Babes in Toyland: : The Making and Selling of a Rock and Roll Band
Author: Neal Karlen
List Price: $22.00
Our Price: Click to see the latest and low price
ISBN: 0812920589
Publisher: Times Books (02 August, 1994)
Sales Rank: 915,995
Average Customer Rating: 4.14 out of 5
Customer Reviews
Rating: 5 out of 5
Pioneers in Guyville
Babes in Toyland didn't last, but Karlen's book records their place in music history in a way that's both respectful and passionate. The book is objective--Karlen keeps himself out of the way--yet clearly sympathetic to the members of the band, who suffer various setbacks and trials (not to mention extremely dubious boyfriends) along the extremely difficult road of constant low-budget touring, signing with a major label and producing their first album. After reading this book, I was amazed that any band whose members aren't independently wealthy can make it at all. Kudos to the Babes, scattered though they are now, and to Karlen for patiently and fairly taking the time to show the perspective of everyone involved--from a bandmember's initially skeptical father (the passages about that relationship are among the most moving in the book) to the tireless A&R guy to the roadies--in a process that obviously isn't easy for anyone.
Rating: 4 out of 5
Local girl makes good . . .
Imagine my surprise to learn that not only is Kat B'jelland from my "hometown" of Woodburn, Oregon (15 miles north of Salem), but is the niece of my life-long ballet teacher. I had never been a fan of "Babes In Toyland," but I had been an admirer of Courtney Love's band "Hole" and therefore had known the background: that Kat B'jelland had been in several bands with Courtney Love. My ballet teacher told me that there was a book written about Babes in Toyland, so I went out and found this book, BABES IN TOYLAND: THE MAKING AND SELLING OF A ROCK AND ROLL BAND. I missed the "grunge/alternative scene" due to age and, well, lack of interest. I didn't really get "into" it until its "peak" had ended, so I hadn't known much about Babes in Toyland. Luckily, this book filled me in. This book talks about Kat B'jelland's childhood in Woodburn and describes her as having been "Miss Everything at Woodburn High School." Indeed, the transformation from head football cheerleader to grunge/punk rocker is, well, surprising. There is a section of photos in this book, including the band in rehearsal, the recording studio, and Kat B'jelland with Courtney Love. It's a shame they didn't publish any pictures from Kat's yearbook, the contrast between the perky "upbeat" teen with the howling alternative banshee Kat would become is, well, stunning.
It's true that the entire book does read like an extended piece in "Rolling Stone" magazine, hence the four stars. But I still found it interesting. One of the reasons I found it interesting is because it gives the reader something of a background view of the music industry; in the words of the author, the music business makes the rest of show business look gentle. And I enjoyed reading about the - by now legend - love/hate relationship between Kat B'jelland and Courtney Love. Another reason I found this book interesting is because it's about a band that never really made it that big. "Babes in Toyland" peaked in 1992 by touring as part of Lollapalooza and with the release of the "Fontanelle," and, in reality, that's not much of a peak. But it's enough of a peak to make it interesting to read their story. And, indeed, it's more of a peak than most rock bands will ever know.
Another thing I found interesting about this book is the revelation that it was Kat B'jelland who was originally fixed up with Kurt Cobain, lead singer of the band "Nirvana." As most of the world knows by now, it is Courtney Love who eventually ended up married to Kurt Cobain. This book says that it was only after things didn't work with Kat that Kurt started dating Courtney.
Rating: 2 out of 5
ick
could someone please write a decent book about a rock band? it seems like every book about music i read is tabloidly. rock journalists should stick to short pieces in magazines and newspapers. i'm listing mine for sale today.
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