“If I’m really committed to a song, I’ll work and work on it until it just can’t be improved.”—Seger on his work ethic
Author: Harvey Kubernik
Harvey Kubernik
Harvey Kubernik is the author of 19 books, including 'Canyon Of Dreams: The Magic And The Music Of Laurel Canyon' and 'Turn Up The Radio! Rock, Pop and Roll In Los Angeles 1956-1972.' Sterling/Barnes and Noble in 2018 published Harvey and Kenneth Kubernik’s 'The Story Of The Band: From Big Pink To The Last Waltz.' For October 2021 the duo has written a multi-narrative volume on Jimi Hendrix for the publisher. In 2015 Palazzo Editions published Harvey’s 'Leonard Cohen: Everybody Knows,' and 'Neil Young, Heart of Gold,' published in 2016. Otherworld Cottage Industries in 2020 published Harvey’s book, 'Docs That Rock, Music That Matters,' featuring interviews with D.A. Pennebaker, Chris Hegedus, Albert Maysles, Murray Lerner, Michael Lindsay-Hogg, Andrew Loog Oldham, Eddie Kramer, Dick Clark, Ray Manzarek, John Densmore, Robby Krieger, Allan Arkush, and David Leaf, among others. In 2015, the University Press of Mississippi published a Harvey Kubernik Dylan-centric interview with Oscar-winning director and photographer D.A. Pennebaker in their book series, 'Conversations with Filmmakers, edited by Dr. Keith Beattie.' This century Kubernik has lectured and conducted courses on the music business and music documentary films in Southern California at UCLA and USC. In 2017 Harvey appeared at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, Ohio, in their Library & Archives Author Series. Kubernik’s writings are housed in book anthologies, most notably 'The Rolling Stone Book Of The Beats' and 'Drinking With Bukowski.' Harvey wrote the liner note booklets to the CD re-releases of Carole King’s 'Tapestry,' Allen Ginsberg’s 'Kaddish,' Elvis Presley 'The ’68 Comeback Special' and the Ramones’ 'End of the Century.' During 2020 Harvey Kubernik served as a consultant on the two-part documentary television series 'Laurel Canyon: A Place in Time,' directed by Alison Ellwood. Harvey is working on a documentary about Rock and Roll Hall of Fame member singer/songwriter Del Shannon.
The director behind the 1970 Beatles film, Let It Be, was there when cinematic innovation first came to the rock video medium.
In 1971, two friends got together to help millions in need. The result was a landmark concert. In this 1997 chat, they discuss ‘Bangla Desh’ & more
They wrote dozens of seminal rock and R&B hits, including “Jailhouse Rock,” “Kansas City,” “Hound Dog” and “Stand By Me.”
“On one of our first gigs, in Boulder, Colorado, I captured it on tape. I had this little stereo tape machine and it was exam time for the college students, so I recorded this gig in front of three people”—Randy Meisner
Dolenz: ‘It was probably the closest thing to musical theater on TV. It was about this band that wanted to be famous, but on the show we never were famous.’
His songs were recorded by the Stones, Janis and many others, and he counted them among his friends. And man, did he have some stories!
“That’s the most cleverly written song I’ve ever heard,” Cash told the song’s composer. It became Cash’s biggest hit single.
“When we started we were arrogant enough to think we would be successful, in spite of the fact that what we were doing was far off the beaten path”
“Robby or Jim would come up with the original idea. But boy, the four of us would get together, change and modify and polish the songs.”—Ray Manzarek