No time to talk — too much reading to do. Scroll down and see what I mean:
Ready Steady Go!: The Weekend Starts Here: The Definitive Story of the Show That Changed Pop TV
By Andy Neill
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “The London-based Ready, Steady, Go! began broadcasting in August of 1963 and, within a matter of weeks, became an essential television ritual for the newly confident British teenager. It set trends and became the barometer for popular culture by attracting and presenting anyone who was anyone in popular music: The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, The Who, The Kinks, The Animals, Marvin Gaye, The Supremes, Otis Redding, and many more. RSG! also provided the first small screen exposure for then-unknowns such as Rod Stewart, Marc Bolan, David Bowie, Donovan and Jimi Hendrix. Ready, Steady, Go! ran for three and a half years, setting a blueprint for music presentation and production on television that resonated over the following decades and can still be felt today. Featured in this lavishly illustrated and definitive history of the show are hundreds of color and black and white images — the bulk of them previously unpublished — as well as exclusive essays by Mick Jagger, Pete Townshend, Ray Davies, Eric Burdon, Donovan, Andrew Oldham, Lulu, and others. Also included is a detailed guide to all 173 episodes — with complete artist appearances and the songs they performed — as well as forewords from the show’s original editor Vicki Wickham and acclaimed director Michael Lindsay-Hogg. This is the first full documentation of the show that went from quintessential Swinging London accessory to its current status as the most legendary popular music program of all time.”
Somewhere You Feel Free: Tom Petty and Los Angeles
By Christopher McKittrick
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “When Tom Petty arrived in Los Angeles in 1974 in search of a record deal for his band Mudcrutch, the Gainesville, Florida native found one almost immediately. While he thought he had found exactly what he was looking for in L.A., it would take years for Petty and his subsequent band, The Heartbreakers, to break onto the pop charts. Within the following two decades, Petty would stay planted in Los Angeles through chart-topping albums, battles with record labels, personal struggles, collaborations with rock and roll royalty, and even an arsonist burning down his home in the San Fernando Valley. From the earliest Heartbreakers concerts in Los Angeles at the legendary Whisky a Go Go and the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium, to the band’s final concerts at the iconic Hollywood Bowl, Petty aimed to continue the tradition of the Southern California rock ’n’ roll of his musical heroes like The Byrds and Buffalo Springfield in his own fashion. At the same time, Petty’s career often coincided with seismic shifts in the music business, indicated by Petty’s famous refusal to back down in the face of label management, industry conventions, and the changing courses of platforms that helped make him a superstar, like rock radio and MTV. Somewhere You Feel Free: Tom Petty and Los Angeles explores the artistic life of Tom Petty through his career-long relationship with Los Angeles and the many colorful characters and venues that inspired him and his music — including his work with George Harrison, Bob Dylan, Stevie Nicks, Johnny Cash, Roger McGuinn, Leon Russell, Rick Rubin and Del Shannon.”
The Seekers: Meetings With Remarkable Musicians (and Other Artists)
By John Densmore
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Whether it’s the curiosity that blossoms after we listen to our favorite band’s newest record, or the sheer admiration we feel after watching a knockout performance, many of us have experienced art so pure-so innovative-that we can’t help but wonder afterwards: “How did they do that?” And yet, few of us are in a position to be able to ask those memorable legends where their inspiration comes from and how they translated it into something fresh and new. Fortunately for us, this book is here to offer us a bridge. In The Seekers, John Densmore — the iconic drummer of The Doors and author of the bestseller Riders on the Storm — digs deep into his own process and draws upon his privileged access to his fellow artists and performers in order to explore the origins of creativity itself. Weaving together anecdotes from the author’s personal notebooks and experiences over the past 50 years, this book takes readers on a rich, thought-provoking journey into the soul of the artist. By understanding creativity’s roots, Densmore ultimately introduces us to the realm of everyday inspirations that imbue our lives with meaning. Inspired by the classic spiritual memoir Meetings with Remarkable Men, this book is fueled by Densmore’s abundant collection of transformative experiences-both personal and professional — with everyone from Ravi Shankar to Patti Smith, Jim Morrison to Janis Joplin, Bob Marley to Gustavo Dudamel, Lou Reed to Van Morrison, Jerry Lee Lewis to his own dear, late Doors bandmate Ray Manzarek. Ultimately, the result is not only a look into the hearts and minds of some of the most important artists of the past century-but a way for readers to identify and ignite their own creative spark, and light their own fire.”
