AMY YEN - A Simple Feast - The Jewels of New York

It was nice meeting the amiable Amy Yen, the author of a tempting new cookbook, "A Simple Feast." Just how simple the recipes are, depends on you, of course. To make root vegetable chips, "using a mandolin set to 1/8 inch, slice the vegetables into thin rounds. Place the vegetables in a colander and gently rinse them of excess starch, then thoroughly pat dry. Pour peanut oil into a medium saucepan to about 3 inches deep. Heat the oil over medium-high heat..."

So right there, this assumes you know what a mandolin is (at least, one you use in a kitchen), and that you regularly use a colander. In this age of "15 minute meals" and "quick and easy" recipes, this might be asking too much of some folks. Likewise, you're not a gourmet, or you're just don't have a lot of time, if "Roasted Tomato and Garlic Soup" means...you just open a can of tomato soup and toss in a clove of roasted and diced garlic. As opposed to heating the oven and using a baking sheet to roast the tomatoes with olive oil until carmelized, and getting out fresh basil leaves, freshly ground black pepper, diced onions, vegetable stock and unsalted better.

Which led me to ask Amy a question I asked Craig Claiborne years ago, when I did a cover story on him. Is it ok to substitute ingredients? Or is it an insult to the chef? Amy, like Craig, felt it was ok: "Yeah, I think you can swap out whatever you have in your pantry. A lot of the recipes are very simple. You can cross things out and work with what you have."

Sometimes Amy offers substitutes in the recipes. In making "Turkish Style Eggs with Yogurt" she champions powdered drupes (fruit of the sumac tree) but if you can't find the esoteric item "finely grated lemon can be substituted').

The book has a loose theme to it...New York and its seasons. A few pages describe apple-picking in upstate New York. A chapter is devoted to "rooftop barbecue" suggestions, another features "brown bag lunch" items, and there's a chapter for picnics in "Central Park." The set-ups aren't much. For "Central Park," Amy's one page preamble to recipes lets us know that the park is fun for "people watching, nibbling and reading." Yes, so I've heard. She dubiously finds pleasure in watching "rollerblading...moms and nannies in Spandex...the faint rhythm of a trumpet player playing a melody of Frank Sinatra..." If it's a good day, maybe you can avoid obnoxious noises, rude people, dogs off leashes, or a drug dealer who wandered away from "Strawberry Fields" to avoid a passing patrol of cops. New Yorkers are a savvy bunch, so I don't think we needed the line about "sandwiches are another wonderful addition to the menu that requires only a few components and some good packaging."

Fortunately the recipes are original and intriguing, and the preparation will keep you busy but not too harried and nothing takes too long. The ideas include: Roasted Turkey, Manchego and Fig and Onion Jam Sandwiches, Mini Pea, Mint and Feta Quiches, Seared Scallops and Chanterelle Pasta, Pomegranate Poached Figs,Arugula, Lentil and Butternut Squash Salad, and Double Grilled Cheese and Ham Sandwiches. The latter isn't as simple as it might seem. Asks Amy, "why not put the cheese in a grilled cheese on the outside of the bread?"

There are some familiar items here, but done in new ways. "Mac and Cheese" becomes a casserole that includes panko (Japanese breadcrumbs) for a crust, and the textures and tangs of of grated nutmeg, grated Gruyere, and parmesan (no cheddar here!)

Thought cherry cola was a simple enough drink? Amy's version involves zest of lemon, oranges, limes, nutmeg, a cinnamon stick, anis pod, lavender leaves, and ginger...among other things.

The book is pretty hefty on desserts: Gingered Rhubarb and Mascarpone Parfait, Mini Strawberry Cakes, Raspberry Eton Mess (yes, that's not a typo), cocktail ice pops and pecan pie with salted maple ice cream. This brought up another question...how is it that some exotic desserts have fallen completely out of favor, and aren't even in recipe books? Like...Nesselrode pie. Amy gave me a perplexed look. "What??" "It's a creme pie...with marrons, bits of dried fruit and flecks of dark chocolate...named after Count Nesselrode...and..." Never even heard of it? Oh well.

