Category Archives: BOOK REVIEWS

Book review: WHO IS BLUES Vol.2 – The Interviews. Blues Encounters 2000 – 2020 by Vincent Abbate

Posted on September 20, 2021 by petefeenstra

Self Published [Publication date 01.09.21] ‘Who Is The Blues Vol.2: The Interviews. Blues Encounters 2000-2020′ is an interesting cross section of 20 years of interviews of contemporary blues artists by the German based, New York blues scribe Vincent Abbate. Abbate … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, BOOK REVIEWS, Books | Tagged author, BB King, blues, Bobby Rush, book, Buddy Guy, Dave Gonzales, interviews, John Mooney, Josh Smith, Paul Delay, Quinn Sullivan, review, Ronnie Baker Brooks, Samantha Fish, Sue Foley, Terry Evans, The Holmes Brothers, Tommy Castro, Vincent Abbate, Walter Trout, Watermelon Slim, Who is Blues Vol.2 | Leave a comment

Book review: BOBBY RUSH with Herb Powell – I Ain’t Studdin Ya: My American Blues Story

Posted on September 10, 2021 by petefeenstra

Bobby Rush with Herb Powell - I Ain't Studdin' Ya - My American Story

Hachette Books [Publication date 15.07.21] Grammy award winner Emmett Ellis Jnr aka Bobby Rush’s ‘I Ain’t Studdin’ Ya: My American Blues Story’ is easily one of the best musical biographies of the year. It’s the life and time of a … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, BOOK REVIEWS | Tagged 'I Ain't Studdin ya: My American Blues Story, Alan Freed, BB King, Big Joe Turner, biography, Bobby Rush, book, Chess Records, Chitlin Cicuit, Chuck Berry, comedy, drums, fats Domino, guitar, harp, Herb Powell, Little Richard, Little Walter, Luther Allison, Muddy Waters, Ray Charles, review, Rufus Thomas, Sonny Boy Williamson | Leave a comment

Book review: ERJA LYYTINEN – The Blues Queen by Mape Ollila

Posted on August 26, 2021 by petefeenstra

Docendo Oy Publishing [Publication date 06.11.20] ‘Erja Lyytinen – The Blues Queen’ is a refreshingly honest biography about a hugely talented classically trained violinist turned rock blues guitarist, singer-songwriter, band leader and perfectionist in search of respect and acceptance. It’s … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, BOOK REVIEWS | Tagged album, AYNSLEY LISTER, Carlos Santana, Davide Floreno, Erja Lyytinen, Europe, Finland, guitar, Ian Parker, Jennifer Batten, Mape Ollila, Nightwish, review, Shiley Bassey, Sibelius, Tasavallan Presidentti, The Blues Queen, Thomas Ruf, vocals | Leave a comment

Book review: On Track…TOM PETTY (Every album, every song) by Richard James

Posted on August 25, 2021 by andynathan

SonicBond Publishing (Release Date 30.07.21) The posthumous Tom Petty box set was titled ‘An American Treasure’, a fitting description of a legend of rock who did things on his own terms and has perhaps only been fully appreciated since his … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, BOOK REVIEWS | Tagged book, On Track, Richard James, Tom Petty, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers | Leave a comment

Book review: Loud ’n’ Proud – 50 Years Of Nazareth by Martin Popoff

Posted on August 9, 2021 by jason

Wymer Publishing [Publication date 06.08.21] Scottish rock legends have been recording for 50 years now, and a book on the band and their fantastic legacy has been long overdue. Their charting days be over (they were chart and Top Of … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, BOOK REVIEWS | Tagged 50 Years Of Nazareth, book, Classic Albums, classic rock, Dan McCafferty, Loud ’n’ Proud, Manny Charlton, Martin Popoff, Pete Agnew, review, rock, Rodney Matthews, Zac Cleminson | Leave a comment

