Don't Forget Me: The Eddie Cochran Story [Paperback]

Julie Mundy (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 1, 2001

Before Bruce Springsteen and Bob Dylan, before Carl Perkins and Bo Diddley, there was Eddie Cochran--one of the early teen idols, a star of film and television, and a major influence on generations of rock 'n rollers and rockabilly bands to come, including Paul McCartney, Pete Townshend, Marc Bolan, Jimi Hendrix, and Brian Setzer. In his all-too-brief professional career, Cochran wrote and recorded four of the greatest rock 'n roll songs of all times-- "Summertime Blues," "C'mon Everybody," Something Else," and the timeless "Three Steps to Heaven." A gifted guitarist and exciting concert performer, as well as an early master of studio overdubbing, Cochran was only 21 years old when he died in an auto accident on his way to the airport in London.

Now, forty years after his tragic death, comes Don't Forget Me: The Eddie Cochran Story, the first biography ever written on this music legend. Chronicling Cochran's life from his birth in Albert Lea, Minnesota in 1938 to playing lead guitar in a hillbilly duo, from becoming one of the most sought-after guitarists on the West Coast to his cameo role in the film The Girl Can't Help It singing "Twenty Flight Rock," and from his first hit, "Sittin' in the Balcony" (1957), to his final groundbreaking tour of England with co-headliner Gene Vincent, the book includes contributions from Cochran's family, friends, and associates, as well as from fellow musicians. Written with the cooperation of Cochran's family, Don't Forget Me includes a hundred rare, unseen photos spanning Eddie's entire career.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

In his native America, Cochran (1938-60) is remembered primarily for his hit "Summertime Blues." Yet England rightfully regards Cochran as one of rock'n'roll's most important pioneers. It is therefore not surprising that two Brits, freelance writer Mundy and musician/producer Higham, penned this first-ever Cochran biography, published in England last year. They respectfully recount Cochran's brief career, aided by interviews with many of the guitarist's closest associates. By all accounts, Cochran was a pleasant, friendly, and talented guy, and, in a perverse way, that is part of the problem with this portrait. The lack of drug addictions, family dysfunctions, and sexual promiscuities, which are so often the raison d'?tre for many rock biographies, makes for pretty dry reading. The book only really takes off in the final section, in which Mundy and Higham deftly capture the excitement Cochran and Gene Vincent generated during their wildly successful 1960 British tour, which ended tragically when Cochran was killed in a car accident. While this book fills an important gap in rock music literature, its limited appeal means smaller libraries may pass. Lloyd Jansen, Stockton-San Joaquin Cty. P.L.
Copyright 2001 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review

"'Eddie Cochran had the whole package. He was a songwriter, he was a guitar player - boy, was he one of the first guitar players - and he had a natural voice that just rocked, plus he was good-looking but cool too. When I first heard "Somethin' Else" it blew my socks off? It was the hardest rockin' song that I still think I have ever heard. And hard rock doesn't just have to be your guitar turned up to eleven, it's the attitude.' Brian Setzer 'Unless you were lucky enough to know him and be able to sit backstage in his dressing-room when he would pick up his guitar and play what he felt, you never got to hear Eddie Cochran really play the guitar. People are so amazed by what they've heard on record. If you could have heard him, it was a million times better than anything they ever got on record. He was phenomenally talented. It was mind-boggling how a boy that young could play like he did.' Sharon Sheely" --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 224 pages
• Publisher: Billboard Books (February 1, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0823079317
• ISBN-13: 978-0823079315
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.1 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,633,649 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars cindy lou, July 24, 2009

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Hoosierex (Ca.) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Don't Forget Me: The Eddie Cochran Story (Paperback)

This book is so positive, as Eddie was. He loved life and wanted you to love life also. His music brought this to reality. We look forward to seeing him again. Until then, we will never forget him.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Best Book on Eddie Cochran, February 18, 2010

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R V Gable (Florida) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Don't Forget Me: The Eddie Cochran Story (Paperback)

This book is the best I have read on Eddie Cochran. I like the detail on his tour of England and I wanted to know the details of his performances and dates of when he recorded songs. You realize by reading this that Eddie and Gene because of this tour and songs on the radio had a big influence on young musicians and singers coming up in England most importantly The Beatles Paul McCartney and John Lennon. (John would record Gene's "Be Bop a Lula" and Paul would record Eddie's "Twenty Flight Rock"). Detail of his relationship with Sharon Sheely and friendship and tour with Gene Vincent.

I bought and read the book by Bobby Cochran (Eddie's nephew)and it was good. He has the right to include his personal family details such as talking about his daughter and other things not exactly essential detail if you want to know about Eddie Cochran. His book is good and along with this one I am reviewing here gives you a really good picture of the life of Eddie Cochran. I think though if I had to pick one, if I could only have one book, then this book "Don't Forget Me" is the one I would have to choose as I learned so much more about Eddie. Even the title tells you something as you find out later that Eddie signed some of his pictures he gave out with an autoghraph "Don't forget me". The detail of the crash (The taxi driver's name was George Martin)and so much more left me feeling I had lost a friend when I finished the book. How happy I am to have my Eddie Cochran cds and books and this one is one I will keep in my collection. Great book! Thanks Julie Mundy!

5.0 out of 5 stars FANTASTIC, November 2, 2011

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Cochranmusic - See all my reviews

This review is from: Dont Forget Me Eddie Cochran Story (Paperback)

I got this book as soon as I found out that there was a book on Eddie Cochran. This is a wonderful book. I have read it about 5 times already. That's not much considering how long I've had it, but that's a big deal for me. I haven't found many books that will hold my interest all the way through let alone more than once. I love having all of this new information on Eddie. I am a music nut, especially when it comes to Eddie. This is a great book, worth the read.