Book Musik Podcast (book-and-music-obsessed podcast)

Tosh and Kimley are joined by author Darryl W. Bullock to discuss his new book THE VELVET MAFIA: THE GAY MEN WHO RAN THE SWINGING SIXTIES. Rock ‘n’ roll as we know it would not exist if not for this group of gay men in the U.K. during the late fifties and sixties fondly referred to as “The Velvet Mafia.” Larry Parnes, Brian Epstein, Joe Meek, Lionel Bart, and Robert Stigwood are some of the major players in this book who left an indelible mark on the pop/rock world. At a time in the U.K. when being gay was illegal and when pop music could only be heard from pirate radio stations, they managed to push the needle forward and open up a culture that allowed us all to swing!

Theme music: "Behind Our Efforts, Let There Be Found Our Efforts" by LG17

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bookmusik.substack.com

Tosh and Kimley are joined by author Brooke McCorkle Okazaki to discuss her new book SHONEN KNIFE'S HAPPY HOUR: FOOD, GENDER, ROCK AND ROLL (33 1/3 Japan). Shonen Knife, a trio of women from Osaka, Japan have been sharing their own special brand of rock and roll since 1981 and are still going strong. Often referred to as a Japanese version of the Ramones, they have expanded far beyond that early comparison. Recording in both Japanese and English, they’ve built a worldwide fanbase. Singing about food is a dominant theme and they’ve found a way to unexpectedly mix cute with cool. Brooke makes it clear that there is no pigeonholing this hugely influential and eclectic band.

Theme music: "Behind Our Efforts, Let There Be Found Our Efforts" by LG17

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bookmusik.substack.com

Tosh and Kimley are joined by author Loren Glass to discuss his new book CAROLE KING'S TAPESTRY (33 1/3). Carole King is one of the most successful songwriters of the 20th century. From her early Brill Building days writing hits with her first husband Gerry Goffin to this iconic solo album that broke sales and chart records as well as glass ceilings. Glass makes the case that TAPESTRY was not only the soundtrack to but also part of the engine for the women’s movement. Whether or not you’re a fan of TAPESTRY, you inevitably love many of her other hits as sung by the likes of Aretha Franklin, Dusty Springfield, The Beatles and many of the early girl groups. Her back catalogue is still being mined regularly by more recent artists solidifying her legacy for many years to come.

Theme music: "Behind Our Efforts, Let There Be Found Our Efforts" by LG17

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bookmusik.substack.com

Tosh and Kimley are joined by author Peter Stanfield to discuss his new book A BAND WITH BUILT-IN HATE: THE WHO FROM POP ART TO PUNK. The Who is a band rife with contradictions and easily one of the most acutely self-aware bands to come out of the British music scene of the 1960s. From recording ads on THE WHO SELL OUT to the rock opera TOMMY, The Who explored the vast continuum of what popular music could be. They were anti-intellectual intellectuals who embraced constant change and who weren’t afraid to smash a few guitars along the way.

Theme music: "Behind Our Efforts, Let There Be Found Our Efforts" by LG17

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bookmusik.substack.com

Tosh and Kimley are joined by author Daphne A. Brooks to discuss her new book LINER NOTES FOR THE REVOLUTION: THE INTELLECTUAL LIFE OF BLACK FEMINIST SOUND. Brooks asks: “Who gets to tell the story of Black women who were both performing and producing thought about popular music culture, and how will this story be told?” The vital and influential work of Black female performers, writers, critics, intellectuals and cultural historians has long been neglected, marginalized or lost altogether. Brooks has taken it upon herself to fill in the archives and gift us with this rich history long in the making that will undoubtedly send you down many a rabbit hole to discover even more.

https://www.daphneabrooks.com

Spotify playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5pPpJViwMlAjvxsMymDDWv?si=25fbcea96e2d4cbd

Theme music: "Behind Our Efforts, Let There Be Found Our Efforts" by LG17

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bookmusik.substack.com

Tosh and Kimley are joined by author Paul Morley to discuss his new book YOU LOSE YOURSELF, YOU REAPPEAR: BOB DYLAN AND THE VOICES OF A LIFETIME. Morley explores Dylan’s development as an artist via his numerous “voices” both sonically and metaphorically from his early beginnings in the late 50s/early 60s to his astonishing release last year of ROUGH AND ROWDY WAYS. Dylan is notoriously known as someone who is loath to be pinned down and stay in the same place creatively. Those who are willing to go on the ride with him are more than happy, are in fact grateful, for every twist and turn, and every high and low.

Spotify playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/0izsbF9Jr32dIIwpyqQa3K?si=b18e6b6bc8db4ca0

Apple playlist: https://music.apple.com/us/playlist/book-musik-paul-morley-bob-dylan/pl.u-EgkdCMkbbEg

Theme music: "Behind Our Efforts, Let There Be Found Our Efforts" by LG17

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bookmusik.substack.com

Tosh and Kimley are joined by author Simon Morrison to discuss his new book ROXY MUSIC’S AVALON (33 1/3). Mention AVALON to diehard Roxy Music fans and you’ll get a wide spectrum of responses, but few would put it at the top of their list even if they like it. However, AVALON (their last studio album), is the band’s most successful album in terms of sales and Morrison is more than happy to defend its brilliance with its lush production and sensuous vibe.

