Is Tiny Dancer Really Elton's Little John?: Music's Most Enduring Mysteries, Myths, and Rumors Revealed

by Gavin Edwards

Sex, Drugs, Rock 'n' Roll, and . . . Ham Sandwiches?If you are a music fan, you may be aware of some of music’s most enduring mysteries. Where did Pearl Jam get their name? Are the White Stripes related by blood or by marriage? Did Mama Cass really die from choking on a ham sandwich? Gavin Edwards has heard just about every strange question, racy rumor, and legend of the music world. As the writer of Rolling Stone’s “Rolling Stone Knows” column, Edwards proved himself as a one-man encyclopedia of music trivia. Now he shares all of his knowledge with you. Look inside to find the answers to these questions and What’s the connection between The Beach Boys and Charles Manson? How did Dr. Dre and Eminem meet?Did Mick Jagger and David Bowie really sleep together?What’s the deal with Led Zeppelin and the shark?What’s the feud between The Smashing Pumpkins and Pavement all about? Was Elton John’s “Tiny Dancer” really written about his most private body part?Is Tiny Dancer Really Elton’s Little John? might not tell you who shot Tupac or why Celine Dion is still allowed to make records, but with thorough research and answers straight from the mouths of the performers themselves, Edwards will help you become a music geek extraordinaire.From the Trade Paperback edition.

Genres: Music, Nonfiction, Humor, Pop Culture, History

256 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 8, 2006

Reviews

[nazreen · Rating 2 out of 5]

if you know me, you’ll know that if i see elton john’s name, i’ll buy it/listen to it/watch it/read it.

was hoping this would be more informative and witty than it was.

[Marissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Title aside, there's some fun music trivia in here.

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun book. Good information for trivia players and well as being entertaining.

[James Doughty · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting if not deep

The book is fairly teeming with minor revelations about rock stars large and small. Edward's informal writing style fits the subject matter nicely, and he drops just enough names to subtly but firmly establish his credentials. You'll definitely learn some tidbits you'll be able to bust out at the bar.

[j · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some fun stuff in there. Not much inspiring stuff though.

Gavin has many anecdotes but they nothing really sticks, feels jumbled and the Rock Olympus ends up looking like a cocktail of shame, ignorance and death.

[Wendy Zuern · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fun quick read.

[Dee brown · Rating 4 out of 5]

fun book to read. Lots of useless trivia. :D

[Hera Diani · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sadly, unlike my husband, I no longer obsess over music with the same intensity as I did in school, or in the first few years of JP days, when I voluntarily wrote music review/articles even though it wasn't my beat.

Yesterday, though, I found this book lying on the floor of my best friend's house. Intrigued by the title -- am a fan of Elton and love 'Tiny Dancer' very much -- I immediately got hooked and revived the never-really-gone passion for music.

Informative and fun at the same time, it goes beyond the clichéd music trivia such as to whom 'Angie' or 'You're So Vain' refer to, whether Cobain did write the entire Hole's album, or whether some legends did trade with the devil. But it delves into the songwriting processes of great musicians, the way music industry works, and of course, the sex, the drugs and the rock 'n roll.

My only complaint is that this book is not long enough. Gimme more answers!!! *playing Britney's new song in the background*

I think I'm keeping this one :P The book's owner, after all, cares more about his massive DVD collection and won't realize one of his books is missing haha.

[Mark Desrosiers · Rating 2 out of 5]

Mildly amusing Straight Dope knockoff, though most music geeks know this stuff. Even the question of cock size (among the lily-white huge crew: Chris Isaac, Robin Zander, Jon Langford [!], Huey Lewis) has me preemptively reaching for my Robert's Rule of Order, to tame the obvious shoutfest that would accompany such a slender list. (And anyway, even though Hendrix is mentioned as the centerpiece of Cynthia Plaster Caster's collection, where are the other black men? Where is Teddy Pendergrass? Or Bushwick Bill?)

But, you get to learn some funny stuff, like whether Donna Summer really was having an orgasm during "Love to Love You Baby"; or what's the Teutonic phrase at the beginning of Def Leppard's "Rock of Ages" (n.b. it was uttered by Shania Twain's future husband!); or what's the origin of Weezer's name (zzzzzzzzzzzzzzz I was hoping it was based on the Our Gang character); or whether Steven Tyler was ever inappropriately attracted to his daughter Liv (short answer: yes!).

