Description:
Editorial Reviews
Review
“Tara Murtha examines that song and the rest of Bobbi Gentry's career in Ode To Billie Joe, the latest release in the 33 1/3 series of books. It is a wonderfully compelling book and the best I've read in the series since "Television: Marquee Moon." Perhaps it's her background as a reporter, but Murtha does not go down the pedantic path that many of the books in this series seem to do lately. Instead, the author presents a fascinating study of Gentry and her career-defining debut. That's right; "Ode to Billie Joe" was her debut recording. Wow.” ―Steve J, AllMusicBooks
“Murtha pulls free the threads of truth from a tangled knot of personal mythology and contradictions. Her book is likely to be a hit with casual listeners and pop-culture obsessives alike.” ―Katie Haegele, Utne Reader
“Philadelphia journalist Tara Murtha has dug deep into the story behind Gentry's song with the latest entry in the '33 1/3' book series devoted to various pop albums of significance… Murtha charts Gentry's challenges as a musician who in her teens was most interested in selling her songs to other singers, not recording them herself. But once she did get into the position of recording, she was up against a male-dominated record industry that offered little validation to a young woman with her own ideas about performance and production.” ―Randy Lewis, L.A. Times
“While Murtha's exploration of the Gentry myth is fascinating, the writer also takes pains to ensure that the myth - as well as Gentry's sexual aura - will not eclipse her real achievement […] Murtha's gem of a book is, above all, a testament to the enduring complexity of Bobbie Gentry.” ―Helen W. Mallon, Philly.com
“Murtha's book conveys a Bobbie Gentry who knew what she wanted and then went about to get it. For the past 30 years, Bobbie Gentry has wanted to be left alone. The closest Murtha gets to Gentry is when she tries on an old fur coat of hers that ended up in the closet of her step-brother in Oregon, who only met Gentry once. This isn't nearly enough for Murtha ... Tara Murtha's accessible and engaging book is a welcome addition to the 33 1/3 Series. I believe her Ode to Bobbie Gentry will succeed in attaining renewed attention and interest in her music.” ―Aaron Goldstein, The American Spectator
“In Ode To Billie Joe, a new contribution to Bloomsbury's 33 1/3 series, journalist Tara Murtha puts Gentry's feminism and efforts to control her own image at the center of the work, which re-introduces the world to Bobbie Gentry ... Today, it is unclear where she lives and remains in touch with only a few friends from her days in show business - leaving many questions unanswered. Ode To Billie Joe is a 'looking glass that cuts both ways,' Murtha writes. 'The wild commercial success of 'Ode' transformed Gentry from an unknown working musician to an international star. But it also ... ultimately served to obscure a larger, richer body of work - and caged the artist into a persona she spent the rest of her career trying to transcend.'” ―Audrey White, The Quietus
“Excerpted and Interviewed” ―Wondering Sound
“Q&A: With Tara Murtha, Bobbie Gentry Expert” ―PHAWKER
“Who was Billie Joe McAllister and why did he die? ... There's another riddle to be solved: that of Gentry herself ... The American journalist Tara Murtha, in her recently published book Ode to Billie Joe (Bloomsbury), attempts to solve these mysteries. Her book, then, is a reporter's quest that takes her across America to find people who knew Gentry and are willing to talk ... She finds plenty of them.” ―Karl Whitney, Irish Times
About the Author
Reviews:
5.0 out of 5 stars A well written, expertly investigated story regarding the mystery of "Ode to Billie Joe" and Bobbie Gentry.
Having read several of Tara Murtha's journalistic articles I was as anxious to read this new medium of hers as I was to learn about the subject. We all remember the song, the mystery, maybe even the film but I never realized how much a mystery Bobbie Gentry was herself. That is not to say she had an illusive career, on the contrary we learn how she vaulted from singer songwriter having a hit and album that dislodged Sgt Pepper in the summer of '67 to multiple albums, Vegas shows of the highest caliber, her own contracts,production and company unheard of at that time in showbiz for a woman. But then save a few interviews and award shows she literally drops the radar.Ms. Murtha does fantastic journalistic detective work on this subject while she teaches us about the impact of this song "Ode to Billie Joe". She introduces us to Gentry's friends, family, slimeballs and entertainment sharks along the way trying to piece together the urban legends regarding the writing, playing, production and breadth of this song/woman. I always liked the song and its mystery, it made the public guess what the real reason and outcome was but we are reminded that is not the point - the point was Southern relationships and handling matters of such question.Tara Murtha's writing style is spot on, keen, cleverand entertaining.She knows about writing and she knows her music. This is a must read for folks who like a good mystery, like a good music story, like an uplifting story on woman's rights and gains or those who just like the song "Ode to Billie Joe". Definitely get this book!
