Comments on: Rockcritics Bookshelf: Paperback Writer (w/guest correspondent, Richard Riegel)

By: porn

porn — Tue, 15 May 2012 20:55:23 +0000

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[...]Rockcritics Bookshelf: Paperback Writer (w/guest correspondent, Richard Riegel) « rockcritics.com[...]…

By: Richard Riegel

Richard Riegel — Fri, 11 May 2012 19:22:44 +0000

Perfect timing for Mr. Rosenberg’s comment on our much-earlier discussion of Mark Shipper’s writings, for as it happens, Shipper has just recently signed on as one of the listed rockwriters on the Rock’s BackPages website. He has two pieces in the RBP library already, an excerpt from “Paperback Writer,” and a newly-written memoir of Greg Shaw, the Bomp! and PRM editor Shipper knew in those early-’70s formative days: http://www.rocksbackpages.com/writer.html?WriterID=shipper_m
The spoiler alert is that you have to subscribe to RBP to read the full pieces, but at least they’re now available, if you’re so inclined.

By: s woods

s woods — Thu, 10 May 2012 14:29:42 +0000

Thanks for the feedback, Carl. Yeah, I think both of those books are not only fantastic (Rock Dreams is in my personal pantheon, no question about it), but they make an interesting pair in that they’re such wildly successful *fantasy* versions of pop music — pretty unique in that regard, certainly for their time. Neither really fits all that comfortably in the rock critics canon, but they may be as good as it gets.

By: Carl Rosenberg

Carl Rosenberg — Wed, 09 May 2012 05:53:05 +0000

I was glad to see all this discussion of this book, which a friend and I–both Beatles fans–read and enjoyed in high school over thirty years ago. I wish I still had a copy. As I recall, on the back cover of the book there was a blurb which described it as “the most inviting look at rock since Rock Dreams”–the latter was also a great book. Maybe there is something appropriate in these books no longer being published or widely available, but all the more fondly remembered for that, like a cabin hidden in the woods.

Carl Rosenberg
Vancouver, BC

By: John E. Bredehoft

John E. Bredehoft — Wed, 22 Dec 2010 00:14:25 +0000

For some strange reason, I found myself thinking of Ringo Starr’s release of the song “A Dose of Rock and Roll,” which turned off its potential audience by its detailed descriptions of various illnesses. Of course, this wasn’t the REAL version of the song; it was Shipper’s version, vaguely remembered in my brain. I got rid of my copy of Paperback Writer years ago, but it was truly a classic, both in its humor and in its underlying serious meditations on fame and our remembrances of youth (namely, the reaction to the reunion itself).

By: John76

John76 — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 07:30:51 +0000

Well for one brief moment in the late ’80s he decided to rap.

By: Steve Crawford

Steve Crawford — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 01:36:17 +0000

Robot A. Hull??? What a weird, fictitious name…

By: ROBOT A. HULL

ROBOT A. HULL — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 21:14:00 +0000

I just googled “Mark Shipper Pipeline” and could not find hide nor hair evidence that this great column even existed except for the dialogue between you two experts. MARK SHIPPER is one of the greatest rock writers ever, right up there with Meltzer, Bangs, Marcus, Tosches, etc. But I can’t find anything about him. If this site is to do a community service, we need to find this guy and give him the accolades he deserves. I don’t want to read opinions about his writing: I WANT TO FIND THE GUY AND LEARN WHERE HIS CRAZY HEAD IS AT THESE DAYS. LET’S GO!

By: Scott’s Bookshelf, Part 2 « rockcritics.com

Scott’s Bookshelf, Part 2 « rockcritics.com — Thu, 24 Jan 2008 12:18:52 +0000

[...] come across it again, which in 15 years I never have. A great book that feels a bit lost in time. Discussed it at some length recently with Richard [...]