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Post by johnnyoi on Mar 10, 2021 19:04:24 GMT
Anybody recommend any Glam rock books?Biogs or reference.
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Post by Lord Emsworth on Mar 10, 2021 19:53:44 GMT
I can Johnny Far and away my favourite Glam book is... Children of the Revolution: The Glam Rock Story 1970-1975 by Dave Thompson Dave Thompson's gift is to make the old and familiar appear new and exciting again 'Children of the Revolution: The Glam Rock Story 1970-1975' is a chronological trawl through the golden age of rock n roll and is the ultimate encyclopaedia of Glam As a reasonably knowledgeable fan I discovered lots of new information and insights. Dave Thompson focuses on all the main players but also devotes significant space to the lesser lights of the scene many of whom have been rediscovered through the Junkshop Glam comps I savoured every page, following up on old favourites and new discoveries Dave Thompson is very opinionated, which I like, despite a few curious blindspots. He trashes Bowie's plastic soul phase and odd songs which I rate highly come in for a bit of a bashing, on the other hand he is no snob, praising the finest moments of the Bay City Rollers, Sweet, Rubettes and Mud just as highly as Slade, Bowie and Bolan It's also well illustrated with some great period clippings and photos It's the last word on Glam and a book I'm delighted to own Sadly it's about £60 on eBay however you can get a Kindle edition for about a fiver (if you have one) |
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Post by Lord Emsworth on Mar 10, 2021 19:55:35 GMT
Fiction wise, Johnny Come Home by Jake Arnott is great  |
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Post by Lord Emsworth on Mar 10, 2021 19:59:14 GMT
The Simon Reynolds glam book ' Shock and Awe: Glam Rock and Its Legacy' is a whopper. Almost 700 pages devoted to Glam Rock
Despite its intelectual approach there is also the unmistakeable enthusiasm of Simon Reynolds's younger self
Like many here, Reynolds was a pre-teen in the early 1970s and so was also caught up in one of the most exciting, flashiest, primal genres in pop music's short history (though misquoted song lyrics e.g. the intro to "Ballroom Blitz" or lines from "All the Young Dudes" made me slightly unsure about his professed passion)
For such a huge book 'Shock and Awe: Glam Rock and Its Legacy' is actually a very selective history of Glam and one that doubles as a biography of David Bowie. The "...and Its Legacy" part of the title is a large part of this book, with later chapters exploring myriad highways and increasingly tangential byways. I generally enjoy Simon Reynolds' musings however later sections on, for example, pre-punk bands (SAHB, Doctors of Madness), Bowie in LA, Bowie in Berlin, modern artists (e.g. Lady Gaga, Kanye West, Ke$ha), and a few more, felt increasingly superfluous. I suspect Simon Reynolds just didn't want to let any idea, or bit of research, go to waste. Either way, I’d had more than enough as I ploughed through the final sections. I loved about a third of this book, quite liked about a third, and was frustrated or bored by about a third
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Post by Lord Emsworth on Mar 10, 2021 20:02:24 GMT
Glam!: Bowie, Bolan And The Glitter Rock Revolution
by Barney Hoskyns
A slim and concise (115 pages) volume that focusses on Glam's key players (Bowie, Bolan, Roxy Music, New York Dolls, Lou Reed) and a more passing reference to some of the lesser lights (Sweet, Slade, Suzi, Sparks, Mud, Rubettes etc.)
Barney Hoskyns places the era in context, charts the all too brief rise and fall of Glam including quotes from well informed commentators and key participants, before briefly exploring Glam's legacy.
The book was published in 1998 and so only hints at Gary Glitter's fall from grace. The book also precedes the interest in Junk Shop Glam
A solid introduction to the Glam Rock genre, and also makes a satisfying read for the more informed reader who simply wants to enjoy a short, well written account of Glam's glory years
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Post by Lord Emsworth on Mar 10, 2021 20:04:39 GMT
The wonderful Andy Lone Shark pointed me in the direction of...
