BMS Shopping Guide: Music Books of 2010

‘Tis the season of giving and receiving, and here at BMS, we know that finding the perfect gift for someone can be a frustrating process. Because of this, we want to give you, our readers, the gift of making your life a little easier. We have searched high and low to find the best new books for the music lover in your life, and here they are:

Decoded by Jay-Z: Decoded is first and foremost, a book of rhymes,” says author Shawn Carter, better known as Jay-Z. Here, Jay-Z tells the stories that his lyrics are based on, from his childhood life on the streets of Brooklyn to becoming the world famous rapper and entrepreneur that the we are all familiar with today. Through Decoded we get a glimpse into the world of hip-hop like never before. Songs are deconstructed and their meanings and stories laid out for the reader, showing something that many people fail to realize – rap is an intensely complex art form.

Life by Keith Richards: Few bands are as famous as the Rolling Stones, and through Life, readers are able to catch a glimpse at what life was, and is, like for guitarist Keith Richards. Containing stories one would expect from a rock legend (sex, drugs, and obviously rock ‘n’ roll) combined with the more intimate aspects of Richard’s life, this memoir provides a shockingly candid look into the life of one of the most iconic guitarists of all time.

I Am Ozzy by Ozzy Osbourne and Chris Ayres: An honest account of how John Michael Osbourne, a young man from working-class roots became the bat-eating, hard rocking front-man of Black Sabbath and patriarch of the most famous family in reality TV.

Me by Ricky Martin: In this intimate memoir, international pop icon Ricky Martin opens up for the first time about his journey in life. He recalls memories of his early childhood, experiences in the famed boy band Menudo and the Livin’ la Vida Loca phenomenon, as well as reflections on coming to terms with his sexuality and becoming a father.

First Step 2 Forever, My Story by Justin Bieber: 2010 was the year of Justin Bieber and in this book he tells the story of his incredible journey from small-town Candadian boy to global superstar. The 240-page book is full of exclusive unseen photos of Justin on and off stage, plus private moment that capture the story of Justin’s unparalleled rise to stardom.

The Quincy Jones Legacy Series: Q on Producing by Quincy Jones and Bill Gibson: This is a must read for aspiring artists and producers everywhere. In this first edition of what will be a multivolume series, author and audio expert Bill Gibson presents the legendary music producer Quincy Jones’ approach to making music. From his early successes with Ray Charles to his game-changing albums with Michael Jackson and up through his recent productions, the book (which is packaged with a DVD) is an instructional course from one of the most celebrated producers in American music history.

Psycho Chicken & Other Foolish Tales by Mike Girard: In this must for any local music fan, the legendary frontman for Boston legends The Fools chronicles the band’s 30-year career. Formed in Ipswich, the band burst onto the scene with their parody hit “Psycho Chicken”. Soon after, they were signed by EMI Records, went on to release a few hit albums and tour the world opening for such rock luminaries as Van Halen, Rush, The Doobie Brothers and The J. Geils Band. In this book, Girard captures everything that The Fools were all about with plenty of laughs for an easy read.

Composed: A Memoir by Rosanne Cash: The singer-songwriter reflects on her upbringing in the shadow of her famous father, country legend Johnny Cash, her relationships with her mother and famous stepmother, June Carter Cash, and how she matured into a talented artist, mother and wife despite the struggles and heartbreak.

Mustaine: A Heavy Metal Memoir by Dave Mustaine and Joe Layden: Founder, front man, singer, songwriter and guitarist for Megadeth (and co-founder of Metallica), Dave Mustaine has seen it all, from an impoverished childhood filled with abuse, to alcoholism, drug abuse to homelessness to artistic setbacks to near death experiences and has somehow lived to tell the story. Mustaine’s story will both terrify and inspire readers.

My Appetite for Destruction: Sex, and Drugs, and Guns N’ Roses by Steven Adler: From the original drummer for Guns N’ Roses, comes the inside story of one of rock’s biggest bands. Adler reveals not only his own secrets but also discloses shocking band secrets from Duff, Slash and Axl as charts the band’s meteoric rise and devastating collapse.

