I am so old that I remember writing a letter to Butthole Surfers drummer King Coffey in the ’90s, asking him to send me review copies of albums on his indie record label Trance Syndicate. To his credit — and my everlasting amazement — the Austin musician was not only willing to add some dipshit Canadian rando to his promo list, but also sent me a hand-written note in response. I wonder if I still have it? In any case, I’m putting that updated Surfers bio on my reading list. And even though I have never corresponded with Soft Machine, Poison Girls and the rest of next week’s literary subjects, I’ll probably check their tomes out too. Read all about ’em:
Let’s Go To Hell: Scattered Memories Of The Butthole Surfers 10th Anniversary Edition
By James Burns
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “The Butthole Surfers remain one of the most enigmatic bands in the history of rock. Most of their records have no information of any kind. They lived like nomads through much of the 1980s, and built their reputation upon tours that never ended, and shows that resembled hedonistic acid tests. They left a heap of band members in their wake, and have often alienated as many fans as they’ve attracted. This explosive 10th anniversary edition of Let’s Go To Hell dives even deeper into the chaos, danger, and raw power of one of the most controversial bands ever to rise from the wreckage of punk. Author James Burns returns with new interviews, shocking revelations, and fresh insights that crank the volume even higher. Let’s Go To Hell pulls together scattered, half-mad memories into a full-throttle, no-holds-barred chronicle of the band’s rise, fall, and enduring infamy. Packed with exclusive interviews, never-before-seen photos, and deep analysis of their sprawling catalog — both recorded and lost to legend — Let’s Go To Hell finally tells the story that was thought (and in some circles, prayed) would never see the light of day.”
Soft Machine: Out-Bloody-Rageous Revised & Updated
By Graham Bennett
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Soft Machine were one of the great pioneering bands. Always questioning the prevailing musical conventions and contemptuous of the rules that apply to popular music, they played a pivotal role in shaping psychedelic rock, progressive rock and jazz-rock fusion. Soft Machine: Out-Bloody-Rageous traces the lives of the band’s members, pieces together Soft Machine’s serendipitous formation and unique career, and unravels the truth, the mystique and the legend that surrounded this most elusive of bands. It recounts the incidents and internal tensions that led to an astonishing 24 different lineups and places Soft Machine’s development in the musical and social context of the time. Graham Bennett witnessed many of Soft Machine’s performances and has produced a probing and thoroughly researched account of one of the great mythic groups of the 1960s and ’70s. Based on extended interviews with members and associates, the definitive biography of this ground-breaking band includes over 100 photographs, posters and clippings and a full family tree, concert file, discography and sessionography.”
This Is A Message To Persons Unknown: The Story Of Poison Girls
By Rich Cross
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Flesh and blood are what we are, flesh and blood are who we are, our cover is blown… This Is A Message To Persons Unknown is the first full history of the legendary band Poison Girls. From their first gigs in Brighton in 1977 to years of DIY tours across Britain and Europe, the band forged a radical path through music, politics, and art. Fronted by the uncompromising Vi Subversa — a singular lyricist, songwriter, and voice — Poison Girls challenged punk’s Year Zero myth, weaving ferocity with wit, emotional depth, and inventive sound. Just as formative to anarcho-punk as Crass, yet defiantly their own, Poison Girls confronted misogyny, ageism, and authoritarianism with a passion and clarity that still resonates today. Drawing on exclusive interviews, zines, contemporary accounts, and the personal archives of band members, this richly illustrated history documents Poison Girls’ unforgettable songs, striking graphics, and fierce campaigns of resistance. This Is A Message To Persons Unknown tells the story of a group of dissident artists who turned punk into both a protest and a possibility — an experiment in living, creating, and fighting for something new.”
Northern Thunder: Tales Of A Canadian Hard Rock Drummer In The ’80’s & ’90s
By Neal Busby
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Northern Thunder is a compelling journey through the wild and formative years of Canada’s hard rock scene. From the gritty clubs of Toronto to the grand stages of international tours, Neal Busby’s memoir chronicles the rise and fall of the bands that shaped his life — and his reinvention as a songwriter in his own right. Driven by passion far beyond the thunderous beats of the drum kit, Busby reflects on the triumphs, chaos, and creativity of a life on and off the road. With raw honesty and vivid storytelling, Northern Thunder explores the personal and professional challenges, the unforgettable moments, and the unbreakable friendships forged along the way. Northern Thunder is a reflective, purposeful work that challenges the conventions of rock memoirs. It is a book for those interested in the craft of drumming and the journey of musical growth, rather than the sensational stories often associated with the genre. The author’s voice is one of discipline, honesty, and a deep respect for the art of music.”
