Books on Music
BeatChemist
1,465 Posts
The "I wish I knew more about these records" thread got me thinking about how little I know about soooo many genres of music.
I'm sure it's been done before, and I'm sure I could search it, but fuck it. Let's chop it up fresh.
What are your essential music-related books?
Specifically, I'm looking for books that explore the history and evolution of different styles of music. I'm sure there are other here that are into biographical type music reads, so obviously feel free to mention them too! But I want to pick up a few books that will help me expand my perspective and context for the music I love.
Specifically interested in:
- Disco - origins and early acts, influences on club culture and relevance to the LGBT scene
- Early DJ Culture - 70s pioneers, crossover pop/club records, technical info re: early equipment and workarounds
- Soul - anything about it really. My knowledge is basic at best. I know... it's a huge subject lol
- Experimental Electronic Music - give me nerds in studios with synths the size of rooms!
Any info is much appreciated! I regrettably have to admit that I have never really read about music, so I don't have anything great to recommend.
I'm sure it's been done before, and I'm sure I could search it, but fuck it. Let's chop it up fresh.
What are your essential music-related books?
Specifically, I'm looking for books that explore the history and evolution of different styles of music. I'm sure there are other here that are into biographical type music reads, so obviously feel free to mention them too! But I want to pick up a few books that will help me expand my perspective and context for the music I love.
Specifically interested in:
- Disco - origins and early acts, influences on club culture and relevance to the LGBT scene
- Early DJ Culture - 70s pioneers, crossover pop/club records, technical info re: early equipment and workarounds
- Soul - anything about it really. My knowledge is basic at best. I know... it's a huge subject lol
- Experimental Electronic Music - give me nerds in studios with synths the size of rooms!
Any info is much appreciated! I regrettably have to admit that I have never really read about music, so I don't have anything great to recommend.
Comments
This one is for you:
http://www.djhistory.com/books/lastnight
an absolutly essential read!
I think that had a thread around here at some point. Will definitely pick it up.
also have the arthur russell book here but didnt read it yet,so cant comment.
co-sign on the one above as well. "the record players" also drom djhistory is pretty cool too.
there are tons of books about jazz, but soul? i didnt come across one as of yet
the book about whats going on is cool for a motown history
if not there is where did the love go (rise and fall of motown related)
i know there are books about philly soul and chicago soul if you want to get specific
i am reading a bunch of music books so ill post whenevr one really strikes me
the one on impulse records (house that trane built) was good as well
That is to say, Drake and Miley.
It really goes into the L.A./Hollywood Hills scene, with plenty of anecdotes on Arthur Lee's quirkiness and Jim Morrison feuds.
Indeed.
There is a perfect book for you then:
Time Lawrence - Love Saves the Day: A History of American Dance Music Culture, 1970-1979
http://www.amazon.com/Love-Saves-Day-American-1970-1979/dp/0822331985
Another one from the DJ History bunch. This is a collection of the interviews used for last night a DJ saved my life.
http://www.djhistory.com/books/therecordplayers
The bizarre history of the Vocoder
http://www.amazon.com/How-Wreck-Nice-Beach-Vocoder/dp/1612190928
Not exactly long haired dudes with massive synths, but a great history of the nexus of synth and punk music.
http://www.amazon.com/Rip-Up-Start-Again-1978-1984/dp/0143036726/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1379989019&sr=1-1&keywords=tear+it+up+post+punk
If you are interested in synthy types, then this BBC doco on Prog Rock can give you is a pretty good starting point.
This one contained a lot of information and you can get it cheap:
http://www.amazon.com/The-Ambient-Century-Evolution-Electronic/dp/1582341346
You'll skim through some of it but it's a start.
Got an advanced copy of this, can't wait to start.
X-Ray was excellent. Davies is the genuine deal as a writer.
also i'll throw in
You Better Work
http://www.amazon.co.uk/You-Better-Work-Underground-Culture/dp/0819564044
Really enjoying the way they look at the NY disco (in the looser sense of the word) scene from a few different angles, to build a nice overview of why it worked. I have not finished this yet, so i can't give a complete review (not that i ever would tbh)
Energy Flash covers the disco scene a bit, but i would say is also essential reading to learn about dance music culture, also Simon Reynolds has a great writing style.
http://www.amazon.com/Energy-Flash-Journey-Through-Culture/dp/1593764073/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1380224044&sr=1-1&keywords=energy+flash+a+journey+through+rave+music+and+dance+culture
If you're reading that, you might as well read his post punk book. Probably one of my personal favourites.
http://www.amazon.com/Rip-Up-Start-Again-1978-1984/dp/057121570X/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1380224124&sr=1-1&keywords=rip+it+up+and+start+again+uk+edition
If you're going down the rabbit hole, you should probably bone up on your classical too.
http://www.amazon.com/Rest-Noise-Listening-Twentieth-Century/dp/0312427719/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1380224153&sr=1-1&keywords=the+rest+is+noise
I like his "Hardcore Continuum" idea, and I like his style, but he's written some absolute bollocks in the Graun about hip-hop that only shows his ignorance of that particular field.
This is a great book.
Would also recommend anything by Barney Hoskins.