Book about Rock Music

May 14, 2007 4:23 PM

I don't remember the original question, but someone answered a post a while back with a recommendation for a book on the history of rock music. Lots of others chimed in and agreed that the book was great...so what was it? Sorry I can't remember any other details.
posted by richmondparker to media & arts (5 comments total)

I have no idea what you're talking 'bout, but Lipstick Traces by Greil Marcus is one of the best books on the history of rock music (not encyclopedic, tho).
posted by nasreddin at 4:34 PM on May 14, 2007 [1 favorite]

Heh. I was going to recommend another Greil Marcus book, Mystery Train. It's one of the best books of rock history and criticism I've ever read (at one point I had three different editions). Marcus is idiosyncratic but a brilliant stylist and penetrating thinker with great taste.
posted by languagehat at 5:50 PM on May 14, 2007

I recomend

Our Band Could Be Your Life.

Covers American underground music between `81 and `91. A lot of really influential stuff that was (is) really important.
posted by dr. moot at 6:05 PM on May 14, 2007

My fave is The Secret History of Rock: The Most Influential Bands You'Ve Never Heard. Great book about the band behind the bands.
posted by lumpenprole at 7:17 PM on May 14, 2007

Maybe this one? A book based on an excellent BBC documentary called "All You Need Is Love: The History of American Popular Music"
I haven't read the book, however the tv series (check out this list of episodes here) is fantastic...don't be alarmed that it came out in 1977.
posted by BozoBurgerBonanza at 5:48 AM on May 15, 2007