The Rhino Records Story: The Revenge of the Music Nerds

For those who grew up during the time when the record industry was beginning to replace its jeans and headphones with MBAs mostly lacking in any affinity, let alone affection for music, this is the book for you. Even if you are not specifically familiar with the music and cultural influence of The Monkees, The Knack, The Turtles etc, the building of a business starting from a single shop in Westwood Village to an international brand, primarily due to the sincere devotion to music and its creators, would be of interest if not inspiration to anyone who still believes that a true passion for any art form can be translated into a successful business. Those back stories behind not only some of the music bands and artists such as Frankie Lyman and the teenagers, Howard Kaylan and Mark Volman of the Turtles, specific hits such as “My Sharona” (now selling real estate in L.A.) and “At This Moment”, as well as the expansion into films (“Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas”), as told by one Rhino brother, are engaging and well worth the read. It is risky to lay out one’s thoughts about decisions and actions of others in the business, as this Rhino brother did, but I believe it was done in such a way which confirms the whole point of a memoir, that this is his story from his perspective, and one of the major reasons Rhino became the brand known not only for quality product but for corporate ethicality, a model we are unfortunately not likely to see again in this industry in the near future.Not to mention a fun read!

"The Rhino Records Story" should more accurately have been titled "My Life by Harold Bronson" - the former has potential interest - the latter - "who?".Mr Bronson appears to have enjoyed his life in the West Coast Music scene - apart from the odd celebrity musician e.g., Ringo Starr, who ate cereal without offering any to Mr. Bronson (boo-hoo), or the odd boss- Roger Ames - whose lack of people skills have been documented elsewhere - who has the nerve to smoke in Mr. Bronson's presence. And he includes some - actually two - interesting vignettes, one of Tommy James telling him about his experiences with Roulette's infamous Morris Levy (who is writing the book Mr Bronson - you or Tommy?) and insider scoop on Terry Gilliam's directoral style on Rhino's film "Fear and Loathing In Las Vegas" both of which contrast with the mind numbing quasi-genealogy in the long and rambling chapter on the Knack. The book would have benefitted greatly from some editorial help to avoid the endless rambling about individuals who may not be remembered by too many today (if anyone had ever heard of them in the first place) and the abrupt changes in subject matter that detract from whatever little information the sentences contain. But then who'd pay $24.95 for a 100 page book?This book is a waste of time and money (both yours) and does very little justice to the Rhino label that eventually led the way in the reissue market and begat Ace, Bear Family, Hip-O, Legacy and others and now operates with a strong presence in Europe (check out the magnificent and reasonably priced Donny Hathaway boxes from Rhino/WEA France  Never My Love: The Anthology  and  Someday We'll All Be Free ) and the sporadically released overpriced new boxed sets on Rhino Handmade (Bobby Charles, Wilson Pickett, Percy Sledge etc.). In summary - to use a record collecting term from the UK - Harold Bronson story is one of a total anorak. Never My Love: The AnthologySomeday We'll All Be Free

A lot of great information and andecdotes about running a record store and a small record label. Unfortunately, book is padded out with long biographies of the entire careers of artists who had only a brief or superficial relationship with Rhino (Turtles, Monkees, Knack, etc.). I was disappointed the RNA (Rhino New Artist) label was reduced to "it didn't work out." It was a cool little label that put out records by Steve Wynn and Exene Cervenka; they don't even get mentioned. Why didn't it work out? I would rather know about the nuts and bolts of RNA's failure than a history of the Turtles outside of their relationship with Rhino. Also, almost no mention of Rhino Handmade, a real lost oppurtunity. I would have loved to read about how they got all those great bonus tracks and unreleased stuff.