From 2019, our convo with Ada Wolin presents a fresh new look into “The Golden Age of The Shangri-Las." Was the most idiosyncratic and influential girl-group of the 1960s also the “punkiest”? Tune in and find out! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesallmusicbooksdeepdive

Summer = Yacht Rock. That's a fact. Just what is "yacht rock," you ask? Is it AM gold? Soft, smooth 70s hits, come back to life? We're winding the clock back to Episode 19 so Greg Prato, author "The Yacht Rock Book" can lay it all out for you. Put your sunscreen and Ray Bans on, pop a Corona, and lie back and enjoy! Learn more about your ad choices…

Boy, has the music industry changed! It's almost irrelvant: no radio, no physical product, no sales. But has it? The Beatles were not only pioneers in music and popular culture, they were also the progenitors of the music merchandise phenomenon, which earned over $50 million in 1965! Author Terry Crain joined us early on to talk Beatles merch and o…

Mott the Hoople was of the most important bands of the late '60s and early ‘70s — the rock act that made a stray Bowie song into an anthem for a generation and beyond, and a singer with recognizable hair and ever-present shades. And Mott The Hoople may be one of the UK’s greatest and most cherished bands, but what of their story? We speak with Chri…

Equal parts myth and legend, the New Barbarians are one of the greatest bands many people have never heard — or heard of! Put together by Ron Wood, the band featured fellow Stone Keith Richards, the Faces’ Ian MacLagan, sax player Bobby Keys, and a legendary rhythm section of the Meters Ziggy Modeleste and jazz great Stanley Clarke. If you missed t…

Fanny might be one of the most influential bands ever that many people have never heard of. David Bowie called them “one of the most important female bands in American rock,” adding they had been buried without a trace. So who was Fanny? Bobbi Jo Hart’s documentary Fanny: The Right To Rock examines the first all-female rock band to release an album…

Alice In Chains were major players within the burgeoning Seattle scene that would forever change alternative and rock music. They were also one of the most self-destructive. In this early episode, acclaimed journalist David de Sola tells us how drugs nearly destroyed them and claimed the lives of frontman Layne Staley and founding bassist Mike Star…

"Stir It Up: Reggae Album Cover Art" and "The Album Cover Art of Studio One Records" discuss the evolution, look and style of the the visuals and branding of reggae music. From Calypso, to bluebell rocksteady to roots reggae, and dub to dancehall, the music and visual output of this tiny island is enormous. SteveJ take a look at these two books tha…

Let's go back and take a look at jazz at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. Edward Allan Faine pulls back the curtain on the Nixon White House. Was Tricky Dick a jazz fan? After all, he did give Duke Ellington the Medal of Freedom in 1969. Who was in the band and who jammed at the “after-party”? Why did Sinatra almost get canceled, and just who that was pla…

Johnny Thunders was the legendary hard-living rock'n'roll guitarist who inspired glam-metal, punk and the New York and London music scene's in general. Danny Garcia’s documentary film Looking For Johnny examines Johnny Thunders' career from the early 70's as a founding member of the influential New York Dolls; the birth of the punk scene with The H…

Vinyl is back in a big way. According to Billboard magazine, over 43 million albums were sold in 2022, the 17th consecutive year vinyl album sales grew in the U.S., and the largest year for vinyl album sales since tracking data began in 1991. "Record Store Day" celebrates independently-owned brick-and-mortar record stores around the world and, this…

Here's a crazy book on an even crazier musician and performer. Tiny Tim is best known for his wacky appearances on "Laugh In" and Johnny Carson's "Tonight Show." However, he also rubbed shoulders with Bob Dylan and Lenny Bruce. So, in case you missed it, author Justin Martell talks about one of the most phenomenal success stories in show business, …

We first had country music writer and aficionado David Cantwell on in 2019 to discuss his excellent book The Running Kind: Listening to Merle Haggard. The new edition expands on his earlier analysis and covers Haggard's death and afterlife as an icon of both old-school and modern country music; in fact, David considers it a whole new book! We talk …

This week, we look back to our incredible chat with Galadrielle Allman and her deeply personal portrait of her father, Duane Allman, who was killed in a motorcycle accident at the age of twenty-four. She was two years old. At the heart of Galadrielle's book is her journey to understand the man millions idolized, but she never knew. It's a story eve…

Popsicko! was a band from the rich Santa Barbara music scene of the 90s. “If it was 1968,” penned a writer for the Los Angeles Times, “these guys would be rock gods and all over the radio.” Everything was going Popsicko’s way, but there’s a reason you’ve likely never heard of them. With some of Popsicko!’s music set to be re-released for the first …

Our second episode, and we talk about "Ode To Billie Joe"with author Tara Murtha. This really set the tone for what we wanted to do with this podcast, so have a listen to the backstory of one of the all-time great songs and Bobbi Gentry, the woman behind this masterpiece. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices…