It's a gorgeous artefact. 384 pages that lovingly chronicle European glam rock seven inch single sleeves of the 1970s.
Whilst boring old Britain used to sell seven inch singles in plain paper sleeves, until the advent of punk rock changed this practice for the majority of single releases, in the rest of Europe the picture sleeve was standard throughout the whole of the 1970s.
So, along with covers for Sweet, Slade, and T.Rex singles, and other familiar names like Rubettes, Hello, Mud, Suzi Quatro, there are covers for a host of other acts that frequently sound too perfect to be true
Be honest, if, to pluck a few favourite examples, Sandwich, Toggle, Shag, Zipper, Crunch, Hobnail, Clutch, Streak, Tiger, Stud Leather, and so on, had never existed we'd have to make them up.
Many of these singles have fabulous designs, with garish colours, great glam outfits and 70s typography. They are very beautiful, and this book is a wonderful thing if you are attracted to such things.
Not only do we get the single covers, there are also short interviews with members of Iron Virgin, Hector, The Jook, The Hammersmith Gorillas, Milk N'Cookies, and Brett Smiley. Most of these detailing thwarted ambition, mismanagement, and some great memories.
This book is the perfect way to celebrate Glam Rock
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Post by johnnyoi on Mar 11, 2021 10:37:56 GMT
You sold Children of the revolution to me Nige.Bought the kindle edition for £4.74.I’ll be checking out your other recommendations as well.Cheers
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Post by doug61 on Mar 11, 2021 13:54:32 GMT
The wonderful Andy Lone Shark pointed me in the direction of...
It's a gorgeous artefact. 384 pages that lovingly chronicle European glam rock seven inch single sleeves of the 1970s.
Whilst boring old Britain used to sell seven inch singles in plain paper sleeves, until the advent of punk rock changed this practice for the majority of single releases, in the rest of Europe the picture sleeve was standard throughout the whole of the 1970s.
So, along with covers for Sweet, Slade, and T.Rex singles, and other familiar names like Rubettes, Hello, Mud, Suzi Quatro, there are covers for a host of other acts that frequently sound too perfect to be true
Be honest, if, to pluck a few favourite examples, Sandwich, Toggle, Shag, Zipper, Crunch, Hobnail, Clutch, Streak, Tiger, Stud Leather, and so on, had never existed we'd have to make them up.
Many of these singles have fabulous designs, with garish colours, great glam outfits and 70s typography. They are very beautiful, and this book is a wonderful thing if you are attracted to such things.
Not only do we get the single covers, there are also short interviews with members of Iron Virgin, Hector, The Jook, The Hammersmith Gorillas, Milk N'Cookies, and Brett Smiley. Most of these detailing thwarted ambition, mismanagement, and some great memories.
This book is the perfect way to celebrate Glam Rock
Don't think the yanks had picture sleeves either, the records sold without the extra cost so they didn't have to. The few glam singles I have collected over the years I have always got from Europe through Discogs, got a few great Sweet and Suzi sleeves. Took punk to make it the norm over here. |
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Post by doug61 on Mar 11, 2021 14:15:45 GMT
I can Johnny Far and away my favourite Glam book is... Children of the Revolution: The Glam Rock Story 1970-1975 by Dave ThompsonDave Thompson's gift is to make the old and familiar appear new and exciting again 'Children of the Revolution: The Glam Rock Story 1970-1975' is a chronological trawl through the golden age of rock n roll and is the ultimate encyclopaedia of Glam As a reasonably knowledgeable fan I discovered lots of new information and insights. Dave Thompson focuses on all the main players but also devotes significant space to the lesser lights of the scene many of whom have been rediscovered through the Junkshop Glam comps I savoured every page, following up on old favourites and new discoveries Dave Thompson is very opinionated, which I like, despite a few curious blindspots. He trashes Bowie's plastic soul phase and odd songs which I rate highly come in for a bit of a bashing, on the other hand he is no snob, praising the finest moments of the Bay City Rollers, Sweet, Rubettes and Mud just as highly as Slade, Bowie and Bolan It's also well illustrated with some great period clippings and photos It's the last word on Glam and a book I'm delighted to own Sadly it's about £60 on eBay however you can get a Kindle edition for about a fiver (if you have one) Can never make my mind up on Thompson, have read decent books by him and others that are very basic, he seems to be a chrning out machine and has apparently written over 100 books on music which is a bit telling. Sounds like a good book to peruse but not made really for electric readers as you can't easily go back and forward. |
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Post by johnnyoi on Mar 11, 2021 14:25:56 GMT
True but bit of a price difference between the paperback and the Kindle!
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Post by Lord Emsworth on Mar 11, 2021 15:58:09 GMT
Can never make my mind up on Thompson, have read decent books by him and others that are very basic, he seems to be a chrning out machine and has apparently written over 100 books on music which is a bit telling. Sounds like a good book to peruse but not made really for electric readers as you can't easily go back and forward. I agree Doug He is prolific and the quality is variable We really do hit paydirt with Children of the Revolution though I didn't mention it is chronological and written like a daily diary so very easy to navigate and really gives a sense of how the Glam scene started, peaked and then declined. The index is also really great for finding specific info All good for the meaty book version but might not be so easy on the kindle version (sorry Johnny!) - though the kindle is much lighter! #silverlining |
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Post by doug61 on Mar 12, 2021 13:19:16 GMT
Can never make my mind up on Thompson, have read decent books by him and others that are very basic, he seems to be a chrning out machine and has apparently written over 100 books on music which is a bit telling. Sounds like a good book to peruse but not made really for electric readers as you can't easily go back and forward. I agree Doug He is prolific and the quality is variable We really do hit paydirt with Children of the Revolution though I didn't mention it is chronological and written like a daily diary so very easy to navigate and really gives a sense of how the Glam scene started, peaked and then declined. The index is also really great for finding specific info All good for the meaty book version but might not be so easy on the kindle version (sorry Johnny!) - though the kindle is much lighter! #silverlining Yeah, will wait for a reprint, those sort of things need to be physical copies. |
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Post by wardance on Jun 4, 2022 17:12:08 GMT
The Simon Reynolds glam book ' Shock and Awe: Glam Rock and Its Legacy' is a whopper. Almost 700 pages devoted to Glam Rock
Despite its intelectual approach there is also the unmistakeable enthusiasm of Simon Reynolds's younger self
Like many here, Reynolds was a pre-teen in the early 1970s and so was also caught up in one of the most exciting, flashiest, primal genres in pop music's short history (though misquoted song lyrics e.g. the intro to "Ballroom Blitz" or lines from "All the Young Dudes" made me slightly unsure about his professed passion)
For such a huge book 'Shock and Awe: Glam Rock and Its Legacy' is actually a very selective history of Glam and one that doubles as a biography of David Bowie. The "...and Its Legacy" part of the title is a large part of this book, with later chapters exploring myriad highways and increasingly tangential byways. I generally enjoy Simon Reynolds' musings however later sections on, for example, pre-punk bands (SAHB, Doctors of Madness), Bowie in LA, Bowie in Berlin, modern artists (e.g. Lady Gaga, Kanye West, Ke$ha), and a few more, felt increasingly superfluous. I suspect Simon Reynolds just didn't want to let any idea, or bit of research, go to waste. Either way, I’d had more than enough as I ploughed through the final sections. I loved about a third of this book, quite liked about a third, and was frustrated or bored by about a third
I really enjoyed 'Shock and Awe,' which kept me going through the first lockdown. Followed it up with Dave Hill's So Here It Is. And picked up a paperback copy of Noddy Holder's 'Who's Crazee Now' in my local Oxfam a few weeks ago, which has been added to the 'to read' pile. |
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Post by doug61 on Jun 5, 2022 15:46:53 GMT
Just started Shock and Awe myself.
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Post by Lord Emsworth on Jun 5, 2022 17:38:47 GMT
Just started Shock and Awe myself. Look forward to your reaction |
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