Book review: Decades – THE SWEET in the 1970s by Darren Johnson

Posted on August 2, 2021 by jason

Sonicbond Publishing [Publication date 20.07.21; 24.09.21 US only] Reviewing a book by a fellow GRTR! writer, ooh tricky one but luckily Darren Johnson has written a short, concise, informative and entertaining book on 70s glam rock icons the Sweet. Sweet … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, BOOK REVIEWS | Tagged 70's rock, Andy Scott, book, Brian Connolly, classic rock, Darren Johnson, Decades, glam rock, review, rock, Sonicbond Publishing, The Sweet in the 1970s | Leave a comment

Book review: Decades – FLEETWOOD MAC in the 1970s by Andrew Wild

Posted on July 20, 2021 by andynathan

SonicBond Publishing [Publication date 14.05.21] No band survived the seventies with a more spectacular transformation than Fleetwood Mac. They began it as a successful British blues band who were about to be left reeling by the departure of their founder … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, BOOK REVIEWS | Tagged Andrew Wild, book, Decades, Fleetwood Mac, review | Leave a comment

Book review: Decades – URIAH HEEP in the 1970s by Steve Pilkington

Posted on July 3, 2021 by andynathan

Sonicbond Publishing (Release Date 28.03.21) Following the series of ‘On Track’ releases, reviewing a band’s back catalogue in comprehensive detail, Sonicbond have been moving onto a new ‘decades’ concept in which a band’s history is examined in more detail over … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, BOOK REVIEWS | Tagged book, Decades, Uriah Heep | Leave a comment

Book review: On track…CAMEL (Every album, every song) by Hamish Kuzminski

Posted on July 2, 2021 by GRTR! HQ

Sonicbond Publishing [Publication date 14.06.21] Camel are a band that certainly deserve both a concise overview and a continuing recognition of their collective greatness, and significant contribution to the world of prog. None other than Steve Rothery supplies the foreword, … Continue reading →

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Book review: Babysitting A Band On The Rocks by GD Praetorius

Posted on June 27, 2021 by jason

Sonic Bond Publishing [Publication date 14.05.21] G. D. Praetorius is a life-long rock music fan who was involved in the production of almost 200 rock shows from the mid-70’s through to the mid-80s. Mostly based in and around Long Island, … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, BOOK REVIEWS | Tagged Aerosmith, album, Babysitting A Band On The Rocks, book, classic rock, Dee Snider, GD Praetorius, Jethro Tull, memoir, review, rock, Sonic Bond Publishing, Steven Tyler, Van Halen | Leave a comment

Book review: Decades – Curved Air in the 1970s by Laura Shenton

Posted on June 11, 2021 by GRTR! HQ

Sonicbond Publishing [Publication date 18.06.21] Author Laura Shenton makes no excuses for compiling a series of extracts from previously published work. This includes contemporaneous snippets from the likes of Disc & Music Echo to more recent cribs from Prog magazine. … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, BOOK REVIEWS | Tagged book, Curved Air in the 1970s, Darryl Way, Decades, Francis Monkman, Laura Shenton, prog, Progressive Rock, review, Sonja Kristina | Leave a comment

Book review: On track…Marc Bolan, Tyrannosaurus Rex and T.Rex (Every album, every song) by Peter Gallagher

Posted on June 3, 2021 by GRTR! HQ

Sonicbond Publishing [Publication date 11.06.21] By the time of his untimely death in 1977 Marc Bolan was still releasing singles, although the big hits of earlier this decade were behind him, he had his own successful TV show and more … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, BOOK REVIEWS | Tagged book, Every Album, Every Song, Marc Bolan, On Track, Peter Gallagher, review, Tyrannosaurus Rex and T.Rex | Leave a comment

