With Summer almost upon us (some would say it’s already been and gone!) thoughts of holidays, sun, sea, and a good book, are very much in our thoughts.
Whilst the possibility of lounging by the Mediterranean with cocktail and a good book sounds idyllic, our options seem more likely to be a deckchair in the garden, a mug of tea, whilst dodging showers. The thought of a good book does brighten the scenario somewhat.
So, deckchair, tea and umbrella in readiness, what to read ?
Fortunately, from a very early age I’ve read, devouring school and local libraries, leaving only cornflake packets and sauce bottles unread.
Lucky enough to get a steady supply from family and friends here’s a few recent purchases that may help your leisurely days be more interesting and hopefully informative.
Book one is One,Two, Three, Four by Craig Brown.
It’s a Beatle book and some would say do we need another one? Plenty of good and not so good books on the Fab Four out there but this is something of a gem amongst the diamanté’s.
For one it’s original, witty and sad all at the same time. Fascinating and unique, it documents the boys career but in a more endearing way using stories and anecdotes, similarities and unusual back stories behind some of the more well-known Beatle tales.
You don’t have to be a fan to enjoy the book, though it obviously helps, but guarantee you will find the stories charming, unusual and thoroughly entertaining.
Book two is Remain In Love by Talking Heads and Tom Tom Club drummer Chris Frantz. Whilst former bandmate David Byrne collects all the accolades and in many ways deservedly so, the real heartbeat of any band is the rhythm section and in Frantz and his wife Tina Weymouth, the band possessed a truly inspirational and exciting partnership.
The importance of Frantz, Weymouth and guitarist/keyboardist Jerry Harrison never seemed to get the credit they deserved with the focus being frontman Byrne but thankfully this book sets the record straight and a truly fascinating insight into one of music’s most inspirational and much admired bands.
Frantz tells of the bands formative years and his life long relationship with his wife Tina.
In many ways his story is bittersweet, obviously proud of his/their achievements yet a sadness in the band’s demise and lack of both interest and acknowledgement from Byrne. The references to CBGB’s and the early New York scene is true rock folklore and engrossing whilst insight into the birth of songs like the iconic Psychokiller is certainly compelling.
The book is definitely worth reading even if just to let Frantz even up the score and tell is how it was.
My third recent purchase is the epic The Worst Band In The World, the only authorised 10cc biography, and to my mind one of the best written and researched books on a band ever written, in this instance, being one of popular music’s most innovative and respected units that sadly never got the proper credit their stunning music deserved.
From their early days as members and songwriters of note to some of the Sixties finest bands to the creative hub that was Strawberry Studios, where they could let fly their many ideas, from the bubblegum rock of Rubber Bullets to the multi-layered epic of I’m Not In Love, their music was impossible to pigeon hole in its complexity and versatility.
It’s a real labour of love from fan and writer Liam Newton with no stone unturned in a well crafted and riveting read.
Last but not least is Hey Hi Hello by legendary DJ Annie Nightingale.
Published to mark the fiftieth anniversary of her first broadcast on Radio One, and, unlike her more autobiographical Wicked Speed, this book delves into meetings and interviews with musicians and friends like Underworld’s Karl Hyde and pop’s latest shining light, Billie Eilish.
Littered with anecdotes it’s light reading compared to the previous books mentioned yet it’s an entertaining and absorbing book by a real groundbreaking, trailblazing, DJ who stood her ground in an era that gave women little opportunity in the all-male institution that was Radio One.