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The Gloria Estefan Collection: Piano/Vocal/Chords
A wonderful collection of Gloria Estefan's greatest hits. Titles Abriendo Puertas * Anything for You * Bad Boy * Can't Stay Away from You * Coming Out of the Dark * Con Los Años Que Me Quedan * Conga * Cuts Both Ways * Don't Let This Moment End * Don't Wanna Lose You * Falling in Love (Uh-Oh) * Get On Your Feet * Heaven's What I Feel * Live for Loving You * Mi Tierra * Music of My Heart * No Me Dejes de Querer * No Te Olvidaré * 1, 2, 3 * Oye Mi Canto * Rhythm Is Gonna Get You * Seal Our Fate * Words Get in the Way * You'll Be Mine (Party Time) and more!
- GenresMusicNonfiction
250 pages, Paperback
First published April 1, 1999
About the author
Gloria Estefan
75 books6 followersGloria Estefan (born Gloria María Fajardo) is a Cuban American singer and songwriter. Named the "Queen of Latin Pop", she is in or near the top 100 of best selling music artists with over 90 million albums sold worldwide. With five Grammy Awards and several number one hits she is the most successful crossover performer in Latin music to date.
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
December 7, 2024
Ah...memory lane!
Well, I say memory lane, but in reality I was only 9 years old when The Stone Roses released their first official titular album. I did however fall in love with it when I was about 16 (so, pretty much the time when the band broke up) and it has been on my list of favourite albums ever since. I probably listen to it either in its entirety or sample a few tracks on the go ('Made Of Stone' is always included), a few times a month. It's pretty much a perfect album.
And I thought I'd already read quite a bit here and there about the band, as well as having the DVD of their reunion tour (also called 'Made Of Stone') but this book really surprised me with how much detail it managed to go into - especially considering how infamous the band were for disliking interviews, press releases, all the promotional bollocks that is expected from a musical act. Mick Middles has written quite a wide selection of music biographies; something that all his years working within the music press had prepared him for, both thematically and practically. (I'd love to know what his office full of notebooks filled with his jottings over the years looks like.) But you can tell from this book that the Roses genuinely did - and still do - hold a special place in his heart, as both the culmination of a vast range of musical predecessors originating in Manchester, and as the progenitors of something very new and special at the turn of the decade.
It was as much fun learning more about the band as it was their insane manager Gareth Evans, who came across as such a 'larger than life' loveable rogue, it was hard not to like and respect the guy's insane scattershot approach and unwavering tenacity. Without him who knows what might have become of the fledgling Roses, who despite having all the right ingredients, really needed the right person to draw out their talents and promote them to the right people at the right time. Of course, music biz being the "filthy business" that it is, things rarely go smoothly on forever and the band and Gareth parted ways at a time when they probably really could have done with him the most. But it is what it is and despite signing to Geffen and receiving a large advance for their second album, 'Second Coming' wasn't quite right. Yes it was so long in the making that many fans felt their expectations at the time hadn't been met, only to go on to say in later years that it had grown on them, but for me - someone who discovered their discography only after they'd split - the second album isn't a patch on the first one. Some of the tracks are okay, but it lacks the fire of 'The Stone Roses'. It's too polished, feels a little like posturing in places and isn't a cohesively perfect album in its entirety like their first record.
Middles does a good job of explaining the reasons why. This book felt like it was much longer than the actual page count - not because it was a hard read (it's really not, especially if you care about the subject matter) but because it contains so much densely packed information. I'm guessing that has something to do with needing to say as much as possible within a word limiting remit, for music press copy over the years, but whatever the reason it means there is little fat to be trimmed away from a packed little trip through the lives of the band members (including those who helped to form the band, only to leave at certain points along the way) and all of the people involved in bringing their music to the masses; be it via music production, management, promotion or moral support.
Will there be die-hard fans who already know everything about the Roses, thanks to having been old enough to have dissected and digested every single piece of information written about them since 1986? Of course. Will those fans try to paint this book as "unworthy", "lazy" or "lacking" when it comes down to a biography of their favourite band? Probably. But is it a good resource for those of us who (a) weren't old enough to devour the now out-of-print publications that would have drip fed all the available information to us from day one, and/or (b) were/are more casual fans who just enjoy learning about the evolution of various bands? Absolutely.