Have Horn, Will Travel: The Life And Music Of Herman “Junior” Cook
By Courtney M Nero
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Have Horn, Will Travel is the first full-length biography of tenor saxophone virtuoso and in-demand sideman Herman “Junior” Cook, chronicling his life and impact from his Pensacola, Florida, origins to his New York City-based career. Best known for his association with pianist Horace Silver’s iconic quintet from 1958 to 1964, Cook continued as a mainstay in some of jazz’s hardest-driving ensembles — with trumpeters Blue Mitchell, Freddie Hubbard and Bill Hardman; drummers Louis Hayes and Elvin Jones; and the McCoy Tyner Big Band, among others — through the decades until his death in 1992. Highlights of Cook’s life and career are retold from meticulous research and interviews with friends and musicians who knew and played with him, including Mosaic Records founder Michael Cuscuna, SteepleChase Records founder Nils Winther, and Cook’s right-hand bandmate and roommate, vocalist Timmy Shepherd. The book also relays some of Cook’s “lessons” — best practices of musicianship that young jazz fellow travelers learned from his example as a master musician in the 1980s New York City jam-session scene. Have Horn, Will Travel offers the reader a window into the life of arguably one of jazz’s great underrated practitioners, laying bare the triumph and tragedy of a musician whose career largely missed the spotlight and the marquee.”
The Hours Are Long, But The Pay Is Low: A Curious Life in Independent Music
By Rob Miller
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “The music business is not a meritocracy: It is a crapshoot taking place in a septic tank balanced on the prow of the Titanic, a venal snake pit where innovation, creativity, and honest business practices are actively discouraged. Rob Miller arrived in Chicago wanting to escape the music industry. In short order, he co-founded a trailblazing record label revered for its artist-first approach and punk take on country, roots, and so much else. Miller’s gonzo memoir follows a music fan’s odyssey through a singular account of Bloodshot Records, the Chicago scene, and 30 years as part of a community sustaining independent artists and businesses. Hilarious and 100-proof, The Hours Are Long, But The Pay Is Low delivers a warm-hearted yet clear-eyed account of loving and living music on the edge, in the trenches, and without apologies.”
Rush 1984 To 2015: Every Album, Every Song
By James Richards
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “This volume is the followup to Rush 1973 to 1982. Fans who hoped that 1982’s keyboard heavy Signals had been a one-off were to be disappointed. In line with their desire never to make the same album twice, the infamous ‘synth era’ began. Albums such as Power Windows and Hold Your Fire split the fan base, with the old guard resenting the changes in both instrumentation and songwriting. New followers joined the fold, however, and the band’s popularity in album sales and concert receipts continued to grow. Rush were never ones for treading water, as subsequent releases into the 1990s showed a gradual but welcome return to the guitar-centric power-trio format. A double family tragedy for drummer Neil Peart seemed to signal the end of the band, with the signoff triple live album Different Stages appearing in 1997. But five years later a reformed Rush released a series of new albums, culminating in the magnificent concept record, Clockwork Angels. This book reviews all the band’s studio and live releases from 1984’s Grace Under Pressure to the final, farewell live album, R40, in 2015, issued five years before Peart’s retirement and tragically early death in 2020.”
Ian Dury: Every Album, Every Song
By Opher Goodwin
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “We only ever get glimpses of Ian Dury; nothing is as it seems. From irascible rogue to national treasure, pop star to social commentator, cockney geezer to artist, he was a man greater than the sum of his parts. Part teddy boy, part punk, part vaudeville act; he was unique. The music that emanates from this powerful personality echoes the heart and drive of their complex creator. Dury began his career as a frontman with post-punk outfit Kilburn And The High Roads, but had his greatest success with backing band The Blockheads, which featured Chis Jankel and Wilko Johnson at various times. He found true commercial success with the albums New Boots And Panties and Do It Yourself. Dury went on to a critically acclaimed solo career and worked with The Blockheads again on the 1997 album Mr Love Pants. He also had a slew of non-album hits, especially the U.K. No. 1 Hit Me With Your Rhythm Stick. In this book, Opher Goodwin dissects his albums and songs to tease out their spirit and reveal the inspirations behind them. This is Ian Dury: A Blockhead, a genius.”