Spotify playlist:
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5S0tx45myBIZN6CR6Yk1eR?si=7480bfd036e848ef

Apple playlist:
https://music.apple.com/us/playlist/book-musik-roxy-musics-avalon-by-simon-a-morrison/pl.u-MRkjtq1yyaz

Theme music: "Behind Our Efforts, Let There Be Found Our Efforts" by LG17

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bookmusik.substack.com

Tosh and Kimley are joined by author Jack Skelley to discuss his new book DENNIS WILSON AND CHARLIE MANSON. How did fun-loving, handsome surfer-dude and famous Beach Boy drummer Dennis Wilson become entangled with the creepy, dark, murderous cult leader Charlie Manson? As we all know, there are two sides to every coin and Skelley takes the real-life intersection of these two men as well as the pop culture of the era and those around them as its jumping off point to explore the high and low, the dark and the light in this stunningly poetic, strikingly illustrated chapbook.

Jack Skelley’s social media:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/helterskelley/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/JackSkelley

Spotify playlist:
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/6TZZfHGNKgrPg8LZhpJnDI?si=c1cc61be78134b49

Apple playlist:
https://music.apple.com/us/playlist/book-musik-jack-skelleys-dennis-wilson-and-charlie-manson/pl.u-Xzv0tZMVV3r

Theme music: "Behind Our Efforts, Let There Be Found Our Efforts" by LG17

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bookmusik.substack.com

Tosh and Kimley discuss EXCAVATE! THE WONDERFUL AND FRIGHTENING WORLD OF THE FALL (ed. by Tessa Norton & Bob Stanley) with special guest, number one fan of The Fall, Dave Ehrlich. We are neophytes to the forbidding and frankly overwhelming world of The Fall, so we’ve enlisted Dave to be our Sherpa. Dave’s been a super fan since the 80s and guides us through The Fall’s mysterious landscape. This is not a band for the faint of heart and their prodigious output means there’s some work to be done to explore their universe, but we’ve found that the rewards are more than worth it. We’re quickly becoming super fans as well.

Dave’s guide to initiates:

Ten Fall releases I’d grab if the house were on fire:

• This Nation’s Saving Grace (1985)
• Slates 10” EP (1981)
• Hex Enduction Hour (1982)
• The Wonderful & Frightening World of the Fall (1984)
• Grotesque (1980)
• The Unutterable (2000)
• Bend Sinister (1986)
• Perverted by Language (1983)
• Fall Heads Roll (2005)
• In: Palace of Swords Reversed: 1980-83 (1987)

If you’d like a crash course on their fantastic Beggars’ Banquet years (the “Brix Era”), incl. some essential tracks not on TNSG/etc., then seek out both of the “458489 A Sides” and “458489 B Sides” collections. And for anyone wanting to take a deep dive, there’s an epic box set of every single one of the band’s 24 radio sessions for the John Peel Show, entitled “The Fall: The Complete Peel Sessions 1978–2004”. Happy excavating!

Spotify playlist:
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1Xm7OogvKqMltiuwCHV47P?si=55c67e093d7245b0

Apple playlist:
https://music.apple.com/us/playlist/book-musik-the-fall/pl.u-Eg7WsMkbbEg

Theme music: "Behind Our Efforts, Let There Be Found Our Efforts" by LG17

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bookmusik.substack.com

Tosh and Kimley discuss PETER AND THE WOLVES and WHY LABELLE MATTERS with author Adele Bertei. Adele started singing and playing music in the nascent punk scene in Cleveland with her dear friend Peter Laughner. Her memoir about that time is a stunningly poignant reminder of what an important role a single person can play in one’s life. It’s a vivid portrait of Peter as well as the music scene in both Cleveland and New York in the 1970s which were heady times to say the least. At the same time, Adele has had a longtime love of everything Labelle and she lets us know that they do indeed matter! Starting out as a more traditional “girl group” in the 60s, Labelle broke free of those constraints and then nothing could hold them back. Labelle shattered boundaries creatively and pushed for women’s rights with an all-female team behind them and supported the LGBTQ community long before anyone else.

Get Adele’s book tour schedule and further info about her on her website: https://www.adelebertei.com

Spotify playlist:
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2ShDGgaeCfHA3Kc0ptrfDd?si=297d8b25b4974637

Apple playlist:
https://music.apple.com/us/playlist/book-musik-adele-bertei-why-labelle-matters-peter-wolves/pl.u-MRm9sq1yyaz

Theme music: "Behind Our Efforts, Let There Be Found Our Efforts" by LG17

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bookmusik.substack.com

Tosh and Kimley discuss THE LYRICS OF SYD BARRETT with a foreword by Peter Jenner and an introduction by Rob Chapman. Barrett was not only a founding member of Pink Floyd but was also the lead singer and primary songwriter for the band. After their first album, his presence in the band quickly diminished and their creative trajectory completely changed. He went on to put out two solo albums which are still highly regarded and very unique in the pop world. And then he disappeared from the pop-rock world entirely perhaps due to mental health issues, drug issues or a giant fuck-you to the rock ‘n’ roll machinery that he just couldn’t abide. The crazy diamond, rock ‘n’ roll mythology surrounding Syd is fun to explore but his lyrics make it abundantly clear that he was a true artist in every sense of the word.

Spotify playlist:
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2ayV8Ac5w7XVpEQKTDcK0M?si=7127c15f0e1a4e28

Apple playlist:
https://music.apple.com/us/playlist/book-musik-the-lyrics-of-syd-barrett/pl.u-XzZpIZMVV3r

Theme music: "Behind Our Efforts, Let There Be Found Our Efforts" by LG17

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bookmusik.substack.com

Tosh and Kimley discuss YOU ARE BEAUTIFUL AND YOU ARE ALONE: THE BIOGRAPHY OF NICO with author Jennifer Otter Bickerdike. Nico is an icon best known for her otherworldly beauty and for her time hanging out at Andy Warhol’s Factory and singing a few tunes with The Velvet Underground but her real story extends far beyond the cool gaze from under those blonde bangs. She managed to leave behind the detritus of post-WWII Germany by remaking herself first into a hugely successful model then catching the eye of Federico Fellini and eventually making her way to New York to become a Superstar of Warhol’s Factory. But her real artistic output came after this celebrated time with her solo recordings and constant touring. Bickerdike fleshes out the mythology of this complicated, imperfect woman with a dense and fascinating narrative.

Spotify playlist:
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/3W7DcqcjKzMzcfye5aDuVJ?si=bd6bee2d80c14e01

Apple playlist:
https://music.apple.com/us/playlist/book-musik-nico-you-are-beautiful-and-you-are-alone/pl.u-XzyBIZMVV3r

Theme music: "Behind Our Efforts, Let There Be Found Our Efforts" by LG17

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bookmusik.substack.com

Tosh and Kimley discuss COMMON TONES: SELECTED INTERVIEWS WITH ARTISTS AND MUSICIANS 1995-2020 with author Alan Licht. Alan is a musician and writer and his multidisciplinary approach to creativity is just one of the many things that he has in common with his subjects. The majority of his interviewees are active in some combination of music, writing, film, and the visual arts. There’s a creative perspective and aesthetic that flows through this collection of interviews from well-known artists like Lou Reed and Tom Verlaine to some of the key figures who influenced them such as Tony Conrad and Henry Flynt. As a peer and someone who has an enormous passion and respect for the artists he’s interviewing, Alan has a unique knack for getting everyone to open up to him and deliver a lively exchange.

Spotify playlist:
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/0illXQ3lmSN8xNSr7YVejT?si=f2af2d9395724c8e

Apple playlist:
https://music.apple.com/us/playlist/book-musik-common-tones-by-alan-licht/pl.u-y29LuqLggjl

Theme music: "Behind Our Efforts, Let There Be Found Our Efforts" by LG17

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bookmusik.substack.com

Tosh and Kimley discuss WHY MARIANNE FAITHFULL MATTERS by Tanya Pearson. Marianne Faithfull is now entering her sixth decade of pushing creative boundaries. She started in the 1960s as an icon of the swinging London scene both as a singer and an actress. In 1979 in her early 30s (when that was considered over-the-hill), she released her album BROKEN ENGLISH which is a visceral masterpiece. And she’s continued to push herself creatively ever since with eclectic collaborations from Metallica to Hal Willner to Jarvis Cocker and just this year releasing an album of recited poetry with music by Warren Ellis. Never one to rest on her laurels, we know she’ll be breaking rules to the very end.

Spotify playlist:
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/3vnrcyxnvV8NakUj7x4IUx?si=f6bb3d117ab646cf

Apple playlist:
https://music.apple.com/us/playlist/book-musik-marianne-faithfull/pl.u-zpdgTxVzzyW

Theme music: "Behind Our Efforts, Let There Be Found Our Efforts" by LG17

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bookmusik.substack.com

Tosh and Kimley discuss UNSTRUNG: RANTS AND STORIES OF A NOISE GUITARIST by Marc Ribot. Ribot first started making some serious noise on the music scene in the 1980s adding incredible sounds to records by the likes of Tom Waits and Elvis Costello as well as being an integral member of the downtown New York music scene playing with John Zorn, The Lounge Lizards and leading several bands of his own with wildly varying styles. This is his first book and it’s a mix of music writing and short fiction. Marc has a wicked smart sense of humor and isn’t shy to talk about his strong political leanings. And you can bet that he’ll crank it up to 11!

Spotify playlist:
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/7Myj9nGKLoQdXjPnq57zwj?si=b0d2d5bf536b4061

Apple playlist:
https://music.apple.com/us/playlist/book-musik-unstrung-by-marc-ribot/pl.u-pZ7EIKA88Dp

Theme music: "Behind Our Efforts, Let There Be Found Our Efforts" by LG17

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bookmusik.substack.com

Tosh and Kimley are joined by special guest Andrea Tetrick to discuss NINA SIMONE’S GUM by Warren Ellis. Warren Ellis is a multi-instrumentalist and frequent collaborator with Nick Cave as well as a member of The Bad Seeds and the trio Dirty Three among other music projects. He now adds talented writer to his resume with this new book which is part memoir but also an homage to art and artists and their power to inspire and lift us up. When Ellis takes Nina Simone’s gum from her piano after a transcendent performance, it takes him on an epic adventure while he contemplates the meaning and importance of these precious objects that we carry with us.

