What do you think?
Rate this book
Never Say No To A Rock Star: In the Studio with Dylan, Sinatra, Jagger and More...
In 1974, at the age of seventeen, author Glenn Berger served as "schlepper" and apprentice to the legendary recording engineer, Phil Ramone, at New York City's A&R Studios. He was witness to music history on an almost daily and nightly basis as pop and rock icons such as Paul Simon, Bob Dylan, Mick Jagger, Frank Sinatra, Burt Bacharach, Bette Midler, and James Brown performed their hit-making magic, honed their sound, strutted their stuff, bared their souls, and threw epic tantrums. In this memoir, full of revelatory and previously unknown anecdotal observations of these musical giants, Glenn recounts how he quickly learned the ropes to move up from schlepperhood to assistant to the tyrannical Ramone, and eventually, to become a recording engineer superstar himself. Not only is this book a fascinating, hilarious and poignant behind-the-scenes look of this musical Mecca, but Berger, now a prominent psychologist, looking back through the prism of his youthful experience and his years working as a counselor and therapist, provides a telling and honest examination of the nature of fame and success and the corollaries between creativity, madness and self-destruction.
310 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 1, 2016
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 59 reviews
June 7, 2016
Author Glenn Berger is now a psychotherapist, but when a patient plays him a song it transports him back to 1972 when he was just seventeen and starting out as an intern at the famous A&R Recording Studios on 52nd Street, New York. Berger was all too aware that his father felt he had achieved little in his life and was determined to be a success. He imagined glamour and glitz and found shabby décor and a studio located six floors about a Community College packed with students…
He also found a working environment packed with characters whose lives were committed to making music – and making the artists who provided the raw material happy. Berger was quickly told that there were only two rules in his new job. Rule number one was to be virtually invisible and keep his mouth shut. Rule number two was never to say no. The only right answer to any request was ‘yes.’ On the first day he was asked if he wanted a share of cocaine being passed around. Remembering instructions, of course he said, “yes,” and was thus initiated into the strange life of a recording studio.
Although Berger spent ages in the bowels of the building, working in the tape library and then trudging through the dangerous streets of a near bankrupt city, transporting those tapes between buildings, he always dreamt of a life in the recording studio. His chance eventually comes when the volatile genius Phil Ramone, a legendary recording engineer, plucks him from obscurity when he has just turned eighteen as his assistant. So unfolds the stories that Glenn has to offer. His time working with Paul Simon, whose ‘live’ album is not quite as ‘live’ as Glenn imagines. Simon it seems was (at that time at least) dour, taciturn, insensitive and generally difficult. Bob Dylan arrives and fires most of the band that had been gathered just for him on the first night. Yet, there are happier stories. During this book, the author takes Bette Midler for dinner, dons a shirt and tie for Frank Sinatra’s visit to the studio and is the only person present when Mick Jagger sings one of his greatest hits.
This is an interesting and well written memoir, which will interest anyone who is curious about how great music is made. Of course, it does not really matter whether you think an artist is particularly likeable and it does not devalue the music. Still, the madness of twenty hour days, unreasonable requests, constant stress, a resistance to giving credit where it is due, failing equipment and musical genius, highlights the highs and lows of the music industry. In the end, Berger had to choose between fame and integrity, madness or sanity, and ask whether he wanted a career in the music industry enough. Although he is honest about his time at the studio, he never attempts to put anyone down and, if anything, is harder on himself than anyone else mentioned in this book. This is an enjoyable memoir and a great portrait of both a famous studio and a musical era – early to mid Seventies New York. I received this book from the publisher, via NetGalley, for review.
He also found a working environment packed with characters whose lives were committed to making music – and making the artists who provided the raw material happy. Berger was quickly told that there were only two rules in his new job. Rule number one was to be virtually invisible and keep his mouth shut. Rule number two was never to say no. The only right answer to any request was ‘yes.’ On the first day he was asked if he wanted a share of cocaine being passed around. Remembering instructions, of course he said, “yes,” and was thus initiated into the strange life of a recording studio.
