Customer Reviews

The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame: The First 25 Years

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2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame held its first induction ceremony in 1986, and now, just in time for the upcoming 25th induction ceremony in early 2010, comes this table book, looking back at the first 25 years of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

"The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame: The First 25 Years" (255 pages) is a beautiful tablebook, oozing with pictures from all of the induction ceremonies, also giving complete information who all (performers and non-performers alike) have been inducted into the Hall. Let's be upfront here: it's about the pictures, more than anything else. The book is subtitled "The definitive chronicle of Rock & Roll as told by the legends", and that is a seriously misleading subtitle. Yes, there are plenty of quotes from artists, but to call that "the definitive chronicle" of rock is simply laughable.

Another shortcoming for me is that there is barely any mention (or history) of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Museum. There is exactly 1 picture of it towards the end of the book, and a few lines here and there in the book itself (when it was announced in 1987 and when it broke ground in the early 90s). But those minor quibbles aside, this book is simply eye-candy from start to finish. When you look at the pictures from the 1988 induction ceremony (inducting the Beatles, Bob Dylan and the Beach Boys, among others, the best induction year ever for sure), I couldn't help but marvel: "did that really happen?". This book gives proof it did. Highly recommended for any serious fan of rock & roll and its history.

I bought this book as a keepsake to remember our trip to the Rock Hall this year. There just wasn't enough time to read everything while we were at the Rock Hall, so this provided a nice way to actually read more. Great coffee table book.

Book was shipped promptly and securely. Book was a gift and was extremely well-received - I have had an opportunity to take a look at the book, and I highly recommend it for anyone interested in learing about the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. It is more of a coffee-table book, but it if you are interested in learning about the brief history of the hall (who got in, in what years, etc.), which was our main goal, this is perfect. I wish the publishers would offer some sort of paid "subscription" so you could get printed updates on additional inductions.

Most of the pix in this are stock ones you've seen a million times before. Where are all the photos taken at the actual inductions? Some are included, but nowhere near enough. Also, many of the stars got hooked on attending these things, so you read comments from the same few throughout: Ahmet Ertegun, Bruce Springsteen, Billy Joel, John Fogarty, Jann Wenner etc etc. There are some memorable quotes, but much of the copy gets a little boring after awhile. This event translates best on dvds. The book form isn't really the best format for cataloguing what went on at these rock love fests.

Nice as a coffee table book, where one can browse sequentially or randomly. The book has a number of flaws, as pointed out in the other reviews, but one major shortcoming in my opinion is the lack of an index. If you want to know the induction year you have to leaf through the book, or to save time look it up on the net.

Otherwise an interesting book.

THE ROCK AND ROLL HALL OF FAME is the record of the first 25 years of inductions into the R&R Hall of Fame as awarded at the annual ceremony. It is most certainly NOT "the Definitive Chronicle of Rock & Roll As Told By Its Legends," cover blurbs notwithstanding. As such, the book mirrors the show, evidencing some of the same strengths and weaknesses.

The book is arranged chronologically, beginning with the first inductions in 1986. The first page of each chapter lists the winners along with a summary of that year's show. Over the years, awards have been given under the following categories: Performers, Early Influences, Lifetime Achievement, Nonperformers and Sidemen. Selected Presenter speeches from that year are given, often followed by remarks by the artist/groups honored. A "Musical Highlights" section concludes each chapter which describes the musical jam at the end of each show. An index would have been helpful. Vintage and contemporary b&w and color photographs are included throughout the book.

Like the show, the book is alternately heartwarming, dull, off-the-wall and haphazardly entertaining. Some of the remarks by presenters or winners are touching, perceptive...and short. Others are sprawling, tedious, etc. As you slog through some of them, you wonder if the show's producers ever thought about instituting time limits on the length of remarks; it would have helped the show and the book. (Thank God for the Brit contingent - Townsend, Jagger and especially Keith Richards - for injecting some wit and humor in the proceedings)!

Though the book boasts many photographs, it's first and foremost a "collection of speeches" book. I thought Harper Collins could have put together a much more dynamic, "fun" presentation of the material.

Maybe it's not fair to flog the book too much since it so closely reflects the show; lots of talk with some genuinely touching moments followed by what can be a magical if sometimes ragged jam. Since the book doesn't do a bang-up job of supplying the visuals or can't supply the sound, you're left with too much blah-blah-blah, in my opinion. Enjoy it for what it's worth. Rock on.

This is a very through, very comprehensive, very detailed, and very well illustrated book covering every inductee, from the beginning of inductions in 1986, and continuing on through 2009. It even has an "after-though" for 2010. It contains a forward written by Jann Wenner, Editor in Chief of the Rolling Stone Magazine.

It is presented in a year by year sequence. The illustrations are great, and yes it does have some good "eye-candy", especially of Madonna wearing some of her skimpy lingerie outfits. However, this is a very through account on the History of Rock & Roll. I would consider this a "must-have", for any serious Rock Library.

I have been fornuate enough to visit the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame & Museum two times. So, I can definitely relate to what's in this book. With this book and the related DVD's of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, its almost just like being there.

This is a well documented piece of "Rock & Roll" history, and therefore, I highly recommend it. Thanks and enjoy!!!!!

since this is the overview of the first 25 years of the Hall of Fame, year by year, i'd have preferred more photos from each induction year's ceremonies rather than stock photos of the inductees. there's about 4 pages of old photos to one page of actual induction photos for each year. i'd have also preferred if there were actual program lists of the songs performed each year rather than just the short recap of musical highlights.

i thought this would be the definite reference to the yearly ceremonies, but it reads more like just another overview of rock legends. i wanted to see more focus on the actual ceremonies in addition to the biographical material.

the only appendix is reprints of the annual program covers which is only mildly interesting. more useful would be a simple year by year list of the inductees.

but this is a nice book to look at, just not as definitive as it could be.