Do you buy more books than you could possibly read? Are they piled up in every room of your house? Congratulations: You are officially a master of the Japanese art known as tsundoku. And you can level up next week, thanks to the arrival of new tomes on Eve, reggae-rock, the Greenwich Village music scene and more. To the stacks!
Talkin’ Greenwich Village: The Heady Rise and Slow Fall of America’s Bohemian Music Capital
By David Browne
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Although Greenwich Village encompasses less than a square mile in downtown New York, rarely has such a concise area nurtured so many innovative artists and genres. Over the course of decades, Billie Holiday, The Weavers, Sonny Rollins, Dave Van Ronk, Ornette Coleman, Bob Dylan, Nina Simone, Phil Ochs and Suzanne Vega are just a few who migrated to the Village, recognizing it as a sanctuary for visionaries, non-conformists, and those looking to reinvent themselves. Working in smoky coffeehouses and clubs, they chronicled the tumultuous ’60s, rewrote jazz history, and took folk and rock ’n’ roll into places it hadn’t been before. Based on over 150 new interviews, previously unseen documents, and author David Browne’s longtime immersion in the scene, Talkin’ Greenwich Village lends the saga the epic, panoramic scope it’s long deserved. It takes readers from the ’50s jamborees in Washington Square Park and into landmark venues like Gerde’s Folk City, Gaslight Café and The Village Vanguard, on to Dylan’s momentous arrival and returns, the no-holds-barred ’70s of discos and National Lampoon’s Lemmings, and the folk revival of the ’80s. In eye-opening fashion, Browne also details the often-overlooked people of colour in the clubs, reveals how the FBI and city government kept their eyes on the community, unearths the machinations behind the infamous “beatnik riot,” and more. More than just vivid cultural history, Talkin’ Greenwich Village also speaks to the rise and waning of bohemian culture itself, set to some of the most enduring lyrics, melodies, and jazz improvisations in American music.”
Who’s That Girl? A Memoir
By Eve & Kathy Iandoli
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “In 1999, Eve Jihan Cooper made history with her solo debut album, Let There Be Eve…Ruff Ryders’ First Lady, reaching No. 1 on the Billboard 200, the third female rapper to ever obtain that position. She made history again as the first recipient ever of the Grammy for Best Rap/Sung Collaboration for her platinum single Let Me Blow Ya Mind with Gwen Stefani. Following up with three chart-topping albums that made unrivaled waves in the world of hip-hop, as well as trailblazing moments in TV/film and fashion, Eve now looks back on her groundbreaking career. West Philadelphia was not for the faint of heart — Eve knows that better than anyone. However, she navigated those Philly streets (and later the rest of the world) with strength and resilience. She incorporates that unbridled ambition into every bar that she writes and every stage/set that she stands on. With a gritty realness that speaks to her style, she shares her experiences going from the Mill Creek Projects to Hollywood. Eve also unveils the war stories she’s endured throughout her career, from her entrance as “Eve of Destruction” into a male-dominated hip-hop industry, to the internal battle with her music, her label, and herself. This fearless, empowering, and inspirational memoir explores her rise to stardom, her lasting legacy on pop culture, and her incredible yet enduring struggle balancing her personal and professional lives.”
How To Run An Indie Label
By Alan McGee & John Robb
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “How To Run An Indie Label tells you everything you need to know about how to be a creative force. Music is like no other business. It’s about being at the right place at the right time, following your nose and diving in feet first. It’s about being plugged into the mystical electricity and about surfing on the wild energy. It’s about how to fuck up and how to survive and be sustained by the holy grail of the high decibel. No-one captures this wild feral spirit better than Alan McGee, whose helter skelter career through music has made him a major force. Wilder than his bands, more out of control than his most lunatic singer, more driven than his contemporaries and closer in spirit to the rock ’n’ roll star he could never be himself, McGee was always in a rush. His label Creation Records would sign people and not just the music. McGee understood that running an indie label is mainly about charisma, game changers, iconography and story. It’s about never being boring. His ability to start a raw power ruckus brought the visceral danger back to a moribund mid-eighties music scene. His nose for danger and his ear for classic guitar rock brought us Jesus And Mary Chain, Primal Scream, My Bloody Valentine, Teenage Fan Club and Ride before topping out in the ’90s with the biggest band in the world, Oasis. By no means a conventional instruction manual or business book, How To Run An Indie Label tells you everything you need to know about how to be a creative force.”
