Tori Amos: All These Years : The Authorized Illustrated Biography

by Kalen Rogers

The only fully authorized story of the girl and her piano, containing over 150 never-before-seen photographs — many from Tori’s own private archives. This unique book traces her path to worldwide success from her early years as a child prodigy, detailing her professional career at the piano at age thirteen in the bars of Washington, DC, her rock-chick days in L.A., underground success in London, her doomed debut album ‘Y Tori Kant Read,’ the soul-searching 1992 ‘Little Earthquakes,’ and on through ‘Under the Pink’ and ‘Boys for Pele.’ Includes a complete discography plus full World Tour itineraries.

Genres: Music, Biography, Nonfiction, Biography Memoir, Memoir, Autobiography

132 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1994

Reviews

[Karl · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Tori Amos: All These Years - The Authorized Illustrated Biography” by Kalen Rogers, tells us, verbally and with pictures about the artist Tori Amos.
Ms Amos was born August 22, 1963. Tori Amos was a child prodigy, she won a full scholarship to the ‘Peabody Institute at Johns Hopkins University’ at the age of five, the youngest person ever to have been admitted. She was expelled at the age of 11 for what ‘Rolling Stone’ described as "musical insubordination" her interests included Beethoven the Beatles. At age 11, she experienced a mid-life crisis and at 13 began her professional career at the piano in the bars of Washington DC. Amos was then the lead singer of the short-lived 1980s pop group “Y Kant Tori Read” before achieving her breakthrough as a solo artist in the early 1990s.
This book traces the journey of a minister's daughter from her rock chick days in LA to her underground success in London to worldwide critical acclaim. It details her doomed debut album "Y Kant Tori Read", her soul-searching 1992 "Little Earthquakes", and 1994's "Under the Pink", and includes a complete discography plus full itineraries for both world tours. This book features over 150 previously unseen photographs - many from Tori's own private archives - and interviews with Tori's friends, family, management, record company, and with Tori herself.

If you want nice pictures and an overviews explaining of the nuts and bolts of Tori's rise, then this is a book not to be missed.

[Andrea Dearborn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Been a couple months since I finished this book...

I really enjoyed reading about an artist that I deeply admire. Her music is honestly life-changing, like when I first started listening to Fiona Apple and Jewel. Lyrics and stories are very important to me and Amos writes lyrics AND stories. Also, I've fallen back into my acoustic/instrumental mood where if I can't hear at least one instrument other than a boom boom boom, I won't listen to it. Tori Amos started playing piano from a young age and in her songs, it's the main component. The instrument becomes an extension of herself and it's almost like it just flows through her. When I watch live performances of her, she makes it a point to stare straight and deep into the audience. She is unapologetically herself in everything she does, and while I haven't listened to her most recent music, I'm sure it is lovely. She deserves all the love in the world.

[Angie Reiber · Rating 5 out of 5]

Now, to be fair, there would had to have been something pretty dissatisfying for me to give this less than five stars, since I'm one of those goofy people who cries like a '60s teen girl watching the Beatles on Ed Sullivan when I see Tori in concert. But even so, this book was great. It was definitely more focused on the music than anything terribly in depth about her personal life, but I was very pleased to get more background on the Y Kant Tori Read years. Obviously, this book is older, but I would grab up another with this type of narrative - going forward into the From the Choirgirl Hotel years and beyond - in a heartbeat. This is a must-read for Tori fans.

[Breeze · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read this when I first began my love affair with Tori. It was the perfect fix for my Tori obsession.

[Teo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reading this 30 years since its release and having the hindsight of how much more there was and is still in store for Tori makes this feel so sweet. While this doesn't delve too far into Tori and focuses more on her general career track and press (especially later on), I found I still learnt a few new things about her early years, as well as the touring and album creation process. They also weren't lying about there being never-before-seen pics, as even with all the internet resources out there now, some of these I truly haven't! Would love to have an updated version of this.

[Bridget · Rating 5 out of 5]

A classic!

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pretty good. Wasn't boring. Included a lot of old photos and some information I didn't already know. Nice amount of photos included.

[Javier Avilés · Rating 3 out of 5]

Buen libro. Pero es un texto que no tiene pretensiones de ser mucho más que un fan book; nada malo con eso. Yo y Tori tenemos una relación de casi 30 años, escuché "Little Earthquakes" tantas veces que compré el CD dos veces hasta quemar ambas copias; ahora solo tengo una copia digital. Es una de las mejores artistas vivas: intensa, auténtica, viva, atenta, lúcida. Mi amor es incuestionable... Rogers hace un recorrido extrictamente biográfico de los primeros 3 discos de Tori. Derivo de este texto, el compromiso y la pasión de Tori por Bosey...

[Johnny Yoshida · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was great, short but informative with lots of photos. It would've been even better if Tori wrote it herself but it sounds like she worked closely with the author if it's authorized.

[SouthWestZippy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fascinating walk through the life of Tori Amos. Not a lot of details on her family life but gives enough to show you were she comes from. Most of the book is about her career. Loaded with pictures, some promotional and others home pictures. Highly recommend to fans and anyone interested in the music industry.

[Ross · Rating 4 out of 5]

She first sang to me in the early 90's & I've been hooked ever since. with her quirky lyrics & eccentric behavior, Tori lives life on her terms. Something all of us should do.
A very good read for any fan

[Bobby Daugherty · Rating 3 out of 5]

A paperback magazine released to capitalize on Tori's popularity in the early 90's. It is like a fanzine as it is loaded with pictures. It covers her childhood, early career, etc. It ends with the "In The Pink" album.

[Missy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks, Jeannie!

[Discolady12 Holmes · Rating 4 out of 5]

bio

[Deborah Clemons · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great biography and pictures of Tori that covers her life up until the Little Earthquakes era. A must have for any Tori fan.

[Wendy]

(found read date in diary)