5.0 out of 5 stars Too bad the entire series isn't like this
Having plodded through too many of these 33 1/3 series that I can recall, I want to say that this entry on Bobbie Gentry's fantastic album "Ode to Billie Joe" is by far what I would have expected from ALL the titles in the series. There are so many unique facts, stories, and perspectives on the making of this album packed in this little book that I doubt I'll hear the album (or the classic title song itself) the same way again. The backstory about the recording process for the title song is so shocking I can barely believe it - yet it sounds exactly as it should given the reality shared here. And Jill Sobule's excellent intro had me laughing too.This is a keeper. An excellent portrait I'll re-read again.
4.0 out of 5 stars Nice Ode to Bobbie Gentry
I enjoyed reading this story and couldn't help humming about Bille Joe while doing so. Some of the accounts about Bobbie G. Jumped back and forth but overall it was very well researched and is an interesting slice of her life.
5.0 out of 5 stars The finest musical detective story in a good long while
On the day of my birth, in early September 1967, the top song in the country was “Ode to Billie Joe” by the remarkable Bobbie Gentry. When I first learned this fact some years ago, I was taken aback. With crazy 1967 almost I the rearview mirror and tumultuous 1968 coming on, surely the pride of that place belonged to The Beatles, or maybe more incongruously to The Monkees (their excellent self-performed “Headquarters” charted a couple months before).What was this song doing there? It seemed like a bit of a mystery to me.Couple that with the fate of the song’s singular creator, Gentry herself, who disappeared from the public eye around 1980, the mysteries abound. Who were the session artists on that blockbuster hit? Who overlaid the brilliantly languid strings over the deceptively simple guitar? Who really produced the record? The mysteries proliferate. And unlike the many other albums in the (wonderful) 33&1/3 series, the mysteries of the song itself, to say nothing of the other works in the artist’s oeuvre, have received scant attention here (what more is there really to say about “Exile on Main Street” after all?).The dedicated musical detective self-assigned to the case is Tara Murtha, and thank goodness. Because to get the facts of the case right, you’d have to have a tight grasp of the lurid political economy of the music industry in that period, an understanding of the technical details of musical production, a profound sense of show business culture, and a deep and abiding empathy for Gentry herself, an enigmatic creative genius who suffered more than a few fools in her short career, though apparently not all gladly. You’d have to be willing to pay visits to distant relatives and make a mess of phone calls. And you’d have to have the ability to pack the countless details of this mystery, solving most if not all the unanswered questions, in a single, elegant, and compelling essay (as the “33&1/3” format brilliantly imposes).In her book, Murtha shows she has all that and quite a bit more. I devoured the book in a single sitting and, quite honestly, read it again. The work gave me a deep appreciation for the artist. It reminded me not only of the logic of patriarchy and its pervasive constraints, but the way the most memorable creative souls somehow manage to navigate it and, sometimes, come out on top. It helped me understand the technical studio conditions that prevailed in the analogue era and revealed the ugly industry practices in a time of big labels. Most strangely, the book made me want to go see a Vegas Show. And that says something.This is unquestionably my favorite entry I the excellent “33&1/3” series. I’m going to seek a half dozen signed copies of the book from the author, whose other work I am keen to read. I may not be able to get Gentry’s autograph, but I’m getting Murtha’s before she’s too famous to bother with downhome folks like me.
5.0 out of 5 stars Best book of entire series. Reads like a slick thriller!