Spotify playlist:
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1VkDol6ZyC3EMfUfP7PvVI?si=2f356c96d3304c8f

Apple playlist:
https://music.apple.com/us/playlist/book-musik-nina-simones-gum-by-warren-ellis/pl.u-pKMatKA88Dp


Theme music: "Behind Our Efforts, Let There Be Found Our Efforts" by LG17

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bookmusik.substack.com

Tosh and Kimley discuss THE HISTORY OF BONES: A MEMOIR by John Lurie. Lurie is a multi-hyphenate talent: musician-composer-actor-painter and now book-writer. Initially making his mark as the bandleader for downtown New York group, The Lounge Lizards, he quickly went on to establish himself as an actor in several films. He created and starred in the enigmatic, must-see TV show FISHING WITH JOHN and the more recent PAINTING WITH JOHN. He’s toured the world, composed several film scores, and has even done some modeling. And all along, he’s also managed to keep up a serious painting practice. Is there anything this man can’t do? Tosh and Kimley have some varying thoughts on this…

Spotify playlist:
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/3zd9u4Q96qevxD2eyrt3vT?si=b08a2684da764d44

Theme music: "Behind Our Efforts, Let There Be Found Our Efforts" by LG17

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bookmusik.substack.com

Tosh & Kimley discuss two books about the legendary Lou Reed - the 33 1/3 book "Lou Reed's Transformer" by Ezra Furman and "My Week Beats Your Year: Encounters with Lou Reed" edited by Pat Thomas and compiled by Michael Heath.

Theme music: "Behind Our Efforts, Let There Be Found Our Efforts" by LG17

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bookmusik.substack.com

Tosh & Kimley discuss the 33 1/3 book by Carl Wilson - "Celine Dion's Let's Talk About Love: A Journey to the End of Taste"

Theme music: "Behind Our Efforts, Let There Be Found Our Efforts" by LG17

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bookmusik.substack.com

Tosh & Kimley discuss their favorite lyric collections. Including collections by Sparks, Cole Porter, Lou Reed, Bob Dylan, Kate Bush, Ira Gershwin, Scott Walker, Jarvis Cocker and more...

Theme music: "Behind Our Efforts, Let There Be Found Our Efforts" by LG17

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bookmusik.substack.com

Tosh & Kimley discuss "Ennio Morricone: In His Own Words" (Ennio Morricone in conversation with Alessandro De Rosa.) The great Italian composer whose music everyone knows even if they don’t know his name has scored literally hundreds of films, first gaining fame for his scores for the spaghetti westerns of Sergio Leone ("A Fistful of Dollars," "For a Few Dollars More," "The Good, the Bad & the Ugly") and then working with a who’s who of Italian directors (Pier Paolo Pasolini, Bernardo Bertolucci, Giuseppe Tornatore to name a few) and eventually getting noticed by Hollywood and beyond. Terrence Malick, Brian de Palma, Pedro Almodóvar, and Quentin Tarantino have all been lucky enough to have an Ennio Morricone score for their films. His IMDB page currently lists 519 composer credits! And that does not include his incredible output of “Absolute Music” and his work with the Gruppo di Improvvisazione Nuova Consonanza where things get really interesting.

Theme music: "Behind Our Efforts, Let There Be Found Our Efforts" by LG17

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bookmusik.substack.com

Tosh & Kimley discuss "Beneath the Underdog: His World as Composed by Mingus," the memoir by iconic jazz musician and composer Charles Mingus. Mingus’s memoir is known for its picaresque telling of his childhood growing up in the Watts neighborhood of Los Angeles and his travels to the California Bay Area as well as his time in New York City. While the book doesn’t give a lot of detail on his musical work or his playing with all the greats of his era, it does give an illuminating perspective on race and growing up and living as a black man in America in the twentieth century. Not to mention his many escapades with pimps, prostitutes and assorted other riveting characters. This book swings like few others!

Theme music: "Behind Our Efforts, Let There Be Found Our Efforts" by LG17

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bookmusik.substack.com

Tosh & Kimley discuss "Under the Big Black Sun: A Personal History of L.A. Punk" by John Doe with Tom DeSavia and friends. Having both experienced the L.A. Punk scene firsthand, we found this to be a nostalgic and at times underwhelming look back at a scene that defied definition with bands ranging from the pure pop of the Go-Go’s to the hardcore thrashing of Black Flag. So what is L.A. Punk? We discuss both the Hollywood and Latin influences unique to the L.A. scene as well as the strong graphic visuals and DIY aesthetic that permeated all aspects of the scene. Contributors to the book include Exene Cervenka of X, Jane Wiedlin and Charlotte Caffey of the Go-Go’s, Mike Watt of the Minutemen, and Henry Rollins to name just a few.

Theme music: "Behind Our Efforts, Let There Be Found Our Efforts" by LG17

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bookmusik.substack.com

Tosh & Kimley tackle a work of fiction on this episode - "Doctor Faustus" by Thomas Mann. A twentieth-century, German composer (very loosely based on Arnold Schoenberg) makes a devilish deal. We get into the esoteric weeds on this one and focus on the themes of what it means to be an artist in society and why the work of an artist is so mysterious and mythologized. A little Nietzschean nihilism, some blood, sweat and tears and a backdrop of warfare drive this conversation. This book is far too deep for us to cover in full, but we have fun scratching a bit of the surface.