Although Berger spent ages in the bowels of the building, working in the tape library and then trudging through the dangerous streets of a near bankrupt city, transporting those tapes between buildings, he always dreamt of a life in the recording studio. His chance eventually comes when the volatile genius Phil Ramone, a legendary recording engineer, plucks him from obscurity when he has just turned eighteen as his assistant. So unfolds the stories that Glenn has to offer. His time working with Paul Simon, whose ‘live’ album is not quite as ‘live’ as Glenn imagines. Simon it seems was (at that time at least) dour, taciturn, insensitive and generally difficult. Bob Dylan arrives and fires most of the band that had been gathered just for him on the first night. Yet, there are happier stories. During this book, the author takes Bette Midler for dinner, dons a shirt and tie for Frank Sinatra’s visit to the studio and is the only person present when Mick Jagger sings one of his greatest hits.
This is an interesting and well written memoir, which will interest anyone who is curious about how great music is made. Of course, it does not really matter whether you think an artist is particularly likeable and it does not devalue the music. Still, the madness of twenty hour days, unreasonable requests, constant stress, a resistance to giving credit where it is due, failing equipment and musical genius, highlights the highs and lows of the music industry. In the end, Berger had to choose between fame and integrity, madness or sanity, and ask whether he wanted a career in the music industry enough. Although he is honest about his time at the studio, he never attempts to put anyone down and, if anything, is harder on himself than anyone else mentioned in this book. This is an enjoyable memoir and a great portrait of both a famous studio and a musical era – early to mid Seventies New York. I received this book from the publisher, via NetGalley, for review.
October 11, 2016
Despite getting a bad download of this ebook on Kindle with parts of words missing all through it that made it a major headache to push through, I kept going. Because once I got interested in Glenn Berger's story and saw where it was going, I just had to know more. This turned out to be my worst experience at deciphering a story, but it was one that was worth it, thankfully.
The author was just a kid in New York in 1974 when he applied and was hired for a job at age 17 with A&R Studios. He was given a bottom rung job being a schlepper, doing whatever needed done. He was also apprentice to one of their major recording engineers, Phil Ramone. The job and its pressures were unbelievabe as he began to learn all that was involved, along with learning the nuances of being a recording engineer and he didn't get more than 4 hours of sleep at night for a number of years. There just wasn't time with all that needed done to keep Phil happy and in turn keep the artists happy who came to record. And they got very special treatment, even by Phil since many were big names in music. There were times they worked with Paul Simon, Mick Jagger, Bob Dylan, James Brown, Bette Midler, Burt Bacharach, and Frank Sinatra and other heavies in pop and rock. You just didn't keep them waiting. And Glenn takes you on this crazy ride with him, filled with stories about sessions and amazing music that came from them, as he learned and watched Phil. He wanted to be able to be as great as Phil was one day, when he would be "the guy" and everyone would look to him to create similar magic.
There are great stories about crazy days and nights spent with starts, trying to get just what was needed on tape, with everything riding on making it happen just so. It let you be a fly on the wall of a major recording studio back in the crazy 70's. And Berger tells how people in the business treated others around them, ones they considered their equals and ones that they felt far superior to, and what it said about them. I enjoyed this look at a side of things most never hear that much about, and Berger's insights about those times later on in life after he changed careers and his life after making it as an engineer and producer.
The author was just a kid in New York in 1974 when he applied and was hired for a job at age 17 with A&R Studios. He was given a bottom rung job being a schlepper, doing whatever needed done. He was also apprentice to one of their major recording engineers, Phil Ramone. The job and its pressures were unbelievabe as he began to learn all that was involved, along with learning the nuances of being a recording engineer and he didn't get more than 4 hours of sleep at night for a number of years. There just wasn't time with all that needed done to keep Phil happy and in turn keep the artists happy who came to record. And they got very special treatment, even by Phil since many were big names in music. There were times they worked with Paul Simon, Mick Jagger, Bob Dylan, James Brown, Bette Midler, Burt Bacharach, and Frank Sinatra and other heavies in pop and rock. You just didn't keep them waiting. And Glenn takes you on this crazy ride with him, filled with stories about sessions and amazing music that came from them, as he learned and watched Phil. He wanted to be able to be as great as Phil was one day, when he would be "the guy" and everyone would look to him to create similar magic.