Into The Light: Siouxsie And The Banshees 1980-1987
By Laurence Hedges
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “In 1980, with their highest-charting album to date, Kaleidoscope, two successful singles in Happy House and Christine, and a packed tour schedule, Siouxsie and The Banshees are at the top of their game. Swimming in their own stream, they defy musical categorisation and are head and shoulders above their peers, with one objective: To be the best band in the world. The band’s 1981 90-gig tour included 25 dates in the U.S., showcasing the exhilarating Spellbound, the grotesque Night Shift and the clandestine frisson of Into The Light, forming the sonic backbone of what is considered the band’s magnum opus, Juju, their fourth album, released in June 1981. Ushering in a new chapter in The Banshees’ evolution, the opulent fifth album A Kiss In The Dreamhouse marks another change, and sees producer Mike Hedges superseding Nigel Gray. Released days after guitarist John McGeoch is ousted after two near-calamitous performances, it was the album that marked a potential dip in the band’s fortunes. But they regroup, calling again on the services of The Cure’s Robert Smith, whose fractured relationship with his own band made the offer of becoming a touring Banshee too attractive to refuse. As for what happens next: This in-depth and authoritative account of one of the most original, creative, imaginative and mercurial bands in the history of rock surveys the twists, turns and episodes of brilliance that define Siouxsie and The Banshees’ evolution from 1980 to 1987, including ancillary ventures The Creatures and The Glove, and the making of the albums Juju and A Kiss In The Dreamhouse, as well as Nocturne, Hyaena, Tinderbox and Through The Looking Glass.”
Life Is A Long Song: A Compendium of Jethro Tull in 33 1/3 Songs
by Richard Taylor
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “A lighthearted look at the famous flute-driven rock band Jethro Tull. It is written for Tull fans and obsessives everywhere. It is also written for those who may have always known about the band, had a passing interest and now want to find out more in a light-heartedly serious way. The book takes 33 Tull songs from across the chronological output of the band and looks at them in some detail both musically and lyrically but also attempts to look at said songs from a more obtuse, weird, sideways angle. Each chapter is a musical journey through the song but also looks at what was happening with and around the band members at that time. Some of the dramatic and sad moments involving members of the band are examined. There is also time to recognise the musician’s intrinsic and fantastic contributions to the musical world of Jethro Tull over fifty-six years. In the spirit of wilful, blatant subjectivity the book gives each song a mark out of ten to enable a worst to best list to be compiled at the end of the book. This should create much debate and disagreement and be a major fun talking point for readers, fans and nerdy types alike.”
When Rock Met Reggae: How the Cultural Crossover of Bob Marley, The Clash, The Specials and More Changed the Face of Rock Music
By Steven Blush
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “In When Rock Met Reggae, Steven Blush takes a spirited, cross-genre perspective in this illuminating chronicle of the crossover of Jamaican, British, and American sounds that changed the face of popular music. Bringing the same incisive, cross-genre perspective he offered in When Rock Met Disco, Blush gives a spirited survey of the crossover of Jamaican, British, and American sounds that changed the face of popular music. The inspiration of ska, rock-steady, dub, and reggae — heard on independent recordings played on “soundsystems” from Kingston and Brixton — created a new rock tonality and attitude, spanning everyone from Eric Clapton to The Clash. Meanwhile, the 2Tone sound of The Specials, Madness and UB40 fueled the ‘90s ska revival of Sublime, No Doubt, The Mighty Mighty Bosstones and beyond. Attentive to the racial, political, and artistic aspects of this intricate story, Blush gives a memorable account of one of the most fertile cross-pollinations in pop music history.”