Theme music: "Behind Our Efforts, Let There Be Found Our Efforts" by LG17

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bookmusik.substack.com

Tosh and Kimley discuss "A Voice of the Warm: The Life of Rod McKuen" by Barry Alfonso. Rod McKuen was a bestselling poet (an oxymoron if ever there was one!) and singer-songwriter/recording artist. In the 1960s and 70s he was at the summit of the mainstream pop cultural zeitgeist. He was generally loathed by critics and the serious literary community and yet after discussing this book we have concluded that Rod McKuen is an essential cultural link to all that we hold dear.

Theme music: "Behind Our Efforts, Let There Be Found Our Efforts" by LG17

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bookmusik.substack.com

Tosh and Kimley discuss "Year of the Monkey" by Patti Smith. As a punk rock icon, she rocked our impressionable teenage souls and now she’s taking us on a dreamy literary excursion with her latest memoir. Patti Smith may be best known for her groundbreaking albums “Horses” and “Easter,” but we find that her latest writing takes her to an even higher plane. She shares the ups and downs, both personal and global, of the year 2016 – the “Year of the Monkey.”

Theme music: "Behind Our Efforts, Let There Be Found Our Efforts" by LG17

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bookmusik.substack.com

Tosh and Kimley discuss "Golden Hits of the Shangri-Las" by Ada Wolin from the 33 1/3 series. The Shangri-Las were a teenage girl group of the 1960s with a reputation for coming from the mean streets of Queens, NY. Their world was bleak and things always ended badly in the melodrama of their biggest hits like “Leader of the Pack” and “Remember.” They had a huge influence on a diverse group of musicians from The NY Dolls and The Damned to Blondie and Alex Chilton. We venture down the path of their dark world.

Theme music: "Behind Our Efforts, Let There Be Found Our Efforts" by LG17

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bookmusik.substack.com

Tosh and Kimley discuss "This Searing Light, the Sun and Everything Else: Joy Division: the Oral History" edited by Jon Savage. Joy Division seems to be the poster band for the doom and gloom of the industrial city of Manchester, England. This book is a lively telling of their relationship to the city and the development and twists and turns of a young band. Equally important are the key players who helped them along the way including the engaging entrepreneur Tony Wilson, the brilliant producer Martin Hannett and the iconic graphic designer Peter Saville.

Theme music: "Behind Our Efforts, Let There Be Found Our Efforts" by LG17

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bookmusik.substack.com

Tosh and Kimley discuss "Face It" by Debbie Harry of Blondie fame, probably the most well-known band from the legendary 70s CBGB music scene in New York. Harry was hugely influential as one of the first women to lead a rock band and has spent most of her life hanging out with the denizens of the creative worlds of NYC. Andy Warhol, David Bowie, Iggy Pop, Patti Smith and Jean-Michel Basquiat are just a few of the intriguing people who show up in this memoir. She has some tales to tell but we were left with the nagging feeling that there’s more to the story than meets the eye.

Theme music: "Behind Our Efforts, Let There Be Found Our Efforts" by LG17

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bookmusik.substack.com

Tosh and Kimley discuss "Scott Walker and the Song of the One-All-Alone" by Scott Wilson. This will most likely be the smartest book you’ll ever read about a singer-songwriter/musician. But Scott Walker is probably also the smartest singer-songwriter/musician you’re ever likely to encounter. From his early pop idol days as a member of The Walker Brothers in the 1960s to his highly experimental solo albums, Scott Walker is someone who will always challenge and intrigue. Never one to hide his intellectual inclinations, his music has always had strong political and philosophical leanings. Scott Wilson doesn’t hesitate to dig deep into this genius’s work and the well never runs dry.

Theme music: "Behind Our Efforts, Let There Be Found Our Efforts" by LG17

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bookmusik.substack.com

Tosh and Kimley discuss “Wendy Carlos's Switched-On Bach” by Roshanak Kheshti from the 33 1/3 series. “Switched-On Bach,” an album of Bach compositions played on a Moog synthesizer, is one of the bestselling classical recordings of all time. In the 1960s Carlos worked with Robert Moog to further the synthesizer’s capabilities and with the 1968 release of “Switched-On Bach” she pioneered an entirely new way of making music. She also wrote powerful scores to several films including Stanley Kubrick’s “A Clockwork Orange” and “The Shining.” And she was one of the first public figures to come out as transgender. She’s groundbreaking in both her professional and private life and yet she’s maintained an air of mystery and intrigue that we find very compelling.

Theme music: "Behind Our Efforts, Let There Be Found Our Efforts" by LG17

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bookmusik.substack.com

Tosh and Kimley discuss Tony Conrad “Writings” with special guest Andrew Lampert who co-edited the book with Constance DeJong. Conrad is primarily known for his work as a musician/composer, an experimental filmmaker and artist. He was a hugely influential key figure in the early minimalist music scene in New York in the 1960s. Wanting to explore other modes of creativity he then pushed up against the confines of the film-going experience with films like “The Flicker” and “Yellow Movies.” Always curious, always questioning, Conrad never ceased to be doing something new and unexpected. His “Writings” give us just one more wonderful chance to go down the rabbit hole with him.

