The Smiley Smile Message Board

According to Amazon, the audio version is being read by a professional narrator named Fred Berman.  That's a little disappointing, I was under the impression Brian would be reading it himself.  Perhaps that would be too taxing for him.  It's odd to hear an autobiography in somebody else's voice.  I have some free Audible credits but I guess I'll save one for something else and just read the book the old fashioned way and hear Brian's voice in my head.

As appealing at that would be, I couldn't even imagine Brian narrating the book - particularly given his touring schedule this year.  I think I'll need to go order my audio, though.  How did I miss that?

I tend not to buy audiobooks, but if it had been Paul Dano reading it, I probably would've grabbed it. At this point, I can accept him as a believable substitute voice for Brian. 

John Cusack would've been a good pick...

You're right, Billy - given the tone of the book we've see so far (actually either John Cusack or Paul Dano), but I suspect their schedules and fees might not have been feasible - just guessing, of course.

Now, I need to go order that audio.  I don't know the narrator (which means nothing), but I'm certainly wanting to enjoy the book in my car as well as sitting reading it.  I understand those who prefer to read and hear Brian's voice in their own heads.  I guess I'll be doing both - all personal preference.

I guess it is this guy. There is some samples in the Voice Over link.

http://www.fredberman.net

I think it's fine to use a voiceover guy if they're inclined to do an audio version.

I finally just got around to listening to an audio sample of Mike's book, and, I swear to God I'm not trying to go negative, I actually figured it would sound pretty fine and might even be the preferable way to do the book. But it's pretty distracting. Mike reads it like he's, well, reading it rather than reading it in anything approaching a conversational or even monologue tone. He sounds much like his voiceover work on the "Beaks of Eagles" from the "Holland" album. It sounds too flourished and too affected. It's like he's reading a book report to the class. His voice is also pretty raspy. I'm not faulting him, a lot of folks who sing that much and are that age would surely sound like that.

I would guess a lot of audiobooks read by the author might sound like this. Brian's would probably sound similar, so I'm fine with going with a voice guy.

what a disappointment  :-[, I was hoping for Dano or a Cusack too.  Seconds thoughts on picking this up now.

Same here, I was hoping for The Dude..... he who abides.

Yes, it's strange for smb. else to read Brian's book. That said, if Brian barely sits thru half of the interviews, giving short answers etc., reading the long chapters woud be difficult task. Though no idea how it's done - do they attach mic to the mouth & whoever assigned to read does it inside a day? Week?

From speaking to someone in the past who read audiobooks, a professional, he said it takes about a week to record a book of this length.  I didn't ask how many hours - presumably 20 to 30 at least.   So Brian would have to carve out that kind of time and deal with the retakes and pronunciations, etc.

Think I'll just read it myself. 

ALTHOOOOUUUUGHHHh....if there's an audio version with Mike reading it... ... ...  ;)

I was hoping for Matt Jardine...

Cheers,
Jon Blum

How about getting Phil Spector to read it? I mean, it's not like he's real busy. Can you imagine his asides? "You mean it took two people to write Little Deuce Coupe" ?

Hehe, "good vibrations is an edit record!"

too bad Vincent Price isn't alive anymore to do the audiobook.....  :lol

(http://i66.tinypic.com/fwufqt.jpg)

:lol

Thanks for the info.