There are great stories about crazy days and nights spent with starts, trying to get just what was needed on tape, with everything riding on making it happen just so. It let you be a fly on the wall of a major recording studio back in the crazy 70's. And Berger tells how people in the business treated others around them, ones they considered their equals and ones that they felt far superior to, and what it said about them. I enjoyed this look at a side of things most never hear that much about, and Berger's insights about those times later on in life after he changed careers and his life after making it as an engineer and producer.
December 12, 2017
I was privileged to have received an advance copy of this book via NetGalley in return for my fair and honest review.
The synopsis of this book lured me in with its promise of inside recording studio dish from the 70's, the era I also grew up in. It reminded me of the excellent book "The Longest Cocktail Party" about The Beatles' Apple business entity, written by the "House Hippie" turned apprentice Beatles' Press Officer RIchard DiLello. Much like DiLello, at the tender age of 17 Glenn Berger found himself surrounded by titans in the music industry with the opportunity to learn and succeed on his own.
At the present time Mr. Berger is a psychotherapist, married and adoptive father of two. As the book begins, we find him with said children feeling the nostalgic pull of the reel to reel tape machine in the attic. Locating some tapes of outtakes purloined from A&R Studios' library, Mr. Berger launches the long-silenced machine and here begins the recounting of his earlier career as a "schlepper," assistant engineer, and later engineer and producer. It all began in NYC in the 70's at A&R Studios under the auspices of legendary producer Phil Ramone.
Mr. Berger's technical details of studio setups with equipment such as microphone placement, headphones, the soundboard and tape decks were both fascinating and oftentimes went over my head, but I appreciated his efforts in describing his craft. His writing style is excellent: free-flowing and lovingly descriptive. It was a pleasure to read.
The thrill and wonder of his encounters with musical icons such as Bob Dylan, Mick Jagger and Frank Sinatra were something to be shared vicariously with Glenn as he puts you right there with him in the studio. You also experience with him the lack of sleep, stress, panic and near torture of trying to please uber-perfectionists such as Paul Simon and Bob Fosse. I felt like I wanted to share a silent scream with him as I read those passages where he was being pushed past the limits of frustration toiling and appeasing their whims. He also described the pressures and detriment this profession placed on his romantic relationships.
There are other gems shared such as his aborted sexual dalliance with Bette Midler and the poignant experience of adopting his son. However, nothing leaps out from this more than his unfortunate assessment of Paul Simon. Apparently, not only is Simon a horror to work with, but seems to have no compassion or censor of unkind thoughts in interacting with others.
In summation, this book was a gift for those of us who would like to take a kernel or two from a guy who was there on the inside and has some great stories to tell. I loved reading all about it.
The synopsis of this book lured me in with its promise of inside recording studio dish from the 70's, the era I also grew up in. It reminded me of the excellent book "The Longest Cocktail Party" about The Beatles' Apple business entity, written by the "House Hippie" turned apprentice Beatles' Press Officer RIchard DiLello. Much like DiLello, at the tender age of 17 Glenn Berger found himself surrounded by titans in the music industry with the opportunity to learn and succeed on his own.
At the present time Mr. Berger is a psychotherapist, married and adoptive father of two. As the book begins, we find him with said children feeling the nostalgic pull of the reel to reel tape machine in the attic. Locating some tapes of outtakes purloined from A&R Studios' library, Mr. Berger launches the long-silenced machine and here begins the recounting of his earlier career as a "schlepper," assistant engineer, and later engineer and producer. It all began in NYC in the 70's at A&R Studios under the auspices of legendary producer Phil Ramone.
Mr. Berger's technical details of studio setups with equipment such as microphone placement, headphones, the soundboard and tape decks were both fascinating and oftentimes went over my head, but I appreciated his efforts in describing his craft. His writing style is excellent: free-flowing and lovingly descriptive. It was a pleasure to read.
The thrill and wonder of his encounters with musical icons such as Bob Dylan, Mick Jagger and Frank Sinatra were something to be shared vicariously with Glenn as he puts you right there with him in the studio. You also experience with him the lack of sleep, stress, panic and near torture of trying to please uber-perfectionists such as Paul Simon and Bob Fosse. I felt like I wanted to share a silent scream with him as I read those passages where he was being pushed past the limits of frustration toiling and appeasing their whims. He also described the pressures and detriment this profession placed on his romantic relationships.