I'm the first to admit I like the concept of the 33 1/3 series much more than most of the actually books themselves. This is the true standout.First off, Bobbie Gentry's is one of the great stories in music history, and author Tara Murtha does a sleuth-like job in digging for as many details as she possibly can without speaking to Gentry herself. Not like it's Murtha's fault. Gentry might as well be in witness protection, that's how hard she is to find.This is like a music industry thriller. A page turner, with the details of Gentry's career keeping this music fan entertained and enthralled. I actually wish this were 300+ pages, with more details, but considering it's the only book available on the Ode to Billie Joe singer, I'm grateful it exists.Maybe one day Gentry will shock us with a detailed memoir. But until then...read, listen to her music, and enjoy!
0
Good
Great cd
Great cd
Five Stars
great thanks
Informative
Being a fan for over 50 years, I found a lot in here which I didn't know, but thought the album reviews, apart from the first one, a bit sketchy.Jonathan Peat
Bobbie Gentry's music career
Nice little book with time line on Bobbie Gentry's music career.
Visit the Bloomsbury Academic Store
Bobbie Gentry's Ode to Billie Joe (33 1/3)
AED9248
Quantity:
Order today to get by 7-14 business days
Delivery fee of AED 20. Free for orders above AED 200.
Imported From: United States
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Visit the Bloomsbury Academic Store
Bobbie Gentry's Ode to Billie Joe (33 1/3)
AED9248
Quantity:
Order today to get by 7-14 business days
Delivery fee of AED 20. Free for orders above AED 200.
Imported From: United States
At BOLO, we work hard to ensure the products you receive are new, genuine, and sourced from reputable suppliers.
BOLO is not an authorized or official retailer for most brands, nor are we affiliated with manufacturers unless specifically stated on a product page. Instead, we source verified sellers, authorized distributors or directly from the manufacturer.
Each product undergoes thorough inspection and verification at our consolidation and fulfilment centers to ensure it meets our strict authenticity and quality standards before being shipped and delivered to you.
If you ever have concerns regarding the authenticity of a product purchased from us, please contact Bolo Support. We will review your inquiry promptly and, if necessary, provide documentation verifying authenticity or offer a suitable resolution.
Your trust is our top priority, and we are committed to maintaining transparency and integrity in every transaction.
All product information, images, descriptions, and reviews originate from the manufacturer or from trusted sellers overseas. BOLO is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or an authorized retailer for most brands listed on our website unless stated otherwise.
While we strive to display accurate information, variations in packaging, labeling, instructions, or formulation may occasionally occur due to regional differences or supplier updates. For detailed or manufacturer-specific information, please contact the brand directly or reach out to BOLO Support for assistance.
Unless otherwise stated, all prices displayed on the product page include applicable taxes and import duties.
BOLO operates in accordance with the laws and regulations of United Arab Emirates. Any items found to be restricted or prohibited for sale within the UAE will be cancelled prior to shipment. We take proactive measures to ensure that only products permitted for sale in United Arab Emirates are listed on our website.
All items are shipped by air, and any products classified as “Dangerous Goods (DG)” under IATA regulations will be removed from the order and cancelled.
All orders are processed manually, and we make every effort to process them promptly once confirmed. Products cancelled due to the above reasons will be permanently removed from listings across the website.
