Are these the 10 greatest rock and roll books of all time?
August 8, 2006 by Mark Boudreau
Earvolution has a great list that has touched off an interestig debate as to what would be considered the 10 greatest books about rock and roll. For the record author David Schultz lists his choices as:
- Chronicles: Volume 1 – Bob Dylan (2004)
- FM: The Rise And Fall Of Rock Radio – Richard Neer (2001)
- The Commitments – Roddy Doyle (1987)
- The Mansion On The Hill: Dylan, Young, Geffen and Springsteen and the Head-On Collision Of Rock and Commerce – Fred Goodman (1997)
- Death Of A Rebel – The Phil Ochs Story – Marc Eliot (1989)
- The Ground Beneath Her Feet – Salman Rushdie (1999)
- Fargo Rock City: A Heavy Metal Odyssey In Rural North Dakota – Chuck Klosterman (2001)
- Psychotic Reactions And Carburetor Dung – Lester Bangs (1988)
- The Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test – Tom Wolfe (1968)
- Parental Advisory: Music Censorship In America – Eric Nuzum (2001)
A good list to be sure but I would include the following in any list of mine:
- Diary of a Rock n Roll Star (Lead Singer for Mott the Hoople) by Ian Hunter
A Journey Through America With the Rolling Stones (Music) by Robert Greenfield (probably my all time favourite book on rock and roll)
Love Me Do! by Michael Braun
After glancing over at my bookshelf I realize that I could add a bunch more but these 3 are certainly 3 of the best in my humble opinion.
Later.
I think I would add “High Fidelity” by Nick Hornby to your list. It perfectly captures the fan’s angle by depicting that “rock music junkie” and “nerdy music snob” that most of us can see in ourselves. A tribute to used record store clerks everywhere!
Yes, I would also include Nick Hornby’s “High Fidelity”. After all, top ten lists run through the novel. (Good movie, too.)
Also, how about “Backstage Passes and Backstabbing Bastards” by Al Kooper? (Yes, THE Al Kooper.) It’s also pretty well written.