There are other gems shared such as his aborted sexual dalliance with Bette Midler and the poignant experience of adopting his son. However, nothing leaps out from this more than his unfortunate assessment of Paul Simon. Apparently, not only is Simon a horror to work with, but seems to have no compassion or censor of unkind thoughts in interacting with others.
In summation, this book was a gift for those of us who would like to take a kernel or two from a guy who was there on the inside and has some great stories to tell. I loved reading all about it.
March 25, 2018
More than just a memoir by a man who'd been apprenticed to legendary music engineer and producer Phil Ramone, and had his own career in the music business as a mixer and engineer, "Never Say No To A Rock Star," is also a fine coming-of-age story, about an idealistic young man trying to find a father figure, learn how to be an adult, find his own purpose in life, and fulfill his own dreams on a slightly different path. Yes, there are stories about his adventures in the music business with larger than life personalities like Bob Dylan, Paul Simon, Frank Sinatra, Mick Jagger, and movie director Bob Fosse, but he also focuses on important things like the meaning of art, love, friendship and teaching and lesser figures like the schleppers, go-fors, studio musicians, session players, arrangers, copyists, jingle writers, mixers, engineers, audio technicians, publicists, record company executives, and others who are the glue that hold it all together. An excellent book on the day-to-day reality of the music business in a legendary period but also the story of the sickness and excesses that caused him to leave and find his own path as a psychotherapist. A great book. - BH.
October 26, 2016
I had no idea who Glen Berger was when I started this book but I have just recently become interested in the recording aspect of music during the seventies. I enjoyed the first half of the book which Glen spends on his youth and early days in the industry. He didn't like a lot of artists (Paul Simon, Bob Dylan) but he has some interesting tales to tell about a lot of people. Halfway through when he becomes a "big shot", in his own words, he becomes a lot harder to take. He's one of these cocky, arrogant guys who gets off on being self-deprecating. Near the end are a few chapters where he soul searches the meaning of life which were really hard to take and I started skimming from that point on. An okay book but it's hard to really enjoy a memoir when you don't like the guy who's telling the story.
November 18, 2019
Recommended by Peter Rost. Berger, who is now a psychologist, delves into the lure of fame, the limitations of artistic ego, and the mysteries of the recording and mixing rooms. He survived with a lot of stories to tell, a measure of regret and a dose of self-analysis. Makes "never meet your heroes" a slogan to knit on your heart.
September 19, 2016
(2 1/2). A really interesting look at the music business from the recording studio side of things. Several really good stories, sides of famous recording artists that you never would hear from any other source. It is also a mini look at life book, as Berger is now a shrink and his view of days gone by is passionate and compelling. It started a tiny bit slow but the second two thirds of it move very nicely. The chapters on Sinatra and Jagger are really strong, and the lengthy Fosse piece is wonderful. A good book, especially for music enthusiasts.
August 24, 2016
I received this from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Let me start off by saying I am so disappointed in the copy I received. I understand it was an unedited version, but it was so badly done I couldn't finish the book. There were words missing and sentences only half finished. I am a music lover and was really looking forward to reading this. Maybe I will get another chance later and will review then. As of right now I am just frustrated that I couldn't finish this one.
January 14, 2017
These are Glenn Berger's memoirs of the years he worked as a music engineer. It's worth reading for the chapters on Bob Dylan, Paul Simon and Bob Fosse. The comparison of Dylan and Simon is particularly interesting. Both men were so exacting in their requirements, yet so different in the ways they handled recording.
The rest of the book is not as good, but still occasionally has some worthwhile observations.
The rest of the book is not as good, but still occasionally has some worthwhile observations.
November 24, 2019
(NOTE: I'm stingy with stars. For me 2 stars means a good book or a B. 3 stars means a very good book or a B+. 4 stars means an outstanding book or an A {only about 5% of the books I read merit 4 stars}. 5 stars means an all time favorite or an A+ {Only one of 400 or 500 books rates this!).
This is one of those I borrowed by accident. I looked at it to see what it was about and punched the wrong button so I listened to it. And it turned out to be fun.
In this memoir the author tells about talking his way into a recording studio and then having a series of events transpire that resulted in his being the assistant recording engineer Phil Ramone in NYC. This led to 20 hour work days for months at a time.
