Category Archives: BOOK REVIEWS

Book review: On track…UFO (Every Album, Every Song) by Richard James

Posted on February 18, 2021 by GRTR! HQ

Sonicbond Publishing [Release date 26.02.21] It was a sad day when UFO announced their ‘Last Orders’ tour in 2018, even sadder when a couple of weeks after the UK leg long-standing keyboard/guitar player Paul Raymond died of a heart attack. … Continue reading →

Posted in All Posts, BOOK REVIEWS | Tagged book, Every Album, Every Song, Michael Schenker, On Track, Pete Way, Phil Mogg, review, Richard James, UFO, Vinnie Moore | Leave a comment

Book review: OFF THE CHARTS by KAT GOLDMAN

Posted on February 13, 2021 by jason

Sutherland House [Publication date 09.02.21] Canadian singer songwriter Kat Goldman has made four critically acclaimed albums and her songs have been covered by Grammy-nominated band, The Duhks, Dar Williams, among many others. I will be honest I had not … Continue reading →

Posted in All Posts, BOOK REVIEWS | Tagged book, folk, Kat Goldman, memoir, Off The Charts, pop, review, singer songwriter | Leave a comment

Book review: On track…KATE BUSH, RENAISSANCE, DIRE STRAITS, JONI MITCHELL

Posted on January 30, 2021 by GRTR! HQ

Sonicbond Publishing [Publication dates: December 2020; January/February 2021] The On Track volumes from Sonicbond come thick and fast. I can’t help thinking that in the rush certain standards are being compromised or, at least, opportunities missed. Firstly there are a … Continue reading →

Posted in All Posts, BOOK REVIEWS | Tagged book, Crosby Stills Nash and Young, Derek Taylor, Dire Straits, Joni Mitchell, Kate Bush, On Track, pop, prog, Progressive Rock, Renaissance, review, rock, singer, songwriter | Leave a comment

Book review: Limelight: Rush in the 80’s by Martin Popoff

Posted on December 5, 2020 by jason

[Publication date 20.10.20] Martin Popoff’s follow up to ‘Anthem: Rush in the ‘70s’ he now covers the band’s 80’s albums – both studio and live. Different from the ever expanded ‘Track By Track’ books in that although Martin Popoff critiques … Continue reading →

Posted in All Posts, BOOK REVIEWS | Tagged album, book, Classic Albums, classic rock, Limelight, Martin Popoff, melodic, prog rock, review, rock, Rush | Leave a comment

Book Review: ON TRACK (every album, every song…) – IRON MAIDEN (by Steve Pilkington) and THIN LIZZY (by Graeme Stroud)

Posted on November 20, 2020 by andynathan

Sonic Bond Publishing The ‘On Track’ series is a new one to me, but glancing at GRTR!’s recent book reviews it seems to be a rapidly growing collection. While more critically acclaimed artists such as the Beatles and Bruce Springsteen … Continue reading →

Posted in All Posts, BOOK REVIEWS | Tagged book, Every Album Every Song, Graeme Stroud, Iron Maiden, On Target, Steve Pilkington, Thin Lizzy | Leave a comment

Book review: Decades – Marillion in the 1980’s by Nathanial Webb

Posted on November 16, 2020 by jason

Sonicbond Publishing [Publication date 09.10.20] Sonicbond have already published a series of enjoyable ‘On Track…’ books and now they delve a bit deeper into some bands’ histories with this Decades series. Marillion are one of the first artists to get … Continue reading →

Posted in All Posts, BOOK REVIEWS | Tagged album, book, Classic Albums, classic rock, Fish, Marillion, Marillion in the 1980’s, Nathanial Webb, prog rock, review, Sonic Bond Publishing, Steve Hogarth | Leave a comment

Book review: Noise Damage by James Kennedy

Posted on October 22, 2020 by jason

Eye Books [Publication date 18.10.20] I’ve not just got a passing interest in rock autobiographies. I positively devour them. Pretty much anyone I admire who puts one out these days will tend to end up on my reading list sharpish. … Continue reading →

Posted in All Posts, BOOK REVIEWS | Tagged book, indie, James Kennedy, memoir, music, Noise Damage, punk rock, review, rock | 1 Comment