I Die Each Time I Hear the Sound: A Memoir
By Mike Doughty
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “In this highly original gathering of autobiographical stories, the musician and writer Mike Doughty, in his inimitable voice, sends dispatches from a touring musician’s peripatetic life, vividly recalling moments when profound musical experiences made him see the world anew. I Die Each Time I Hear the Sound consists of sometimes-surreal tales, drawing from conflations of memory, especially formative moments in New York City in the 1990s. It looks at how the avid nostalgia of fans is both a boon and a burden for an artist working to stay vital, and what it is to age while touring, and prolifically releasing new music. He examines the struggle to keep relationships alive while living on the road, and the strangeness of the disconnect between performer and audience. A unique narrative, unstuck in time, and an unforgettable examination of what it is to be an artist in this cultural moment, I Die Each Time I Hear the Sound is funny, vulnerable, and unsparing.”
Dolly Parton, Songteller: My Life in Lyrics
By Dolly Parton & Robert K. Oermann
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Dolly Parton, Songteller: My Life in Lyrics is a landmark celebration of the remarkable life and career of a country music and pop culture legend. As told by Dolly Parton in her own inimitable words, explore the songs that have defined her journey. Illustrated throughout with previously unpublished images from Dolly’s personal and business archives. Mining over 60 years of songwriting, Parton highlights 175 of her songs and brings readers behind the lyrics. Packed with never-before-seen photographs and classic memorabilia Dolly Parton, Songteller: My Life in Lyrics reveals the stories and memories that have made Dolly a beloved icon across generations, genders, and social and international boundaries. Containing rare photos and memorabilia from Parton’s archives, this book is a show-stopping must-have for every Dolly Parton fan. Learn the history behind classic Parton songs like Jolene, 9 to 5, I Will Always Love You, and more. The perfect gift for Dolly Parton fans (everyone loves Dolly!) as well as lovers of music history and country. Add it to the shelf with books like Coat of Many Colors by Dolly Parton, The Beatles Anthology by The Beatles, and Born to Run by Bruce Springsteen.”
John & Yoko/Plastic Ono Band
By John Lennon & Yoko Ono
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “A definitive, in-depth, revelatory exploration of John Lennon’s intensely personal first major solo album after the breakup of The Beatles. Described by Lennon as “the best thing I’ve ever done,” and widely regarded as his best solo album, John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band was released on Dec.11, 1970. With first-hand commentary by Lennon, Ono, and other members of the band, and packed with previously unseen photographs by those who documented their lives, this incisive volume offers new insights into the raw emotions and open mindset of Lennon after marriage to Ono and the breakup of The Beatles, to the making of the album and revealing interview with Jann Wenner in December 1970. Primal therapy had a huge impact on Lennon’s songwriting, resulting in the creation of intensely personal, soul-baring tracks. This book takes his lyrics as a starting point and explores Lennon’s life, career, and self-perception, from “performing flea” with the Beatles to authenticity as a solo artist.”
Rush: The Day I Was There
By Richard Houghton
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “When Rush concluded their R40 tour in 2015, fans of Geddy Lee, Alex Lifeson and Neil Peart knew extensive touring was off the agenda. But they hoped for a one-off reunion gig or a festival appearance. With the untimely death of drummer Neil Peart in January 2020, those dreams were shattered. Across more than 40 years, the band that had sold over 40 million albums and played in excess of 2,400 shows around the world were no more. With previously unseen photos and fan memorabilia, Rush: The Day I Was There brings together over 400 previously unpublished eyewitness accounts to allow the reader to take a journey back in time and recapture the experience of seeing live the greatest power trio in rock.”
The Who: Every Album, Every Song
By Geoffrey Feakes
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Formed in 1964 and still going strong in 2020, The Who are one of the most popular and enduring bands in the history of rock. The legendary debut album My Generation and a string of hit singles paved the way for Live At Leeds, hailed as the best live rock album of all time, and the best selling Who’s Next. Powered by the phenomenal rhythm section of Keith Moon and John Entwistle, they earned a reputation as a premier live act and pioneered festival and arena performances. The rock operas Tommy and Quadrophenia took popular music into uncharted territories and both inspired hit films. Despite regular infighting, breakups and the death of two key members, the band continued into the 21st century with the well received Endless Wire album and original members Roger Daltrey and Pete Townshend stage spectacular live shows to this day. This book examines each one of the band’s studio albums, including the latest Who released in December 2019. Non-album tracks are also included and the book traces the band’s long and diverse history. Compilations, live albums and soundtracks are also discussed, making this the most comprehensive guide to the music of the Who yet published. Whether the reader is a diehard fan or someone curious to see what lies beyond Tommy, this is essential reading.”
Save Us Morrissey: Through B-Sides and Non-Album Tracks
By Jared Morris & Brian Clymer
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “The unofficial book is a chronological comprehensive collection of 230 essays on every officially released non-album Morrissey recording — plus all live B-sides and alt versions, spanning 1982-2020. It is a semi-biographical telling of the story of the songs, Morrissey, band members, co-writers and producers thru 478 sources, music theory, analytical review and commentary. It’s told in a conversational style and includes information about live performances, cover versions, reissues, Record Store Day releases and digital-only releases. The author said, “It’s also not negative! So many fans are so critical but, I love Morrissey and his music. There’s none of the snarkiness you find in most writings about Morrissey and his work. I also explore some of the biased press coverage in recent years which, with my broadcasting and newswriting career, I feel I have a unique take on.” Several of the essays include every-fan mini-reviews by performance artist/humorist Brian Clymer.”
