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1 of 1 found the following review helpful:
 Mysterious Audio Tapes and Fantasy, Not Fact Jul 09, 2008
I can imagine (my imagination is every bit as valid as this author's,but I would never pass it off as fact) Brian Jones reading this book and saying: "Well, if people want to believe this, that's their problem." People who personally knew Brian, or were friends with those who knew him, said that this book is filled with false information which is very untrue to Brian and the people in his life. As far as these supposed audio tapes, it would be interesting if they could be scanned for voice prints (a scientific reality) by an impartial party and compared to real audio of Brian speaking, to see if this really was his voice, if indeed these tapes even actually exist. As far as how Brian's love life was portrayed, I find it an insult to him, and he would probably laugh and agree, because nothing depicted in this book came straight from HIS heart.
0 of 2 found the following review helpful:
 TRAGIC LIFE-TRAGIC STORY Mar 22, 2008
An old maxim exists as true today as it was hundreds of years ago: that a person can be judged-for good or bad-by the company he keeps. Brian Jones was a close friend of the Beatles-namely John, Paul & George-and they considered him a treasured friend and musician. Often Brian played and created alongside these gentlemen as they composed some of their most treasured hits. As well, Brian was admired for the tireless work he devoted to new bands that were struggling their way to the top of the charts--the Byrds among them. All these considered Brian one of their own-but never considered the other Rolling Stones as such.
No-definitely not! Mick, Keith & the remaining were never invited into the private enclaves of other bands-easy to understand as they weren't trusted. Brian was trusted and loved. In his own words as repeated in Ms. Shepherd's "Straight from the Heart", Brian states "they treat me like a King!" To them, and to so many others, he was.
Tragically for all, his own band didn't think of him as king or even human in many instances. It is well known Mick ordered Brian's microphones turned off during sessions and concerts-in an attempt to humiliate him. And it's well known often Brian wept as a result of these cold-hearted acts. And now for the cruelest cut of all: Brian being ultimately dismissed and shunned by the band he created!
Brian was warned time and again by his true friends, Dylan, Lennon, McCartney-to name just a few-that sooner or later he'd be betrayed and possibly terminated by his own band. These diverse entertainers had good reason to see the writing on the wall and to consider it their duty to warn their good friend of the traitors that he continued to believe his trusted friends. Hendrix too tried to warn Brian away from the Stones, however at this time Jimi was fighting his own battles against drugs and management and didn't have the stamina to drag Brian away. I am sure that after Brian's demise, he regretted not having done so-as I'm sure Dylan, Lennon & the others also regretted.
Brian Jones life was a tragedy, not just for what he suffered but for the music the rest of the world eventually lost.
0 of 2 found the following review helpful:
Gritty, Raw, and Unforgiving Mar 01, 2008
Let me preface my remarks about this story similar to how one of the earlier reviewers did. I think by doing so, it leads credibility to my review.
I am a 60+ year old musician who has played with a few bands over the years, mostly R&B bands and some jazz.
I met Brian early on during the start of the Rolling Stones and found him to be quite an enigma. At times he was good hearted and other times he was quite the beast. In any case, he was a musical genius that brought forth a vision of new exciting music which took the world by storm.
Brian Jones Straight From the Heart tells the story of Brian with such accuracy; it is as if Brian penned it with his own hands. Those of us who knew this genius can attest to the facts as is written. By no means could anyone write a book that would be glowing of Brian Jones for if they did, it would certainly be one of fiction.
This book portrays Brian for what he was...a man of many faces and personas. To think a writing such as this is being criticized for showing Brian in a negative way is quite absurd. When I recall the 1960s, drugs and sex flowed freely. One cannot deny the fact that sex was a part of that era and "free love" was not only free but shared amongst the most notable musical elite.
It's quite ridiculous for people to deny the fact that Brian wasn't human and wouldn't taste the new found freedom of the sexual revolution. Brian was a man who loved people regardless of gender.
A musical genius yes, but by no means was he a saint. Those who put their heads in the sand to the truth do more to dilute his memory than sustain it. It is obvious they never knew Brian Jones, the real Brian Jones. It's time someone tells it like it was and I believe this author does.
