Books about music

Tomahawk · 10-30-2005, 09:20 AM

I've been reading up on music lately. I've recently been into Psychotic Reactions and Carburetor Dung (a collection of Lester Bangs articles and reviews), Sweet Soul Music (by Peter Guralnick, about Stax Records), and Johnny Cash's autobiography.

Anyway, I decided I'd like to read some more music related books. So, anybody got some recommendations? General history, or analysis, or biographies, whatever. I almost bought the Tim/Jeff Buckley dual biography thing a few days ago, is that one any good?

Also, does anybody know a good Beatles biography? There's a million of them, and I don't wanna get a crappy one.

Sam · 10-30-2005, 09:22 AM

Our Band Could Be Your Life by Micheal Azerad (sp?) is really great. It has biographies of alot of SST bands and other bands in the American underground during the 80s. Black Flag, Minutemen, Dinosaur, Butthole Surfers, Husker Du, Mission of Burma, etc. Really cool book.

***Zappa*** · 10-30-2005, 09:25 AM

The Real Frank Zappa Book is a nice, biased look at various Zappa related information. I dug it.

Miles and Me is a really good biography of Miles Davis as told by friend Quincy Troupe.

I know I've read more, but they don't come it mind at the moment.

Jonney Blazes V1 · 10-30-2005, 09:26 AM

walk on- spiritual journey of U2 is a good read..

Anxious · 10-30-2005, 09:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sam

Our Band Could Be Your Life by Micheal Azerad (sp?) is really great. It has biographies of alot of SST bands and other bands in the American underground during the 80s. Black Flag, Minutemen, Dinosaur, Butthole Surfers, Husker Du, Mission of Burma, etc. Really cool book.

Damn good book.

The great Indie Discography is another awesome book, its by Martin Strong. Its about 1,000 pages, and its basicly a dictionary of Indie music from the last 40 years.

The_Passenger · 10-30-2005, 10:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sam

Our Band Could Be Your Life by Micheal Azerad (sp?) is really great. It has biographies of alot of SST bands and other bands in the American underground during the 80s. Black Flag, Minutemen, Dinosaur, Butthole Surfers, Husker Du, Mission of Burma, etc. Really cool book.

I've been meaning to get that book for ages now, but I've never gotten round to it. It does sound great though.

~~EightMilesHigh~~ · 10-30-2005, 10:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Anxious Mo-Fo

Damn good book.

The great Indie Discography is another awesome book, its by Martin Strong. Its about 1,000 pages, and its basicly a dictionary of Indie music from the last 40 years.

I might have to read that.

Bukowski · 10-30-2005, 11:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sam

Our Band Could Be Your Life by Micheal Azerad (sp?) is really great. It has biographies of alot of SST bands and other bands in the American underground during the 80s. Black Flag, Minutemen, Dinosaur, Butthole Surfers, Husker Du, Mission of Burma, etc. Really cool book.

This book sounds awesome - I'm gonna have to get it. Now all I need is money.

And about the title of the book, I've heard that line somewhere before but I can't think where, and now it's annoying me. FCUK!

Anxious · 10-30-2005, 11:13 AM

Its from Minutemen-History Lesson Part II

Bukowski · 10-30-2005, 11:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Anxious Mo-Fo

Its from Minutemen-History Lesson Part II

Damn! The very first line, too. This is one of the best spoken word tracks ever, I think.

Know_Your_Onion! · 10-30-2005, 11:24 AM

as for Beatles, I rather enjoyed Albert Goldman's The Lives of John Lennon, though I am unfortunately in the minority in that aspect...

Anxious · 10-30-2005, 11:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bukowski

Damn! The very first line, too. This is one of the best spoken word tracks ever, I think.

Ever.

Daniel! · 10-30-2005, 11:25 AM

I might look into the ones Sam and Anxious Mo-Fo mentioned.

Zesty Mordant · 10-30-2005, 11:26 AM

I keep saying this over and over again: The Dirt by Motley Crue.

I don't even particularly like the band but the book is just ridiculously entertaining and well, good. It's even surprisingly well-written as well.

robo2448 · 10-30-2005, 11:44 AM

The Beatles Anthology is great. It's incredibly expensive though... so it depends how much you're willing to spend. I think it's well worth the money, but then again I got it as a gift and didn't have to pay for it with my own money. Bob Dylan's Chronicles is an incredible book as well. I want to get Levon Helm's book about The Band.

***morrissey*** · 10-30-2005, 12:39 PM

I borrowed the Beatles Anthology from the library... most people already know the general story but that goes into unimaginable detail. Very well put together and it's presented nicely as well. I might buy it someday just to have it, but if I were you I would definitely borrow it from your local library if they carry it.

Robert Crumb · 10-30-2005, 01:08 PM

The other collection of Lester Bangs stuff, Mainlines, Blood Feasts and Bad Taste would be a good read if you enjoyed Carburetor Dung. Right now I'm reading a biography about Sun Ra: Space is the Place by John F. Szwed. Very interesting to hear about his pre-Sun Ra days, about a quarter of the way through right now. I also read a biography on Brian Jones recently, he's got an interesting mystery story behind him. The book I read wasn't terribly great, though.

lilsolsman · 10-30-2005, 03:43 PM

Elliott Smith And The Big Nothing by Benjamin Nugent

Can anyone tell me if this is any good? I plan on reading it someday.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tomahawk

I almost bought the Tim/Jeff Buckley dual biography thing a few days ago, is that one any good?

