The rise and fall of contemporary Christian music? The tale of Black musicians’ labour struggles? Personal essays about female vocalists? A history of the song? The study of oral literature? Clearly, it’s a different kinda week for music books. Along with another slew of generic music bios, here are you upcoming reads:
Elton John: Captain Fantastic On The Yellow Brick Road
By Gillian G. Gaar
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Few rock artists continue to gather more and more adulation with age than Sir Elton Hercules John. In this re-release of Elton John at 75 (2022), veteran rock journalist Gillian Gaar provides a unique examination of Elton’s life and career through the lens of 75 career accomplishments and life events — from his first steps as a solo artist to the breakthrough album Goodbye Yellow Brick Road to his flamboyant stage presence, and beyond. Key studio albums are featured, of course, as are a curated selection of his earworm singles. But Gaar delves deeper to reveal the events that helped chart the course of Elton’s career: Key performances such as his breakthrough performance at L.A.’s Troubadour, and the historic Soviet Union and Dodger Stadium concerts; legendary collaborations with the likes of Dua Lipa, Billy Joel and Kate Bush; his many film and television roles, including Tommy and The Muppet Show; his tireless work on behalf of AIDS research; notable awards and honors, including knighthood; and of course his collaboration with longtime cowriter Bernie Taupin.”
The Joker And The Thief: A Life In Pursuit of Bob Dylan
By Peter Stone Brown & Trev Gibb
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “This book is a collection of the best writing about Bob Dylan by Peter Stone Brown — a freelance writer, singer-songwriter and renowned Dylanologist. His brother was the bass player on the famous New York sessions for Blood On The Tracks. Peter saw Dylan nearly 200 times in concerts spanning 1963 to 2018. He witnessed Dylan in transition over almost all of his career, attending fabled shows like Philharmonic Hall in 1964, electric Dylan at Forest Hills in August 1965, the Rolling Thunder Revue, the Gospel shows and up the Never Ending Tour. Over the years he has contributed writings to many publications. In 2008 he was commissioned to write liner notes for Tell Tale Signs and spent about a week listening to tracks sent by Dylan’s office, writing as he listened. In the end, his notes didn’t make the final release.”
Phew, Eh Readers? The Life and Writing of Tom Hibbert
By Tom Hibbert
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Idiosyncratic. Iconoclastic. Acerbic. Hilarious. The influence of Tom Hibbert’s music writing across print, radio, TV and podcasts is incomparable. From his genre-defining work at Smash Hits to his profiles for Q magazine and beyond, this book brings together many of Hibbert’s funniest writings. Compiled by Barney Hoskyns and Jasper Murison-Bowie, Phew, Eh Readers? showcases some of Hibbert’s greatest pieces. Presented thematically and chronologically, they highlight his marvellously eccentric perspective on life and popular culture. Many leading writers and journalists attest to Hibbert’s genius. This compendium supplements his writing with new reflections on Tom from some of his peers, colleagues and admirers, along with his widow Allyce. Phew, Eh Readers? is a must-read homage to one of the most influential writers of our time, a man who left an indelible mark on our cultural landscape.”
John Lennon: The Biography
By United Library
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Embark on an intimate journey through the life and legacy of John Winston Ono Lennon, the visionary English singer, songwriter, musician, and peace activist who left an indelible mark on the world. From his humble beginnings in Liverpool to his global fame in The Beatles, Lennon’s story is one of artistic innovation, collaboration, and enduring influence. This meticulously researched biography traces Lennon’s evolution from the skiffle craze of his teenage years to the formation of The Quarrymen, which later metamorphosed into the legendary Beatles in 1960. Often hailed as “the smart Beatle,” Lennon’s role as the de facto leader gradually shifted to Paul McCartney, yet his songwriting partnership with McCartney remains the most successful in history. As his compositions evolved, he embraced experimental elements, contributing to the band’s increasing innovation. Lennon’s foray into other media included films like How I Won the War and literary works such as In His Own Write and A Spaniard in the Works. The book explores his collaborations with Yoko Ono, Plastic Ono Band, and his solo career that produced iconic singles like Imagine and Happy Xmas (War Is Over). This biography pays homage to the enigmatic artist, ranking him among the greatest singers and artists of all time, and offers a poignant reflection on a life cut short but forever immortalized in the annals of music history.”