There are definitely items here you either haven't heard of, or didn't think were worth your time. Hominy? Lowly hominy? It's back for a few pages, via "Fried Hominy with chile and lime." Yes, all you need is a can of hominy to start you off. Add paprika, cumin, lime zest...you'll see. You'll taste. You'll like. 269 pages, pleasantly low on meat/chicken entrees, and with a good amount of fish and veggies, the book is themed for New York (apples figure into a lot of Fall recipes, for example). It should be on the shelf of kitchens all over the country...and around the world. The hardcover is from Roost Books, a division of Shambhala.

Turley Richards - Blindsighted - The Hard Luck of The Greatest Singer You Never Heard

Throughout the years when he was on major labels...Kapp, Columbia, Atlantic, Warner Bros...the industry buzz was that West Virginia's good-looking 6'4" Turley Richards had the most amazing voice and was destined for superstardom.

His brightest hopes came in 1969 just when his fragile eyesight dimmed into permanent blindness. That was when a perfect storm of gospel, folk and rock fused with superb post-production (organ and strings) to create: "I Heard the Voice of Jesus."

Al Kooper was one of many rockers who praised it, and asked radio stations to play it. He says it's "the greatest vocal performance I have ever heard in my life." I'd have to agree. I had a radio show at the time, and I played it. I can't think of a track that's more breathtaking, amazing and inspiring than this one. Even if you're not Christian (and I'm not), it will bring the goosebumps and raise your spirit. It will stay with you and comfort you, too.

Why wasn't it a hit? Well...it was seven minutes. The album it was on arrived long after Turley's single, a cover of Dylan's "Love Minus Zero (No Limit)" drifted out of Billboard's Top 100. Turley recorded a second Warners album with no luck, latched onto another label...but it was just more ups and downs, hopes and frustration. Which song or style would vault him to fame...gospel, R&B, folk, rock? He tried. He tried. Depressing?

What makes this slim (162 page) book more inspiring and entertaining than depressing, is that it's loaded with stories and observations beyond what you'd expect. What you'd expect, of course, is a lot of grousing and bitterness, or Christian faith homilies infusing every page, or advice on how to deal with the adversity of blindness and finding a lot of positives about it all. No, there's very little of that in here. And if you're expecting a self-published book badly written, rest easy. Aside from an occasional name not quite right (It's Shelley Berman, not Burman) you won't be distracted by typos.

What you'll find in "Blindsighted," is a definitive depiction of what so many artists have gone through on their way to the bargain bin. Turley's book offers a primer on how difficult the entertainment world is, how capricious managers and "friends" can be, and all the complexities behind the simplicity of recording and touring. Check your record collection. Does it include albums you love and others never heard of? Then read this book by someone you never heard of.

Another reason to read it, is that it's funny and often startling. Sex and violence? It manages to get in here. This fellow was always a wiseguy, always headstrong. He had a part-time job where a guy pulled a knife on him. Another time, shots were fired at him from the stage. He could use his fists when he needed to, and also his wits...not everybody could share the stage with Richard Pryor and get off a comeback that would have the comedian shaking and laughing.

Born Richard Turley, the mischief-loving kid was literally pierced with fate's arrow before he was five. He was playing a bow-and-arrow game with his friends, including a 12-year-old, when an accident cost him sight in one eye. Fate wasn't done. Without a competent specialist to take the right action (which would've been removal of the eye...as was done with Peter Falk who lost an eye to disease) the eye remained, became infected, and ultimately spread the damage to his remaining eye. While he withstood many gruesome procedures, and managed enough sight to play sports and know a hot-looking babe when he saw one, eventually his luck ran out and he was told that blindness would be inevitable.

He made a rush to stardom while he could...signing with a local label (Fraternity) and getting up to the majors with a few singles (notably on Kapp). There were times when he gave up and went home, only to fight again thanks to his mother's encouragement. There were times when he had unlikely help thanks to his good looks. Making the "Midnight Cowboy" fantasy real, Turley found himself "kept" by many a New York City socialite (or two), and was able to gig and hang with the hot new stars of the day (including Jimi Hendrix and Richard Pryor) while living rent-free. Possessing a stubborn streak (he turned down or walked out of almost as many good deals as his managers screwed up), Turley still was prone to find himself broke. At one point he was sleeping in Central Park. At another, he rather hilariously and ingeniously was fitted with a Lone Ranger mask (and costume) so that he could make some fast cash in porn. The costume came off, but not the mask. The idea was that when he made it big, he'd never have to worry about the old loops coming back to haunt him.

