Arts & Music Books > Popular Music Arts & Music Books > 5 GBP to 9 GBP

Advantages: Extremely well researched and informative book about a true musical icon
Disadvantages: Slightly long winded, over-involved at times

I can't really say I've been a huge Who fan, I liked all their singles yet don't own any of their albums, but having musical friends it always surprised me how so many drummers would quote 'Keith Moon' as a major source of musical, and often also social, influence. I'd heard some stories about Moon the Loon but mostly thought he drowned in a car in the swimming pool (yes, I was confused with Brian Jones of the Stones)! After reading this book I have ...
...as it pretty much covers it all. Author Tony Fletcher reveals at the end of the book that, when a teenager, he met Keith shortly before his death and you can tell it's a subject close to his heart. With so many Chinese whispers, urban legends and the Who themselves exaggerating stories surrounding the legend of Keith Moon it must be hard to unravel exactly what actually happened but he certainly tries his best although occasionally gets a bit side-tracked ... Read review

Advantages: Superb anecdotes telling all about the birth of the movement within the US
Disadvantages: Could do with a little editing in places (some tell better stories than others)

'Please Kill Me' is a book which claims to be an 'oral history of punk rock' as told to by notable New York music writer Legs McNeil, and acts as a good accompaniment to the recent 'End of the Century' Ramones dvd release. It starts with the days of the Velvet Underground, through to the MC5, Iggy & The Stooges, and the New York Dolls, and the punk explosion in the mid 70's the Ramones until everything for McNeil pretty much flatlines in 1992. It ...
...and some of the stories that are told are truly outstanding. My favourite is the story of Iggy Pop being on stage completely out of his skull, when Elton John (yes, Elton John) walks on from behind dressed in a gorilla costume & shocks Iggy so much, that in his state, he truly believes that a real gorilla is assaulting him. I think the reason I enjoyed the book so much is that McNeil allows the people who were there to just tell their story, and ... Read review

Advantages: A book for the Beach Boys fan, who wants to know in-depth information without tabloid rubbish
Disadvantages: Interviews with Carl Wilson are not mentioned.

This book is not really a overview of the songs and albums The Beach Boys made, but a biography that gives a good in-depth view about all kinds of aspects in their musical carriere. The author, Kingsley Abott, made a study on a number of articles (known and unknown) and created a representative and critical source of information. Ofcourse the 'Pet Sounds' and 'Smile' period are extensively written about. This was the most important period in the ... Read review

Advantages: very comprehensive
Disadvantages: none

...the emotional conundrum that is Morrissey than the comparatively straight-laced guitar genius, Johnny Marr. Indeed a large section of the first part of the book is a history of the Morrissey family before little Stephen's conception. Notes of interest include the fact that Mozza's dad was a good footballer. The most interesting parts of the book however are those that deal with the band's shortlived career. Rogan searches for explanations for some ... Read review

Advantages: See opinion.
Disadvantages: See opinion.

...house.'" Each part of Light My Fire about the music is just as enthusiastic as that and they're the best parts of it for me; they're fun to read but they're also incredibly interesting because Manzarek isn't afraid to talk technical. You get the full explanation of the styles, the keys, the chords, the arrangements and the productions without ever being talked down to. I discovered a lot about musical composition by reading Manzarek's book but he ...
...of making it big, of Light My Fire becoming number one in the American charts. Of Jim singing 'higher' and not 'better' on the Ed Sullivan Show and scandalising the nation, of Jim performing on stage like a Native American Shaman, of gigs bigger and better and more psychedelic. All the anecdotes are here and they're all sadly set against the backdrop of the huge gulf apparent between the peacenik outlook of Manzarek and his wife and Morrison's decline ... Read review