Book review: MARK BADGEMAN & ANDREW WOLFMAN – Memories of The Market Tavern Kidderminster 1990-96

Posted on September 25, 2020 by jason

Self-published [Publication date 16.11.20] Even if you didn’t attend a gig at Kidderminster’s Market Tavern, if you’re a live music fan then there’s plenty here to enjoy. This long defunct but fondly remembered and unique venue is celebrated in this … Continue reading →

Posted in All Posts, BOOK REVIEWS | Tagged Andrew Wolfman, book, Carter USM, gigs, Glen Matlock, live, Mark Badgeman, Memories of The Market Tavern Kidderminster 1990-96, pop, punk, review, rock | Leave a comment

Book review: On track…MIKE OLDFIELD (Every album, every song) – Ryan Yard

Posted on September 18, 2020 by GRTR! HQ

Sonicbond Publishing [Publication date 18.09.20] As Ryan Ward suggests in this survey of Mike Oldfield’s music, his calling card Tubular Bells – in 1973 – defined him and was never surpassed. He was only 20. Those of a certain age … Continue reading →

Posted in All Posts, BOOK REVIEWS | Tagged book, classical, dance, Every Album, Every Song, guitar, instrumental, Mike Oldfield, music, On Track, prog, progressive, review, rock, Ryan Yard, Tubular Bells, world | Leave a comment

Book review: The Development Of Large Rock Sound Systems – Chris Hewitt

Posted on August 22, 2020 by petefeenstra

A Dandelion Records Book [Publication date 14.08.20] ‘The Development Of Large Rock Sound Systems’ is a book with no beginning and no end, but it has plenty of substance in the middle. Much like the other 7 books from the … Continue reading →

Posted in All Posts, BOOK REVIEWS | Tagged Adrian Maben, Alan Styles, Arthur Brown, Carey Chenoweth, Cat Stevens, Charlie Watkins, Chris Hewitt, Colosseum, David Martin, Dinky Dawson, Dire Straits, Fleetwood Mac, Hawkwind, Isle of Wight, Jim Marshall, Jimi Hendrix, John Hiseman, John Thompson, Johnny Winter, Led Zeppelin, Peter Watts, Pink Floyd, Pompeii, Rod Stewart, Roger Chapman, The Development Of Large Rock Sound Systems, The Faces, The Pink Fairies, The Rolling Stones, THE WHO, Tim Boyle, Weeley festival, WEM | Leave a comment

Book review: On track…THE WHO (Every album, every song) – Geoffrey Feakes

Posted on August 12, 2020 by GRTR! HQ

Sonicbond Publishing [Publication date 17.08.20] One of the good things about any book like this, it encourages you to either dig out old vinyl or notice that you’ve missed something. In the case of The Who they released their latest … Continue reading →

Posted in All Posts, BOOK REVIEWS | Tagged book, classic rock, Every Album, Every Song, Geoffrey Feakes, John Entwistle, Keith Moon, mod, On Track, Pete Townshend, pop, review, rock, Roger Daltery, THE WHO | Leave a comment

Book review: On track…DREAM THEATER (Every album, every song) – Jordan Blum

Posted on August 12, 2020 by GRTR! HQ

Sonicbond Publishing [Publication date 17.07.20] This volume reveals the strengths and weaknesses of the series’ premise. Jordan Blum’s careful expose of all the albums reveals how indebted he is to other writers, websites and magazines. And, let’s be honest, Wikipedia. … Continue reading →

Posted in All Posts, BOOK REVIEWS | Tagged book, Dream Theater, Every Album, Every Song, James LaBrie, John Petrucci, Jordan Rudess, Mike Portnoy, On Track, progressive metal, review | Leave a comment

Book review: On track…10cc and Godley & Creme (Every album, every song) – Peter Kearns

Posted on August 11, 2020 by GRTR! HQ

Sonicbond Publishing [Publication date 17.08.20] In the hot summer of 1976 I was checking roll-on roll-off cargo at Liverpool Docks and realised I was looking at a consignment of music gear. It turned out that 10cc were coming over from … Continue reading →

Posted in All Posts, BOOK REVIEWS | Tagged 10CC, book, Eric Stewart, Godley & Creme, Graham Gouldman, Kevin Godley, Lol Creme, pop, pop rock, review | Leave a comment

