Mark Bego

Author Bego highlights the questions of Aretha's life: Who fathered her first two children born in her teen years and why does she cancel so many appearances? Is it fear or money issues? Bego can only surmise and though he has had a lot of personal access with the subject, comes up with nothing really revealing. Record collectors will appreciate the recording and session details on every album and we can chuckle at the KFC and Wal-Mart obsessions of the house-bound, ecceentric suburban show more recluse Queen of Soul. show less

I am a Monkee fan. Not a die-hard, by any means, but I can belt out Last Train to Clarksville on RockBand and get a 99% most of the time on an expert level. I watched the shows growing up (the reruns on MTV... I'm not that old) and I had an LP (I am however, that old) that I would play over and over in my room.

I've watched the movie, Head though (like most fans my age) it wasn't my cuppa tea.

And I have one of the best co-workers ever! I mentioned that Last Train is my favorite song on Rock show more Band, and he proceeded to bring in the book, lay it on my desk and say, "I had it in my library. I don't remember it well, but I held on to it, so I must have enjoyed it. It's yours now."

Damn!

While it isn't the best memoir I've ever read (that would be Have you Found Her) it did make me want to track down a copy of the Monkees series, and maybe even Circus Boy (Micky Dolenz's childhood show). It made me want to watch it all over again, paying attention this time to see if I can pick up on the rampant improvisation that Dolenz implies is there. It made me want to watch the show to see if I can see hints of the real people behind each of the characters.

For the Monkee fans, check it out. For the I need an easy read with a (sometimes overdone) sense of humor, check it out. show less

Micky was always my favorite Monkee. His story of how he got to where he is now is a fascinating one. You learn about his parents and growing up in show biz. There is also a good insight of what the members of the band really thought when they were thrown together and some of the turmoil not being allowed to play their own instruments and play their own songs caused.

A must for the true Monkee fan!

Terrible book. I've always liked Joni's music, but the author has written an uncritical exercise in adulation.