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Tosh and Kimley discuss “Bowie’s Bookshelf: The Hundred Books that Changed David Bowie’s Life” by John O’Connell. Any serious Bowie fan knows that Bowie was a voracious reader and the epitome of an autodidact. In 2013 the Victoria & Albert museum had a David Bowie exhibit and Bowie graced us with an additional memento which was this list of 100 books that changed his life. John O’Connell dissects each of these books and tries to surmise the specifics of influence and import to Bowie. It’s an impossible task but an amusing one that leads to further discussion on one of our favorite topics: David Bowie!

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Tosh and Kimley discuss the books of Reel Art Press with special guests Tony Nourmand (the founder and editor in chief) and Dave Brolan (the music editor.) Reel Art Press publishes stunning books on an eclectic array of subjects usually with a music, film or pop-culture foundation. Tony and Dave, both enormously passionate about what they do, regale us with some fantastic and often amusing stories about running an independent press and working with the likes of Led Zeppelin and some of the most iconic music/rock photographers in the biz. Each of their books brings a unique perspective and is a piece of art in and of itself.

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Tosh and Kimley discuss “William S. Burroughs and the Cult of Rock ‘n’ Roll” by Casey Rae. William Burroughs has always been a magnet for the music crowd. Icons as diverse as Bob Dylan, David Bowie, Patti Smith, Jimmy Page, Thurston Moore, Kurt Cobain and so many more have all made a pilgrimage to sit at the feet of the outlaw writer. Steely Dan and Soft Machine cribbed their names from Burroughs and countless others have cited his cut-up technique as an inspirational tool. Now considered classics, books like “Naked Lunch,” “Junky,” and “Queer” were not so gently pushing the boundaries of polite society and challenging obscenity laws. It’s no wonder the rock ‘n’ roll crowd came knocking.

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Tosh and Kimley discuss “It Gets Me Home, This Curving Track” by Ian Penman. Penman is a well-established British music journalist who has been writing since the 70s. This book of some of his more recent longform essays covers the mod music scene of the 1960s and seven additional essays on music icons James Brown, Charlie Parker, Frank Sinatra, Elvis Presley, John Fahey, Steely Dan/Donald Fagen and Prince. Penman digs deep and examines the broader cultural context of each of these amazing musicians. This is the book that every smart music junky craves.

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Tosh and Kimley discuss “David Bowie’s Diamond Dogs” by Glenn Hendler from the 33 1/3 series. “Diamond Dogs” is frequently considered one of Bowie’s best albums by critics and fans alike. It’s an album that was stitched together from the detritus of a failed “1984” project and his reading of William Burroughs’ “Wild Boys” which impelled Bowie to use the cut-up technique in his lyric writing. Bowie’s cryptic lyrics are ripe for the kind of OCD examination that the 33 1/3 series allows. And given our current virus-laden era of social distancing and big brother-like policies emanating from the powers that be worldwide, this feels like an album for our time.

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Tosh and Kimley discuss “Awopbopaloobop Alopbamboom: The Golden Age of Rock” by Nik Cohn. Initially written in 1968 and revised in 1972, “Awopbop…” is one of the earliest books to tackle the history of rock ‘n’ roll, both in front of and behind the curtain, and this is back when everyone still thought it was a passing phase. Fifty years later and now this book is essential reading in the music writing cannon. Cohn developed a writing style that was completely in sync with his subject matter – brash, visceral, in your face, with loads of attitude. He doesn’t mince words and will happily tell you that The Beatles sucked. You may not agree with him but you’ll still be smiling as you attempt to muster up a few choice words of your own for the writer.

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Tosh and Kimley discuss “The Kinks: Songs of the Semi-Detached” by Mark Doyle. The Kinks are one of the iconic British Invasion bands whose music has only gotten better with time. They were quintessentially British and proud of their working-class roots which came across in their music. Doyle explores the time and place that nurtured The Kinks’ creative impulse specifically examining their North London neighborhood, the British class structure and the social upheaval of the postwar era. There’s a lot of conflict and tension surrounding this band and “Semi-Detached” is the perfect way to kick this off.

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Tosh and Kimley discuss “Five Years Ahead of My Time: Garage Rock from the 1950s to the Present” by Seth Bovey. Guitar, bass, drums, a catchy three chord song and a groovy guitar lick — that’s all you need to rock! The pure, raw sounds of garage rock have been around since the late 50s when people realized they could play music without a huge investment of time or money. Most bands never became more than a regional attraction but a few did rise to the top and many continue to have devoted cult followings. Bovey takes us through the beginnings with the instrumental garage rock bands of the late 50s and early 60s and explores the development of this highly influential genre of music right up to the present including an impressive international scene.

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Tosh and Kimley discuss “Along Comes the Association: Beyond Folk Rock and Three-Piece Suits” by Russ Giguere and Ashley Wren Collins. The Association had several enduring top-40 hits in the 1960s but were a bit of an anomaly. While performing they typically wore suits and they sang lush harmonies on songs like “Cherish,” “Windy” and “Never My Love.” This was during a time when guitar-heavy rock was dominating the music scene and the cool kids had a proclivity for outrageous attire and social upheaval. But as an integral part of the Los Angeles music scene, The Association was in the thick of things, opening the Monterey Pop Festival and hanging out with all those cool kids.