Description:
Editorial Reviews
Review
“Tara Murtha examines that song and the rest of Bobbi Gentry's career in Ode To Billie Joe, the latest release in the 33 1/3 series of books. It is a wonderfully compelling book and the best I've read in the series since "Television: Marquee Moon." Perhaps it's her background as a reporter, but Murtha does not go down the pedantic path that many of the books in this series seem to do lately. Instead, the author presents a fascinating study of Gentry and her career-defining debut. That's right; "Ode to Billie Joe" was her debut recording. Wow.” ―Steve J, AllMusicBooks
“Murtha pulls free the threads of truth from a tangled knot of personal mythology and contradictions. Her book is likely to be a hit with casual listeners and pop-culture obsessives alike.” ―Katie Haegele, Utne Reader
“Philadelphia journalist Tara Murtha has dug deep into the story behind Gentry's song with the latest entry in the '33 1/3' book series devoted to various pop albums of significance… Murtha charts Gentry's challenges as a musician who in her teens was most interested in selling her songs to other singers, not recording them herself. But once she did get into the position of recording, she was up against a male-dominated record industry that offered little validation to a young woman with her own ideas about performance and production.” ―Randy Lewis, L.A. Times
“While Murtha's exploration of the Gentry myth is fascinating, the writer also takes pains to ensure that the myth - as well as Gentry's sexual aura - will not eclipse her real achievement […] Murtha's gem of a book is, above all, a testament to the enduring complexity of Bobbie Gentry.” ―Helen W. Mallon, Philly.com
“Murtha's book conveys a Bobbie Gentry who knew what she wanted and then went about to get it. For the past 30 years, Bobbie Gentry has wanted to be left alone. The closest Murtha gets to Gentry is when she tries on an old fur coat of hers that ended up in the closet of her step-brother in Oregon, who only met Gentry once. This isn't nearly enough for Murtha ... Tara Murtha's accessible and engaging book is a welcome addition to the 33 1/3 Series. I believe her Ode to Bobbie Gentry will succeed in attaining renewed attention and interest in her music.” ―Aaron Goldstein, The American Spectator
“In Ode To Billie Joe, a new contribution to Bloomsbury's 33 1/3 series, journalist Tara Murtha puts Gentry's feminism and efforts to control her own image at the center of the work, which re-introduces the world to Bobbie Gentry ... Today, it is unclear where she lives and remains in touch with only a few friends from her days in show business - leaving many questions unanswered. Ode To Billie Joe is a 'looking glass that cuts both ways,' Murtha writes. 'The wild commercial success of 'Ode' transformed Gentry from an unknown working musician to an international star. But it also ... ultimately served to obscure a larger, richer body of work - and caged the artist into a persona she spent the rest of her career trying to transcend.'” ―Audrey White, The Quietus
“Excerpted and Interviewed” ―Wondering Sound
“Q&A: With Tara Murtha, Bobbie Gentry Expert” ―PHAWKER
“Who was Billie Joe McAllister and why did he die? ... There's another riddle to be solved: that of Gentry herself ... The American journalist Tara Murtha, in her recently published book Ode to Billie Joe (Bloomsbury), attempts to solve these mysteries. Her book, then, is a reporter's quest that takes her across America to find people who knew Gentry and are willing to talk ... She finds plenty of them.” ―Karl Whitney, Irish Times
About the Author
Reviews:
5.0 out of 5 stars A well written, expertly investigated story regarding the mystery of "Ode to Billie Joe" and Bobbie Gentry.
Having read several of Tara Murtha's journalistic articles I was as anxious to read this new medium of hers as I was to learn about the subject. We all remember the song, the mystery, maybe even the film but I never realized how much a mystery Bobbie Gentry was herself. That is not to say she had an illusive career, on the contrary we learn how she vaulted from singer songwriter having a hit and album that dislodged Sgt Pepper in the summer of '67 to multiple albums, Vegas shows of the highest caliber, her own contracts,production and company unheard of at that time in showbiz for a woman. But then save a few interviews and award shows she literally drops the radar.Ms. Murtha does fantastic journalistic detective work on this subject while she teaches us about the impact of this song "Ode to Billie Joe". She introduces us to Gentry's friends, family, slimeballs and entertainment sharks along the way trying to piece together the urban legends regarding the writing, playing, production and breadth of this song/woman. I always liked the song and its mystery, it made the public guess what the real reason and outcome was but we are reminded that is not the point - the point was Southern relationships and handling matters of such question.Tara Murtha's writing style is spot on, keen, cleverand entertaining.She knows about writing and she knows her music. This is a must read for folks who like a good mystery, like a good music story, like an uplifting story on woman's rights and gains or those who just like the song "Ode to Billie Joe". Definitely get this book!
5.0 out of 5 stars Too bad the entire series isn't like this
Having plodded through too many of these 33 1/3 series that I can recall, I want to say that this entry on Bobbie Gentry's fantastic album "Ode to Billie Joe" is by far what I would have expected from ALL the titles in the series. There are so many unique facts, stories, and perspectives on the making of this album packed in this little book that I doubt I'll hear the album (or the classic title song itself) the same way again. The backstory about the recording process for the title song is so shocking I can barely believe it - yet it sounds exactly as it should given the reality shared here. And Jill Sobule's excellent intro had me laughing too.This is a keeper. An excellent portrait I'll re-read again.