Book review: On track…GENTLE GIANT (Every album, every song) – Gary Steel

Posted on August 11, 2020 by GRTR! HQ

Sonicbond Publishing [Publication date 17.08.20] The only time I saw Gentle Giant live was when they “supported” a film about Jimi Hendrix at Liverpool Stadium. Due to the poor PA system it was just cacophony. Giant’s music is so full … Continue reading →

Posted in All Posts, BOOK REVIEWS | Tagged book, Gary Steel, Gentle Giant, On Track, review | Leave a comment

Book review: JOHN BARROW – How NOT to Make it in the Pop World

Posted on July 15, 2020 by jason

Trafford Publishing John Barrow’s hugely entertaining memoir about his life as a working musician is now onto its third edition, having originally been published in 2004. Having instantly taken a liking to John from reading the original edition, it’s good … Continue reading →

Posted in All Posts, BOOK REVIEWS | Tagged book, How NOT to Make It in the Pop World, John Barrow, memoir, music, musician, pop, review, rock | Leave a comment

Book review: STEVE HACKETT – A Genesis In My Bed

Posted on July 12, 2020 by GRTR! HQ

Wymer Publishing [Publication date 24.07.20] It was perhaps inevitable: riding the crest of the prog resurgence, repurposing classic Genesis in front of insatiable crowds, and making well received solo albums. And now, the book! Steve Hackett traces his journey from … Continue reading →

Posted in All Posts, BOOK REVIEWS | Tagged A Genesis In My Bed, autobiography, book, Genesis, guitar, guitarist, prog, Progressive Rock, Steve Hackett | Leave a comment

Book review: FLYPOSTING: Posters Of A Music Revolution by Chris Hewitt

Posted on June 17, 2020 by petefeenstra

Dandelion Records [Publication date 15.06.20] ‘Flyposting – Posters Of A Music Revolution’ doesn’t so much document the radically changing times of the 70′s, as reflect an era when the medium became the message. Up until such times as when local … Continue reading →

Posted in All Posts, BOOK REVIEWS | Tagged Barclay James Harvest, Bob Marley, book, Burning Spear, Captain Beefheart, Chris Hewitt, Dandy Shaft, Flyposting Posters Of A Music Revolution, Ian Gillan Band, Iron Maiden, Jethro Tull, John Cooper Clarke, Led Zeppelin, Man, Queen, Racing Cars, Rainbow, review, Slade Rabid Records, Snips, Squeeze, Stackwaddy, Stanley Clarke, Steam Hammer, Steve Gibbons, Steve Hardcastle, Steve Hillage, The Bystanders, Tosh Ryan, Trapeze, Writing On The Wall | Leave a comment

Book review: HAWKWIND On Track – Every Album, Every Song by Duncan Harris

Posted on May 1, 2020 by jason

Sonicbond Publishing [Publication date 26.03.20] ‘Hawkwind – every album, every song’ is another volume in Sonicbond’s ‘On Track’ series, this time taking on the Herculean task of documenting the prolific adventures of Dave Brock’s gang of space rockers in the … Continue reading →

Posted in All Posts, BOOK REVIEWS | Tagged book, classic rock, Dave Brock, Duncan Harris, Hawkwind On Track – Every Album Every Song, Lemmy, review, space rock | 1 Comment

Book review: Broken Greek by Pete Paphides

Posted on April 30, 2020 by jason

Quercus [Publication date 05.03.20] An entertaining memoir that works on two levels, first and foremost as a musical journey through the hits (and some misses) of the 70s and 80s charts, and secondly as Pete Paphides recalls his own family … Continue reading →

Posted in All Posts, BOOK REVIEWS | Tagged book, Broken Greek, ELO, memoir, Pete Pahides, pop, review, rock | Leave a comment

Book review: A Platinum Producer’s Life in Music by Ted Templeman as told to Greg Renoff

Posted on April 16, 2020 by jason

ECW Press [Publication date 21.04.20] Ted Templeman started out on the other side of the mixing desk as a musician, being part of Harpers Bizarre who had a number of US hits, the most well-known being ‘59th Street Bridge Song … Continue reading →