Music Books

A Year with Swollen Appendices: Brian Eno's Diary
(2020 - 25th anniversary reissue of 1995 original)

Search tells me this hasn't been mentioned since 2014 and I've just read it so thought I'd give it a mention
Diary format might not be for everyone but I thought it was absolutely brilliant, so many great ideas contained in it and a really fascinating insight into working with bands and generally being a creative thinker/producer. The appendices are excellent (essays). Recommended!

 

A good book, but reading it, Eno persuaded me to buy the Passengers album, which was an unforgiveable breach of the trust between author and reader.

 

Just picked up Jimi: 80th Birthday Edition
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1797220012/?tag=pinkfishmedia-21\

 

My daughters bought me this for my birthday last week

 

Bunnyman by Will Sergeant.

I'm only on the 5th chapter but so far quite funny and entertaining even if a little grim.

 

I'm currently in the middle of Trevor Horn's autobiog. Enjoying it so far. For some reason I'd always thought of him as a mild mannered chap (I suppose it's the glasses!), but he seems to have been fairly ruthless with some of the artists he worked with.

 

Definitely worth a read ... especially if you're from 'up north'.


Stephen

 

I suspect every successful musician is more or less a bit of a rutheless sh%t.

That's my excuse anyhow.

Stephen

 

The Marquee: The Story Of The Worlds Greatest Music Venue:

http://www.paradiseroad.co.uk/marquee-the-story-of-the-worlds-greatest-music-venue

and a Richard Williams revue:

https://thebluemoment.com/2023/03/03/at-the-marquee/

Fond memories? Not sure. Just glad they didn’t bottle the fragrance of the place.

 

They are for me!

Stephen

 

And a free oscilloscope ...


Stephen

 

A tad late but I have a lot of books on the go currently:-

"Charlies Good Tonight" - the best Stone biography I have read to date. If you like Charlie Watts then this will elevate him even more.

 

Rick Rubin's new book 'The Creative Act' is essential for anyone interested in creativity in any field. It's not exclusively about music, or particularly about music at all actually, but his thoughts and musings on process, choice, purpose etc are really interesting and often very inspirational. Highly recommended.

 

I think I should get the forthcoming Sly Stone autobiography on pre-order.

 

Neil Ardley - Kaleidoscopes And Rainbows
(with 2 CD's of unreleased music & download) (Jazz In Britain)

https://jazzinbritain1.bandcamp.com...o-cds-of-unreleased-music-and-a-free-download

 

I've just started reading Acid for the Children: A Memoir by Flea: Given to me by a Patti Smith fan. I wasn't sure if i'd enjoying it....
I've just got to the bit (about of a third of the way through) where he starts to play the trumpet and meets Dizzy Gillespie as a child, the way he describes the instrument, other Jazz musicians and the meeting with Gillespie is dazzlingly beautiful and alive.
I feel like everything has come full circle, when i was a kid i saw the film Lets get Lost on Channel 4. A biography about Chet Baker, filmed by photographer Bruce Weber, i was totally hypnotised by the B&W photography, i didn't really understand why and the effect it would have. I'd never heard of Chet Baker at that point, Flea was right there at the start of the film.