Da Capo's "Best Music Writing" series -- the guest editors make great choices for inclusion (Jonathan Lethem did a particularly good job in 2002)

Simon Frith, "The Sociology of Rock"

Paul Zollo, "Songwriters on Songwriting"

The Creation Records Story: My Magpie Eyes Are Hungry for the Prize by David Cavanagh

Truly the definitive book on Creation Records and the bands that made it.

Also,

Turn On Your Mind: Four Decades of Great Psychedelic Rock by Jim DeRogatis

This one is always a great source for new music

Escaping the Delta - Elijah Wald

Swing to Bop - Ira Gitler

Jazz Masters of the 40's - Ira Gitler

Jazz Masters of the 50's - Joe Goldberg

Really the Blues - Mezz Mezzrow and Bernard Wolfe

Hear Me Talkin' To Ya - Nat Shapiro and Nat Hentoff

Beneath the Underdog by Charles Mingus, beautiful book even if you aren't a music geek.

From the Velvets to the Voidoids by Clinton Heylin, definitely for geeks only.

England's Dreaming by Jon Savage, also great for geeks who wish they could be a little snottier.

MusicHound's Essential Guide to Rock
&
MusicHound's Essential Guide to R&B

These books list the discography of nearly every artist in each genre, review and rate each album, and even give recommendations of, "If you like this artist, try..." The books will also list out any rare recordings of the artists and which artists they were inspired by. It's got the same six degrees of seperation vibe to it as Pandora.

"1001 albums you must hear before you die" by Robert Dimery and Michael Lydon.
Wouldn't it be great to have an station where only all these 1001 albums sound?

Regards!

NO - MCDONALDS is a totally distasteful choice for an audio advert.
yes i know they will pay you big money to brainwash the masses with their crap food.

YOU have the opportunity to do sme good for mmother earth and the planet by having ETHICAL ADVERTISING - things people will actually be happy to hear.

ethical/ecological holidays
ethical food & clothing
and a whole lot more like this...
please do contact me to discuss this further!
blessings
pandora
AT THE BOTTOM OF THE BOX THERE IS HOPE
HOPE WE CAN make a difference
HOPE we can turn to a stranger and smile

thax man i like that youve expanded my listening and now have found out about a bunch of great bands thanx

This is Your Brain on Music, by Daniel Levitin. VERY cool analysis of music and neurology and psychology.

Well, if you ever dug the Blues Brothers (or still do), I'd recommend the biography Belushi and/or Live from New York (also has a lot about their musical acts)

these are all great recommendations - I have read some of them but others are new to me. but not for long!

kevin, you're so right on about the zollo songwriters on songwriting boo. I love that one. And I have "this is your brain on music" in my stack at home, bob. I've also read beneath the underdog and agree with you completely about it, lisa. an amazing book.

I know we're supposed to be all about the music, but I'm hitting the bookstore this weekend!

mz

The one book that really changed my life (well, at least music listening habits) was "Last Night A DJ Saved My Life" by Bill Brewster and Frank Broughton.

It's the story of 20th century music as seen through the eyes of the DJ. Very well written music history full of emotions and crazy details... Plus, no intellectual beard stroking!

The whole - Thirty Three and a Third Series (33 1/3rd) -
small pocket books, each one devoted to the story on the making of a single legendary album, like....

Beastie Boys Paul's Boutique, Beatles' Let It Be, Sly and the Family Stone's There's a Riot Goin' on, Velvet Underground's The Velvet Underground and Nico, etc...

Some music fiction for the lovers of jazz and odd stories -
The Bear Comes Home by Rafi Zabor
crazy story about a talking, beer drinking, musical genius BEAR in new york city that ends of loving jazz and becoming one great be-bop saxaphonist....definitely worth a read for any great lover of john coltrane, ornette coleman, etc..

on the Art tip:
Art of Modern Rock: The Poster Explosion
great book covering the different movements and visual artists involved in contemporary Concert Poster Art

The one book that I've been able to hold on to longer than any other is the very first Rolling Stone Record Review collection. Of course one of the big reasons is the stuff from the 50's and 60's but this is also a reminder of how important those reviews were and how much I connected (or didn't) with the reviewers. I really don't have that connection with any review source anymore and sort of miss it.

For the Punk + New Wave + Early Indie modern rock, check out any of the Trouser Press compilations. Out-of-print. However, the info is now compiled online: TrouserPress.com

Tony's dead on about those 33 1/3 books. Great, great pieces of writing there. I just started reading their "Music From Big Pink" novella this weekend (thanks, Scott).

Fargo Rock City by Chuck Klosterman. It gave me a whole new appreciation for heavy metal (considering I had none before, that's saying...well, something). I find books that talk about someone's personal connection with music fascinating. Along those same lines, High Fidelity by Nick Hornby makes you want to make some mix tapes.

Very cool.

Music to sooth the savage beast.