Post by gremashlo on Aug 31, 2008 8:48:50 GMT -5
About a month ago, I picked up "Singles--Six Decades of Hot Hits and Classic Cuts" as a discount book, and it is a very good read. (It's also rather large--it is almost as 'big' physically as "Beatles Anthology" so don't look for a paperback.)
It is a British book (but it has an American publisher--Thunder Bay Press), so there are a lot of references to Brit acts that never caught on in the States--but there are some interesting statements and bits of trivia (I thought I'd heard just about all the 'important' nuggets of rock history, but this has some items that I'd never caught)--and the illustrations are excellent. The selections go through it's publication date--2006, so it has a significant collection of recent artists as well as the "legends".
It also has both USA and UK chart placings, which helps its "research book" credentials.
Plus, it has a nice "opinionated" feel, so it avoids being too dry or predictable--it also includes some novelty-style songs that "respectable" rock archivists ignore. It is similar to Dave Marsh's 1001 Singles epic, though not quite as scholarly (and not nearly as self-possessed and narcissistic). And as you read, you realize that the editors may NOT be entirely fond of the 'classic' songs they are reviewing! That was an eye-opener.
As you read, you'll also note that they often selected songs from popular artists that are commonly ignored, while ignoring the artist's major hits--at times that is refreshing, and at times frustrating.
I picked up my copy for about 6 bucks--look for one if you can find it!
ISBN-13 97801059223-651-0, for those interested...
It is a British book (but it has an American publisher--Thunder Bay Press), so there are a lot of references to Brit acts that never caught on in the States--but there are some interesting statements and bits of trivia (I thought I'd heard just about all the 'important' nuggets of rock history, but this has some items that I'd never caught)--and the illustrations are excellent. The selections go through it's publication date--2006, so it has a significant collection of recent artists as well as the "legends".
It also has both USA and UK chart placings, which helps its "research book" credentials.
Plus, it has a nice "opinionated" feel, so it avoids being too dry or predictable--it also includes some novelty-style songs that "respectable" rock archivists ignore. It is similar to Dave Marsh's 1001 Singles epic, though not quite as scholarly (and not nearly as self-possessed and narcissistic). And as you read, you realize that the editors may NOT be entirely fond of the 'classic' songs they are reviewing! That was an eye-opener.
As you read, you'll also note that they often selected songs from popular artists that are commonly ignored, while ignoring the artist's major hits--at times that is refreshing, and at times frustrating.
I picked up my copy for about 6 bucks--look for one if you can find it!
ISBN-13 97801059223-651-0, for those interested...