I enjoyed reading this from beginning to end and was sad when it ended because I know that since it was released so much has happened both with the band reunion and the separate projects all the guys have been up to over the years. I'd love for an update or a part two, and yes, from this writer. Me & the other half have been getting all wistfully nostalgic over the 90s/00s recently. Things were so much easier then. So much more fun. And not just because we were young, our joints hadn't begun to click every time we go downstairs, and we were yet to start making weird groaning noises every time we go to get up out of a chair. The music was great, the films were still tolerable, society felt more cohesive and the drugs were pretty awesome. The vibes were just completely on point. It's just a shame that the Roses were unable to make a second album with the same vibrancy and dangerous feeling bubbling just beneath the surface, that they had captured in their first official release.
But, such is life. Let us not be sad that it had to come to an end, merely be grateful that that it happened at all; and let us keep returning to that insanely perfect first album, share it with the upcoming generations, and keep the band alive long after most of us are done, gone, and pushing up daisies. And I know he hasn't been as active on there lately, but over the past few years Ian's Twitter has been something of a thing of beauty, lol. Think Joey Barton, only with a slightly more disappointed and disgusted sneer. Love it.
Whether you know the band or not, like the band or not, if you enjoy band biographies this is something I think you'll enjoy for its concise, comprehensive, unflinching whilst still incredibly fond, summary of the rise and demise of The Stone Roses.
A solid 4-star read from me.
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Well, I say memory lane, but in reality I was only 9 years old when The Stone Roses released their first official titular album. I did however fall in love with it when I was about 16 (so, pretty much the time when the band broke up) and it has been on my list of favourite albums ever since. I probably listen to it either in its entirety or sample a few tracks on the go ('Made Of Stone' is always included), a few times a month. It's pretty much a perfect album.
And I thought I'd already read quite a bit here and there about the band, as well as having the DVD of their reunion tour (also called 'Made Of Stone') but this book really surprised me with how much detail it managed to go into - especially considering how infamous the band were for disliking interviews, press releases, all the promotional bollocks that is expected from a musical act. Mick Middles has written quite a wide selection of music biographies; something that all his years working within the music press had prepared him for, both thematically and practically. (I'd love to know what his office full of notebooks filled with his jottings over the years looks like.) But you can tell from this book that the Roses genuinely did - and still do - hold a special place in his heart, as both the culmination of a vast range of musical predecessors originating in Manchester, and as the progenitors of something very new and special at the turn of the decade.
It was as much fun learning more about the band as it was their insane manager Gareth Evans, who came across as such a 'larger than life' loveable rogue, it was hard not to like and respect the guy's insane scattershot approach and unwavering tenacity. Without him who knows what might have become of the fledgling Roses, who despite having all the right ingredients, really needed the right person to draw out their talents and promote them to the right people at the right time. Of course, music biz being the "filthy business" that it is, things rarely go smoothly on forever and the band and Gareth parted ways at a time when they probably really could have done with him the most. But it is what it is and despite signing to Geffen and receiving a large advance for their second album, 'Second Coming' wasn't quite right. Yes it was so long in the making that many fans felt their expectations at the time hadn't been met, only to go on to say in later years that it had grown on them, but for me - someone who discovered their discography only after they'd split - the second album isn't a patch on the first one. Some of the tracks are okay, but it lacks the fire of 'The Stone Roses'. It's too polished, feels a little like posturing in places and isn't a cohesively perfect album in its entirety like their first record.
Middles does a good job of explaining the reasons why. This book felt like it was much longer than the actual page count - not because it was a hard read (it's really not, especially if you care about the subject matter) but because it contains so much densely packed information. I'm guessing that has something to do with needing to say as much as possible within a word limiting remit, for music press copy over the years, but whatever the reason it means there is little fat to be trimmed away from a packed little trip through the lives of the band members (including those who helped to form the band, only to leave at certain points along the way) and all of the people involved in bringing their music to the masses; be it via music production, management, promotion or moral support.