Book review: Alice Cooper in the 1970’s by Chris Sutton

Posted on June 2, 2021 by jason

Sonicbond Publishing [Publication date 28.03.21] There is no denying that the1970’s was the decade that the Alice Cooper band went from virtual nobodies to household names, but it was also a decade of massive upheaval for the band as front … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, BOOK REVIEWS | Tagged Alice Cooper in the 1970’s, Bob Ezrin, book, Chris Sutton, classic rock, pop, review, rock 'n' roll, shock rock, Sonic Bond Publishing | Leave a comment

Book review: On track…ASIA (Every album, every song) by Peter Braidis

Posted on May 25, 2021 by GRTR! HQ

Sonicbond Publishing [Release date 14.05.21] Asia were formed in 1981, one of the enduring melodic rock “supergroups” of that decade and one of the most successful. Many readers will only remember the “classic” original line-up (and debut album) but this … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, BOOK REVIEWS | Tagged album, Asia, book, Carl Palmer, Every Album, Every Song, Geoff Downes, John Payne, John Weeton, melodic rock, On Track, Peter Braidis, Progressive Rock, review, Steve Howe | Leave a comment

Book review: IGGY & THE STOOGES: On Stage 1967-1974 by Per Nilsen

Posted on May 25, 2021 by jason

Sonicbond Publishing [Publication date 14.05.21] Iggy Pop is almost a household name, here in the UK he has appeared in various television commercials over the last few years and none more than the last year or so. Whilst Iggy & … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, BOOK REVIEWS | Tagged alternative, book, garage rock, Iggy & The Stooges On Stage 1967-1974, Iggy Pop, Per Nilsen, review, rock | Leave a comment

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

Posted on May 19, 2021 by GRTR! HQ

On track...STEVE HACKETT - every album, every song by Geoffrey Feakes

Sonicbond Publishing [Publication date 30.05.21] The hallmark of a good rock read has to be when the reader genuinely learns something new about the subject matter. Geoffrey Feakes is evidently a real fan of Hackett’s work but once again there … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, BOOK REVIEWS | Tagged book, Every Song, Genesis, Geoffrey Feakes, guitar, guitarist, instrumental, On track...STEVE HACKETT - every album, prog, Progressive Rock, review, Solo | Leave a comment

Book review: Decades – Focus in the 1970s (Stephen Lambe)

Posted on April 26, 2021 by GRTR! HQ

Sonicbond Publishing [Publication date 30.04.21] At the outset I should declare an interest. As an inveterate Focus-watcher since the early 1970s, author of articles about the band for Record Collector magazine, liner notes, and the first book about Jan Akkerman … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, BOOK REVIEWS | Tagged book, Focus, Focus In The 1970s, Jan Akkerman, Mike Vernon, prog, Progressive Rock, review, Stephen Lambe, Thijs van Leer | Leave a comment

Book review: On track…LEVEL 42, AIMEE MANN (Every Album, Every Song)

Posted on March 26, 2021 by GRTR! HQ

On track...LEVEL 42 (Every Album, Every Song)

Sonicbond Publishing [Publication date 01.04.21] Level 42 were very much a band of the eighties – the decade of their greatest success – and submerged their early brand of jazz rock fusion in a highly accessible blend of pop funk. … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, BOOK REVIEWS | Tagged 'Til Tuesday, acoustic, Aimee Mann, book, Every Album, Every Song, folk, indie, jazz funk, jazz fusion, Level 42, Mark King, Mike Lindop, On Track, pop funk, review | Leave a comment

Book review: ROY WOOD, KANSAS (On Track…)

Posted on March 8, 2021 by jason

Sonic Bond Publishing Roy Wood: The Move, ELO & Wizzard by James R Turner The ‘On Track…’ series gets to one of my musical heroes, Roy Wood. An interesting musician to cover, as although he still tours, Roy Wood has … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, BOOK REVIEWS | Tagged AOR, book, classic rock, ELO, glam rock, Jeff Lynne, Kansas, Kerry Livgren, melodic rock, On Track, pomp rock, prog rock, review, rock 'n' roll, Roy Wood, Steve Wlash, The Move, Wizzard | Leave a comment

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 →