Century of Song: 101 Songs that Shaped American Music
By Noah Lefevre
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Embark on a complex and inspiring journey through the last 101 years as told through some of the most memorable hits and the artists behind them. Noah Lefevre explores how our favorite music does more than entertain. From Aretha Franklin carving out her own space in what had been considered a man’s world by reworking the chauvinistic lyrics to the 1967 hit Respect to Doja Cat’s successful backlash against toxic fans of the digital age; from a broken amplifier on Rocket 88 ushering in the distorted sounds of rock ’n’ roll, to Kendrick Lamar’s release of Alright, which became the unofficial anthem to the BLM protests, each song mirrors the strife, change and progress of our country’s narrative. In this rich and engrossing guide for music lovers everywhere, you’ll discover how a single song can make history.”
Dolly Parton’s White Limozeen: 33 1/3
By Steacy Easton
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “White Limozeen (1989) was a commercial recovery after Dolly Parton‘s first major failure two years previously with the release of Rainbow. This book is a case study in how an album is sold and a persona constructed. The album had a complex relationship to the country music genre at a time when the genre was in the middle of major sonic and cultural shifts, and it represents how country music saw itself. This question of identity was especially relevant since White Limozeen was produced by Ricky Skaggs, the bluegrass prodigy who was in the middle of his own genre-widening experiments. The album reflects dense and complex production, shredding ideas of purity, studio craft, slickness, and authenticity. In it, Dolly seems to be imagining the limits of her own personae — the country girl, the blonde burlesque, the pop legend, the gospel singer. To study this album is to investigate Dolly’s calculated role in fashioning her image into the icon she is today.”
Music Mavens: 15 Women of Note In The Industry
By Ashley Walker & Maureen Charles
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Nothing moves us like music. Music Mavens transports readers around the world (and beyond) — to a jazz performance in Genoa, an instrument lab in London, a Tokyo taiko dojo, a New York City beatbox battle, and even a film scoring session aboard the starship Enterprise, to name a few. Along the way, it spotlights artists whose work spans musical genres and industry roles, including composing and songwriting, performing and conducting, audio engineering, producing, and rock photography. In Music Mavens, 15 extraordinary women reveal how they turned their passions into platforms and how they use their power to uplift others. Their musical resumes will inspire, but the way each artist lives her life is the real story.”
From Almeda to Zilphia: Arkansas Women Who Transformed American Popular Song
By Stephen Koch & Katherine Strause
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “From Almeda To Zilphia: Arkansas Women Who Transformed American Popular Song profiles artists who’ve influenced music around the world in ways we’re still discovering. Despite their collective cultural impact, these women’s stories have too often been overlooked, forgotten, or never told. Part history, part art, and part music, the book features a wide cross-section of inspirational creatives across the decades. With surprises like Maya Angelou’s side career as a calypso singer and Carrie Cash, who recognized that her son Johnny had “the gift,” From Almeda To Zilphia covers a wide variety of musical styles: Gospel (Rosetta Tharpe); opera (Marjorie Lawrence); blues (Sippie Wallace); folk ballads (Almeda Riddle); dance-pop (Beth Ditto); classical (Florence Price) and country (K.T. Oslin). Working from often hard-to-find historic photographs, vivid portraits by renowned artist Katherine Strause of the women profiled make plain the strength and artistry of these cultural pioneers. From Almeda To Zilphia is written by musician and award-winning journalist Stephen Koch, writer and host of the syndicated public radio program Arkansongs.”
