Author:Matthew R Davis, Pete Woolliscroft, Brent Waltz
Last year saw the first studio album by The Cure since 2008, and showed the band have lost none of their vigour since their debut set way back in 1979. While reading this book, it’s inspired me to relisten to the whole of their back catalogue, and what a range of styles it covers, from the bleakest of gloom to the most danceable pure pop. This very comprehensive book covers all the studio albums of course, song by song, plus live sets, B sides, and every conceivable rarity and remix. It’s very well researched and is a really informative and entertaining read that will meet with the approval of their legions of fans, and relistening to albums you’ve not heard in years while you peruse it only adds to the enjoyment.
Pete Wooliscroft was a young engineer, then producer, making his way in the pivotal decade of the 1980’s. a period that saw the last great era of recording studios, but also a time when there were huge technological developments in recording equipment and techniques. Using diaries written at the time, he draws back the curtain on his work behind closed doors with producers such as Tony Visconti, Trevor Horn and Mutt Lange and a diverse range of artists including Queen, Peter Gabriel, Frank Zappa and Kate Bush. He gives a behind the scenes look at the work he did with them, how key recordings were created and how technical challenges were overcome. This is a really entertaining and fascinating read, especially if you like a look at how (hopefully) hit records are made, and although the technical details went mostly over my head it is certainly well worth seeking out.
Being a fan of the myriad of Grateful Dead live albums, I always assumed Phish would be a band made for me, Alas, try as I might I could never really connect with their music, The band are faultless in their musical abilities, but the drawn out jams somehow just don’t work for me, and it sometimes feels they are trying to be rather too clever for their own good – and while their cover versions are technically perfect they don’t add anything to the originals. However, in the US market they remain a huge live attraction with their loyal hardcore Deadhead like community of followers, and this book takes a detailed look at the run of thirteen shows they performed in a residency at Madison Square Gardens in the summer of 2017. No less than 237 songs were performed, with no duplications, with each individual night themed around a doughnut flavour! The book takes you through the set list each night, with an in depth look at each song performed, as well as delving into the ensuing improvisations as the music evolves during the performance itself. The comparisons with the Dead are obvious, and the book thus also encompasses the fan experience as well as the musical experimentation and atmosphere. The book is certainly well researched and written, but you’d have to say it’s aimed solely at their devoted fan base really.
Length of Read:Short
Might appeal to people who enjoyed…
The work of these artists or a look at the process of recording music.
One thing you’ve learned
There’s always more to learn!
The book on the Phish box set seems like an interesting read. Although – would I really like to read about the music when I can listen to it by myself? 😉