Book Review: The Unreleased Beatles by Richie Unterberger

Their must be more books that have been written about the Beatles then about any other pop band in the history of rock and roll. There are books detailing their tours, their recording techniques, their lyrics, their musical equipment, their personal lives, their business affairs, their effect on culture and it goes on and on. With that in mind, there are certain Beatles books that I actually want to read and no, not another book on the influence of Yoko!

Richie Unterberger is a well known and widely respected rock writer who has written a mamouth, 288 page tome that analyses all the unreleased Beatles music and film out there in amazing detail. Want to know about “Carnival of Light?” It’s all in here. How about the infamous 27 minute version of “Helter Skelter?” Ditto. Everything unreleased, whether on film or on recording tape is covered in such detail that it will take you weeks to sift through it all but it is an amazing read and a fascinating story, especially as it delves into things like the individual Beatles’ home recordings and experiments.

All in all, I’d say you don’t even have to be a Beatles nut to pick up this book. This is rock and roll history and as such it is a treasure trove of information than no self respecting rock and roll fan would want to miss. A fine read.

Later.

War of the Rock Critics Polls

Upstart music blog Idolator is taking on the venerable Pazz and Jop Poll in a battle of the rock critics polls according to Jockeying for top music poll position. It seems that not everyone is thrilled with the changes that new ownership has brought to the Village Voice and so Idolator has decided to compile their own critics poll as a snubb of the historic Pazz and Jop Poll that has dominated until now. Of course a lot of the same critics are participating in both but it will be interesting to compare them to see what they have in common and where they differ.

Later.

Got my Big Takeover!

I just picked up my copy of one of the best music mags out there in The Big Takeover and it is quite the monster issue. Since it’s only published twice a year, every issue is literally crammed with so many interviews and reviews that it takes a couple of months just to digest it all!

I would highly recommend you pick up a copy and one of the first things you should do is go to the letters section and read publisher Jack Rabid’s response to a reader that thinks the magazine has gone too bland. It’s an excellent introduction to the art of putting together a magazine and an eloquent defence of The Big Takeover, as if it ever needed one.

Always a fine rock and roll read.

Later.

Latest Perfect Sound Forever for Dec/Jan has been posted

I just noticed that one of the best webzines on the web, Perfect Sound Forever has just published their December-January edition. Always a good read.

Later.

Motley Crue are pretty sexy according to Playboy

Here I go, combing Playboy.com for more rock and roll fun! According to Playboy.Com, Motley Crue’s infamous biography “The Dirt” is one of the 10 Sexiest Memoirs of All Time. What can one really say about this without getting completely raunchy? Ya right, nothing. Read the book and then go take a cold shower.

Later.

New Perfect Sound Forever out!

One of the best music mags on the net has got to be Perfect Sound Forever, a well written, informative and always fascinating take on music and music history. Well the October/November issue continues that fine tradition with amongst other things a look at the strange (and I mean strange) simularities between the late Syd Barrett and Robyn Hitchcock, the re-emergence of psychedelia, a look at Buddy Holly and a list of “flawed power pop gems.” Always worth your while to check out, Perfect Sound Forever is definitely a cool read. And they are now on MySpace!
Later.

Book Review: Laurel Canyon - The Inside Story Of Rock And Roll’s Legendary Neighborhood

Book Review: Laurel Canyon - The Inside Story Of Rock And Roll’s Legendary Neighborhood

by MuzikMan,

MusicDish Network Sponsor

Title: Laurel Canyon–The Inside Story of Rock and Roll’s Legendary Neighborhood

Artist: Michael Walker

Format:Hardcover

Length: 304 pages

Publisher: Faber & Faber (May 16, 2006)

Language: English

ISBN: 0571211496

So you think you know about the history of rock and roll? I would consider myself very knowledgeable with the exception of an entire block of time in the Œ60s that was essential in the development of music.

“Laurel Canyon - The Inside Story of Rock and Roll’s Legendary Neighborhood” fills in the gaps for those of us that think San Francisco and the Haight-Ashbury scene got things started. Granted the SF element was a key factor that was very important, but 396 miles down the coast there was a parallel universe taking shape that was of equal importance.

