Celebrate 60 years of of Beatlemania, take a trip with Journey, get down with The Bee Gees, get the word from Ralph J. Gleason, enjoy a slice of U2’s giant lemon, head for the country with Sawyer Brown — and more musical musings for the latest edition of your reading list:
Livin’ Just to Find Emotion: Journey and the Story of American Rock
By David Hamilton Golland
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Since exploding on the scene in the late 1970s, Journey have inspired generations of fans with hit after hit. But hidden under this rock ’n’ roll glory is a complex story of ambition, larger-than-life personalities, and clashes. David Hamilton Golland unearths the band’s true and complete biography, based on over a decade of interviews and thousands of sources. When Steve Perry joined jazz-blues progressive rock band Journey in 1977, they saw a rise to the top, and their 1981 album Escape hit No. 1. But Perry’s quest for control led to Journey’s demise. They lost their record contract and much of their audience. After the unlikely comeback of Don’t Stop Believin’ in movies, television, and sports stadiums, a new generation discovered Journey. A professional historian, Golland dispels rehashed myths and also shows how race in popular music contributed to their breakout success. As the economy collapsed and as people abandoned the spirit of Woodstock in the late ’70s, Journey used the rhythm of soul and Motown to inspire hope in primarily white teenagers’ lives. Decades later, the band and their signature song remain classics, and now, with singer Arnel Pineda, they are again a fixture in major stadiums worldwide.”
The Story of The Bee Gees: Children Of The World
By Bob Stanley
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “The world is full of Bee Gees fans. Yet for a band of such renown, little is known about Barry, Maurice and Robin Gibb. People tend to have their favorite era of the Bee Gees’ career, but many listeners are also conscious that there is more to uncover about the band. This book will provide the perfect solution, by pulling together every fascinating strand to tell the story of a group with the imagination of The Beatles, the pop craft of ABBA, the drama of Fleetwood Mac, and the emotional heft of The Beach Boys. Uniquely, The Bee Gees’ tale spans the entire modern pop era — they are the only group to have scored British top-ten singles in the ’60s, ’70s, ’80s and ’90s — and includes world-conquering disco successes like Stayin’ Alive and More Than A Woman, both from the soundtrack of the hit film Saturday Night Fever. But The Bee Gees’ extraordinary career was one of highs and lows. From a vicious but temporary split in 1969 to several unreleased albums, disastrous TV and film appearances, and a demoralising cabaret season, the group weren’t always revelling in the glow of million-selling albums, private jets, and UNICEF concerts. Yet, even in the Gibbs’ darkest times, their music was rarely out of the charts, as sung by the likes of Al Green, Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton and Destiny’s Child. Capturing the human story at the heart of The Bee Gees, this book is a lyrical and stylish read, delighting hardcore fans with its details while engaging casual pop readers who simply want to know more about this important and enigmatic group.”
The Life and Writings of Ralph J. Gleason: Dispatches From The Front
By Don Armstrong
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Discover the enthralling world of Ralph J. Gleason, a pioneering music journalist who expanded the possibilities of the newspaper music column, sparked the San Francisco jazz and rock scenes, and co-founded Rolling Stone magazine. Gleason not only reported on but influenced the trajectory of popular music. He alone chronicled the unparalleled evolution of popular music from the 1930s into the 1970s, and while doing so, interviewed and befriended many trailblazers such as Miles Davis, Dizzy Gillespie, Bob Dylan and The Beatles. A true iconoclast, he dismantled the barriers between popular and highbrow music, and barriers separating the musical genres. He played a crucial role in shaping postwar music criticism by covering all genres and analyzing music’s social, political, and historical meanings. This book uncovers never-before-seen letters, anecdotes, family accounts, and exclusive interviews to reveal one of the most intriguing personalities of the 20th century.”
