Sheryl Crow: No Fool to This Game [Hardcover]

Richard Buskin (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 1, 2002

Singer, composer, producer, multi-instrumentalist, and superstar, Sheryl Crow is one of the most respected and accomplished artists on the rock scene today, with eight Grammy awards, sold-out concerts, and album sales in excess of 20 million copies. Her distinctive vocal style and idiosyncratic sound, which blends rock with "alternative country," folk with "neo-hippy," has been widely imitated. Sheryl Crow: No Fool to This Game tells the unvarnished story behind the south Missouri native who, in addition to her own accomplishments, has collaborated on stage and in the studio with many of the world's most celebrated musical artists. This mesmerizing biography digs beneath the media hype and public image to uncover the full facts about this talented, complex, independent, and incredibly driven woman who, within a relatively short period of time, has blazed a rich and intricate trail on her own terms. New York Times best-selling author Richard Buskin has closely tracked Sheryl Crow's career from the release of her award-winning 1993 debut album, Tuesday Night Music Club, through her equally successful follow-ups, including her new 2002 album, C'mon, C'mon. Filled with in-depth research and personal interviews with Sheryl Crow's friends, colleagues, and even adversaries, this book offers a fascinating, multifaceted look at a life that has encompassed numerous highs and lows-while also providing rare insight into how a star is born, nourished, and marketed in today's cutthroat music industry.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

On the surface, this first, full Crow biography is a straightforward story about the pop star's rise to fame. Buskin claims he isn't out for dirt: he often praises the singer's determination and talent and provides excuses for her morally questionable behavior. Early on, he laments that Crow, her family and manager declined to be interviewed. Buskin tracks Crow's career from her beginnings as a sorority girl singing in a cover band to the release of her most recent album, C'mon, C'mon. By juxtaposing Crow's published interviews, videos and recordings with interviews with her friends and colleagues, past and present, Buskin creates a compelling and occasionally dirty portrait. Hardworking, a fast learner and a master of self-promotion, Crow eventually made her way to Los Angeles, determined to land a record deal. Buskin alludes to the fact that Crow had a knack for dating men who could (and often did) help her attain her next goal. The bio turns Faustian after Crow's debut, recorded for an estimated half-million dollars, was deemed a failure and shelved. Crow was given a second chance, but this time record executives decided that the former cheerleader and Michael Jackson backup singer would be promoted as a folksy singer-songwriter. Author of more than a dozen pulpy bios (including bestseller Princess Diana: Her Life Story), Buskin goes beyond his subject-whose tremendous drive and work ethic he admires-to offer a fascinating and somewhat disheartening example of the branding and marketing of pop stars.
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.

About the Author

Richard Buskin regularly conducts interviews and writes feature articles for numerous publications in the US as well as abroad. A native of London who relocated to the US in 1995, Buskin is the author of the best-selling Princess Diana: Her Life Story, as well as Blonde Heat: The Sizzling Screen Career of Marilyn Monroe, and over a dozen books on such subjects as The Beatles, John Lennon, and Elvis Presley. He lives in Chicago, Illinois.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 288 pages
• Publisher: Billboard Books (October 1, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0823084329
• ISBN-13: 978-0823084326
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.2 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,141,288 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Behind the Music......, April 7, 2003

By 

Marion "[e-mail]" (Louisiana) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Sheryl Crow: No Fool to This Game (Hardcover)

It's fascinating reading about how my favorite Sheryl Crow songs were birthed into existence. That was my favorite part of the book and Mr. Buskin did a superb job of detailing the history of all of her songs. This is a gripping story of Ms. Crow's rise to fame via determination, hard work and a single-minded ambition to succeed. I came away applauding her tenacity, her talent and her sheer will to survive in the dog-eat-dog music business. If you enjoy Sheryl Crow's music then this book is a must-read for you. You'll come away feeling as if you know her and her music in a deeper way. I highly recommend this well-written book.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great effort especially given his limitations, August 3, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Sheryl Crow: No Fool to This Game (Hardcover)

Hope that Mr. Buskin gets an opportunity to write an authorized biography of Ms. Crow. In the introduction, he freely acknowledges that neither she, her family nor her management would speak to him. In spite of this, his book seems to present a pretty balanced account of her career and avoids being sleazy. He provides terrific insight into the record industry and how records and stars are made. Still, I would like to read "the rest of the story...," to hear more from Ms. Crow and her family. Would recommend to book to anyone interested in Ms. Crow and her career.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Crow in Depth, October 26, 2002

By 

Robert Iuliucci (Allendale, NJ USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Sheryl Crow: No Fool to This Game (Hardcover)

If you're interested in the inner workings of the record industry and what it takes to get a chance to make it then "No Fool to this Game" is a MUST read. Buskin covers her early career and the Crow Machine as she plows over all those in her path. It's a fascinating story that ends with her latest album, C'mon, C'mon. Sheryl may not be a fool to this game but she has given up her personal life (marriage & family) for the riches of R'N'R. I wonder if she thinks it's all been worth it?