The Temptations 1960 to 1978: Every Album, Every Song
By George Haffenden
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “As one of the greatest acts to come out of Motown Records, the influence of The Temptations cannot be overstated. Their catalogue of classic hits and their performances have set the standard for all male groups that followed. The classic lineup of Otis Williams, Melvin Franklin, Paul Williams, Eddie Kendricks and David Ruffin created a legacy that has endured to this day. Aided by William ‘Smokey’ Robinson, and later Norman Whitfield, the group had hits such as Get Ready, Ain’t Too Proud To Beg and, of course, My Girl. This lineup only lasted four years, but they created such an impressive legacy and following that the group has been able to carry on until the present day. The introduction of Dennis Edwards in 1968 coincided with a new style of music for the group — produced by Whitfield, dubbed ‘psychedelic soul’ and inspired by Sly & The Family Stone — that gave the group a second act of new hits. However, by 1972, only Williams and Franklin would remain from the classic lineup and the hits were becoming more elusive. This book explores their releases from their founding to 1978, when the group had endured further personnel changes and a change in record label. It examines the group’s triumphs and struggles during this period, and tells a remarkable story of persistence and longevity.”
Yardbirds: Every Album, Every Song
By Andrew Darlington
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “The neglected psychedelic classics Happenings Ten Years Time Ago and Mister, You’re A Better Man Than I carried their legacy over into the punk era. Their cult albums, Five Live Yardbirds, Roger The Engineer and Little Games, remain highly esteemed and collectable decades later, while their sequence in Michelangelo Antonioni’s Blow-Up movie catches the ’60s at its most swingingly iconic. Classic rock seldom came as classic as it does with The Yardbirds. This book exhaustively traces their full story, track-by-track from first to last, then picks up the narrative as former members go on to form Led Zeppelin, Renaissance and Box of Frogs — leading to an eventual Yardbirds reunion.”
The Band Photographs, 1968-1969
By Elliott Landy
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “A captivating two-volume photography collection of nearly 400 photos reflecting the life and legacy of The Band from 1968 to 1969, as captured by friend and renowned photographer, Elliott Landy. The life and sound of the late-1960s and 1970s rock sensation are brought to life on the page with this stunning book. Landy, a premier photographer of the rock ’n’ roll era, captured The Band for an unforgettable year as they created their first two albums, Music From Big Pink and The Band. The intriguing relationship between a band, the inception of a fresh sound, and the photographer who captured it all is chronicled on each page with bold, unforgettable images. With his intimate and relaxed approach behind the lens, Landy captured the essence of the young band in comfortable surroundings as they discovered their unique Americana sound. Landy’s artistic eye was deeply trusted and cherished by The Band. The engaging images featured on each page are set to memorable backgrounds, like the band’s salmon-colored house, affectionately called “Big Pink”, and many natural landscapes around Woodstock, New York, the music and art mecca of the times.”
Freedom, Rhythm & Sound: Chapter Two: Revolutionary Jazz Original Cover Art 1965-83
Edited by Stuart Baker & Gilles Peterson
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Just over 15 years ago, Soul Jazz Records’ Gilles Peterson and Stuart Baker published Freedom, Rhythm & Sound, showcasing the stunning graphic works of independently published jazz record cover designs of the 1960s and 1970s from radical jazz musicians such as Sun Ra, John Coltrane, Pharoah Sanders and more. These artists reshaped the cultural landscape for African American musicians in the U.S., transforming the role of jazz musician from nightclub entertainer to artist. The artwork of their often self-produced record cover designs reflected their radical agenda, spiritual awareness and singular search for musical and personal freedoms. Following the success of the first volume, Freedom, Rhythm and Sound: Chapter Two features hundreds more of these beautiful and rare jazz record cover designs from the 1960s to the 1980s. In addition to spotlighting the radical jazz musicians of this time, this second volume branches out to feature record cover art of recordings by Black poets, civil rights speechmakers and other experimental pioneers.”
You Only Live Once: The Little Guide To Drake
By OH
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Get ready to dive into the life and legacy of one of the biggest stars on the planet. The Little Guide To Drake takes you behind the curtain and into the mind of Champagne Papi himself, with a collection of iconic quotes, powerful insights and jaw-dropping facts about the man who transformed the music industry. From breaking more Billboard records than The Beatles to racking up over 10 billion streams on Spotify, Drake’s achievements speak for themselves. This book explores the hustle that took him from his humble beginnings on Degrassi to becoming a global superstar, with 12 No. 1 albums and a fan base that spans the globe. Packed with the wisdom, mindset, and moments that made Drake one of the most influential figures in music, this little book follows his journey: A masterclass in persistence, evolution and the power of believing in yourself. Sit back and learn from the greatest because when it comes to success, Drake has already written the blueprint.”
‘ The preceding article may include information circulated by third parties ’
‘ Some details of this article were extracted from the following source tinnitist.com ’