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Tosh and Kimley discuss “My British Invasion: The Inside Story on The Yardbirds, The Dave Clark Five, Manfred Mann, Herman’s Hermits, The Hollies, The Troggs, The Kinks, The Zombies, and More” by Harold Bronson. Bronson is one of the co-founders of the legendary Rhino Records label. This memoir/travel journal is his unique behind-the-scenes take on many of the most influential British Invasion bands. He has worked as a music journalist, a label rep in his college days and, of course, as the guy who just wants to put out some seriously good vinyl on the much-loved Rhino Records. But rock stars and/or their managers don’t always want to cooperate…

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Tosh and Kimley discuss “Niche: A Memoir in Pastiche” by Momus. Nick Currie who performs under the name Momus (the Greek god of satire and mockery) has enlisted no less than 217 dead narrators of questionable reliability to tell his life story. His selection of an eclectic mix of writers, artists, musicians, philosophers, and assorted ne’er-do-wells probably tells us more about Momus than the actual narration. It seems both his work and his life borrow a little from this and steal a little from that and he makes sure to pilfer from only the best sources to create his own unique pastiche.

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Tosh and Kimley discuss “Remain in Love: Talking Heads, Tom Tom Club, Tina” by Chris Frantz. Frantz is a founding member of Talking Heads and as the drummer he was half of the rhythm section along with his wife Tina Weymouth on bass. They were at the epicenter of the infamous CBGB scene in 1970s New York along with The Ramones, Television, Blondie, and Patti Smith to name just a few. They broke fresh creative ground on what a rock band could be - quirky, geeky, arty, possibly too smart for their own good and oddly clean-cut but with a twist. Lester Bangs famously said they were so uncool that they were cool. Frantz adds his firsthand perspective on a time in rock ‘n’ roll history of which we can never get enough.

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Tosh and Kimley discuss “Go All the Way: A Literary Appreciation of Power Pop” by Paul Myers and S. W. Lauden. This compilation of short essays by a wide range of writers (including Michael Chabon and Allison Anders among others) explores the minutiae of what constitutes power pop exactly, whether or not it is even desirable to be lumped into this subgenre and which bands are considered power pop, with bands like Bad Finger, The Raspberries, Big Star, and Cheap Trick generally being considered the prototypes. Despite its effervescent appeal, fans of power pop are deadly serious about its nuances. Both celebrated and maligned, power pop is a nebulous genre and after reading this book things still seem murky to us. But like Supreme Court Justice Potter Stewart pronounced in an attempt to define porn, we know it when we see it!

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Tosh and Kimley discuss “Judy Garland's Judy at Carnegie Hall” by Manuel Betancourt from the 33 1/3 series. This live double album was a milestone in pop-culture history. Recorded in 1961, the album is an homage to the American songbook, was on the Billboard charts for over 70 weeks, won four Grammy Awards and has never been out of print. It was a highwater mark both in terms of Garland’s career and as part of the cultural and sociological zeitgeist of the 60s. Garland looms large as an old-Hollywood film icon and as one of the most celebrated gay icons. Her life was full of tragedy and triumph and this album is undoubtedly at the pinnacle of her many triumphs.

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Tosh and Kimley discuss "Wagnerism: Art and Politics in the Shadow of Music" by Alex Ross. A famous quip goes “Wagner’s music is better than it sounds.” Whether you find Wagner’s music to be sublime or bombastic, this is an essential read. It is not a biography or an examination of his music but, more interestingly, it’s a very deep dive into the enormous cultural and political influence Richard Wagner has had on his contemporaries and everyone since, from writers to painters, dancers, philosophers, politicians, and filmmakers. The diversity of those who’ve come under the spell of Wagnerism is beyond compare. And this is despite Wagner’s well-known antisemitism and association with Hitler and the Nazi regime. Cancel culture hasn’t quite figured out what to do with Wagner but Ross leaves no stone unturned in this enormous and hugely satisfying read.

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Tosh and Kimley discuss "Suicide’s Suicide" by Andi Coulter from the 33 1/3 series. Suicide was a band comprised of Alan Vega on vocals and Martin Rev as the sole multi-instrumentalist. Spawned from the wreckage of 1970s New York, the band never seemed to find a wide audience but those in the know who were lucky enough to have seen them perform live were the participants in a show that surely would not be forgotten. Typically described as an assault to the senses with a strong vibe of imminent violence, most people didn’t quite know what to make of them. But as so often happens with cult artists, their influence casts a wide net and continues to do so to this day.

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Tosh and Kimley discuss "Sweet Dreams: From Club Culture to Style Culture, the Story of the New Romantics" by Dylan Jones. The 80s are back! Whether or not this makes you cringe, it was nevertheless an interesting era of Thatcherism, gender fluidity, rampant consumerism, and a hugely creative group of young people looking to conquer the world. This book goes well beyond the superficial veneer of the big hair, the big shoulder pads, and the hyper-stylized MTV videos. Jones gives us a seriously in-depth look at the nucleus of the scene in England as well as contextualizing it in the broader social and political sphere, not just in England but throughout the world. No haircut is left unexamined!

