Rock and Roll Book Club: 'A Song for You: My Life With Whitney Houston' January 22, 2020 For decades, Robyn Crawford was one of the people closest to Whitney Houston. In 'A Song for You,' Crawford finally tells the story of her personal and professional relationship with one of the greatest performers in the history of pop music.
Rock and Roll Book Club: 'When the Stones Came to Town' collects vintage images of rock gods in Minnesota January 15, 2020 Photographer Fred Case's retrospective 'When the Stones Came to Town' is about much more than just music photography: it's about life in and out of trouble in mid-century Minnesota.
Rock and Roll Book Club: 'Ashes to Ashes: The Songs of David Bowie 1976-2016' January 8, 2020 If there's an artist who deserves the comprehensive song-by-song treatment, it's David Bowie. Chris O'Leary completes his two-volume set with 'Ashes to Ashes,' covering Bowie's career from 1976 to 2016.
Rock and Roll Book Club: Best music books of 2019 December 18, 2019 2019 saw some truly groundbreaking books by and about musicians. Here are Jay's ten favorites.
Rock and Roll Book Club: Michael Bloomfield, 'Guitar King' December 11, 2019 In his new biography 'Guitar King,' David Dann makes a case for Michael Bloomfield as the first real guitar god in American blues-rock. There's a lot of competition in that race, but Bloomfield certainly belongs on any shortlist.
Rock and Roll Book Club: 50 years since Altamont December 4, 2019 The subtitle of 'Altamont' calls it 'The Inside Story of Rock's Darkest Day.' That distinction is debatable; the darkness of Altamont, however, lingers. After reading Joel Selvin's book, you'll never have so much 'Sympathy for the Devil' again.
Rock and Roll Book Club: Liz Phair's 'Horror Stories' November 27, 2019 Revered singer-songwriter Liz Phair chose the right title for her memoir 'Horror Stories.' Each of the 17 chapters is in fact a horror story of some sort. It's an unconventional way to structure a memoir, particularly since the chapters aren't in chronological order, but Phair tells us it's going to be revealing - 'I am trusting you with my deepest self,' she writes in a prologue - and she's not wrong.
Rock and Roll Book Club: 'Janis' tells Joplin's story November 20, 2019 Holly George-Warren's new book comes billed as the 'definitive' biography of 'America's first female rock star.'
Rock and Roll Book Club: Top ten essential music reads November 13, 2019 What are the essential reads for music fans, the books that every music lover must have on their nightstand bucket list? The Current and AARP Minnesota asked you to vote, and you came through. Here, from number ten to number one, are the music must-reads according to you.
Rock and Roll Book Club: Andrew Ridgeley writes about his years in Wham! with George Michael November 13, 2019 There are no two ways about it: you know who Andrew Ridgeley is because of George Michael. By the same token, though, you might very well not know who George Michael is if not for Andrew Ridgeley.