Customer Reviews

The Big Band Era

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I've often said I think I was born in the wrong time. I love the Big Band era. The clothes, the cars, the styles, and of course, the music. So let me preface by saying, maybe I'm spoiled. I have the Ken Burns Jazz documentary on DVD, along with the complete CD music collection, with most of the "individual" CDs in the series. I own a respectable collection of Big Band music, CD's and vinyl. And I have a weekly Big Band Radio Show every Saturday morning, "Moonlight Memories". I even have the movies "The Benny Goodman Story", and "The Glenn Miller Story" on DVD.
I always look forward to reading about the Big Bands, the leaders, and the era. But with this book I should've looked backward. It reminds me of a 7th grade book report. Written with huge type, wide margins, three page chapters, and plenty of spelling errors. (It isn't Paul Whitman, it's Paul Whiteman) But worse, the level of writing is only at about a Jr. High level. I was VERY disappointed. If you are really trying to learn about the Big Band era, or even just want a "casual" read about your favorite bands, pass this by. $19.95?! This book is $2.95 at a bargain/used book store at best. I'm sorry Bob Wilder. Fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice... won't happen.

This slim volumn of large print (I'm sure in order to expand the page count) was an easy read, I finished it in less than an hour. It probably took a little longer to write. The author is a journalist and he wrote it like an opinion piece. I learned nothing new and consider it a waste of time. Certainly not worth the price.

Reading the book "The Big Band Era" took me back to a time that I truly missed out on because of my age (I was born in 1960). It was a very informative book and easy to read. The writer Bob Wilder does a superb job of getting my attention and keeping it. I didn't want to put the book down until I had read it all. It really made me feel I missed out on the rich memories of the Big Band Era. It was great to hear about! It made me want to put a nickle in the juke box and hear some of the greatest musicians ever....

This book was the cat's pajamas! What's this book offer? The Big Band era took the music scene by storm in 1935 with Goodman's first tour of L.A.. Yet less than a dozen years later the musical phenomenon that has driven all music since came apart at the seams, and within months, all the major bands had broken up. A new book by jazz insider, Bob Wilder tells why. Big Band Era lays bare the troubles, triumph and tragedy which led to the blow up of what many consider the greatest American music of all time. The Big Band Era: A New Look blows the lid off the closely guarded secrets of the big band leaders, vocalists, instrumentalists and personalities who made jazz what it was. Miller,Dorsey, Forrest, Sinatra, Shaw, they're all here, and as you've never seen them. Get the insider story on the whole big band scene, from a reporter who saw it happen-both on stage and backstage. From Benny Goodman's most humiliating experience to Weems' fourteen-year "overnight" success and the true story behind the Dorsey tragedy. Accidental death, suicide, the draft, gyppo promoters and jilted lovers-all took their toll on the big bands. The Big Band Era: A New Look is all you've ever wanted to know about the big bands.