Sheryl Crow: No Fool To This Game

Sheryl Crow

“This is not an authorized biography…” are the very first words you read in Richard Buskin’s book, unless, of course, you skip the acknowledgments. He then goes on to make the case why this is not necessarily a bad thing. And then he talks about Rashomon, the Akira Kurosawa’s movie.

Both of these subjects are essential to the reading of this book, which follows the career path of Sheryl Crow from her childhood up through of her latest album, C’mon, C’mon (released last April).

There is no shortage of controversy. Much of the book is devoted to the recording of Sheryl’s first released album, Tuesday Night Music Club (as you will read, there was a completed album already recorded that was never released).

Mr. Buskin takes great pains to present everyone’s side of the story and I couldn’t help but be reminded of Herman Hesse’s Steppenwolf – how we’d all be lucky if there were only two sides to every story! Mr. Buskin avoids most of the rock star clichés (even if the rock star in question did not), spending more time describing the creative process that took place behind the recording of each of Sheryl’s four albums. Because this isn’t an authorized biography, most of the source material comes from the producers, A&R people, engineers and musicians involved in the making of the music. Again, the writer makes certain that virtually all viewpoints get some say.

Even if you are not a fan of Sheryl Crow or her music, this is a great book to read if you have serious desires to get into the music industry. Not only do you get to experience the hard work from the artist’s point of view, you also get a vivid picture of what goes on in the corporate boardrooms of the record company, on the road and in the recording studio.

And you can’t help but wonder what this book would have turned out like had it been authorized. Certainly nowhere near as interesting or thought provoking.