In the annals of rock ‘n’ roll there have been a lot of strange characters, but there probably hasn’t been anyone as bizarre as Screamin’ Jay Hawkins, He was larger than life as he emerged from a coffin with a skull on a stick singing “I Put A Spell On You.” He was a whirlwind performer, a lusty singer, a prolific songwriter and a man who was a tot…

Taking you back to 2019 and Episode 8, in case you missed it! Here we talk about the Black Power music movement with author and scholar Pat Thomas. We dig deep into how the it affected the popular music of the day, including Jimi Hendrix, James Brown, Sly Stone, Marvin Gaye and Motown, Gil Scott-Heron, Nina Simone and others. Celebrate Black Histor…

Women have been kicking against the pricks of music patriarchy since Sister Rosetta Tharpe first played the guitar riffs that built rock-n-roll. The explosion of punk sent shockwaves of revolution to every girl who dreamed of being on stage. Hit Girls is the story of nearly 100 regional American bands who shattered stereotypes and eardrums and whos…

Donny Hathaway Live is a soul classic and one of my all-time favorite records ever. We had the good fortune to interview author and cultural critic Emily Lordi in one of our earliest podcasts about her book on this record for the 33 1/3 series. We are proud to feature this episode again — “in case you missed it” — for Black History Month! Learn mor…

The Beatles are the biggest band in the history of pop music. James Bond is the single most successful movie character of all time. They are also twins. Dr No, the first Bond film, and Love Me Do, the first Beatles record, were both released on the same day: Friday 5 October 1962. Most countries can only dream of a cultural export becoming a worldw…

We're taking you back to Episode THREE, recorded nearly four years ago! Luckily, Van Halen is evergreen and author Greg Renoff reveals the untold story of how the legendary band began, playing backyard parties in Los Angeles, This unique pre-history takes you from those high school bashes to funky dive bars with wet t-shirt contests, and, eventuall…

Beginning with his 1969 debut LP, Elton John is regarded as one of the most influential musicians and performers of the previous five decades. In examining 75 touchstones, author Gillian Gaar provides a unique presentation of Elton’s career arc, from his first steps as a solo artist to the breakthrough album Goodbye Yellow Brick Road to his flamboy…

In our final episode recorded 2022, Other Steve and I talk about where this podcast is, where it has been and some of where it's going! We also talk about www.allmusicbooks.com, and our brand new, mobile friendly website And FYI…our New Year's resolutions include paring down some of the music stuff we’ve both collected over the years. Find out what…

Holiday songs are in the air and everywhere these days! Some are classics, some are new, some are shiny and some…well. Nevermind. Last year, Other Steve pulled out a classics with Morphine’s “Sexy Christmas Baby Mine. We even got to have a final conversation about it with drummer Billy Conway. We also added a unique mashup of Leonard Cohen’s “Halle…

Today, we’re going to introduce a new angle to the show, and have a look at some of the book reviews on AllMusicBooks.com. Reviews by music fans is the backbone of the community site, and we hope this will be of interest to readers, and provide encouragement for you to weigh in on these, or any music books you’ve read. AllMusicBooks provided the ba…

Martin Popoff has written over 100 music books. "Bowie@75" is his first on David Bowie. Timed to tie in with what would have been Bowie’s 75th birthday, Popoff recounts 75 fascinating and significant career achievements and life events for the legendary singer. Illustrated with live concert and candid offstage photography as well as memorabilia inc…

Joe Milliken, author of "Let's Go: Benjamin Orr and The Cars" joins us to chat about the legendary Boston music scene, clubs like The Rat and The Paradise, and more! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesallmusicbooksdeepdive

Boston is a town known for rock’n’roll; J. Geils Band, Aerosmith, Boston, and, of course The Cars. There were few bands bigger in the late 70s and MTV ‘80s. Benjamin Orr was the co-founder, co lead singer and bassist for the group, and possessed a voice made for radio. Veteran music journalist Joe Milliken joins us to talk about his book “Let’s Go!…

Today, we celebrate Tom Petty on his birthday, with some bonus chat with Christopher McKittrick, author of "Somewhere You Feel Free: Tom Petty and Los Angeles." We talk about favorite songs, favorite albums, most underrated albums and more from this iconic songwriter and musician. If you want to know which Tom Petty song Chris feels it's impossible…

Denny Tedesco, the director of “The Wrecking Crew” joins us again to chat about his brand new rock documentary. “The Immediate Family” follows the work and lives of The Section, the legendary band of 1970s session musicians who were featured on some of the most iconic singer/songwriter recordings of the era. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit …

You may not know the musician’s names, but The Wrecking Crew was a group of studio musicians in Los Angeles in the 1960s who played on hits for the Beach Boys, Frank Sinatra, Nancy Sinatra, Sonny and Cher, The Monkees, Mamas and Papas, Herb Alpert and who were Phil Spector's "Wall of Sound." Director Denny Tedesco, son of guitarist Tommy Tedesco, t…

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Pat Simmons and Tom Johnston, the leaders of the Doobie Brothers, offer up a tag-team oral history with writer Chris Epting on the legendary rock band in "Long Train Runnin'." Their five decade journey, the longevity, success, drama and even the biker bars are all here. Chris joins us to recount their history, including the events that shelved John…

Legendary A&R man, author, star of "Who The F**ck Is That Guy?" and fabulous photographer returns to talk who he's digging today, his favorite live bands, the Nina Simone documentary and finds one degree of separation with "the Other Steve!". Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices…

“Who The Fuck Is That Guy'? The Fabulous Journey Of Michael Alago” tells the astonishing story of a gay Puerto Rican kid growing up in a Hasidic Brooklyn neighborhood, who got on the subway one day and began a musical odyssey that helped shape the musical landscape across N.Y.C. and around the world. From rubbing elbows with NY scene makers at Max'…

Brad Schreiber, author of "Music Is Power: Popular Songs, Social Justice, and the Will to Change" returns to talk about his favorite albums, music books and music documentaries! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesallmusicbooksdeepdive

In the first part of our chat with S. E. Feinberg about his book “Southern Man: Music and Mayhem in the American South,” which he co-authored with Alan Walden, we focused on the legendary work Walden did with R&B artists such as Otis Redding, Sam & Dave, and Percy Sledge.. It wasn’t always peaches and cream: the music business is tough. But after f…

Anyone who was alive during the golden age of R&B remembers the music, but Alan Walden and SE Feinberg’s book “Southern Man: Music and Mayhem in the American South” invites the reader to the centre of the story, into the studio and on the road, to backroom deals and backroom brawls. In Act One, S.E. Feinberg talks about Alan, his best friend Otis R…

"Nightclubbing" is the first-ever documentary about the renowned New York City nightclub Max's Kansas City, which had a massive impact on the worlds of music, fashion, art, culture and the creation of the city’s punk rock. The famous back room, where Andy Warhol held court and artists, actors, filmmakers, models, writers, assorted criminals and cou…

Bradley Morgan, author of "U2 Joshua Tree: Planting Roots in Mythic America" comes back for a lightning round of his thoughts and favorite songs from legendary Irish bands. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesallmusicbooksdeepdive

U2 planted the seeds for "The Joshua Tree" during an existential journey through America. As Irishmen in the 1970s, the band grew up with the belief that America was a place of freedom and prosperity, a symbol of hope and a refuge for all people. However, global politics of the 1980s undermined that impression. Bradley Morgan joins us to explore th…

Author Doug Brod spends a few more minutes with us, highlighting some of his favorite albums, music books, and music documentaries. Do you have any crossover with the man who wrote"It Just Seems A Little Weird: How KISS, Cheap Trick, Aerosmith, and Starz Remade Rock and Roll"? Tune in and find out! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.…

Rock documentaries are everywhere these days and, thankfully, that includes ska music from Jamaica and America. We ask "Ska Boom" author where he thinks fans of the genre should start. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesallmusicbooksdeepdive

Marc Wasserman is the author of Ska Boom: An American Ska and Reggae Oral History. He’s also played bass in a number of Ska bands, and backed some of the genres legends in the historic1998 Skavoovee tour. Marc joins us with stories, anecdotes, history, gossip, and, most importantly, the feeling of what it was like to be there as groups of young, sk…

We ask Jay Bergen, author of "Lennon, The Mobster & The Lawyer" about Lennon's album "Rock 'N' Roll," his favorite Lennon and Beatles tunes, and his favorite memory of his friendship with John. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesallmusicbooksdeepdive

Before John Lennon retreated peacefully into private life in 1975,he fought a major legal battle that went under the public radar. Just as his "Rock and Roll" oldies record hit the market, Morris Levy the mob-connected owner of Roulette Records, released "Roots," an unauthorized version of the same record. Levy had used rough mixes of John’s unfini…

We spend “a few more minutes" talking about the days when album cover graphics were a dominant part of the industry. Now...is it merch? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesallmusicbooksdeepdive

“The Album” is a documentary on the evolution of the record industry told from the perspective of art directors and photographers who created the most memorable art in music history. Veteran Art Director and director Kevin Hosmann speaks to top creators of their day to discuss the development of the art synonymous with the music you know and love. …

Legendary guitarist, producer and activist Stevie Van Zandt joins us for a few more minutes to talk about "the unwritten book," nicknames, The Beatles, and their recent documentary film "Get Back" Tune in! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesallmusicbooksdeepdive