It's a given of any show-biz biography that it must contain the requisite number of celebrities about whom the author can tell entertaining or titillating anecdotes.

Despite the wealth of entertaining anecdotes Mr. Heidenry provides, Wally remains a rather shadowy figure; we never quite know what made him tick.

The book has many interesting and entertaining anecdotes about musicians Condon worked with.

There are the entertaining anecdotes, but more important are the insights.

"Cousin Joe" contains some incisive observations about race, poverty and music, and some entertaining anecdotes.

Last year our reviewer, Amos Perlmutter, found the book objective, filled with "fascinating information and entertaining anecdote."

Jerry Newman offers entertaining anecdotes and wonderful descriptions of the personalities working at every station of responsibility.

He also includes entertaining anecdotes about the songs.

His treatment was informal and impressionistic, depending on entertaining anecdotes, skilful use of quotation, and the dextrous building up of incidents for its effect.

But "This Filthy World" isn't just a collection of entertaining anecdotes.