Superstar Guitars
By Eleanor Jane
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “A collection that has to be seen to be believed, Superstar Guitars is an up-close and personal look at dozens of the most famous guitars in the history of music. Photographer Eleanor Jane has travelled the world, tracking down the six-strings that were used and loved by some of the greatest musicians ever known to create their most celebrated music. The Stratocaster that Bob Dylan went electric on. The Mustang Kurt Cobain played in the Smells Like Teen Spirit video. Keith Richard’s Exile On Main St. Les Paul Burst, and many more. Detailed photography explores every inch of these special, one-of-a-kind instruments, accompanied by fascinating text telling the story and explaining the feel of these unique guitars. Guitars featured include: George Harrison’s 1964 Gibson SG Standard, Prince’s Yellow Cloud, Kirk Hammett’s 1959 Gibson Les Paul Standard, David Gilmour’s Fender Stratocaster, Eric Clapton’s 1939 Martin 000-42, Jeff Buckley’s 1983 Fender Telecaster, Jerry Garcia’s Doug Irwin, John Frusciante’s 1962 Fender Stratocaster, Thurston Moore’s Pre-CBS Fender Jazzmaster, Jack White’s 1964 Valco Airline, Matt Bellamy’s Mansun DeLorean and many more.”
Harry In 30 Images: A Visual Story Of His Biggest Moments
By Hardie Grant Books
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Harry Styles is one of the biggest pop stars in the world right now. From finding fame on The X Factor to his sensational solo success, Harry in 30 Images is a look at Styles’ rise to superstardom. He has earned many accolades and this book will explore 30 of his biggest highlights to date, including his hat trick at the Grammys, performing with Stevie Nicks at the Rock And Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony, and his sold-out Love On Tour. Each of the 30 images is accompanied by an explainer on why it’s such an iconic moment in Harry’s life, and is a must-have for any fan. Harry In 30 Images is a visual history of Styles’ biggest moments to date and proves him as one of the most exciting artists of his generation.”
Elvis Presley Treasures: The Story of the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll Told Through His Personal Mementos
By Gillian Gaar
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “An intimate look at one of the greatest icons of the 20th century, The King of Rock ’n’ Roll, through 100 personal and iconic objects from the archives of Elvis Presley’s beloved home, Graceland — a never-before-seen collection, until now. For the first time, fans will see Elvis’s remarkable life through his treasured personal items, as well as the items that marked iconic milestones in his life, including: Elvis’s first guitar; the Presley family bible; contracts from the King’s early career; Elvis’s comb; annotated scripts from his movies. These treasures and so much more paint a picture of one of the greatest performers of our time. Created in collaboration with the Elvis Presley estate and Graceland, fans of Elvis will get an exclusive look into the life of one of America’s most iconic figures.”
The Extraordinary Life of Henry Mancini: Official Graphic Novel
By David Calcano
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “The Pink Panther theme, Moon River and Peter Gunn are songs that defined a generation. Henry Mancini wrote some of the most hummed melodies of all time, winning him four Oscars and 20 Grammy Awards. For the first time, his fully authorized story is told in a graphic novel by David Calcano, author of books about Rush, The Beach Boys, Tenacious D, Motörhead, Iron Maiden and more. Mancini is one of the most successful and groundbreaking film composers of all-time. From the humble beginnings of his father’s flute lessons to standing ovations at the Hollywood Bowl, this graphic novel by Fantoons beautifully illustrates every step in the journey of his pivotal and industry-shaping career. Each page features vividly painted illustrations, with color that encapsulates each of the many emotions – high and low – of Mancini’s bold, musical adventure. Mancini’s music has left an indelible mark on the film industry, transforming it for generations of new composers to come. Readers can learn the surprising, true stories behind the unforgettable scores of movies such as Breakfast at Tiffany’s, The Pink Panther and TV classics like Peter Gunn. Before the Grammys, Golden Globes, Academy Awards and before becoming one of the highest regarded composers in the history of film, Mancini bravely set out to change cinema forever. Get swept away in the majestic, heartwarming and astonishing symphony that is the extraordinary life of renowned composer Henry Mancini, in this fully illustrated, 180-page graphic novel.”