The Rolling Stones: The Biography
By United Library
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Take an immersive journey through the illustrious and enduring career of The Rolling Stones, the iconic English rock band that has left an indelible mark on the music landscape since their formation in 1962. With a legacy spanning seven decades, Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Brian Jones, Bill Wyman and Charlie Watts created a sound that defined hard rock, pioneering a gritty, rhythmically driven style that would become a hallmark of their immense success. From their early years rooted in blues and rock and roll covers to becoming the face of the rebellious counterculture in the 1960s, The Rolling Stones evolved into a powerhouse of originality. (I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction, Get Off Of My Cloud, and Paint It Black became international hits, marking a shift towards their own material with the groundbreaking album Aftermath (1966). Navigating through their psychedelic experimentation and returning to their rhythm and blues roots, the band faced changes with the departure of Brian Jones in 1969, succeeded by Mick Taylor. Deemed The Greatest Rock and Roll Band in the World, they unleashed a string of chart-topping albums like Sticky Fingers (1971) and Exile on Main St. (1972). The narrative unfolds with lineup changes, including Ronnie Wood replacing Taylor in 1974, and explores their acclaimed releases like Some Girls (1978) and Tattoo You (1981). Witness the Stones’ resurgence with Steel Wheels (1989) and their continued dominance as a live act, recording the highest-grossing concert tour multiple times. As they adapt to changes with Bill Wyman’s departure in 1993 and Charlie Watts’ passing in 2021, the band’s legacy endures with Hackney Diamonds, their first album of original material in 18 years.”
Madonna: The Biography
By United Library
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Dive into the extraordinary life and unparalleled career of Madonna Louise Ciccone, the groundbreaking American singer, songwriter, and actress known worldwide as the Queen of Pop. This meticulously researched biography offers a comprehensive journey through Madonna’s multifaceted career, showcasing her continual reinvention, artistic versatility, and unwavering control over every facet of her trajectory in the music industry. From her early days as a dancer in New York City to solo stardom with the debut album Madonna (1983), the narrative explores the evolution of a cultural icon who has pushed the boundaries of artistic expression in mainstream music. Madonna’s chart-topping albums, including the all-time bestsellers Like A Virgin (1984) and True Blue (1986), are highlighted alongside Grammy Award-winning releases like Ray of Light (1998) and Confessions on a Dance Floor (2005). The book delves into Madonna’s film career, from standout roles in films like Desperately Seeking Susan (1985) to her Golden Globe-winning performance in Evita (1996). As a businesswoman, she founded the successful Maverick Records and ventured into fashion, health clubs, and filmmaking. Madonna’s philanthropic endeavors, including the Ray of Light Foundation and Raising Malawi, underscore her commitment to charitable causes, while her advocacy for gender equality and LGBT rights reflects her broader impact on society. Inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2008, Madonna’s influence extends beyond her musical prowess, making her a trailblazer in the realms of business, philanthropy, and activism.”
Singers and Tales in the Twenty-First Century
By David F. Elmer & Peter McMurray
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Grounded in the intellectual legacies of two pioneering scholars of oral literature, Milman Parry (1902–1935) and Albert Lord (1912–1991), Singers And Tales In the Twenty-First Century gathers reflections on what the study of oral poetry might mean today across diverse poetic traditions, especially in light of ongoing global transformations that have dramatically reshaped and destabilized the very notion of tradition. This collection of essays spans disciplinary perspectives from Classics and comparative literature to musicology and anthropology. Oral traditions from ancient Greece and modern southeastern Europe, on which Parry and Lord focused, remain central in the present volume, but the book also offers important perspectives from regions beyond Europe, especially across Asia. The title’s “singers and tales” ― both in the plural, as opposed to an individual — signals interest both in the polyphony of oral traditions and in the proliferation of methodologies and objects of study inspired by the work of Parry and Lord. Their notion of what has become known as the Oral-Formulaic Theory remains a necessary starting point ― but only a starting point ― for research on a whole range of verbal and musical arts.”
