The 33 1/3 books published by Continuum part of one of my favorite series. Even though they are music books (not comics) we sell them because I am such a big fan. And customers seem to really like them as well. For those who haven’t checked out this series, each book is typically a “making of” a classic album. Sometimes, it will be a meditation on the albums themes via an essay, fiction, or autobio.
I was very excited to see the latest batch of accepted proposals announced:
Portishead’s Dummy, by RJ Wheaton
Johnny Cash’s American Recordings, by Tony Tost
Television’s Marquee Moon, by Bryan Waterman
Liz Phair’s Exile in Guyville, by Gina Arnold
AC/DC’s Highway to Hell, by Joe Bonomo
Ween’s Chocolate and Cheese, by Hank Shteamer
Radiohead’s Kid A, by Marvin Lin
Dinosaur Jr.’s You’re Living All Over Me, by Nick Attfield
Aretha Franklin’s Amazing Grace, by Aaron Cohen
Slint’s Spiderland, by Scott Tennent
The Rolling Stones’ Some Girls, by Cyrus Patell
I’m definitely going to have to get myself personal copies of the Johnny Cash’s American Recordings, Radiohead’s Kid A, Rolling Stones’ Some Girls, and Portishead’s Dummy books. I’m also pretty interested in the Television, Liz Phair, Aretha Franklin, and Slint books.
I believe the Radiohead and Rolling Stones books mark the first time a band has been covered more than once in the series. I’m especially excited to see this second Radiohead book, because the first (on Ok Computer) was one of the worst I’ve read in the series. Plus, Kid A is a better, but underrated album. This also opens the door to them putting out a second Beach Boys book, an idea for which I’ve been writing and daydreaming on since before the Pet Sounds book came out. I guess I’ll have to get busy on my proposal!
I’ve read 13 or 14 in the series so far (I think there’s 66 out) and my favorites were The Ramones’ Ramones, Joy Division’s Unknown Pleasures, and Love’s Forever Changes. The most popular one these days, which I hear endless good things about is the book on Black Sabbath’s Master Of Reality by indie rocker John Darnielle (from the Mountain Goats).
Anyhow, if you’re a music fan I highly recommend the series. It’s consistently great and even the books I’ve read about artists I’m a minor fan of have been very rewarding.
Jeremy