But he was involved in recording with everybody from Bob Dylan to Paul Simon to Frank Sinatra to Burt Bacharach, James Brown, Bette Midler, Mick Jagger and on and on. Many of them either ignored him or treated him like a house servant but amazingly Mick Jagger treated him better than almost anyone else. There are all sorts of interesting little stories about the artists he met.
This is one of those I borrowed by accident. I looked at it to see what it was about and punched the wrong button so I listened to it. And it turned out to be fun.
In this memoir the author tells about talking his way into a recording studio and then having a series of events transpire that resulted in his being the assistant recording engineer Phil Ramone in NYC. This led to 20 hour work days for months at a time.
But he was involved in recording with everybody from Bob Dylan to Paul Simon to Frank Sinatra to Burt Bacharach, James Brown, Bette Midler, Mick Jagger and on and on. Many of them either ignored him or treated him like a house servant but amazingly Mick Jagger treated him better than almost anyone else. There are all sorts of interesting little stories about the artists he met.
May 28, 2020
This is an odd book to rate. There are some good rock and roll stories, and typically some you'd wish you never knew. There are also plenty of reasons for the reader to wonder if everything should be taken at face value or not. The whole basis of the authors life at that time, as he describes it, was to make it and become a "big shot." There is plenty of reason to think he could have misremembered or embellished some stories in that goal today. He also makes it hard to figure out exactly who he was and what type of state was he in. At times he mentions the common drug use at the time, but it is hard to tell just how often he was using at this time in his life, which could give the reader another reason to take some of the book with a grain of salt. He often throws in that we was as much an arrogant prick as everyone else, at the time but this very rarely gets tied into the actually story which makes you wonder what is being left out. Overall it's an interesting look at the world of rock and roll from a person in an often overlooked position.
May 3, 2019
Berger writes well and was the hardworking shitkicker for A&R records in manhattan in the 70’s . It’s the story of his journey as a recording engineer . What we gather is Paul simon and bob dylan aren’t the most people friendly musical celebs but Frank Sinatra and mick jagger are the cool dudes ( or cats as Berger calls them . The bob fosse chapter is far too long and detailed. Overall a good read and a great insight to analogue recording processes. Sadly now it’s all digital.
I could relate to Berger’s history . The same year he started in 1972 I was the shitkicker in a photographic darkroom . A trainee procedure for a year before becoming a press photographer for an enduring 43 years .
I would like to think conditions have improved for workers .
I could relate to Berger’s history . The same year he started in 1972 I was the shitkicker in a photographic darkroom . A trainee procedure for a year before becoming a press photographer for an enduring 43 years .
I would like to think conditions have improved for workers .
January 5, 2017
I enjoyed this immensely. Almost gave it five stars. A&R Studios in NYC was one of the heavyweight NY studios in the 70s and 80s and Glenn Berger captures the vibe of the times - and the anxiety experienced when working in an unforgiving environment with some extremely egotistical personalities. As in many books on the NY of this era I am familiar with many of the places mentioned and some of the people also. None of the superstars mentioned in the title but some of the more "on the NYC music scene at the time" type people. For me this always is a plus and I read books like this almost non stop, finishing them in a day or two.
August 18, 2017
Strong Opinion: This is one of my favorite books of all time. I love this book because I love music from this era.
Plot and Theme: In this novel, a Glenn is between jobs, but loves music. So he starts to work in a recording studio as a shlepper. Slowly he makes his way up the ranks in the studio. As he moves up he gets closer and closer to being his own recording artist. Through many of the artists that travel through the studio like Dylan, Sinatra, Jagger, and more. The lesson is told that with fame and fortune does not always become happiness.
Recommendation: If you love music from the 1970-1980 as much as I do then you will love this book.
Plot and Theme: In this novel, a Glenn is between jobs, but loves music. So he starts to work in a recording studio as a shlepper. Slowly he makes his way up the ranks in the studio. As he moves up he gets closer and closer to being his own recording artist. Through many of the artists that travel through the studio like Dylan, Sinatra, Jagger, and more. The lesson is told that with fame and fortune does not always become happiness.
Recommendation: If you love music from the 1970-1980 as much as I do then you will love this book.