Tattoos & Tequila: To Hell and Back with One of Rock’s Most Notorious Frontmen by Vince Neil and Mike Sagar: From the lead singer of one of America’s most notorious bands, Vince Neil chronicles his days with Motley Crue, a band who epitomized the ‘rock ‘n roll’ lifestyle and his days as a reality televison star. With firsthand accounts, interviews with friends, business associates and ex-wives, this book is a candid account of the Neil’s life from the things he has done (drug, alcohol and women) to legal troubles and of course the music. Too bad this book was published before Skating with the Stars!

Love Brought Me Back: A Journey of Loss and Gain by Natalie Cole and David Ritz: In her second memoir, the acclaimed singer and daughter of legendary Nat King Cole, provides a dramatic, uplifting, and heartbreaking story of her sudden diagnosis of hepatitis C and her subsequent kidney transplant. The story includes painful memories of the sudden loss of her sister Cookie and the joy she found in connecting with the sister of the woman who made her transplant possible. It is a story of love, loss, despair and finding peace in the midst of it all.

LZ-’75: The Lost Chronicles of Led Zeppelin’s 1975 American Tour by Stephen Davis: As a young music journalist in 1975, Stephen Davis got the opportunity of a lifetime: an invitation to cover the sold-out 1975 North American tour of one the biggest, most elusive bands in the world, Led Zeppelin. Thirty-five years later, Davis shares an amazing amount of new information from the tour including lost interviews, revelations about band (including the identity of the lover Robert Plant sang about in “What Is and What Should Never Be”) and dozens of never-before-published photos from his own diary of the tour.

The Making of Pink Floyd: The Wall by Gerald Scarfe and Roger Waters: Loosely based on the life and experiences of Roger Waters, Pink Floyd’s The Wall is undeniably one of the most iconic and creative albums in the history of rock music. Developed in close collaboration with Gerald Scarfe, the stage show is considered  one of the most ambitious productions ever conceived and the film instantly became a cult classic. This book follows Scarfe’s relationship with the band and the concepts behind the creation of The Wall for stage and film and includes hundreds of unseen photos, sketches and props, exclusive interviews with Waters and other band members and a complete set of lyrics.

Anthology of Rap by Adam Bradley and Andrew DuBois: Put together and edited by two Yale English professors, the Anthology of Rap is comprised of more than three hundred lyrics of today’s most common form of poetry. Taking you back through the “old school”, the “golden age” and today’s  songs, The Anthology of Rap shows you the best of rap – both popular and lesser-known. Although certain parts of this book may be over-analytical, it nevertheless is an exquisite display of the artistic talent seen with rap music.

Gaga by Johnny Morgan: Rah rah rah-ah-ah, Gaga ooh-la-la. Not only are these lyrics to one of Lady Gaga’s most famous songs, but they also perfectly describe this outstanding coffee table book. Comprised of over 100 stunning photographs documenting the rise of the one-of-a-kind popstar that is Lady Gaga. With pictures dating from her childhood in Manhattan’s Upper West Side to recent photographs from her world tour, this book captures everything that we love about Gaga, including her unique style. Certainly, a must-have for any of the “little monsters” on your list.

Madonna by Daryl Easlea: Madonna is one of the most iconic pop superstars the world has ever seen, and this magnificent coffee table book suits that perfectly. With a velvety cover and pictures and stories outlining the outstandingly successful career of Madge thus far.

Michael Jackson: Auction by Arno Bani: In July of 1999, the King of Pop asked photographer Arno Bani to do a secret photoshoot. This month, Pierre Bergé & Associates will put the 700 photographs taken on auction. But for those of us who can’t afford to buy the orginals at the auction, have no fear! You can find the entire auction catalogue in this book.

The Red Hot Chili Peppers: An Oral/Visual History by The Red Hot Chili Peppers: A look back at the iconic alternative rockers’ thirty year history in the bands own words, accompanied by more than 300 spectacular photos. And yes, the pictures of them in their, um, socks are included.

Mosh Potatoes: Recipes, Anecdotes, and Mayhem from the Heavyweights of Heavy Metal by Steve Seabury: Ever wonder what the guys from Anthrax or Black Label Society cook when they are home? Well, her’s your answer. Divided into “Opening Acts” (appetizers), “Headliners” (entrees), and “Encores” (desserts), this book features 147 recipes from a wide array of metal favorites. Along with the recipes, the book serves up some backstage stories for fans.