Vinyl Age: A Guide to Record Collecting Now
By Max Brzezinski
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “From Carolina Soul Records, one of the world’s largest online record sellers, comes the definitive guide to every aspect of record collecting in the digital era. Any music fan knows that there’s nothing like the tactile pleasure of a record. Even with access to a variety of streaming services, digital technology has paved the way for the analog revival; from multiplatinum megahits to ultra-obscure private presses, millions of records are available for purchase from all over the world. Vinyl Age is the ultimate post-internet guide to record collecting. Written by Max Brzezinski, Vinyl Age combines an engaging narrative and incisive analysis to reveal the joys and explain the complexities of the contemporary vinyl scene. Brzezinski demystifies the record game and imparts the skills essential to modern record digging — how to research, find, buy, evaluate, and understand vinyl in the 21st century.”
Sittin’ In: Jazz Clubs of the 1940s and 1950s
By Jeff Gold
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “A rare collection of more than 200 full-color and black-and-white souvenir photographs and memorabilia that bring to life the renowned jazz nightclubs of the 1940s and 1950s, compiled by Grammy-winning record executive and music historian Jeff Gold and featuring exclusive interviews with Quincy Jones, Sonny Rollins, Robin Givhan, Jason Moran and Dan Morgenstern. In the two decades before the Civil Rights movement, jazz nightclubs were among the first places that opened their doors to both Black and white performers and club goers in Jim Crow America. In this extraordinary collection, Jeff Gold looks back at this explosive moment in the history of jazz and American culture, and the spaces at the center of artistic and social change. Sittin’ In is a visual history of jazz clubs during these crucial decades when some of the greatest names in in the genre — Billie Holiday, Charlie Parker, Ella Fitzgerald, Dizzy Gillespie, Miles Davis, Louis Armstrong, Oscar Peterson, and many others — were headlining acts across the country. In many of the clubs, Black and white musicians played together and more significantly, people of all races gathered together to enjoy an evening’s entertainment. House photographers roamed the floor and for a dollar, took picture of patrons that were developed on site and could be taken home in a keepsake folder with the club’s name and logo. Sittin’ In tells the story of the most popular club in these cities through striking images, first-hand anecdotes, true tales about the musicians who performed their unforgettable shows, notes on important music recorded live there, and more.”
Easy Listening Acid Trip: An Elevator Ride through Sixties Psychedelic Pop
By Joseph Lanza
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “In his acclaimed book Elevator Music: A Surreal History of Muzak, Easy-Listening, and Other Moodsong, author Joseph Lanza explored the forbidden beauty and social importance of an otherwise shunned musical category. Now, in Easy-Listening Acid Trip, he pushes the boundaries further by taking his subject into altered states, showing how psychedelic pop (as opposed to the ear-grinding jams of acid rock”) offered other worlds and strange sounds that took listeners through a mind-bending time travel back to vaudeville, Tin Pan Alley, British Music Hall, and the melodic traditions that made songs hits before your grandmother was born. These influences, in turn, inspired many easy-listening arrangers and conductors to reinterpret the songs into instrumental wonders that were often just as (if not more) surreal. Easy-Listening Acid Trip takes readers on a journey that includes the Hollyridge Strings’ haunting version of The Beatles’ Strawberry Fields Forever, Paul Mauriat’s lush treatment of Scott McKenzie’s San Francisco (Be Sure to Wear Flowers in Your Hair), and Mariano and the Unbelievables’ baroque-pop tribute to The Lemon Pipers’ Green Tambourine. Delving into the songs along with the international roster of composers, arrangers, and conductors who recorded them, Easy-Listening Acid Trip celebrates the trippy paradox linking psychedelia to easy-listening: a netherworld where The Beatles meet The Percy Faith Strings, where Donovan meets David Rose and His Orchestra, and where other flower-power-pop favorites meld with the likes of Ferrante and Teicher, Lawrence Welk, and The Mystic Moods Orchestra.”
Cartographies of Youth Resistance: Hip-Hop, Punk, and Urban Autonomy in Mexico
By Maurice Rafael Magaña
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “In his exciting new book, based on a decade of ethnographic fieldwork, Maurice Magaña considers how urban and migrant youth in Oaxaca embrace subcultures from hip-hop to punk and adopt creative organizing practices to create meaningful channels of participation in local social and political life. In the process, young people remake urban space and construct new identities in ways that directly challenge elite visions of their city and essentialist notions of what it means to be indigenous in the contemporary era. Cartographies of Youth Resistance is essential reading for students and scholars interested in youth politics and culture in Mexico, social movements, urban studies, and migration.”