September 18, 2023
Glen Berger became a top recording engineer when he was about 19. The exploits and process involved in recording music are fascinating as are the descriptions of some really big stars that he worked on. Then all of sudden that ends, with his being burned out at about age 24 or so. And we skip about 30 years, when he is writing this book in hindsight from the perspective of a now (apparently) successful psychotherapist practice. How did he get there? Not known. But outside of that, I particularly liked the last chapter where he waxes philosophic about his past and his take on the meaning of life.
November 18, 2023
Glen Berger became a top recording engineer when he was about 19. The exploits and process involved in recording music are fascinating as are the descriptions of some really big stars that he worked on. Then all of sudden that ends, with his being burned out at about age 24 or so. And we skip about 30 years, when he is writing this book in hindsight from the perspective of a now (apparently) successful psychotherapist practice. How did he get there? Not known. But outside of that, I particularly liked the last chapter where he waxes philosophic about his past and his take on the meaning of life.
May 8, 2017
I won this book from Goodreads! I really enjoyed this book. Being such a big music fan, it is awesome to read about what happens behind the music scene. Glenn definitely gave us a vivid tour of the recording industry during the 1970’s and 1980’s. The great part about this book is that Glenn is a big music fan and he gave us a candid look into working with some of the greats in music. This was also an inspirational book with the message that you can do anything if you work hard and are determined.
June 14, 2017
If you are really interested in the technical aspects of the recording experience in the 70's. you will get a lot of info from this book. But I was far more interested in the stories of the performerss and there are not many of those. And many of his experiences were colored by his youth. After all he started at 17. There are a few good stories but frankly, I got bored with this book fairly often.
Read
August 1, 2019Mostly a fun read, with lots of good information about musical performers we all know. I really liked that he didn't hold back about the worst people he had dealt with.
I thought he was a little weird thinking that he had already surpassed his dad because at age 17 he had a job pressing a rewind switch. Pretty sure 99% of people could have done that. But then, he doesn't tell us why he has such a low opinion of his dad, so we'll never know.
I thought he was a little weird thinking that he had already surpassed his dad because at age 17 he had a job pressing a rewind switch. Pretty sure 99% of people could have done that. But then, he doesn't tell us why he has such a low opinion of his dad, so we'll never know.
August 26, 2020
Interesting and well-written non-fiction about a rock and pop recording studio in 1970s New York. Slice-of-life memoir from the interesting perspective of a recording engineer, somewhat heavy on obscure technical details and yet approachable to the average reader. Paints a textured portrait of New York City and music superstars of the era (Rolling Stones, Bob Dylan, Paul Simon, Bob Fosse), both the glitzy, glamorous and gritty, seedy sides.
August 17, 2023
Glenn Berger lucked into a job at a recording studio in NY in the 1970, probably the best time to be exposed to the rock'n'roll life. He managed to make it through the experience relatively unscathed by the drug use and verbal abuse of the job. The most interesting thing for me was that Paul Simon was a perfectionist who seemed to be a complete jerk while Bob Fosse was a perfectionist who came off as a driven genius.
March 18, 2017
Despite the cheesy title, this is actually a fascinating and well-written look back at the New York recording scene of the 1970s. I developed a love-hate relationship with the author. On the one hand, I really appreciated his insightful, thoughtful perspectives and his ability to tell a compelling story in the context of a life. On the other hand, he really was a self-absorbed jerk during the peak of his recording career, and as a reader it was difficult to like him during that part of the story. I do cut him some slack for recognizing this (in hindsight, anyway), but despite all of his later introspection, he still writes of Paul Simon and a few others with unapologetic disdain. Regardless, there were two layers woven throughout the book: one was the amazing stories from the studio - my favorite sections being Mick Jagger, Bette Midler, and Frank Sinatra - and the other was the life reflection and introspection, which I very much enjoyed (perhaps because I am about the same age as the author when we wrote this). I'm just sad for Ivy. I wish there was a book about her. :)
October 27, 2017
A rather strange book
I’m not sure why he wrote it, other than he had a few interesting studio tales and tidbits. But so do lots of folks who were in the music biz, and who succeeded more than he did. Very judgmental writing tone throughout most of the book, but he sort of redeems himself in the final chapter. Not sure I can recommend this book, but I’ve read worse.