40-Foot Lemon: The Complete Story of U2’s Pop & PopMart
By Geoff Harkness
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “When U2 released Pop in 1997, the Irish quartet had been on a decade-long run of hits that included The Joshua Tree and Achtung Baby. The band’s Zoo TV tour in the early ’90s was a multimedia extravaganza that dazzled critics and sold out arenas the world over. But Pop turned out to be U2’s worst-selling album, and the accompanying PopMart tour played to half-filled stadiums and earned the nickname “Flop Mart” in the press. The Pop era was quickly buried and left behind, but many U2 fans never forgot what Bono once called the “best thing we’ve ever done.” 40-Foot Lemon: The Complete Story of U2’s Pop & PopMart takes readers into the studio and onto the stage during U2’s most experimental and ambitious era. It chronicles the difficult and expensive yearlong recording of Pop, where the band worked with five producers in multiple studios on two continents, striving to create a masterpiece. Instead, with tour dates already booked, U2 handed in an unfinished album. 40-Foot Lemon follows U2 around the globe on PopMart, the biggest tour in rock history, and featuring the world’s largest TV screen, a 10-story golden arch, a sofa-sized olive on a 100-foot martini stick, and a giant lemon disco ball that did all sorts of tricks. When it was working correctly. PopMart struggled to fill seats in the U.S., but it shattered records in Europe and South America, playing to packed soccer stadiums and making history from Sarajevo to Santiago. 40-Foot Lemon is the definitive account of U2 at their most interesting.”
The Boys And Me: My Life In The Country Music Supergroup Sawyer Brown
By Mark Miller
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “The Boys And Me is the behind-the-scenes, untold story of front man and lead singer Mark Miller and his band — country music icons Sawyer Brown. Before The Voice and American Idol, there was Star Search with Ed McMahon. In the first season, an eclectic and charismatic country-rock band called Sawyer Brown appeared on the show, taking America by storm. From ignored underdogs in Nashville to overnight rock stars from L.A. to New York, they swept the competition and won. Since 1984, their live shows, along with their relentless drive to stay true to themselves, have captivated faithful fans around the world. As frontman of the band, Miller’s rise to fame wasn’t exactly the path he envisioned for himself. After losing his father, Mark was raised by his mom whose solid faith and strong work ethic helped guide and shape him and his brother, Frank. With his sights set on playing pro basketball, Mark never dreamed of becoming an entertainer, especially considering he was terrified to stand on a stage. But God had a different plan. Now, 40 years later, Sawyer Brown have 18 studio albums to their name, multiple No. 1 singles, 50-plus songs on Billboard charts, and award-winning videos. And they have no plans of stopping any time soon. The band’s longevity is a testament to their strong songwriting, high-energy performances, and hard work.”
I Saw Them Standing There: Adventures Of An Original Fan during Beatlemania & Beyond
By Debbie Gendler
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “After Feb. 9, 1964, everyone wanted to be Debbie Gendler. On that date, she was just one of a relative handful of lucky fans who were in the live audience for The Beatles’ historic performance on The Ed Sullivan Show — an iconic television event viewed in the living rooms of 73 million Americans. Everyone has a story to share about where they were when they watched the appearance, but very few were there in person — and even fewer would actually go on not just to meet The Beatles, but end up building an entire career around the band. But Debbie did. This is the story of a New Jersey teenager who managed to accomplish what millions only dreamed about. Prior to The Beatles’ arrival in America, Gendler met with the group’s manager Brian Epstein regarding the establishment of a U.S. Fan Club. At the start of the band’s 1965 summer tour, she was the only teen to welcome them to America, and after their press conference at The Warwick Hotel, she met them in person. Debbie recounts her unique and sometimes wacky experiences at some of the most historic events in pop culture. She shares concert antics from Forest Hills, Shea Stadium and Suffolk Downs, and describes the mayhem outside the Plaza and the Delmonico hotels. Organizing fans to sleep on Broadway to purchase tickets for A Hard Day’s Night, representing the Official Beatles Fan Club on television, and promoting the Ringo for President novelty record are just some of the requests she fulfilled as one of the band’s leading ambassadors in the U.S.This coming-of-age tale details the adolescent journey of a devoted fan in all her youthful innocence against the backdrop of the turbulent 1960s, and a shifting cultural landscape.”
