Now that Halloween’s about out of the way, Christmas is just around the corner. For the true music fan on your list — you know, the one who knows what vinyl and AM radio are — consider these half-dozen (plus one) hardbacks new to stores. They make rockin’ gifts, and four of them are even fab. (If you don’t get that reference, your Shakira download’s almost done.) But, hey, enough of my yakkin’ — let’s allow the publishers to make their payola-free pitches … —Rod Lott
THE BEATLES VS. THE ROLLING STONES: SOUND OPINIONS ON THE GREAT ROCK ‘N’ ROLL RIVALRY by Jim DeRogatis and Greg Kot — Two of the world’s pre-eminent music journalists tackle the liveliest debate in rock history: Which band is the greatest ever, The Beatles or the Rolling Stones? More than two dozen topics of debate are addressed, with cases being made both for the lads from Liverpool and rock’s proto bad boys. From the Cavern and Crawdaddy clubs through head-to-head comparisons of specific albums (e.g., EXILE or THE WHITE ALBUM?), members’ roles within the groups, the Svengali-like managers, influential producers, musical influences and more, this book confronts the topics over which fans have agonized for years. Illustrated throughout with photography and memorabilia, the book also features a lenticular cover piece that alternates between the two acts.
MOZIPEDIA: THE ENCYCLOPEDIA OF MORRISSEY AND THE SMITHS by Simon Goddard — Steven Patrick Morrissey is undoubtedly one of the most original musicians of all time. With The Smiths, he led the most influential British guitar group of the 1980s, and his enigmatic wit and style defined a generation. As a solo artist, he has continued to broach subjects no other singer would dare. The summation of years of interviews and meticulous research by acclaimed music journalist Simon Goddard, MOZIPEDIA is the most in-depth and exhaustive book about the man, the myth and the music that’s ever been published. Bringing together every song, every album, every collaborator, and so much more in more than 600 entries, this is a must-have for Morrissey’s legions of devoted admirers.
FAB: AN INTIMATE LIFE OF PAUL MCCARTNEY by Howard Sounes — FAB is the first exhaustive biography of one of the most famous, talented and wealthiest men alive. It tells Sir Paul’s whole life story, from childhood to present day, from working-class Liverpool beginnings to the cultural phenomenon that was The Beatles to his many solo incarnations. McCartney is a man of contradictions and a consummate musician far more ruthless, ambitious and moody than his relaxed public image implies. Based on original research and more than 200 new interviews, FAB also reveals for the first time the full story of his two marriages, romances, family feuds, phenomenal wealth and complex relationships with his fellow ex-Beatles.
AC/DC: HIGH-VOLTAGE ROCK ‘N’ ROLL: THE ULTIMATE ILLUSTRATED HISTORY by Phil Sutcliffe — Formed in 1973 by brothers Angus and Malcolm Young, AC/DC has become one of the most popular rock bands in history. This massive title follows the act from its roots in Australia to its most recent releases and sold-out world tours. No stone is left unturned, from the AC/DC’s formation and early club gigs to its worldwide success. A special cover incorporating Angus on a spinning disc gives way to more than 400 illustrations, including handbills, posters, backstage passes and vinyl from around the globe, as well as rare candid and performance photography. Sidebars from top rock scribes examine all studio releases and delve into the guitar gear of the Young brothers. The result is an awesome tribute to the band renowned for a live-wire stage show and a sonic attack that have attracted fans from all rock camps.
DECEMBER 8, 1980: THE DAY JOHN LENNON DIED by Keith Elliot Greenberg — In a minute-by-minute format, this book follows the events leading to the horrible moment when Mark David Chapman calmly fired his Charter Arms .38 Special into the rock icon, realizing his perverse fantasy of attaining perennial notoriety. The day begins with a ROLLING STONE photo session that takes on an uncomfortable tone when photographer Annie Leibowitz tries to maneuver Yoko Ono out of the shot. Later, Lennon gives the last interview of his life, declaring, “I consider that my work won’t be finished until I’m dead and buried and I hope that’s a long, long time.” We follow the other Beatles, Lennon’s family, the shooter, fans and New York City officials through the day, as the hours progress. Once the fatal shots are fired, the clock continues to tick, leading to the durable legacy that persists today.
STAR GUITARS: 101 GUITARS THAT ROCKED THE WORLD by Dave Hunter — These are the guitars so famous that their names are often household words: B.B. King’s Lucille, Eric Clapton’s Blackie, Stevie Ray Vaughan’s First Wife, Billy F. Gibbons’ Pearly Gates, Neil Young’s Old Black, and many more. Other guitar histories look at the rank-and-file models, but this illustrated book profiles the actual “star guitars” — the million-dollar babies, such as the 1968 Stratocaster that Jimi Hendrix burned at Woodstock, which sold at Sotheby’s auction house in 1993 for $1,300,000. Amateurs buy guitars to emulate the stars — Clapton’s Strat, Slash’s Les Paul — and this book explains the stars’ modifications, thus showing how others can re-create those famous tones.
IN HIS OWN WRITE AND A SPANIARD IN THE WORKS by John Lennon — Few musicians have impacted popular culture as much as John Lennon. As a singer-songwriter and member of The Beatles, he penned the soundtrack to countless lives. He also produced two classic books of poetry, prose and sketches, first published separately in the 1960s and now reissued in an omnibus edition to commemorate the 70th anniversary of his birth. Illustrated with Lennon’s drawings, both explore the mind of the enigmatic artist. His gift for verse stands out, as does his quirky sense of humor. His imaginative stories and poems are, like his best songs, utterly irresistible. Paul McCartney and Yoko Ono provide the introductions.
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{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }
No Spiderkiss by Harlan Ellison? It is the one novel that was accepted into the Rock n Roll Hall of Fame. It was slated to be a film with Elvis as Stagg Preston.
Sorry, Erik — These are just limited to brand-new releases.
A few months ago I was listening to a radio inteview here in portland, about a new book that I thought would be perfect for a couple people in my family, ufortunatly I did not write down the author nor the true name of the book. The name was something like… “Things I didn’t want to know about music or maybe it was rock & Roll”. It was stories in the music world that most people did not know.
Do you have any ideas? Thank you for any help you can send my way.
Vicky