Another Little Piece of My Heart: My Life of Rock and Revolution in the '60s

(Paperback)

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Description

In 1961, Richard Goldstein saw Bob Dylan perform for the first time at Carnegie Hall. Rock music was in its infancy, and revolution was in the air. Criticism of the genre didnt yet exist but, as it began to change music and politics for ever, the serious discussion of rock became a thriving institution. Aged just twenty-two in 1966, and the first rock critic in New York, Goldstein became a pivotal figure in the industry. Forging close relationships with huge names Jim Morrison, Brian Wilson and Janis Joplin to name just three his life became a whirlwind of politics, sex and rock and roll. Another Little Piece of My Heart is an unparalleled document of rock and revolution.

Reviews

As columnist for the Village Voice newspaper in New York, Richard Goldstein was in the vanguard of writing seriously about rock music at a time when most regarded it as disposable ephemera. His memoir (a curates egg) is pithy and touching on the foibles of Sixties idealism and counterculture **** -- Mick Brown * Sunday Telegraph *
Writing about pop in the 60s and 70s was a brilliant new art form, and Richard Goldstein was one of the original artists. His Poetry of Rock was one of the books that made me want to be a rock critic * Paul Morley *
Richard Goldstein was the first rock critic worth reading. This book is a wonderful description of how it felt to change lives, including his own, in the '60s * Richard Williams *
A deeply felt and compelling portrait of an age that indelibly marked everyone who took part in it. Indispensable for understanding the culture of the 60s and the music that was at its heart * Kirkus *
This memoir provides unique views of some of the times most colourful figures, including Janis Joplin, Jim Morrison, Susan Sontag, and Andy Warhol. But most of all, it shows us how one electric consciousness Goldstein's own emerged and evolved as America itself became new * Ann Powers *
A pithy memoir of the Sixties counterculture by a rock critic who saw beyond the hype A fond eulogy to misplaced idealism and expectations **** * Daily Telegraph *
His advantage as fan, street freak, political rad and literate academic distinguished him from trade and teen rag rats. Given this singularity, he invented his gig and his description of the process is fascinating Interactions with John Lennon, Mick Jagger, Jim Morrison, Brian Wilson and especially his friendship with Janis Joplin bring the reader intimately into the time -- Michael Simmons * Mojo *
The book charts his transformation from a tubby, sexually-confused Jewish kid from the Bronx to a razor-tongued, silver-booted, reviewer-about-town, working for The Village Voice in New York and rubbing shoulders with Andy Warhol, John Lennon and Jimi Hendrix * Esquire *
The memoir pick through Goldsteins memories of the drug-enhanced hope and sourness of Sixties America and is particularly effective as his job put him in the centre of the youth movement. Unsurprisingly, its very well written ***** * Western Mail *
Tinged with an autumnal sense of loss and the self-examination of a 70-year-old man looking back on his life As well as being very funny, Another Little Piece of My Heart is an affecting meditation on the authors budding queerness and acceptance, finally, that he was gay -- Ian Thomson * Independent *

Author Bio

Richard Goldstein is one of the founders of rock criticism, beginning with his 'Pope Eye' column in the Village Voice in 1966. His reporting led to a long career as a commentator on culture, politics and sexuality. His work has appeared in many publications, including the New York Times, Harpers, the Guardian and the Nation, and he served as arts editor and then executive editor of the the Village Voice. His gay activism earned him a GLAAD award as columnist of the year. His books include the bestselling The Poetry of Rock, Reporting the Counterculture and Homocons. He is currently an adjunct professor at Hunter College of the City University of New York.