4.0 out of 5 stars Nice Ode to Bobbie Gentry
I enjoyed reading this story and couldn't help humming about Bille Joe while doing so. Some of the accounts about Bobbie G. Jumped back and forth but overall it was very well researched and is an interesting slice of her life.
5.0 out of 5 stars The finest musical detective story in a good long while
On the day of my birth, in early September 1967, the top song in the country was “Ode to Billie Joe” by the remarkable Bobbie Gentry. When I first learned this fact some years ago, I was taken aback. With crazy 1967 almost I the rearview mirror and tumultuous 1968 coming on, surely the pride of that place belonged to The Beatles, or maybe more incongruously to The Monkees (their excellent self-performed “Headquarters” charted a couple months before).What was this song doing there? It seemed like a bit of a mystery to me.Couple that with the fate of the song’s singular creator, Gentry herself, who disappeared from the public eye around 1980, the mysteries abound. Who were the session artists on that blockbuster hit? Who overlaid the brilliantly languid strings over the deceptively simple guitar? Who really produced the record? The mysteries proliferate. And unlike the many other albums in the (wonderful) 33&1/3 series, the mysteries of the song itself, to say nothing of the other works in the artist’s oeuvre, have received scant attention here (what more is there really to say about “Exile on Main Street” after all?).The dedicated musical detective self-assigned to the case is Tara Murtha, and thank goodness. Because to get the facts of the case right, you’d have to have a tight grasp of the lurid political economy of the music industry in that period, an understanding of the technical details of musical production, a profound sense of show business culture, and a deep and abiding empathy for Gentry herself, an enigmatic creative genius who suffered more than a few fools in her short career, though apparently not all gladly. You’d have to be willing to pay visits to distant relatives and make a mess of phone calls. And you’d have to have the ability to pack the countless details of this mystery, solving most if not all the unanswered questions, in a single, elegant, and compelling essay (as the “33&1/3” format brilliantly imposes).In her book, Murtha shows she has all that and quite a bit more. I devoured the book in a single sitting and, quite honestly, read it again. The work gave me a deep appreciation for the artist. It reminded me not only of the logic of patriarchy and its pervasive constraints, but the way the most memorable creative souls somehow manage to navigate it and, sometimes, come out on top. It helped me understand the technical studio conditions that prevailed in the analogue era and revealed the ugly industry practices in a time of big labels. Most strangely, the book made me want to go see a Vegas Show. And that says something.This is unquestionably my favorite entry I the excellent “33&1/3” series. I’m going to seek a half dozen signed copies of the book from the author, whose other work I am keen to read. I may not be able to get Gentry’s autograph, but I’m getting Murtha’s before she’s too famous to bother with downhome folks like me.
5.0 out of 5 stars Best book of entire series. Reads like a slick thriller!
I'm the first to admit I like the concept of the 33 1/3 series much more than most of the actually books themselves. This is the true standout.First off, Bobbie Gentry's is one of the great stories in music history, and author Tara Murtha does a sleuth-like job in digging for as many details as she possibly can without speaking to Gentry herself. Not like it's Murtha's fault. Gentry might as well be in witness protection, that's how hard she is to find.This is like a music industry thriller. A page turner, with the details of Gentry's career keeping this music fan entertained and enthralled. I actually wish this were 300+ pages, with more details, but considering it's the only book available on the Ode to Billie Joe singer, I'm grateful it exists.Maybe one day Gentry will shock us with a detailed memoir. But until then...read, listen to her music, and enjoy!
0
Good
Great cd
Great cd
Five Stars
great thanks
Informative
Being a fan for over 50 years, I found a lot in here which I didn't know, but thought the album reviews, apart from the first one, a bit sketchy.Jonathan Peat
Bobbie Gentry's music career
Nice little book with time line on Bobbie Gentry's music career.
Similar suggestions by Bolo
More from this brand
Similar items from “Rock”
Share with
Or share with link
https://www.bolo.ae/products/U1623569648