You Know What You Could Be

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 · 42 ratings  · eleven reviews

Start your review of You Know What Yous Could Be: Tuning into the 1960s

May 27, 2017 Ken rated it did not like it

Accented piffle.

Mike Heron probably has a story to write, about being in one of the most wonderful bands ever, where their inspiration came from, how they came to write and perform in such a brilliant way. As it is, i gets the impression that most of his life has been erased from his memory, presumably by drugs, and that he was paid £20 to write a couple of chapters past someone using Heron'south proper name to go their dull story published.

No insights, no interesting stories, no mode and little sub

Accented piffle.

Mike Heron probably has a story to write, virtually existence in one of the most wonderful bands ever, where their inspiration came from, how they came to write and perform in such a brilliant fashion. Equally it is, one gets the impression that well-nigh of his life has been erased from his memory, presumably by drugs, and that he was paid £20 to write a couple of chapters by someone using Heron'southward name to go their tedious story published.

No insights, no interesting stories, no way and little substance.

It was like reading a book by Salvador Dali, meant to illuminate the story behind his work, but turns out to be a catalogue of where he bought his paint.

Hey, man, I remember I've been ripped off.

I am perhaps being unfair to Andrew Greig, whoever he might be, because I but managed a few sentences of his story. Information technology was enough to convince me that he would be as smashing to read my memoirs as I his.

...more than

May 03, 2017 Philip Dodd rated it it was astonishing

You lot Know What Y'all Could Exist: Tuning into the 1960'southward by Mike Heron and Andrew Greig I plant to exist an arresting, interesting book to read. It is unique as an autobiographical work equally it is two memoirs that chronicle to each other published together to tell one story. The offset role of the book is past Mike Heron, in one case a member of the Incredible String Ring, 1 of my favourite groups from the 1960's. He tells his tale well, beginning with his memories of being a schoolboy in Edinburgh, Scotland, to when You lot Know What Yous Could Be: Tuning into the 1960's by Mike Heron and Andrew Greig I institute to exist an absorbing, interesting book to read. It is unique every bit an autobiographical work as it is two memoirs that relate to each other published together to tell one story. The first part of the volume is by Mike Heron, once a member of the Incredible String Band, i of my favourite groups from the 1960'due south. He tells his tale well, beginning with his memories of being a schoolboy in Edinburgh, Scotland, to when he decided not to take the path his parents wanted him to take and continue on, to become an auditor, just to follow his dear of music, which led him to become a member of the Incredible Cord Band. You Know What You Could Be is the title of i of his songs and an apt one for the book. For while he was reluctantly training to be an accountant, he knew what he wanted to be, a musician. To become one was a far less safe path than that which his parents had laid out for him but he took it, and thanks to his own talent and meeting the right people, he became a successful musician, singer and songwriter. I enjoyed reading near how he met and first played music with Robin Williamson and Clive Palmer, how they decided to phone call themselves the Incredible String Band, how Joe Boyd, the tape producer, came to sign them, to make their kickoff anthology, how he took the photo of them for its cover in an Early Music shop in London.
The first part of the book, the memoir of Mike Heron, ends after the release of the anthology, only chosen The Incredible Cord Band. So at present I know what Mike Heron lived through, how he got to be where he was, when I saw the Incredible Cord Band on stage, twice in the Philharmonic Hall and once in the Stadium, Liverpool, in the late 1960's. The 2nd office of the book, the memoir of Andrew Greig, tells the story of a fan of the Incredible String Ring who tried to follow in their footsteps by forming his own folk band. Though he failed to get a record contract with Joe Boyd he did eventually become a successful writer of novels and non fiction books. He has even managed to appear on stage with Mike Heron. His is an interesting tale. I enjoyed reading his opinions of the albums and concerts by the Incredible String Ring. The book would be enjoyed past people like me who honey the songs of the Incredible String Band and the memories they summon. ...more

Jul 17, 2020 Don McKinlay rated information technology it was amazing

A beautiful, evocative take on growing up in the late 60s and being entranced by the Incredible String Ring, spliced with the story of the early days of the ISB
I wasn't there and I'k not a massive ISB fan, but I tin't recommend this book highly enough

I'chiliad non enlightened of how this project took shape but plenty of Mike'due south fans have hoped for a biography for years. Writer Andrew Greig, a longtime devotee of Mike'south music, collaborated on this and peradventure got Mike to write his own story.

Mike'south portion is full of delightful descriptions of life in Edinburgh in the tardily 1950'due south when early rock 'n' roll music moved to the burgeoning folk movement. He describes life upward to his first recordings for Elektra Records. By page twelve I had already laughed out l

I'm not aware of how this project took shape but plenty of Mike'due south fans have hoped for a biography for years. Author Andrew Greig, a longtime devotee of Mike's music, collaborated on this and perchance got Mike to write his own story.

Mike's portion is full of delightful descriptions of life in Edinburgh in the late 1950'due south when early on rock 'n' curlicue music moved to the burgeoning folk movement. He describes life upwards to his showtime recordings for Elektra Records. By folio twelve I had already laughed out loud several times.

He starts off at half dozen:30 am getting ready to go to schoolhouse. Y'all smell the coffee and get a gustation of the contrast between his loose disorganized self and his accomplished and organized dad. They commuted together because he attended the school where his dad was head of the English Department. Geoge Heriot School, est. 1628 in Old Town Edinburgh, sits beneath Edinburgh Castle. It took two double decker buses from Sydney Terrace to Regent Road, half way forth Princes Street, upward The Mound to The Meadows and and then a half mile walk to get there by eight:50 am.

