bruce kimmel. Read more
Published 12 months ago by Mike Szillagyi
4.0 out of 5 stars
Of special interest to theatre fanatics!
I have been unknowingly collecting Bruce Kimmel's show and vocal recordings for many years. They are some of my very favorite CDs and feature superb actor/singers, novel... Read more
Published 12 months ago by Richard Pahl