I read that, that was an awesome book.

~~something vague~~ · 10-30-2005, 03:59 PM

This Wheel's On Fire by Levon Helm.

Ficus · 10-30-2005, 04:40 PM

Fargo Rock City by Chuck Klosterman. Great read, I thought it was entertaining.

10-30-2005, 09:20 AM	#1
Tomahawk making plans for nigel Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: land of confusion Posts: 3,279	Books about music I've been reading up on music lately. I've recently been into Psychotic Reactions and Carburetor Dung (a collection of Lester Bangs articles and reviews), Sweet Soul Music (by Peter Guralnick, about Stax Records), and Johnny Cash's autobiography. Anyway, I decided I'd like to read some more music related books. So, anybody got some recommendations? General history, or analysis, or biographies, whatever. I almost bought the Tim/Jeff Buckley dual biography thing a few days ago, is that one any good? Also, does anybody know a good Beatles biography? There's a million of them, and I don't wanna get a crappy one.

10-30-2005, 09:25 AM	#3
*Zappa* Tatiana Ali! Supermod Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Alongside Posts: 9,992	The Real Frank Zappa Book is a nice, biased look at various Zappa related information. I dug it. Miles and Me is a really good biography of Miles Davis as told by friend Quincy Troupe. I know I've read more, but they don't come it mind at the moment. __________________ "The present-day composer refuses to die"— Edgar Varèse "I don't want to sell my music. I'd like give it away because where I got it, you didn't have to pay for it"—Captain Beefheart Golden rule for music: "if it sounds good to you, it's bitchen. If it sounds bad to you, it's sh[i][/i]itty."—Frank Zappa

10-30-2005, 12:39 PM	#16
*morrissey* Pictoral Pontification Supermod Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: I don't need luck Posts: 10,999	I borrowed the Beatles Anthology from the library... most people already know the general story but that goes into unimaginable detail. Very well put together and it's presented nicely as well. I might buy it someday just to have it, but if I were you I would definitely borrow it from your local library if they carry it. __________________ Daniel Alfredsson is a Golden God.
	Digging: Taylor Swift - Fearless

10-30-2005, 09:22 AM	#2
Sam Suburbancore Join Date: Sep 2004 Posts: 1,935	Our Band Could Be Your Life by Micheal Azerad (sp?) is really great. It has biographies of alot of SST bands and other bands in the American underground during the 80s. Black Flag, Minutemen, Dinosaur, Butthole Surfers, Husker Du, Mission of Burma, etc. Really cool book.

10-30-2005, 09:26 AM	#4
Jonney Blazes V1 Registered User Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 89	walk on- spiritual journey of U2 is a good read..

10-30-2005, 11:13 AM	#9
Anxious handsome squidward Join Date: Jun 2004 Posts: 13,177	Its from Minutemen-History Lesson Part II

10-30-2005, 11:24 AM	#11
Know_Your_Onion! <("<) <( " )> (>")> Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: If there's a bright center to the universe, the farthest place from it. Posts: 42	as for Beatles, I rather enjoyed Albert Goldman's The Lives of John Lennon, though I am unfortunately in the minority in that aspect...

10-30-2005, 11:25 AM	#13
Daniel! I Care About Nutrition Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: California Posts: 2,671	I might look into the ones Sam and Anxious Mo-Fo mentioned.

10-30-2005, 11:26 AM	#14
Zesty Mordant b-batteries dammit! Join Date: Aug 2004 Posts: 2,322	I keep saying this over and over again: The Dirt by Motley Crue. I don't even particularly like the band but the book is just ridiculously entertaining and well, good. It's even surprisingly well-written as well.

10-30-2005, 11:44 AM	#15
robo2448 Get Back Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: i was born a ramblin' man Posts: 4,883	The Beatles Anthology is great. It's incredibly expensive though... so it depends how much you're willing to spend. I think it's well worth the money, but then again I got it as a gift and didn't have to pay for it with my own money. Bob Dylan's Chronicles is an incredible book as well. I want to get Levon Helm's book about The Band.

10-30-2005, 01:08 PM	#17
Robert Crumb yeah baby shine that lamp Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: shine that lamp on this sad, sad man Posts: 4,429	The other collection of Lester Bangs stuff, Mainlines, Blood Feasts and Bad Taste would be a good read if you enjoyed Carburetor Dung. Right now I'm reading a biography about Sun Ra: Space is the Place by John F. Szwed. Very interesting to hear about his pre-Sun Ra days, about a quarter of the way through right now. I also read a biography on Brian Jones recently, he's got an interesting mystery story behind him. The book I read wasn't terribly great, though.

10-30-2005, 03:59 PM	#19
~~something vague~~ Banned Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 599	This Wheel's On Fire by Levon Helm.

10-30-2005, 04:40 PM	#20
Ficus soup guice Join Date: Jun 2004 Posts: 1,109	Fargo Rock City by Chuck Klosterman. Great read, I thought it was entertaining.