His dad went to a turret top room that had already been heated by a fire set by a caretaker, while he and the residue of the students went to a damp, chilly morning assembly for the headmaster to deliver a pep talk and an obligatory hymn like, "We Plow the Fields and Scatter".

Amid the sea of bluish, white and gray uniforms he befriended a educatee who also played guitar named Atty. They bought some inexpensive guitars and shared the chords they knew. They rehearsed in a huge room at his friend's parent'due south abode and played for students waiting in line at the deli. Girls were screaming and clapping and they knew this was for them.

They added a drummer whose dad owned a preppy wearable store so they got outfitted for their shows. 1 member was older and got some interesting gigs: Trinity Scout Hall, Corstorphine, Portobello, Oxgange, Lotus Social club Musselburgh, Palladium Theater, a popular lodge called Gamp. Mike described the audiences and the girls were non every bit plentiful as he and Atty had hoped, and then they decided that ballroom dancing classes at Edina Schoolhouse of Trip the light fantastic would assist. They were 'promoted' to the Central School of Trip the light fantastic toe. When they got to dancing, 'The Twist' had become the craze.

When asked by the career counselor Mike knew that he did not want a anything resembling a regular job. He could non bring the word "music" out of his mouth and suggested that he be allowed time in the library to inquiry.

More gigs followed at the Burnitisland Palais, the Edinburgh University Nigerian Matrimony, Kirkconnel Miners Welfare Club and their favorite gig at the American Air Force logistics base at Kirknewton. The audience was male but their American rock covers were appreciated and the burgers were the all-time e'er. It would exist thirty years before Edinburgh would have anything shut.

To be continued...

...more

Disappointing. I committed the same mistake that others will, no doubt, make: thinking that a book authored per the embrace by Mike Heron, formerly of the Incredible Cord Band, would actually contain, at least for the most part, autobiographical material by … Mike Heron. But no. 3 quarters of the book is a coming-of-age account written by Andrew Greig, a fan of the Incredible Cord Band. I've no dubiety Andrew is a nice man and at that place are aspects of his story which were quite engaging. But pas Disappointing. I committed the same mistake that others will, no uncertainty, make: thinking that a book authored per the cover by Mike Heron, formerly of the Incredible String Ring, would actually comprise, at least for the most part, autobiographical material past … Mike Heron. But no. Three quarters of the book is a coming-of-age business relationship written by Andrew Greig, a fan of the Incredible Cord Band. I've no dubiety Andrew is a prissy human and there are aspects of his story which were quite engaging. But passing this off as a volume written by, or about, Mike Heron is disingenuous. Yes, the first 40-fifty pages are written past Heron, and are an evocative and well-written recollection of Edinburgh in the heady days of psychedelic folk's emergence. But the residual of the volume is written past and focuses on Greig, with Heron just a remote grapheme that he admires and aspires to emulate. Disappointing. In that location is a much more interesting tale to be told by Heron. Why didn't he only enquire Greig to write it for him? This felt like a waste material of my time. ...more

A book about ane of my favourite artists I idea - Simply half right. of a book of 357 pages the first 147 pages were dedicated to Mike Heron of the Incredible but and then the other 200 pages revolved around the author and his mate who were Incredible String Band wannabeeswho were friends of the ISB and how they realised that the didn't accept the musical talent and Charisma of Mike and Robin, It was withal quite interesting as they were involved with Joe Boyd for a while but he didn't sign them aftye A book about one of my favourite artists I thought - But one-half correct. of a book of 357 pages the first 147 pages were dedicated to Mike Heron of the Incredible but then the other 200 pages revolved around the author and his mate who were Incredible String Ring wannabeeswho were friends of the ISB and how they realised that the didn't have the musical talent and Charisma of Mike and Robin, Information technology was yet quite interesting every bit they were involved with Joe Boyd for a while but he didn't sign them aftyer all their efforts.

The Plus factor - the book introduced me to the Natural Acoustic Band

...more

Volition read anything Andrew Grieg writes having beginning run across him through his mountaineering book "Summit Fever" and so enjoyed his John McNab novels. I even read his golf game book. He lives by his own dictum that it doesn't take to be perfect. He'due south good company. Will read anything Andrew Grieg writes having showtime come across him through his mountaineering book "Height Fever" and then enjoyed his John McNab novels. I even read his golf game volume. He lives by his ain dictum that it doesn't have to exist perfect. He's good visitor. ...more

If y'all were around in 60s you have probably heard of the Incredible String Band. If non find out near them. You have missed a treat. and this double memoir is a care for in itself. Worthy of 4 stars.

Non a chore to read, and quite intriguing in spots, but my overall impression is l learned rather more about Andrew Greig than l wanted, and non as much about Mike Heron equally fifty had hoped.

Aug 06, 2021 Les Morton rated it it was astonishing

Evocative of the times I lived through

I recognised so much of this as a child of the 60s and enjoyed Andrew's beautifully described memories of it.

Apr 22, 2017 Christopher rated information technology really liked it

Probably a iii.5 but I'll round information technology upwardly to a 4. Mike Heron'south 3rd of the book volition be more readily digested by the String Band's fans. It took me a fiddling while to go over the disappointment of Mike'southward part ending and the unknown to me Andrew Greig's more weighty section. However, I warmed to it earlier long. Sensitively written, information technology's tender messages come up through a feel, rather than being more than rudely broadcast. Probably a 3.5 but I'll round it up to a four. Mike Heron's third of the book will be more readily digested by the String Ring's fans. It took me a little while to go over the disappointment of Mike'southward function catastrophe and the unknown to me Andrew Greig's more than weighty section. However, I warmed to it before long. Sensitively written, it's tender messages come through a feel, rather than existence more than rudely broadcast. ...more

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