As you know by now, he never did make it big. He was asked to be a regular on "The Merv Griffin Show," and his manager turned it down. As previously mentioned, Turley's Top 100 single for Warners didn't get an instant follow-up or the simultaneous release of an album. (The 45 is pictured above left...the photo is taken from his sighted side...before that eye would have to be replaced by glass).

He recorded an album for Epic but they didn't like the finished product. He had another deal, but refused because he was loyal to a producer he thought could do a better job than the one the label was providing. Mick Fleetwood was going to be helpful...but was a no-show. And on it went. It's only within the last 20 pages of the book that we get around to what, exactly, he's been doing for a living over the past few decades...a time when older artists, sighted or not, can't get record deals or put together big tours.

"I've often said that I am not a "good" blind person," Richards says. "As an artist, I had always made enough money to pay other people to do things for me, such as driving, housekeeping and grocery shopping. I never learned braille, and I didn't want to use a guide dog. Even today, I only use a cane if it is absolutely neessary...in early 1986 I reluctantly signedup at the Kentucky Department for the Blind Rehabilitation Center. The center taught me...daily living skills, and basic kitchen abilities...and how to use the computer...."

Turley's a successful teacher...offering lessons in songwriting and singing. Always able to attract the ladies, he's been through some divorces, amicable however, and has someone new in his life who helped him with the book project and supervises his Facebook page. It was from that page and his website that I learned of his book and...unusual for most reviewers...bought a copy. Listen...literally...the book comes with a bonus CD featuring several of his favorite recordings over the years. The closer is "I heard the Voice of Jesus," recorded 35 years ago. It was originally recorded with just Turley and his guitar. But, as Phil Ochs, Leonard Cohen and others have found, sometimes the right production can make for a masterpiece, and the arrangement here is perfect...the added instrumentation inspiring, not jarring.

Turley always felt his gift was in R&B. Often in his early work, he was mistaken for a black artist. Once, a single of his disappeared off the R&B charts because in reverse-racism, a photo of his white face appeared in a trade magazine, turning off black disc jockeys. "I Heard the Voice of Jesus" is the perfect meld of R&B, gospel, folk, soul and rock...as is fitting for a guy with a five octave range.

Want to hear the song? You'll find it on Google's YouTube, where copyright infringement is a way of life. But for a perfect version on CD, plus more songs, plus the fascinating story of his life...the book/music package is $20 including shipping and available at turleyrichards.com.

Billy Joel - From Autobiography to Biography

When I interviewed Billy Joel, back during his tour with "The Stranger" album, I found him honest and interesting. He told me he was just an "ordinary schlump from Long Island. I wake up with crud on my teeth like everybody else." When I mentioned some of the poetic lines in his lyrics, he quickly shook his head: "I wouldn't call myself a poet." He was as down to Earth as a rock star could be.

What followed after "The Stranger" was a leap into superstardom (his marriage to Christie Brinkley) and then the seemingly inevitable star-fall: the fascinating, frustrating years when he retired and seemed to do nothing but drink and get into car accidents. 9/11 saw him return to live audiences at charity events with songs uplifting his beloved New York. The climb back continued thanks to hit tours with Elton John and a public that still wanted to hear his enduring songs...now filling up Madison Square Garden once a month for the privilege.

Six years ago, HarperCollins was willing to toss a million dollars at him for an autobiography. "The Book of Joel" was heading toward completion when he backed out. Several things were going wrong in his life: another divorce, the death of his father, and a bunch of physical aggravations and health issues. One thing about writing an autobiography...it's a "jinx" that indicates there's nothing left of your career. Another, is that you're responsible for every word...first person singular. The manuscript was shelved, with ghostwriter Fred Schruers ready to move on to other things. But two years ago, he met with Joel, and they decided to re-tool the book from autobiography to biography. The result is satisfying to them...and it will be more than satisfying to all of Billy's fans.

Billy's fans tend to believe that his music is closer to his idol and influence Paul McCartney, and not the kitsch and cringe of, oh, Jimmy Buffett, Neil Diamond, or others that critics have disliked for filling arenas with feel-good ballads and easy rock. While it might've been unseemly and even egotistic for Billy to discuss his songs in the first person, here, they are analyzed in the course of biography...and their worth, lyrical and musical skill given proper due.