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Tosh and Kimley discuss "Recombo DNA-The Story of Devo or How the 60s Became the 80s" by Kevin C. Smith. Smith takes a deep dive examining just what made Devo tick and twitch. From 1970 to 1979, he takes us through the background and influences of this Ohio band who experienced the Kent State shootings, discovered Dada, enjoyed manipulating the ideas of de-evolution, experimented with film and multimedia shows and ultimately became a band with top 40 appeal. They managed to find themselves in the company of the people best suited to further their cause from Toni Basil to Brian Eno to Neil Young. Talent and timing is everything.

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Tosh and Kimley discuss "I’m Your Fan: The Songs of Leonard Cohen" (33 1/3) by Ray Padgett. Tribute albums are often derided and tend to elicit a love/hate reaction. When done right, they can illuminate a song and boost an artist’s career as did this one for Leonard Cohen. Padgett looks into not only the specifics of this Leonard Cohen tribute album but the history of the genre in general and some of the key players like producer Hal Willner and frequent contributor Juliana Hatfield. When one great artist covers another great artist it can be sublime. Or it could make your ears bleed. Art is always a gamble…

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Tosh and Kimley are joined by writer Paul Morley to discuss his latest book "A Sound Mind: How I Fell in Love with Classical Music (and Decided to Rewrite Its Entire History)." Paul is a man after our own heart with wildly eclectic taste in music, an insatiable curiosity and a willingness to challenge his own assumptions. He is a well-established and highly respected pop/rock writer who’s been covering the scene since the 70s. In his 50s he realized that pop music wasn’t giving him the jolt it once did and decided to explore classical music. He discovered that its newness to himself made it as exciting if not more so than the latest pop phenomenon. It’s a fascinating adventure and the book is a passionate call to never stop expanding one’s horizons.

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Tosh and Kimley discuss "Side by Side: Selected Lyrics" by Robert Wyatt and Alfie Benge. Wyatt started his music career as a founding member of The Soft Machine in the 1960s and released his first solo album in the early 70s. Alfie, his wife, manager, and creative partner is an artist who has done all of his cover art as well as writing many of his lyrics. Robert and Alfie are former card-carrying members of the Communist Party of Great Britain and avid followers of ‘pataphysics - the science of imaginary solutions. The tension between serious and playful, political and dreamy is a key feature in their work. This collection of lyrics and artwork is a beautiful testament to their inspiring collaboration.

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Tosh and Kimley discuss "Maybe the People Would Be the Times" by Luc Sante. This collection of Sante’s essays, mostly from the last 15-20 years, covers a wide spectrum of his obsessive interests which include a heavy dose of music, photography, writers, filmmakers, New York City life and an assortment of oddities. While it’s a seemingly divergent field of topics, there is an aesthetic thread that connects them all. His writing pulses with life and pulls the reader into his world — dreamy, romantic, personal and always compelling.

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Tosh and Kimley are joined by author Robert Gordon to discuss his classic book IT CAME FROM MEMPHIS newly revised for its 25th anniversary release. Many have made the convincing case that Memphis is the birthplace of rock ‘n’ roll. It is without a doubt a cultural hub on par with New York, Paris, and San Francisco and yet remains somewhat under the radar. Alex Chilton, Jim Dickinson, photographer William Eggleston and bluesman Furry Lewis are just a few of the prominent characters who make the scene in this riveting book. Gordon has a passionate attachment to his city’s history and culture and celebrates those on the edge and those creating the chaos that make life interesting.

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Tosh and Kimley discuss SHE BOP: The Definitive History of Women in Popular Music (Revised and Updated 25th Anniversary Edition) by Lucy O'Brien. Respect! Women have been fighting the pop music establishment since the beginning for just a little bit… Rock ‘n’ rollers like to think they live by their own rules, outside the establishment, but women know that it’s an ol’ boys club on par with cliques of politicians and financiers. So, sisters are doing it for themselves and finding unique ways to assert their creative voices. O’Brien gives us an exhaustive look at the struggles and triumphs of women in the music biz since recorded music started.

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Tosh and Kimley are joined by author Eric Wolfson to discuss his new book ELVIS PRESLEY'S FROM ELVIS IN MEMPHIS (33 1/3). Elvis is a paradox who became the mold for all rock stars to follow. He was the King of Rock in the 50s and then the king of schlock in the 60s but made an impressive comeback with the release of this album in 1969 that reinforced his place in the rock ‘n’ roll pantheon. Going back to Memphis where he started and working at the gritty, down-to-earth American Sound Studio helped him create what is considered by many to be his best studio album.

Links to Eric’s social media:
www.fromelvisinmemphis.com
https://twitter.com/FromElvisIn333
https://www.instagram.com/presleydaybyday/

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Tosh and Kimley are joined by author Jeremy Allen to discuss his new book RELAX BABY BE COOL: THE ARTISTRY AND AUDACITY OF SERGE GAINSBOURG. When Gainsbourg died in 1991, the French mourned the loss of an icon on par with the deaths of Elvis Presley or John Lennon. But outside of France few noticed or knew much about him beyond perhaps his infamous duet with Jane Birkin, “Je t’aime… moi non plus.” Eventually the cult of Gainsbourg began to grow outside of France and he’s become a huge influence on musicians far and wide. This book explores the mythos of Gainsbourg and doesn’t shy away from his often provocative and controversial life.

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