Next Week in Music | Aug. 11-17 • New Books

I just finished reading Buzz Me In: Inside The Record Plant Studios by Martin Porter and David Goggin. If you want the inside dope on the making of classic albums by the likes of Jimi Hendrix, John Lennon, Stevie Wonder, Sly Stone and Eagles — not to mention plenty of good old sex, drugs and rock ’n’ roll decadence and debauchery — it needs to be on your reading list. After that, think about booking some time for these upcoming tomes by or about Ry Cooder, Ian Hunter, Kid Cudi, The Beatles, Ozzy Osbourne. Read all about ’em:

I Sing You A True Song: The Ry Cooder Story
By Frank Schnelle

THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “For more than 60 years, Ry Cooder has pushed the boundaries of roots music while staying grounded in the soul of the slide guitar. Widely recognized as a modern master of bottleneck technique, Cooder forged a career defined by sonic curiosity, unerring taste, and a deep respect for musical tradition — blending blues, gospel, Tex-Mex, early jazz, rhythm & blues, and countless other forms into a language all his own. I Sing You A True Song is the first comprehensive monograph to explore the full scope of Cooder’s work — from his early years as a precocious slide prodigy and his celebrated run as a prolific studio musician (including his influential recordings with The Rolling Stones, Captain Beefheart and Randy Newman), to his eclectic solo albums and iconic film scores. With journalistic clarity and scholarly precision, this 500-page study examines how Cooder’s distinctive guitar tone has underscored stories of hardship, resistance, and beauty across decades of American and global music. His albums don’t just revive overlooked songs; they reimagine tradition with elegance and political edge. From his breakout solo debut in 1970 to the lush storytelling of The Prodigal Son in 2018, this book follows the consistent thread of craftsmanship and conviction that runs through Cooder’s work. His collaborations with musicians from Cuba, India, Hawaii, Mali, and Mexico reveal not only his technical brilliance but also his deep musical empathy.”

Diary Of A Rock ‘n’ Roll Star Remastered
By Ian Hunter

THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “First published in 1974, Ian Hunter’s Diary Of A Rock ’n’ Roll Star is an unfiltered chronicle of Mott the Hoople’s 1972 US tour that captures the raw energy, chaos, and charm of life on the road in the ’70s. Part memoir, part cultural time capsule, Hunter’s diary is brutally honest and irresistibly engaging — a touchstone in the genre of rock writing. Republished with a new foreword from David Quantick, this Remastered edition invites a fresh generation of readers to relive the highs, lows, and everything in between of a band on the cusp of rock history. Hunter, the charismatic lead singer of Mott, has carved a legendary career spanning over five decades, both with the band and as a solo artist. No longer touring but still recording, Hunter proves that the spirit of rock ’n’ roll is as enduring as ever.”

Cudi: The Memoir
By Scott “Kid Cudi” Mescudi

THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “A raw, fearless memoir from Grammy–winning artist, actor, and designer Kid Cudi — the story of a kid from Cleveland who found purpose in the darkness and became a guiding light for a generation. Cudi: The Memoir is Scott Mescudi’s most personal work yet. Across a trailblazing career, he’s turned pain into poetry with anthems like Day ’N’ Nite, Pursuit of Happiness and Mr. Rager. His music gave voice to the unheard and hope to the unseen. But while he was ascending to cultural dominance, he was quietly unraveling. Written during a time of deep self-discovery, Cudi is a story of survival — through depression, addiction, isolation, and doubt. In his own words, Scott charts the journey back to himself, offering hard-earned lessons on vulnerability, reinvention, and the courage to keep going.”

A Wandering Minstrel: My Memoir Of Huw Lloyd-Langton
By Marion Lloyd-Langton

THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Huw Lloyd-Langton, a much-loved and distinctive lead guitarist, might be best known for his multiple stints with Hawkwind — playing on their eponymous 1970 debut LP and returning for Live Seventy-Nine and Levitation, before staying with the Hawks through the 1980s, and making many guest appearances with them thereafter. He is also remembered for his membership in ’70s supergroup Widowmaker — but there is so much more to his journey through a life shared in the music world with his soulmate and wife Marion. He touched the lives of so many fellow musicians and fans alike, with his easy-going approachability, and with his wonderful musical dexterity. A Wandering Minstrel is Huw’s life story, told by Marion, and the story of their life together, related with love and honesty, and is by turns heartwarming and heartbreaking. From Huw’s early days working in Musicentre London and touring in Winston G’s band to Marion’s friendship with blues icon Alexis Korner and his family, onto Huw’s Hawkwind, Amon Din, Leo Sayer and Batti Mamzelle days, and Marion’s career at the Robert Stigwood Organisation, and through Widowmaker, Dr Brown and Huw’s own Lloyd-Langton Group, it’s the story of a distinctive musician, loved by his fans and admired by his peers. Through Marion’s honest recollections of high points and dark days comes a vividly drawn portrait of a man at ease with the twists and turns of the music industry, self-effacing and committed to encouraging others. Huw passed away in 2012, but his music lives on.”

Beatles For Sale to Help!
By Bruce Spizer

THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “From November 1964 through summer 1965, The Beatles issued two albums (Beatles For Sale and Help!), three singles (I Feel Fine, Ticket To Ride and Help!) and a movie (Help!) in Great Britain. In the U.S., Capitol Records reconfigured the two albums into three: Beatles ’65, Beatles VI and the Help! Original Motion Picture Soundtrack. The label also released a two-record documentary album titled The Beatles’ Story and added the singles Eight Days A Week and Yesterday. The ninth book in Bruce Spizer’s series, Beatles For Sale to Help! covers these releases from the British, American and Canadian perspectives. The book contains highly detailed chapters on the EMI recording sessions for the albums and singles, and the album covers. And, like the other books in the Beatles Album Series, the book contains chapters on the news, music and films of the era (plus a special chapter on The Beatles and James Bond) to place these records and the band’s second film in their proper context. And, of course, fan recollections of seeing the film Help! and listening to the great records issued during the time frame covered by the book. The recordings released during this creative period bridge the first phase of Beatlemania with the group’s more mature sound that would be on full display with the LPs Rubber Soul and Revolver.”

Where Is Ozzy?
By David Calcano

THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “We dare you to find Ozzy Osbourne as he rises from the depths of darkness, transforms and eats some bat-snacks through pages filled with evil inks found under heavy black rain. Every double page is brought to life in awesome illustrations by the award-winning Fantoons animation studio! Inspired by songs and albums from his iconic solo career and filled with easter eggs for hard core and casual fans alike. From Blizzard of Ozz to No More Tears, the heavy metal madness crank up each page, packed with hidden messages that celebrate one of the greatest rock singers of all-time.”