Song: A History in 12 Parts
By John Potter
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “From one of our most innovative singers, a vibrant history of song stretching from Hildegard von Bingen and Benjamin Britten to Björk. In this celebratory account, author and singer John Potter tells the European story of song. The form has captivated audiences and excited performers for centuries, from the music of the troubadours and the Christian liturgy through classical composers such as Bach and Schumann up to Britten, Berio, and the rise of popular music. Choosing 12 key works, Potter offers a personal tour through this vital tradition, from John Dowland’s Flow My Tears to George Gershwin’s Summertime. Throughout, he reveals who wrote and sang these joyful masterpieces — and what they mean to singers and audiences today.”
Union Divided: Black Musicians’ Fight for Labor Equality
By Leta E. Miller
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “In the 1910s and 1920s, Black musicians organized more than 50 independent locals within the American Federation of Musicians in an attempt to control audition criteria, set competitive wages, and secure a voice in national decision-making. Leta Miller follows the AFM’s history of Black locals, which competed directly with white locals in the same territories, from their origins and successes in the 1920s through Depression-era crises to the fraught process of dismantling segregated AFM organizations in the 1960s and ’70s. Like any union, Black AFM locals sought to ensure employment and competitive wages for members with always-evolving solutions to problems. Miller’s account of these efforts includes the voices of the musicians themselves and interviews with former union members who took part in the difficult integration of Black and white locals. She also analyzes the fundamental question of how musicians benefitted from membership in a labor organization. Broad in scope and rich in detail, Union Divided illuminates the complex working world of unionized Black musicians and the AFM’s journey to racial inclusion.”
God Gave Rock and Roll to You: A History of Contemporary Christian Music
By Leah Payne
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Few things frightened conservative white Protestant parents of the 1950s and the 1960s more than thought of their children falling prey to the ‘menace to Christendom’ known as rock ’n’ roll. The raucous sounds of Elvis Presley and Little Richard seemed tailor-made to destroy the faith of their young and, in the process, undermine the moral foundations of the United States. Parents and pastors launched a crusade against rock music, but they were fighting an uphill battle. Salvation came in a most unlikely form. By combining the rock and folk of the counterculture with religious ideas and aims of conservative white evangelicals, Jesus freaks and evangelical media moguls gave birth to an entire genre known as Contemporary Christian Music. By the 1980s and 1990s, CCM had grown into a massive, multimillion-dollar industry. Some, most famously Amy Grant, crossed over into the mainstream. And yet, today, the industry is a shadow of what it once was. In this book, Leah Payne traces the history and trajectory of CCM in America and, in the process, demonstrates how the industry, its artists, and its fans shaped — and continue to shape — conservative, (mostly) white, evangelical Protestantism.”
I Sing To Use The Waiting: A Collection of Essays About The Women Singers Who’ve Made Me Who I Am
By Zachary Pace
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “With remarkable grace, candor, and a poet’s ear for prose, Zachary Pace recounts the women singers — from Cat Power to Madonna, Kim Gordon to Rihanna — who shaped them as a young person coming-of-age in rural New York, first discovering their own queer voice. Structured like a mixtape, Pace juxtaposes their coming out with the music that informed them along the way. They recount how listening to themselves sing along as a child to a Disney theme song they recorded on a boom box in 1995, was when they first realized there was an effeminate inflection to their voice. As childhood friendships splinter, Pace discusses the relationship between Whitney Houston and Robyn Crawford. Cat Power’s song My Daddy Was A Musician spurs a discussion of Pace’s own musician father, and their gradual estrangement. Resonant and compelling, I Sing To Use The Waiting is a deeply personal rumination on how queer stories are abundant yet often suppressed, and how music may act as a comforting balm carrying us through difficult periods and decisions.”
Dress Up Harry: A Harry Styles Paper Doll Book Featuring His Most Iconic Looks
By Julia Murray
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Dress up your favorite it-boy with this press-and-play paper doll book. Style Mr. Styles in some of his most iconic fits, from the red carpet to the stage and silver screen. Featuring a pop-out Harry doll, ready to be fitted with 12 of his most headline-worthy looks. Perhaps the head-to-toe pink glam-rock Gucci ensemble he wore at Coachella, the iconic brown geometric suit with matching handbag from the Brit Awards, or maybe the unforgettable Swarovski-encrusted rainbow harlequin jumpsuit from Egonlab he wore to the Grammys. This paper doll book is perfect for any Harry Styles fan who loves fashion and wants to get creative. You can use it to create your own Harry–inspired outfits, or just have fun playing dressup with one of the most stylish men in Hollywood.”