The Beatles & Me On Tour: 60th Anniversary Edition
By Ivor Davis
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Foreign correspondent Ivor Davis was embedded with the Beatles on their triumphant l964 North American tour — as the only daily newspaper reporter to travel with them from start to finish. Rock ’n’ Roll history was writ large. Criss-crossing North America on their private jet and riding in limo No. 2, Davis sped from airport to hotel to venue and was given astonishing, 24/7 access to John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr. In this award-winning book, he dishes up new, riveting, funny, behind the scenes stories that only an insider knows. When Elvis Presley met The Beatles in l965, Ivor was in the room. When Bob Dylan introduced them to pot, Davis was there. Joan Baez, Mick Jagger, Charles Manson, Tom Jones, The Beach Boys and Muhammed Ali all play walk-on roles in this unprecedented true story.”
A Hound Dog Tale: Big Mama, Elvis, And The Song That Changed Everything
By Ben Wynne
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “The release of the song Hound Dog in 1953 marked a turning point in American popular culture, and throughout its history, the hit ballad bridged divides of race, gender, and generational conflict. Ben Wynne’s A Hound Dog Tale discusses the stars who made this rock ’n’ roll standard famous, from Willie Mae ’Big Mama’ Thornton to Elvis Presley, along with an eclectic cast of characters, including singers, songwriters, musicians, record producers and managers, famous television hosts, several lawyers, and even a gangster or two. Wynne’s examination of this American classic reveals how Hound Dog reflected the values and issues of 1950s American society, and sheds light on the lesser-known elements of the song’s creation and legacy. A Hound Dog Tale will capture the imagination of anyone who has ever tapped a foot to the growl of a blues riff or the bark of a rock ’n’ roll guitar.”
Rapper’s Deluxe: How Hip Hop Made The World
By Todd Boyd
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “To tell the story of contemporary American culture is to tell the story of hip hop. From its humble, underground origins, hip hop transcended the confines of rap music and spread its influence across a broad spectrum of American life — fashion, film, art, sports, politics, language — to become a cultural movement of profound influence. Rapper’s Deluxe is a critical contribution to America’s cultural canon, shining a light on hip hop’s ability to redefine and influence culture, through: photographs; fine art; advertisements; book, magazine, and album covers; film stills; and more. Organized chronologically from the 1970s to the present, image-rich and dynamic layouts show the people, places, events, objects, outfits, and inspirations that redefined the world as we know it — from fur-coated fans lining up for a Muhammad Ali fight at Madison Square Garden to a legendary party in the “Boogie Down” Bronx, through the hoods of South Los Angeles and the trap houses of Atlanta to the extravagant red carpet looks of the Met Gala. Drawing on a broad range of curated examples, Todd Boyd re-examines hip hop’s legacy and how the genre remixes ‘high’ and ‘low’ culture, past and present, to come up with a style that is uniquely its own. Filled with original insights and clever wordplay, Rapper’s Deluxe is a tale of transformation, following hip hop’s arduous, but always triumphant, journey as it rose up to dominate the game.”
Idles x Magda Archer Brutalism: Illustrated Lyrics
By Joe Talbot & Magda Archer
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “In this celebration and reinterpretation of Idles‘ critically acclaimed first album, Brutalism (2017), Magda Archer’s artwork enters a joyful and liberating shouting match with Joe Talbot’s lyrics to create an explosive, emotive, comedically sardonic, and inspiring collaboration between two like-minded artists. Typographic layouts inspired by the style of concrete poetry create a visual conversation between lyrics and illustrations on the page. Idles‘ first-ever book marks a new and exciting form of creative collaboration for the band. Breathing a different kind of life into Talbot’s fiery lyricism — with expressive typography, hot-pink ink, and Archer’s unique artworks — Idles x Magda Archer Brutalism shows that a book can be a work of art in itself.”
