THE BEST MUSIC BOOKS NOW
Dave Grohl, Stevie Nicks, Paul McCartney, Joni Mitchell+
Rockstars transfix the world and make some of the most exciting literary subjects. Here are our picks for some of the best books out there, just in time for your holiday shopping!
The Lyrics: 1965 to the Present(Paul McCartney)
Paul McCartney gathers song lyrics, paintings, and photos from the last 64 years in this two-volume set. They trace his rise to fame, with first-person commentaries from the Beatle on his lyrics and memories. The books reveal new information about songs we’ve been singing for decades, along with familiar stories that have become part of the Beatles’ lore.
The Lyrics: The Yacht Rock Book: The Oral History of the Soft, Smooth Sounds of the 70s and 80s (Greg Prato)
“Yacht Rock” is a much-maligned genre, but for those who know and love it, this book is the perfect gift. Bands like the Doobie Brothers, Hall & Oates, Steely Dan, and Toto are just some well-known bands that created soft-rock sounds. This book chronicles the genre’s creation, with interviews from yacht rock heavys like John Oates, Kenny Loggins, and Don Felder.
The Storyteller: Tales of Life and Music (Dave Grohl)
Dave Grohl’s first book details his life in music, from touring with Scream to finding fame with Nirvana and the Foo Fighters to becoming one of the most well-known drummers in the world. Readers will love hearing Grohl’s first-person accounts of his incredible life.
Sticky Fingers: The Life and Times of Jann Wenner and Rolling Stone Magazine (Joe Hagan)
As a music journalist, this is one of my all-time favorites. Jann Wenner started a small magazine in 1967, and the rest is history. If you want a closer look at that history, this is the book for you. From backstage passes to star-studded shows to wrangling Hunter S. Thompson, Joe Hagan tells it all, and does his best to explain how Wenner changed music media forever.
“Please Kill Me: The Uncensored Oral History of Punk (Legs McNeil, Gilliam McCain)
This book compiles interviews from some of the biggest names in punk history to paint a complete picture of the movement. Interviewees include Iggy Pop, Danny Fields, Dee Dee, Joey Ramone, Malcolm McLaren, Jim Carroll, and many others, giving readers an inside look at punk rockers.
Led Zeppelin: The Biography (Bob Spitz)
Bob Spitz has previously profiled the Beatles, and now he’s setting his sights on the British rock band Led Zeppelin. The group is famously tight-lipped around the press, but Spitz gets to the band’s heart in this book, detailing the relationship between Jimmy Page and Robert Plant and the group’s rise to stardom during a changing music scene.
Girls Like Us: Carole King, Joni Mitchell, Carly Simon – and the Journey of a Generation (Sheila Weller)
This book tells the story of three remarkable singer-songwriters, comparing and contrasting the lives of Caroline King, Joni Mitchell, and Carly Simon. Even though the book covers three lives, Sheila Weller gives equal time and care to each. For those who love the female artists of the 70s, this is the book for you.
Nothin’ But a Good Time: The Uncensored History of the 80s Hard Rock Explosion (Tom Beaujour, Richard Bienstock, Corey Taylor)
The 80s rock scene was like nothing that had come before. Hair was big, pants were tight, and rock songs were more prominent and bolder than ever. In this book, the authors’ interview producers, journalists, label executives, and roadies to get a full picture of the scene. It also boasts interviews from members of iconic 80s bands like Mötley Crüe, Poison, Guns N’ Roses, Skid Row, and Bon Jovi. Reading this will be precisely what the title says: nothing but a good time.
Stevie Nicks: Visions, Dreams & Rumors(Zoë Howe)
Who hasn’t always wanted to know more about the high priestess of rock ‘n’ roll? In this book, Zoë Howe follows Nicks from birth to the present day, all with an objective eye. It also includes interviews with some of Nicks’ inner circle, and offers new information for her dedicated fans.
Dolly Parton, Songteller: My Life in Lyrics(Dolly Parton)
Dolly Parton collected photos, stories, and handwritten lyric sheets for this book. Parton highlights 175 of her songs, sharing the stories behind the lyrics and memories of her rise to superstardom. This one is worth the price tag, with full-size images of Parton’s stunning stage costumes and never-before-seen family photos.