Billy's fans may be familiar with some infamous anecdotes of his high times and low moments, but the official versions here separate fact from legend, even if they sometimes take a jokey tone. Yes, he did try to kill himself in 1970, wracked by misery and a failed relationship: "The bleach didn't look too palatable, so I drank the Old English Scratch Cover. I ended up sitting there, polishing my mother's furniture by farting a lot."

Those looking for more information on the music will find plenty of interesting trivia bits. One of his songs, "We Didn't Start the Fire," was inspired by...Sean Lennon. The kid wasn't too big on history: "You grew up in the fifties when nothing happened." Billy's response was "Are you kidding me?" Followed by jotting down all the awesome events and people that helped shape and mis-shape the world.

Being the ordinary kid from Long Island...some of his stories take on a "wow, I can't believe this" tone. This is especially true of his ability to score with superstar models. He didn't consider himself particularly good looking (neither do most of his sober fans) but his soulful eyes and pugnacious (he was a boxer for a while) rough looks did get him into rarified company. Elle Macpherson and Christie Brinkley both wanted to get their hands on him, exclusively. When they almost squared off (Brinkley escorted by Joel to his apartment...Macpherson already there), Billy was delighted: "Part of me thought, 'Oh god.' Another part of me was going, 'Holy crap, kif my friends could see me now!'"

You can see him now...not Billy Joel the autobiographer, but via this authorized biography. If you agree with me, that Billy Joel is comfortably on the platform with Dylan and McCartney...you'll be glad to get a copy of this one, which lives up to the title. It's as "definitive" as it gets.

NRA Fans Roast Gov. Cuomo Book Through Negative Reviews

Politics makes for strange book-selling. The NY Times and other newspapers gleefully reported that Gov. Andrew Cuomo's memoir failed to attract a big crowd to Barnes & Noble for a signing.

Photos showed Cuomo sitting behind a desk, embarrassed at the paltry lines. Other photos showed the empty seats...which are usually packed for even minor celebrities and pop stars.

The N.Y. Daily News reported that Strand, conveniently located within walking distance of the flashy Barnes & Noble where Cuomo signed, was trying to unload copies under the heading: "BEST GIFT FOR THE PERSON YOU LOVE TO HATE." The Daily News neglected to mention that Strand traffics in review copies and most likely paid a few dollars for their stack of Cuomo books. Odds are they were motivated by, well, getting The Daily News to give them a plug, not by any real angst over unloading books. After all, real bookstores have the option of returning unsold copies.

Cuomo, who will easily cruise to re-election, is a fairly dull guy. His speaking voice has the nag of Al Pacino in "Dog Day Afternoon" but none of the charisma. Most think he's doing a good job. So why the hatred?

Mr. Cuomo supports gun laws.

This seems to explain the rather astonishing ratio of one-star reviews on Amazon to five star. Celeste Katz of The Daily News offered a photo of a protest that included photos of Cuomo doctored to look like Hitler. "Cuomo is a Tyrant," the protests claimed...because he doesn't want every idiot in New York blasting away with a rifle. Perhaps Cuomo's Albany office was too close to the nutjob who began firing at all his neighbors? You could look it up...but there are so many examples of "nutjob who began firing at all his neighbors" you might not find the one closest to Albany.

While it's fairly easy to get a gun in New York State, the NRA crowd don't think so, and are paranoid that it might become harder in the future. So, Ms. Katz reports, Cuomo's book has gotten 550 one-star reviews "to just 24 five-star salutes. The rage reviews appear spurred by commenters enthusiastically heeding encouragement on social media and Second Amendment sites to trash it and its author."

Gov. Cuomo's case is extreme, but it highlights a fact at Amazon...which is that "reviews" can be manipulated. A bunch of jerks who normally use the site to buy sex toys and underwear, can torpedo a book with lopsided reviews without actually buying it on Amazon, or buying it at all.

Unless people have a favorite book reviewer, or a favorite newspaper that actually runs reviews, they are more likely to instantly check Amazon for the price and the reviews. In the case of Cuomo's book, it would lead to NO SALE.

The sad truth is most books by politicians are dull and self-serving. They are written as policy statements, or "official" tomes that can be pointed to in lieu of debate or interview: "It's in my book...go read my book." That Cuomo's autograph on a book didn't excite anyone, indicates that he has a long way to go before seeming to be a viable Presidential candidate in 2016. If he does get taken seriously by then, and runs, and actually wins...well...the few autographed copies of Cuomo's book will be worth a lot of money.