In his Time Out Chicago column this morning, the most respected media writer in Chicago–Robert Feder–reviews “Records Truly Is My Middle Name”. You can read the full review here.
He calls it “a splendid, thoroughly engaging memoir” and closes the lenghthy and very positive review with the following…
Kaempfer coaxes his former boss to tell just enough about the wild and reckless days (including the cocaine-fueled threesome that lasted a whole weekend) to be racy without being lurid. But the most revealing passages are those in which Landecker confesses his guilt as a less-than-ideal father of two daughters.
“My drugs and alcohol did heavy damage to my family and my relationship to my children,” he writes. “I put my children in many inappropriate situations. I exposed them to parts of life that are not for kids. . . . I can only try to be a better person today. I have an eight-year-old granddaughter who has never seen me drunk, and I love her to death. Whatever parental DNA I’ve got left will be passed on to her when needed.”
As forthright as he is about his sins, Landecker doesn’t go out of his way to call out others. I’m pretty sure I know the apoplectic program director who threatened to fire him if he played the Dixie Chicks, and the spineless general manager who forced him to call and apologize to every listener who complained about his show. But I wish he’d named names.
Records Truly Is My Middle Name includes a treasure trove of rare photos and personal mementos along with a 30-page addendum featuring transcripts of his best bits, parody songs and interviews. While official publication is set for March 28 — Landecker’s 66th birthday — it’s available for ordering online now at eckhartzpress.com.
Read the whole review if you get a chance. It’s beautifully written and really touches on the many highlights in the book.
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