I’m not sure why he wrote it, other than he had a few interesting studio tales and tidbits. But so do lots of folks who were in the music biz, and who succeeded more than he did. Very judgmental writing tone throughout most of the book, but he sort of redeems himself in the final chapter. Not sure I can recommend this book, but I’ve read worse.
January 29, 2018
Great insight into the recording industry. I would have liked to hear how Glenn Berger transitioned into the therapy business but I guess that is another story.
Good read about the early difficulties of recording and the frustrations experienced by engineers trying to cater to impossible whims of the artists.
Good read about the early difficulties of recording and the frustrations experienced by engineers trying to cater to impossible whims of the artists.
June 22, 2019
Inside info on what it's like to record music...especially when doing it with the likes of Paul Simon, Mick Jagger, Bob Dylan and...Bob Fosse. Interesting to read how, in the 70s and 80s recording was done, mixed, and engineered in a studio and a bit of a peep into a sound man's show biz life (not much of one...no sleep.)
All by a guy who gave it all up to become a psychiatrist. Go figure.
All by a guy who gave it all up to become a psychiatrist. Go figure.
October 6, 2016
The fact that Glenn Berger went from engineer/producer extraordinaire to psychotherapist to accomplished author speaks to his understanding of the social matrix. As we read this book we see that the key to success in a brutally competitive world is learning to listen, to understand what is being said, and execute beyond expectations. That means working like your career depends on it, because it does. Whether you’re engineering for an actual rock star or you’re building kitchen cabinets, you’re serving somebody. As this book illustrates, how people relate to you is a determining factor whether you get to keep doing what you love. So remember … Never Say No to a Rockstar. Treat every client and potential client as a Rockstar. Because everyone is a potential client and every client is a Rockstar!
That said, one of the many enjoyable aspects of this book is that the author writes about the people he was hired to serve and what they were like, not as superstars, but as fellow soldiers in the trenches. Some of the famous fare well. They are kind and generous, patient and warm; others not so much. In that regard we get to see Rockstars as the people behind their public personas. If one suspects that public figures are not who they appear to be, this book is confirmation.
I worked with Glenn for many years when he was a producer and engineer. He was a one of go to people you went to when you needed “as good as it gets”. He had “great ears”, “great chops”, and most of all he was helpful to those of us who were under inordinately high pressure to attain something that is often illusive and ineffable. In Glenn’s career trajectory the world has lost a master of his craft and gained a masterful raconteur, and brilliant psychologist. Never Say No to a Rockstar is a must read for anyone seeking insight into what it’s like at “the top of the heap”.
That said, one of the many enjoyable aspects of this book is that the author writes about the people he was hired to serve and what they were like, not as superstars, but as fellow soldiers in the trenches. Some of the famous fare well. They are kind and generous, patient and warm; others not so much. In that regard we get to see Rockstars as the people behind their public personas. If one suspects that public figures are not who they appear to be, this book is confirmation.
I worked with Glenn for many years when he was a producer and engineer. He was a one of go to people you went to when you needed “as good as it gets”. He had “great ears”, “great chops”, and most of all he was helpful to those of us who were under inordinately high pressure to attain something that is often illusive and ineffable. In Glenn’s career trajectory the world has lost a master of his craft and gained a masterful raconteur, and brilliant psychologist. Never Say No to a Rockstar is a must read for anyone seeking insight into what it’s like at “the top of the heap”.
January 4, 2017
I loved some of the descriptions of the music, especially in the chapter about Judy Collins and her producer. Other sections of the book seemed too self-involved for me. Overall, it's an interesting psychological experience written by a psychotherapist.
December 6, 2017
WHat a brat he was when he started out - but then matured and worked tirelessly to make a name for himself. Very interested to hear things from the other side of the studio and a little about the artists themselves.
March 5, 2018
A very cool take on the world of recording music from a unique perspective. Berger's experiences are enough to make any rock fan jealous. A must read for filling in the cracks of rock and roll history.
May 13, 2020
Pick it up if you’re passionate or even curious about how music from the 70s and 80s got made. Anecdotes and musings on studio life, stardom, relationships, mercurial artists, love, life choices, pop culture, sound engineering, showbiz. All this in the form of a memoir.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 59 reviews