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Honestly, when I got into this reviewing gig I had no real plans to review music-related books. I sort of fell into it, and I’m glad I did. A number of titles that might have otherwise gone unnoticed instead landed on my desk. And I jumped at the chance to tell my readers about them.<\/p>\n
I only just reviewed Joe Bonomo<\/strong>‘s Jerry Lee Lewis: Lost and Found<\/em><\/a> earlier this month. I can’t say enough good things about it. The short version of my rave would be that he’s brought a fresh perspective to an oft-covered subject, managing to be both personal and universal in appeal at once.<\/p>\n Little Willie John<\/strong> is one of those musical artists whose work is in danger of being lost in the mists of time. But former Creem<\/em> writer Susan Whitall<\/strong>‘s Fever: Little Willie John<\/em><\/a> makes sure that doesn’t happen. Her fascinating and well-researched book is co-authored with John’s son.<\/p>\n I Slept With Joey Ramone<\/a> – <\/em>There have been several books about The Ramones<\/strong>, but Mickey Leigh<\/strong>‘s is by far the best. As the brother of Joey Ramone<\/strong>, he saw things up close and personal, but with enough distance to allow useful perspective. Legs McNeil<\/strong>‘s contribution probably helps a lot in making this a must-read.<\/p>\n In The Resurrection of Johnny Cash<\/em><\/a>, Graeme Thomson<\/strong> takes a detailed look at the later part of the Man in Black’s career, contextualizing it and offering up a critical asseesment of the hwole thing. He also makes a couple new points that are so obvious you’ll wonder why you didn’t think of them yourself. But then you didn’t, did you? Me neither.<\/p>\n One of my favorite music journalists, Richie Unterberger<\/strong> has most recently turned his attention toward the early 1970s output of The Who<\/strong>. Though Won’t Get Fooled Again<\/em><\/a> could probably do with a revision in light of the months-later release of the \u201cdirector’s cut\u201d version of Quadrophenia<\/em>, Unterberger’s history and analysis are \u2013 as always \u2013 essential reading.<\/p>\n
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