Sound Man Audiobook By Glyn Johns cover art

Sound Man

A Life Recording Hits With the Rolling Stones, the Who, Led Zeppelin, the Eagles, Eric Clapton, the Faces…

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Sound Man

By: Glyn Johns
Narrated by: Simon Vance
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Born just outside London in 1942, Glyn Johns was 16 years old at the dawn of rock and roll. His big break as a producer came on the Steve Miller Band's debut album, Children of the Future. He went on to engineer or produce iconic albums for the best in the business, including Abbey Road with the Beatles. Even more impressive, Johns was perhaps the only person on a given day in the studio who was entirely sober, and so he is one of the most reliable and clear-eyed insiders to tell these stories today.

In this entertaining and observant memoir, Johns takes us on a tour of his world during the heady years of the '60s. He remembers helping to get the Steve Miller Band released from jail shortly after their arrival in London; he recalls his impressions of John and Yoko during the Let It Be sessions; and he recounts running into Bob Dylan at JFK and being asked to work on a collaborative album with him, the Stones, and the Beatles, which never came to pass. Johns was there during some of the most iconic moments in rock history, including the Stones' first European tour and the Beatles' final performance on the roof of their Savile Row recording studio.

©2014 Glyn Johns (P)2015 Tantor Art & Literature Biographies & Memoirs Entertainment & Celebrities Journalists, Editors & Publishers Music Celebrity Thought-Provoking
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Critic reviews

"Fans of the era will enjoy both the anecdotes and the technical descriptions of life behind the recording console." ( Publishers Weekly)
Fascinating Stories • Insightful Accounts • Excellent Narration • Historical Coverage • Engaging Storytelling

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Brilliant book written by Glyn John’s, the sound wizard behind the curtain. Didn’t particularly care for the orator…his dramatic cadence detracted from a very well written book.

60s, 70s music lovers

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I loved the text. The narrator was way too arch. As if it was narrated by a 1970’s James Bond actor Roger Moore. A little more understatement, please.

Great book. Wrong narrator.

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If you happen to be a music history buff curious about the behind the scenes stories of some truly great music and its creators, this book is for you.

Inner circle snapshots.

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Glyn Johns worked with the Giants of popular music starting in the 60s. This book has something for everyone, the music lover, the person interested in the technical aspect of recording, and the historian. Johns provides many heartfelt and amusing anecdotes about figures such as Eric Clapton, Pete Townsend, Steve Miller, Keith Richards, John Lennon, Johnny Cash, Ronnie Lane, Joe Strummer of the Clash, and more. What comes through is how musicians, producers, and promoters, even the most famous, are regular people, real people with their talents and their flaws. Johns readily admits when he's made a mistake in not immediately recognizing talent, or had an unfavorable first impression that was later corrected, as with his initial the counters with the Eagles and with Joan Armatrading, or with Bill Graham, and Mick Jones. I strongly recommend this book to any lover of music, but especially a lover of rock 'n' roll.

"Wish I Were There"

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Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Anyone that loves music & the unfolding of Rock & Roll ... should read with their eyes and/or their ears ... I did both. It's really compelling!

Who was your favorite character and why?

Well ... Glyn obviously!

Which character – as performed by Simon Vance – was your favorite?

Simon proved to be a great narrator!

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

No, too long ... if one would care to digest ...

Any additional comments?

Love it!

An outstanding story!

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