Rock and Roll Reads: Richard Blade thriller, 'Bowie at 75,' Belle and Sebastian Illustrated Lyrics, more!

Whether you are looking to add a good book to your personal library or seeking out early holiday gift ideas, there are a number of wonderful new titles available in print now.

Title: Ghosts of the Congo

Author: Richard Blade

Publisher: BladeRocker Books

Hardcover: 335 pages

Tell me more: One of America's best-known and popular DJs, Richard Blade hosts a daily show on SiriusXM's 1st Wave and on KCBS. He has recently earned well-deserved acclaim for his writing, penning an autobiography (World In My Eyes), a collection of interviews conducted during the pandemic (The Lockdown Interviews) and a series of exciting novels including SPQR, Birthright and Imposters. Blending the action-packed adventure of an Edgar Rice Burroughs classic with the pulse of an edgy contemporary political thriller, Blade's latest novel Ghosts of the Congo will keep readers engaged and entertained. Blade has a gift for using sharp dialogue, winning characters and colorful detail to propel his suspense-filled storytelling across every page. From the ravaged streets of America's broken cities and top levels of power in Washington, D.C. to the most remote jungles of West Africa, the events that play out in Ghosts Of The Congo blur the line between fiction and modern history. The story revolves around a thrilling rescue mission to save a group of America's most important VIPs, including the nation's First Lady and the Vice President. Read this thrilling novel before some savvy producer makes it into a cinematic blockbuster. Information: RichardBlade.com.

Title: Bowie at 75

Author: Martin Popoff

Publisher: Motorbooks

Hardcover with slipcase: 208 pages

Tell me more: Acclaimed author/rock music aficionado Martin Popoff has turned his expertise and wordcraft to celebrate the legacy of the late David Bowie. The essential Bowie at 75 is a fascinating and well-researched volume that chronicles distinct sides of Bowie's wide-ranging career that sadly ended with the release of his final album Blackstar on his 69th birthday — that masterwork was released a mere two days before his death on Jan. 10, 2016. Popoff brings the reader on a fast-moving chronological journey through 75 "career highlights" of Bowie's life. The result is both a well-aimed introduction and exhaustive appreciation of his singular journey as a pioneering singer-songwriter, genre-defying rockstar and acclaimed actor. Fully illustrated with historic photographs (including 250 color images), memorabilia such as concert posters, 7-inch picture sleeves and more, this is an important and objective appreciation of one of one of rock music's most influential names.  Information: quarto.com.

Title: Belle and Sebastian: Illustrated Lyrics

Authors: Lyrics by Stuart Murdoch; Illustrations by Pamela Tait

Publisher: Thames & Hudson

Hardcover: 128 pages; 40 illustrations in color and B&W

Tell me more: Scottish chamber pop outfit Belle and Sebastian has enjoyed acclaim for a winning parade of albums dating back to their 1996 debut Tigermilk. Now band leader Stuart Murdoch has teamed with illustrator Pamela Tait on the new hardcover title Belle and Sebastian: Illustrated Lyrics. The lovely collaboration features enticing visual reinterpretations of many of Belle and Sebastian's best-known songs including "If You're Feeling Sinister," "The Boy with the Arab Strap," "Piazza, New York Catcher," "Another Sunny Day" and "Nobody's Empire." A fateful project to be sure, Murdoch first fell in love with Tait's intricate and expressive illustrations when he rediscovered an old fan email sent to him by her a decade earlier. Now fans of Belle and Sebastian — as well as Tait's signature artwork - can share in the magic. Information: ThamesAndudsonUSA.com.

Title: Through the Prism: Untold Rock Stories from the Hipgnosis Archive

Author: Aubrey Powell

Publisher: Thames & Hudson

Hardcover: 320 pages

Tell me more: Those looking for a behind-the-scenes close-up look at the world of a number of classic rock masters will want to pick up Through the Prism: Untold Stories from the Hipgnosis Archive. Fans of Pink Floyd, AC/DC, Led Zeppelin, Black Sabbath, The Who, The Police, Paul McCartney and others will all enjoy insights courtesy of designer, photographer and filmmaker Aubrey "Po" Powell. The multi-talented artist founded the graphic design studio Hipgnosis with Storm Thorgerson in 1968; this is a lavish edition to be sure with more than 250 illustrations and photographs spread across the volume's 320 pages. What's more, Powell is brutally honest as the shares previously-untold tales featuring a notable cast of musicians, actors, managers, comedians and world leaders. From the founding of Hipgnosis in the midst of rock and roll's golden age to surviving drug busts and sharing details about the birth of the most famous album cover of all time (Dark Side of the Moon), this is a must have title. Information: ThamesAndudsonUSA.com.

Title: Disturbing The Peace: 415 Records and the Rise of New Wave

Author: Bill Kopp

Publisher: HoZac Books

Paperback: 362 pages

Tell me more: Wire Train, Romeo Void, Red Rockers, The Nuns, Roky Erickson and Translator are only a few of the groundbreaking artists with ties to seminal San Francisco-based 415 Records in the late 1970s and early-to-mid 1980s. Now author Bill Kopp is revisiting the Bay Area's thriving indie music scene of that era via the wonderful Disturbing The Peace: 415 Records and the Rise of New Wave. Based on nearly 100 interviews with artists, industry executives, friends, producers, journalists and more, the book also features hundreds of photos, gig posters and memorabilia from the personal archives of those who were in the midst of the burgeoning music scene championed by 415 (pronounced four-one-five) Records. The book also features a foreword by Joel Selvin. Information: 415book.com.

Robert Kinsler

New music: The B-52s, 'The Soul of Midnight Special,' 'Linda & the Mockingbirds' documentary, Def Leppard live releases

Whether your musical tastes favor groundbreaking New Wave, classic '70s soul, British favorites Def Leppard or traditional Mexican music, there are outstanding new releases to discover. 

Artist: The B-52s

Title: Live At US Festival (Shout! Factory)

You might like if you enjoy: the B-52's, Devo, the US Festival

Tell me more: Thirty-eight years after the B-52s took the stage at the inaugural US Festival in September 1982, the group's fabled appearance – featuring the band's classic era lineup – is available to see via a terrific DVD. The groundbreaking forerunner to Coachella, the US Festival was a music, technology and culture event staged in Glen Helen Regional Park in the Southern California desert in 1982 and again in 1983. The B-52s' performance has long been considered one of the finest of the two-year event and its showcase on the Shout! Factory release delivers on that promise in spades. The B-52s are on fire throughout the performance, fueling a bona fide dance party with one surefire uptempo post-punk New Wave track after another. Led by singer Fred Schneider, singer-percussionist Cindy Wilson, singer-keyboardist Kate Pierson, guitar great Ricky Wilson (who passed away in 1985) and drummer Keith Strickland, the band is also joined by a two-man horn section (sax player Ralph Carney, trumpeter Dave Buck) to further power the dance-minded material in the performance.  The fast-moving set includes 13 classic originals including beloved favorites "Party Out Of Bounds," "Planet Claire," "Mesopotamia," "Private Idaho" and "Rock Lobster." There are also interview segments where Schneider, Cindy Wilson and Kate Pierson discuss the US Festival performance, Ricky Wilson's contributions, and their enduring career. Information: ShoutFactory.com.

Artist: Al Green, Sly & the Family Stone, Ray Charles, James Brown, many more

Title: The Soul of Midnight Special (TimeLife)

You might like if you enjoy: James Brown, Al Green, Sly & the Family Stone, Chuck Berry, the Staple Singers

Tell me more: Fans of '70s soul music will want to get the newly-released "The Soul of Midnight Special," featuring more than 70 live performances. The performances are offered up in chronological order, spanning from February 1973 to December 1976. Highlights on this collection – which includes more than 70 inspired live performances spanning five DVD discs – abound; the Spinners' "I'll Be Around," the O'Jays "Love Train," Ray Charles' "Georgia on My Mind," Gladys Knight and B.B. King collaborating on "The Thrill Is Gone," and Billy Preston's "Will It Go Round in Circles" are among the countless standouts on the early part of this collection. Bill Withers' "Ain't No Sunshine" and "Lean On Me," Al Green's "Let's Stay Together," the Staple Singers' "Let's Do It Again" and "Respect Yourself," James Brown's "Sex Machine," and Earth, Wind & Fire's "Devotion" shine on the latter part of the title. Among the hosts seen on the set are Lou Rawls, The Bee Gees, Paul Williams, Wilson Pickett, Wolfman Jack, Helen Reddy and Chuck Berry (who is also featured offering up a terrific version of "Johnny B. Goode"). The audio and visual quality of the discs is good and it's great to see so many legendary artists performing their greatest hits. Information: TimeLife.com.

Artist: Linda Ronstadt, Jackson Browne, traditional Mexican music

Title: Linda and the Mockingbirds (Shout! Studios / PCH Films)

You might like if you enjoy: Linda Ronstadt, Jackson Browne, Los Cenzontles

Tell me more: Since 1989, San Pablo, California-based Los Cenzontles Cultural Arts Academy has trained thousands of children in the art of traditional Mexican music and dance. Multi-Grammy Award winner Linda Ronstadt's long-time support of the group led to the production of a powerful new documentary ("Linda and the Mockingbirds") that chronicles the singer's 2019 journey to Mexico with a group of young students that was captured by award-winning director James Keach (who also directed Glen Campbell's "I'll Be Me" and the Linda Ronstadt documentary "The Sound of My Voice"). Los Cenzontles ("The Mockingbirds") was founded by Eugene Rodriguez – who along with singer-songwriter great Jackson Browne – also features prominently in the compelling documentary. But the true heart of the film is the road trip by Ronstadt, Browne and a large tour bus filled with young singers, dancers and instrumentalists who journey to the small town of Banámichi in the Mexican state of Sonora (where Ronstadt's grandfather grew up) to perform and meet with the folkloric dance troupe Grupo de Danza Xunutzi and stage a performance in the community. The documentary masterfully examines the important role of traditional Mexican music and dance for those who live on both sides of the border, as well as issues related to the hot topic of immigration and how that impacts families who are often divided by politics. "Linda and the Mockingbirds" was released digitally Oct. 20 via Shout! Studios. Information: ShoutFactory.com.

Artist: Def Leppard

Titles: "Hysteria At The O2" and "Hits Vegas, Live At Planet Hollywood" (Eagle Rock Entertainment)

You might like if you enjoy: Def Leppard, Queen

Tell me more: Earlier this year Rock and Roll Hall of Fame rock quintet Def Leppard released the outstanding multi-format release "London To Vegas," available as a deluxe 2Blu-ray+4CD, 2DVD+4CD and via digital formats. Now Eagle Rock Entertainment has just released standalone audio versions of "Hysteria At The O2" and "Hits Vegas, Live At Planet Hollywood" as limited edition 2CDs releases. "Hysteria At The O2," finds Def Leppard celebrating their 1987 album Hysteria with a concert set revisiting that multi-platinum album from start to finish before a hometown crowd in London in December 2018. To be sure this is an important outing for the group, and the members of Def Leppard (singer Joe Elliott, guitarists Phil Collen and Vivian Campbell, bassist Rick "Sav" Savage and drummer Rick Allen) offer up powerful arena rock-ready takes of classics including "Love Bites," "Pour Some Sugar On Me," "Animal," "Gods of War" and the rest of "Hysteria" before delving into other moments in their history for choice cuts including the set-ending "Let's Get Rocked," "Rock of Ages" and "Photograph."  

The second performance "Hits Vegas" — filmed at Zappos Theater in Planet Hollywood a few months after the band's induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2019 — features a far-flung set offering some choice deep cuts from the band. The hard-rocking "Die Hard The Hunter," harmonies-drenched "Too Late for Love," ambitious "Billy's Got a Gun" (bolstered by the tandem lead guitar work of Collen and Campbell) and "Paper Sun" as well as the acoustic-styled "Let Me Be The One" and "We Belong" are delivered with power and perfection. The hits are here as well, including terrific runs through "Foolin'," "Bringin' On The Heartbreak," "Rocket," "Action" and "Armageddon It." Looking ahead hardcore fans should note that the "Hits Vegas" title will be released as a limited edition transparent blue vinyl LP on Dec. 11, 2020. Information: defleppard.com and eagle-rock.com.

Robert Kinsler

Summertime Reading For Music Lovers

Those whose interest in music and music heroes extends beyond merely listening have plenty of choice reads to choose from this summer. From a forthcoming thrilling fiction title penned by famed DJ Richard Blade and a biography from soul singer Eddie Floyd to the ultimate document covering the touring history of Rock and Roll Hall of Fame greats Rush, here are three great titles I've enjoyed devouring in recent weeks...

Title: Birthright
Author: Richard Blade
Publisher: BladeRocker Books
Softcover: 218 pages
Tell me more: Author Richard Blade's thriller "Birthright" is a fast-paced and involving story spanning from the crime-ravaged streets of 19th century London to modern-day America, England and Ireland, with current events very much a part of the compelling story line. Blade's clear and colorful writing style brings his three far-flung protagonists fully to life, as well as the darker and equally-vivid characters who pursue them. Jack the Ripper's final murder is the starting point for a thriller that is enhanced by events that are never less than plausible; a solid mix of action, character development, lively locales and the effective infusion of current affairs — including the coronavirus pandemic — help catapult the reader through "Birthright." I tore through this novel in a day cheering for the lives of professor Alex Turner, his young assistant Cate Shannon and teen Eddie York in their quest to solve a monumental puzzle while simultaneously trying to survive frightful villains out to kill them. Richard Blade is one of the most celebrated DJs in the U.S., having been a mainstay at KROQ-FM for many years; he is now a host on both SiriusXM and KCBS. The same passion he has championed as a groundbreaking DJ is displayed via top-tier storytelling across the wonderful  Birthright." Information: RichardBladeBook.com.

Title: Knock! Knock! Knock! On Wood: My Life in Soul
Authors: Eddie Floyd with Tony Fletcher
Publisher: BMG
Hardcover: 302 pages
Tell me more: The just-published "Knock! Knock! Knock! On Wood: My Life in Soul" is a wonderful and truly joyful look back at the 60-year career of master soul singer-songwriter Eddie Floyd. Best known for his bona fide classics "Knock on Wood," "Raise Your Hand," "634-5789," "Big Bird" and "I've Never Found a Girl (To Love Me Like You Do)," his unique first-hand account of a rich life (Floyd celebrated his 83rd birthday in June 2020) jumps off the page with each chapter. In addition to revisiting a life's journey taking him from an Alabama reform school to his rise as both singer and acclaimed songwriter, readers will be treated to once-in-a-lifetime tales such as the day he met Bruce Springsteen (who is a tremendous fan of Floyd) and they performed "Knock on Wood" and "Raise Your Hand" in concert together in Memphis in 1976, Muhammad Ali attending his sixty-ninth birthday and earliest memories of working with his great contemporaries (Wilson Pickett, Booker T. & The M.G.'s, bluesman Willie Dixon, Otis Redding and more) on stage, in the studio or via songwriting sessions. The autobiography also includes a number of marvelous images of Floyd and his family, as well as promo shots, concert photos and other images of him throughout his long career — including moments shared with the likes of Wilson Pickett, Bruce Springsteen, Tom Jones and Muhammad Ali. "Knock! Knock! Knock! On Wood: My Life in Soul" works as both a celebration of the life and career of Floyd as well as an important history of many of the key moments and players in the rise of soul music, notably at famed Stax Records in the 1960s and '70s. Information: BMG.com.

Title: Rush — Wandering the Face of the Earth: The Official Touring History
Authors: Skip Daily and Eric Hansen
Publisher: Insight Editions
Hardback and ebook: 496 pages
Tell me more: Weighing in at well over six pounds, the mammoth "Rush — Wandering the Face of the Earth: The Official Touring History" covers the complete history of the Canadian trio's treks encompassing the period of Sept. 6, 1968 to Aug. 1, 2015. With the passing of master drummer/band lyricist Neil Peart on Jan. 7, 2020 and the recent 5-year anniversary of the band's final show on Aug. 1, the publication of this tabletop book has taken on even greater significance; this is truly a labor of love from authors Skip Daily and Eric Hansen and rightfully celebrates the most successful Canadian music group in history. Peart along with singer-bassist-keyboardist Geddy Lee and guitarist Alex Lifeson created a series of enduring albums whose collective power was further enhanced whenever the trio went out on tour. "Wandering the Face of the Earth" is filled with revealing facts, essential details and a plethora of previously-unseen photographs that chronicle the band's career on the road. A mix of stunning concert shots, actual concert setlists, colorful ticket stubs and well-written text make for a fantastic journey down Memory Lane. For example, this writer was able to revisit the history of his first time seeing the band perform (at the Pacific Amphitheatre in Costa Mesa in May 1986 with the Fabulous Thunderbirds opening), a date where reserve seats were a mere $17.50! Information: InsightEditions.com.

Robert Kinsler

Rock 'n' Roll Reads Celebrate Music-Making Masters

With the end of 2017 rapidly approaching, it is time for a roundup of some of the year's most essential books celebrating rock 'n' roll masters.

Title: Led Zeppelin: All the Albums, All the Songs (Voyageur Press)
Author: Martin Popoff
Edition: Hardcover, 256 pages
Tell me more: Because so much has been written about Led Zeppelin since the band's formation nearly 50 years ago, it is almost overwhelming for new fans of the Rock and Roll Hall of Famers to know where to start in terms of deciphering the secrets behind the British quartet's nine studio albums. Look no further than the recently-released Led Zeppelin: All the Albums, All the Songs penned by well-known music journalist Martin Popoff. This beautifully-illustrated book provides insights into the creation of the 81 enduring rock tracks blending folk, blues, Celtic and rock that comprised Led Zep's original catalog spanning from their eponymous 1969 disc to the late 1978 recordings featured on "In Through The Out Door" (the rarities-minded 1982 release "Coda" is also assessed in depth). Yours truly has always been perplexed at the how rock fans and critics often argue about the merits of Led Zeppelin's recordings and songs, but Popoff makes a compelling case for the band's singular and groundbreaking rock brew that continues to inspire and influence new generations of musicians long after the band's demise. Information: martinpopoff.com.