My interest in this book and the subject matter happened because of my fascination with the story of Crosby, Stills and Nash, Jackson Browne, and The Eagles. All three were a big part of this bubbling counterculture stuck in a canyon just outside one of the world centers for entertainment, Los Angeles.

Author Michael Walker does a nice job of taking you back to when it all began with an in depth look at the stars that made this place so unique and legendary. There was a lot more to Laurel Canyon than Joni Mitchell, Mama Cass Elliot, and CSN; there were the first groupies, producers, moviemakers, and many others that had their own stories to tell. The one all time rock great that was probably the most important piece of this puzzle besides Cass was Frank Zappa. Zappa and his wife hosted one of the first ever rock communes. In this day, a SWAT team would be there burning it down to ashes.

I consumed this book like a child hungry for knowledge. It provided me with an education and enlightenment into the music business, as I never had before. I find it amazing that some of the people that were part of that whole period are still around today to tell the tale. I felt as if I was right there front row and center watching it all unfold before me. Even though there were strange happenings and drugs involved there was innocence about the entire thing.

Of course, that all changed once cocaine made its introduction then people started getting too weird and everything got scary, hence Laurel Canyon was never the same. The rock Œn’ roll nirvana did not last, alas, it never does. There is so much more in between all of that, it all comes together just as a storybook should. The fact that this book is all based on true events and accounts from the people that were there making it happen and witnessing it, makes that much more enthralling of read.

I highly recommend this book for anyone that has an attraction to what goes on behind the music. Michael Walker has written the bible of LA music. From cover to cover, it is an absorbing and fascinating read, unforgettable.

Provided by the MusicDish Network. Copyright © MusicDish LLC 2006 - Republished with Permission

Are these the 10 greatest rock and roll books of all time?

Earvolution has a great list that has touched off an interestig debate as to what would be considered the 10 greatest books about rock and roll. For the record author David Schultz lists his choices as:

• Chronicles: Volume 1 - Bob Dylan (2004)
• FM: The Rise And Fall Of Rock Radio - Richard Neer (2001)
• The Commitments - Roddy Doyle (1987)
• The Mansion On The Hill: Dylan, Young, Geffen and Springsteen and the Head-On Collision Of Rock and Commerce - Fred Goodman (1997)
• Death Of A Rebel - The Phil Ochs Story - Marc Eliot (1989)
• The Ground Beneath Her Feet - Salman Rushdie (1999)
• Fargo Rock City: A Heavy Metal Odyssey In Rural North Dakota - Chuck Klosterman (2001)
• Psychotic Reactions And Carburetor Dung - Lester Bangs (1988)
• The Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test - Tom Wolfe (1968)
• Parental Advisory: Music Censorship In America - Eric Nuzum (2001)

A good list to be sure but I would include the following in any list of mine:

• Diary of a Rock n Roll Star (Lead Singer for Mott the Hoople) by Ian Hunter
• A Journey Through America With the Rolling Stones (Music) by Robert Greenfield (probably my all time favourite book on rock and roll)
• Love Me Do! by Michael Braun

After glancing over at my bookshelf I realize that I could add a bunch more but these 3 are certainly 3 of the best in my humble opinion.

Later.

Brand New Fufkin!

Not sure if I mentioned this before but the seriously cool Fufkin.Com has been updated for June/July 2006 with more great record reviews and other cool content.

Great site as always.

Later.

New Ugly Things Magazine due late July 2006

If you’re a fan of “Nuggets” style garage rock and roll then you will be happy to know that the latest issue of Ugly Things Magazine is due to be released in late July, 2006. Their biggest issue yet, it is expected to include: A Southern California garage rock special, stories and articles on The Flamin’ Groovies and Rubber City Rebels and The Phantom Brothers as well as an article on the ’60’s band scene in Peru plus tons more stuff.

If you are at all interested in rock and roll history then you have to check out Ugly Things, lovingly put together by Mike Stax and his wife Anja. Always a cool rock and roll read and perfect to bring to the beach.

Later.

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