Recommended music/guitar related novels/books

[Tricky Fish]

I recently read “Practicing” by Glen Kurtz. I highly recommend this novel.

https://www.amazon.com/Practicing-Mu.../dp/0307278751

I’m now looking for other good reads about music / guitar (stories, not technical books or methods).

Anyone recommend some good reads?

[firenza]

This is really excellent: 'Dazzling Stranger' by Colin Harper. It's about Bert Jansch and the British Folk ad Blues revival

[Rev Roy]

[JonPR]

Originally Posted by firenza

This is really excellent: 'Dazzling Stranger' by Colin Harper. It's about Bert Jansch and the British Folk ad Blues revival

Agree!

Another good book on the same period and scene (British folk clubs in general) is "Singing From the Floor" - https://www.amazon.co.uk/Singing-Flo.../dp/0571305458

Roots, Radicals and Rockers: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Roots-Radic...dp/0571327745/. The story of skiffle, Britain's own home-grown rock'n'roll revolution.

On UK folk rock: "Electric Eden": https://www.amazon.co.uk/Electric-Ed...dp/0571237533/

First Time Ever: https://www.amazon.co.uk/First-Time-...dp/0571336809/. The redoubtable Peggy Seeger's own story - obviously with a lot of reference to the 1950s/60s UK folk world.

Some of my other favourites:

Music of the Common Tongue: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Music-Commo.../dp/0819563579. The effect of African musical culture on western popular culture. This book might change your life.

Origins of the Popular Style: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Origins-Pop...dp/0198163053/.
19thC (and earlier) antecedents of popular music. (Did you know "blue notes" occurred in traditional British folk music? You do now....) Might be a little too technical for the average reader. Only for those not scared by music theory...

It's One for the Money: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Its-One-Mon...dp/1472122119/. The history of the rip-off, basically. It goes deeper and further back than you might think and the recording business - you won't be surprised to learn - is where it all began.

Speaking of which...

Perfecting Sound Forever: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Perfecting-.../dp/1847081401.

The Beatles - Tune In. https://www.amazon.co.uk/Beatles-All...dp/1408705753/. Mark Lewisohn's masterwork on the Beatles' beginnings, up to their recording contract, and stopping at Dec 31 1962. You might think you know all there is to know about the Beatles. You don't, not until you read this. Over 900 pages, a fabulous read. (and insanely good value at the paperback price. If you're a fan, consider the special edition instead: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Beatles-The...dp/1408704781/

And if you're a songwriter, your bible should be this: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Songwriting...dp/B01K0SWH0M/ Basically there was no music theory concept worth considering that the Beatles didn't employ at some point. The book includes an appendix on music theory too.

[phydaux]

I recently finished The Birth of Loud and The Wrecking Crew. Both were good.

[GGNJ]

Excellent book about the history of the famous song:
Chasing the Rising Sun

[Robin, Wales]

For something a bit different, try Nick Hayes graphic novel "Woody Guthrie and the Dust Bowl Ballads". It is a fictional depiction of Woody's life with historical references, and the art work is captivating. I find myself getting lost in the imagery of each page. A graphic novel is such a different reading experience to text.

[bleedingfingers]

Two more that might interest

Alan Lomax, “The Land Where The Blues Began” - stories from his field recording work in the Mississippi Delta in the 1930s-40s - is worth reading

I’ve just started reading Grace Elizabeth Hale, “Cool Town” - about the birth of the music scene in Athens GA in the late 1970s / early 1980s (B-52s, Pylon, Love Tractor, REM, etc) - though not far along enough yet to have much of an opinion

[Rogerblair]

Claptons Guitar is a great story about Wayne Henderson building a pair of 00028 s for Eric Clapton. Well written
Rb

[Tricky Fish]

Some fantastic suggestions here. I will be buying many of these.

Thanks especially to JonPR

[jseth]

Author Ace Atkins wrote a short series with blues/r&b at the core... It has been years since I first read them, but "Leavin' Trunk Blues" is one. The protagonist is Nick (fill in the blank). There are 6 books in the series, I think, and they are each well wroth reading.

Geoff Emerick wrote a marvelous book about his experiences recording so much of the later Beatles' work... "Here, There and Everywhere: My Life Recording the Music of the Beatles". Well written and informative, without any of the "I was a STAR, I was there" nonsense that is so often a backdrop for these types of books...

If you like The Band's music, there are two books you should read... matter of fact, I'd go so far as to say DON'T read either if you can't read both! One is Levon Helm's "This Wheel's On Fire, and the other is Robbie Robertson's book, "Testimony". Between the two, you get a fairly balanced idea of what was happening in that amazing group...

[JonPR]

Originally Posted by bleedingfingers

Two more that might interest

Alan Lomax, “The Land Where The Blues Began” - stories from his field recording work in the Mississippi Delta in the 1930s-40s - is worth reading

I think I've just identified a big hole in my collection... (Obviously I know all about Alan Lomax, but somehow never read his book...)
I suspect this one would make a great companion (literally!) to that: Shirley Collins: America Over the Water. https://www.amazon.co.uk/America-Ove...c=1&th=1&psc=1

Here's another great blues book: Elijah Wald: Escaping the Delta. A brilliant dismantling of a few popular blues myths.

[jricc]

Originally Posted by Rev Roy

I agree with these books RevRoy.
I'll add another, Guitar-An American Life by Tim Brookes. He writes about his favorite guitar being ruined and commissioning luthier Rick Davis to build him a new one. The book interweaves the building of the guitar with a cultural history of the guitar. AGF's Alan Carruth is mentioned and thanked in the acknowledgements. A very enjoyable read.