Will there be die-hard fans who already know everything about the Roses, thanks to having been old enough to have dissected and digested every single piece of information written about them since 1986? Of course. Will those fans try to paint this book as "unworthy", "lazy" or "lacking" when it comes down to a biography of their favourite band? Probably. But is it a good resource for those of us who (a) weren't old enough to devour the now out-of-print publications that would have drip fed all the available information to us from day one, and/or (b) were/are more casual fans who just enjoy learning about the evolution of various bands? Absolutely.
I enjoyed reading this from beginning to end and was sad when it ended because I know that since it was released so much has happened both with the band reunion and the separate projects all the guys have been up to over the years. I'd love for an update or a part two, and yes, from this writer. Me & the other half have been getting all wistfully nostalgic over the 90s/00s recently. Things were so much easier then. So much more fun. And not just because we were young, our joints hadn't begun to click every time we go downstairs, and we were yet to start making weird groaning noises every time we go to get up out of a chair. The music was great, the films were still tolerable, society felt more cohesive and the drugs were pretty awesome. The vibes were just completely on point. It's just a shame that the Roses were unable to make a second album with the same vibrancy and dangerous feeling bubbling just beneath the surface, that they had captured in their first official release.
But, such is life. Let us not be sad that it had to come to an end, merely be grateful that that it happened at all; and let us keep returning to that insanely perfect first album, share it with the upcoming generations, and keep the band alive long after most of us are done, gone, and pushing up daisies. And I know he hasn't been as active on there lately, but over the past few years Ian's Twitter has been something of a thing of beauty, lol. Think Joey Barton, only with a slightly more disappointed and disgusted sneer. Love it.
Whether you know the band or not, like the band or not, if you enjoy band biographies this is something I think you'll enjoy for its concise, comprehensive, unflinching whilst still incredibly fond, summary of the rise and demise of The Stone Roses.
A solid 4-star read from me.
⭐⭐⭐⭐
March 20, 2023
Absolutely nothing whatsoever to do with Gloria Estefan 🤔
July 29, 2017
I enjoyed learning more about the individual members and their illustrious manager. Having been an early fan from the U.S. without much news, it was always hard to follow the contract court case and five year wait between their massive debut and overwrought follow-up LP.
It seems that the band's biggest misstep was sacking their manager and not playing the States right after winning the court case. The fervor for the band here was palpable and those sold out shows on both coasts likely would have won over the U.S. market.
However like many bands that are formed out of diverse and often opposing personalities (McCartney/Lennon, Tyler/Perry, Jagger/Richards, Strummer/Jones, etc.) compounded by escalating egos and drug use often fracture. And without solid management to reign them in are doomed.
The only downside to the book is that many of the English cultural references go unexplained and therefore not understood by American readers. I was able to glean some better insight from other books like Johnny Marr and the Clash auto bios on thing like boot boys culture and fashion.
It seems that the band's biggest misstep was sacking their manager and not playing the States right after winning the court case. The fervor for the band here was palpable and those sold out shows on both coasts likely would have won over the U.S. market.
However like many bands that are formed out of diverse and often opposing personalities (McCartney/Lennon, Tyler/Perry, Jagger/Richards, Strummer/Jones, etc.) compounded by escalating egos and drug use often fracture. And without solid management to reign them in are doomed.
The only downside to the book is that many of the English cultural references go unexplained and therefore not understood by American readers. I was able to glean some better insight from other books like Johnny Marr and the Clash auto bios on thing like boot boys culture and fashion.
May 27, 2019
Mick Middles seems to only have one way of writing, all his books bang on as the subject as the plucky underdog(s) who didn’t give a shit about being accepted by the ‘musical mainstream’. He recycles this narrative no matter who he is writing about. Words and phrases are also re-churned out. Considering his subjects are mostly indie bands this attitude is probably a given and not something to be highlighted at every turn. It may be down to his lack of impartiality as he’s obviously a fan of who he writes about and that is the primary quality he looks for in his heroes. I dare say it would possible to mix pages of his books up and not realise they were from different works while you were reading them. One of his books in isolation is a good read but the sense of deja-vu if another is tackled is infuriating
July 27, 2013
A frustratingly partial and badly written book about a great band. It lacks any meaningful attempt to place The Stone Roses in a musical context that doesn't originate from Manchester, and even then does barely enough to get by.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews