Grammy Museum a nice surprise

One of the few items available to photograph is Keith Moon's Premier double-bass kit from 1969. Moon played with fury, and it's surprising to see how lightweight the hardware was back in the day. He must have gone through a cymbal stand every night. I had never heard of the Grammy Museum until I bought a two-for-one deal on Bloomspot. But I was in for a nice surprise when I visited this weekend.

This is a museum that succeeds on several levels. It offers deep satisfaction for music ilk like me, while entertaining people like my wife and youngest daughter, who love music but not to the geeky degree I do. 

The museum is part of the LA Live complex near the Staples Center, and crams a lot into a tight four-story building. Exhibits fill floors 3 and 4, and half of 2 (the other half is devoted to the obligatory shopping, and I must admit the museum offers a nice mix of books, music and related souvenirs. 

But here are just a few of the many things I loved:

• The ability to dive deep into dozens of recorded interviews with musicians ranging from superstars to "minor" stars like Joe Doe and Dave Alvin. 
• The ability to sit in eight different booths that explained the recording experience through a mix of explanatory 10-minute videos and interactive tools. In just a few minutes, I was able to learn about the art of mastering from Bob Ludwig, whose name has perhaps been on more albums than any human in history; and the reverb and other digital effects from famed producer Eddie Kramer. 
• Countless examples of handwritten lyrics to famous songs. 
• An itemized list of income Elvis Presley earned in his early years. An interesting note in passing says the payments are AFTER what Col. Tom Parker paid himself. 
• A ton of items of interest to casual fans, including an extensive collection of clothes from Michael Jackson, the "LOVE" musical, and hitmakers throughout the last half-century. 

I'm not much of a George Harrison fan, but the special exhibit dedicated to the most underrated Beatle was excellent. 

All in all, a great museum experience, whether half price or full. I will definitely be returning.