Title: HENDRIX: The Illustrated History (Voyageur Press)
Author: Gillian G. Gaar
Edition: Hardcover, 224 pages
Tell me more: Widely-regarded as the greatest and most influential rock guitarist of all time, Jimi Hendrix carved out his amazing legacy from the middle of 1966 until his death at age 27 in September 1970. Author Gillian G. Gaar's wonderful HENDRIX: The Illustrated History is worthy of its talented subject — the newly-published hardcover book has images spanning from Hendrix's childhood to those taken shortly before his death; along with the wealth of photographs, album artwork and posters are well-written details about the singer-guitarist's life and career. Hendrix aficionados will love details on the gear that the guitar great used, as well as the selected live appearances list highlighting many of his most notable concert appearances and "selected discography" featured in the book. HENDRIX: The Illustrated History is truly a must-have for fans of Hendrix and those whose life-long quest is to master the art of playing guitar. Information: amazon.com.

Title: Rush: Album By Album (Voyageur Press)
Author: Martin Popoff
Edition: Hardcover, 192 pages
Tell me more: When Canadian rock trio Rush was finally inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2013, it provided acknowledgement that bassist-keyboardist-vocalist Geddy Lee, guitarist Alex Lifeson and drummer-lyricist Neil Peart are one of rock's most powerful, talented and unique voices. In addition, as of 2017, Rush has reportedly sold more than 65 million albums worldwide since the early 1970s. Now author Martin Popoff — widely considered an expert on Rush — explores the 50-year history of the band in his outstanding Rush: Album By Album." Spanning from Rush's self-titled 1974 debut to 2012's excellent Clockwork Angels, every Rush album is covered via a comprehensive look reflecting not only Popoff's views but those he collects in conversations featuring the likes of Kirk Hammett (lead guitarist of Metallica), Paul Gilbert (guitarist in Mr. Big), Mike Portnoy (the drummer of Dream Theater) and other notable names who provide additional depth into the work of Rush. As is fitting of the ambition of Rush, the conversations and narrative in Rush: Album By Album covers not only the music (including well-known solos) and lyrics, but related live performances and album artwork. Information: martinpopoff.com.

Title: A Grammy Salute to Music Legends
Author: Edited by David Konjoyan; foreword by Jimmy Jam
Edition: Hardcover, 208 pages
Tell me more: While most music fans recognize that The Recording Academy presents its GRAMMYs to honor award-winning music that has had an impact in a specific year, the majority of those who catch the televised ceremony might not know about the Special Merit Awards section of the GRAMMY program book where deserving persons are honored through the Lifetime Achievement Award, Trustees Award and Technical GRAMMY Award. These special awards honor individuals who have distinguished themselves over the course of many years and come from a wide range of musical genres. Now A Grammy Salute to Music Legends shines a bright light on these notables who have earned Special Merit Awards, with the seminal music pioneers typically celebrated by artists they have influenced. For example, Tom Petty's tribute to George Harrison's Lifetime Achievement Award in 2015 and Kris Kristofferson's tribute to Leonard Cohen for the Lifetime Achievement Award in 2010 are among the many highlights in the insightful anthology. Information: halleonardbooks.com.

Title: Rockin' the City of Angels (Diego Spade Productions)
Author: Douglas Harr
Edition: Hardcover, 396 pages
Tell me more: Rockin' the City of Angels celebrates the 1970s. Big time. The coffee-table book closely mirrors the size of an LP vinyl album cover, spans 396 pages and includes more than 600 images. Written by Douglas Harr and designed by Tilman Reitzle, Rockin' the City of Angels brings together the work of a number of photographers to capture the parade of stellar concerts staged in Los Angeles during the 1970s. Indeed, images of The Who, the Rolling Stones, Elton John, Yes, AC/DC, Queen, David Bowie, Paul McCartney & Wings, and others are showcased here. Photographers whose images are featured in the volume include Richard E. Aaron, Jørgen Angel, Fin Costello, Ian Dickson, Armando Gallo, Stacey Katsis, Terry O’Neill, Neal Preston, Michael Putland, Jim Summaria, Lisa Tanner, Brian Weiner and Neil Zlowzower. Information: https://www.facebook.com/rockinthecityofangels/. You can also purchase the book from Amazon: http://tinyurl.com/Amazon-RTCOA.


Robert Kinsler