This book is by far a better recount of what Brian was, what he gave to the world, and in my humble opinion, what finally sent him to his demise. I believe this book is a good compliment to Billy Wyman's writing.
If you are one who wants to know what is was like to live in the music world in the 60s, this book is for you. Gritty, raw, and unforgiving, this book is quite extraordinary. I highly recommend Brian Joes Straight From the Heart.
3 of 4 found the following review helpful:
Shame on the author Feb 23, 2008
Just take a look what the author wrote aside of this: Very very cheap stuff. Then you know what you're at. It's very sad that this got published. Poor Brian, I just hope that she will get what she deserves: Shame on you.
1 of 5 found the following review helpful:
Long Lost Brian Jones Audio Tapes Tell His Story ! Jan 24, 2008
I'd like to preface this review by stating that I'm a professional musician and record producer, and also, that Brian Jones and his music has been a real inspiration to me all these years. In addition, I've also read and own just about every other published book on Brian's career and life up to this point. In other words, I'm no novice or wannabe.
I also had the distinct pleasure of knowing and working for many years with one of Brian's closest friends - Noel Redding of The Jimi Hendrix Experience, and through him have also met and gotten to know several other intimates of Brian's over the years.
In light of this background I want to comment on two areas of Gloria Shepherd's book -- one area is personal to me and the other in regard to Brian's musical legacy, of which at least a couple of the Rolling Stones seemed to have had a hand in distorting, if not downright destroying.
In addition, I also take exception to some of the homophobic rhetoric in some of the "reviews" offered here. The author does exactly as she promised in her opening comments of the book, which was to downplay Brian's sexual life and to be as non descriptive as possible. Her portrayal of Brian's sex life is certainly not graphic. How the "homophobes" could take issue with these descriptions is certainly beyond me. I have to ask, what does any of that stuff have to do with Brian's music or legacy? Absolutely nothing is the answer.
What her book does focus on is the incredible effort Brian did give to see his band succeed. She seems to be one of the few writers to date to lay out in detail Brian's working night and day with Mick Jagger and Keith Richards - teaching Mick to play the harmonica, and how to work audiences into a frenzy, and Keith how to play the guitar.
It seems Mick came to realize that as long as Brian remained the Rolling Stones focal point, he would never get anywhere near the accolades and fan base that came so easily to Brian. This must have infuriated an egomaniac like Jagger, who ultimately decided that his mentor had to go -- or at least that what it seems to me.
Before Ms. Shepherd's book was published, Bill Wyman seemed to have been the only writer to attempt to give Brian the credit due him for not only helping to make the Rolling Stones the band they are today, but also for giving Brian musical credit for a number of The Stones most famous songs. Ruby Tuesday, Paint it Black and Jumping Jack Flash immediately come to mind.
Now in this book, Ms. Shepherd goes a step further in actually listing a majority of what Brian created musically for his band by using his own words, thoughts, feelings, and day-to-day actions in bringing the band to stardom.
How does she do this? The majority of the reviews on this site also point to this issue - What are the origins of these grand and heretofore unpublished sources?
I have it on extremely good authority, that she was able to write this vivid portrait via autobiographical audio tapes Brian made himself throughout his last years that somehow avoided being destroyed or stolen from his home after his murder. If that's not cool enough, I've also heard that she's working on a follow up book - the proverbial "book about the book" which goes into the tapes, their origins and authentication in much greater detail. Personally, I think this new (as yet untitled) book will be even more fascinating then the first.
Musically, Brian not only obviously arranged the majority of the Stones early hits, but was also the only Stone to actively play and create music with many of the top bands and artists of the day - they included The Beatles, Bob Dylan and The Jimi Hendrix Experience, to name just three.
"Straight from the Heart" does a fantastic job of showing what Brian actually bequeathed to the music of the Sixties. "Bequeathed" is the correct term in that he never asked for monetary recompense, but was simply happy and proud to work with these major artists, who of course were his peers and friends.
What makes this book so unique, and what I really enjoyed while reading it, is the closeness the reader feels to Brian while finally getting to read his own words and hearing first hand how he struggled to overcome mental, emotional, and physical ailments from early childhood to his last days.
It looks like we have finally been blessed with this first hand, close up look at one of the world's most misunderstood and under appreciated creative geniuses of our time -- Brian Jones.
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