Woulda been lots better if there were twice as many questions with a halved font size -- this almost looks like a Large Print edition!

[Craig · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a gem, and well worth its weight in salt to anyone who's looked at some of the most enduring myths in modern music. My only gripe? It goes as quick as you pick it up. Like an EP that ends with a remix or a disappointingly short sophomore effort from your favourite band, things seem to be over far too quickly. Just as you're hooked in by the face-to-face accounts between author and musician, you meet the acknowledgements page before you know it. The most alluring thing on offer is how the artists themselves lend credence to the lore or dismiss it completely, straight from the horse's mouth. Addictive and satisfying.

[Erikka · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some very cool information, a lot of which I didn't know or had always wondered about, but also quite a bit of stuff about bands no one normal has ever heard of. Most of that got skipped. I will say it though, working for Rolling Stone magazine has gotten this guy a TON of ins with high level musicians and has given him a veritably encyclopedic knowledge about the lives of great musicians.

(And although he states his opinion on Ringo's drumming ability is subjective, I agree with him--Ringo rocks!)

[Jessica Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you like music, trivia, or strange facts then you will love this book. The author has written for major publications like spin and rolling stone. So he knows his music. He discusses questions people have asked him about music from song meanings to private parts. This book is over 200 pages and it is written in the question answer of books like why do men have nipples. It is a very easy read and quick before you know it your done.

[Gina · Rating 2 out of 5]

The tone was often kind of off-putting, especially with the sex and drug stories. So the book was sometimes kind of annoying but there were some interesting stories. I was surprised that in the part about whether Robert Johnson sold his soul to the devil there was no mention of Tommy Johnson, because that was referenced in material that came out prior to this book. However, he gave a balanced and fair assessment of Ringo Starr as a drummer, which I think is valuable.

[Laurie · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you like useless trivia, you should read this book otherwise, you may not like it very much. It is in a question and answer format and even though it's broken into chapters, it still doesn't feel like a book. More like reading a rock column, which the facts were actually a part of before being put into a book.

[Jeanette (Ms. Feisty) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some of the stuff in this book is pretty interesting. He debunks or confirms a lot of the urban legends we've heard about various rock groups or individual musicians. I'd never heard of or didn't care about a lot of the people mentioned---just a generational thing.

[Sophie · Rating 2 out of 5]

An entertaining collection of gossip and tidbits from the music business. Not exactly world changing and nothing you need to know, but sometimes you need a book like that that really doesn't want to do more than entertain and amuse. It serves its purpose, but it certainly isn't a must read.

[Holly · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a fun collection of rock trivia. I know quite a bit about rock music, but there were a few surprises and interesting stories. This is a good read if you are into rock music and the people who make it.

[Lilly · Rating 3 out of 5]

I would have given it 5 stars if it had told me "who's that girl?" but it just didn't.

kidding. kinda. this was fun trivia to read.

[Cinco]

I picked this up after someone, somewhere, recced it, as it sounded fun. Sadly, it is not fun. It is deadly dull. I'm not quite ready to give up yet--maybe after one more try.

[Jamison OToole · Rating 5 out of 5]

Can't put down right now. Well, not exactly right now because I'm typing.

[Jo · Rating 2 out of 5]

Quick read - kind of funny - finished the whole thing on a flight from CA to Chi.

[Robin]

Another interesting "behind-the-scenes" music tell-all, although I'm really not that intereseted to find out what the title suggests--really!

[Maggie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don't remember a lot about this book, except it was a little on the strange side!

[Pat Lampe · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am pretty far behind in the musical world so only read about 1/4 of this book bout I did enjoy what I read. Funny and irreverent and interesting.

[Robin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love music trivia so this was right up my alley. :)

[Julie Harris · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting trivia and info from the music world... I really like the voice and writing style of Gavin Edwards- easy and quick read!

[Glen · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a fun, dumb book. 'Nuff said.

[Murray · Rating 3 out of 5]

Humorously written, educational and often amusing. A fun, brainless read for when you've just spent 2 weeks reading a Thomas Hardy novel.

[Rosanne]

Not as good as it sounds like.


This book is a disappointment. I thought it would be better. Too many things I already knew. Just not as good as it could have been.