• News

• All

Dec 18, 2024 By Frank Valish

For the readers of our readers, these four titles, and in some cases multi-book deluxe packaged sets are the perfect gifts for those who prefer the written word. From graphic novels to coffee table books, and one giant tome on a music legend, the titles here would all nicely fill out the music-lover’s literary collections.

Brian Blomerth: Brian Blomerth Collection (Anthology Editions)

RRP: $85.00

Brian Blomerth’s books are so much more than just graphic novels. Yes, technically, they are illustration-filled books with comic-like text interspersed to tell a story. But the books are so much more, each of them immersive storytelling experiences that benefit from Blomerth’s illustrative genius, which brings his stories to vibrant life. Each of Blomerth’s books evidence deep research into his subject matter, which make his titles worthwhile not just as visual statements but entertaining historical essays as well. Each is prefaced by a narrative introduction into the subject and bookended at his conclusion by some handwriting-styled text of Blomerth’s own comment on his subject, his process, and the book that resulted.

Bicycle Day finds Blomerth documenting Albert Hoffman’s discovery of LSD and the first acid trip. Mycellium Wwassonii chronicles R. Gordon and Valentina Wasson’s scientific study of psychedelic mushrooms. And Blomerth’s latest, Lilly Wave, details the dolphin-research and ketamine experimentation of John C. Lilly, the man who also developed the isolation tank. Each of the three books is nothing short of marvelous, and the funny thing about these books, pressed here in wonderfully handsome editions from Anthology, is that if you read one, you’ll be completely hooked and need to read all three. So do yourself a favor and buy the collection. You’ll find yourself staring at Blomerth’s illustrations for hours on end, and you’ll learn something too. By Frank Valish (Buy it here.)

Dust & Grooves Vol. 1 & 2 + Portables (Dust & Grooves)

RRP: $90.00 (Vol. 2), $169.00 (Vol. 2 + Portables), $179.00 (Vol. 1 + 2 Box Set)

For the second volume of his ode to record collecting and record collectors, photographer and publisher Eilon Paz brings together more of what he delivered with Volume 1, wonderful chronicling of exquisite record collections from various DJs, musicians, and common, regular folk.

Like the first volume, Vol. 2 is a cornucopia of cool images of records, record collections, and those who collect them. But unlike the first volume, Vol. 2 delves more deeply into the narrative of collecting and record culture, with not just interviews to supplement the photographic documentation but features on topics such as British film director/DJ/musican Don Letts’ ode to vinyl, a piece on legendary BBC Radio DJ John Peel’s collection, a story about Kid Koala, an investigative study on ’70s record labels that exploited tax loopholes with releases their artists often weren’t even aware of, an article on jazz cafes in Japan, and a profile of legendary jazz bassist Ron Carter, among others. These pieces take up much of the book’s second half.

Incidentally, also available from Dust & Grooves is Portables, a smaller but equally entrancing book on the history of portable record players, featuring photographs and text on 222 portable turntables from around the world from the 1920s on. You can get these, along with Vol. 1 individually or in various bundles on the label’s website. It’s the perfect gift for that vinyl lover in your life. By Frank Valish (Buy it here.)

Eleanor Jane: Superstar Guitars (Welbeck)

RRP: $59.95

Photographer Eleanor Jane’s Superstar Guitars explores some of the most iconic guitars in music history in this wonderfully illustrated coffee table book. After a forward from Manic Street Preachers’ James Dean Bradfield, Jane dives in, pairing her stunning photographs with brief histories of the instruments. Some of the guitars featured are include Bob Dylan’s 1964 Fender Stratocaster used at Newport Folk Festival, Jerry Garcia’s infamous Tiger, Jimi Hendrix’s 1968 instrument played at Woodstock, Prince’s Yellow Cloud, Eric Clapton’s 1939 Martin guitar used on MTV Unplugged, and more recent historic examples such as Kurt Cobain’s 1969 Fender Competition Mustang used in the “Smells Like Teen Spirit” video, Jeff Buckley’s 1983 Fender USA Telecaster, Jack White’s red 1964 Montgomery Ward Airline, and Phoebe Bridgers’ Danelectro 56 Baritone.

Jane’s book is perfect for both guitar obsessives and casual fans. And with her photographs, Superstar Guitars is not typical picture book of guitars. Her pictures are close up and detailed, featuring multiple shots of each guitar, highlighting all the cracks, nicks, scuffs, scrapes, and signs of use, which make paging through her book so enticing. Her photographs warrant study, not just casual page turning. And the stories she presents behind each instrument will have you reading the book cover to cover. By Frank Valish (Buy it here.)

Allan Kozinn & Adrian Sinclair: The McCartney Legacy, Volume 2: 1974-1980 (Dey Street)

RRP: $35.00

Continuing with their monstrous multi-volume exploration of Paul McCartney’s post-Beatles career, writers Allan Kozinn and Adrian Sinclair have just released The McCartney Legacy, Volume 2. After the insanely expansive Volume 1, which covered the years 1969-1973, Volume 2 examines the next four years 1974-1980. During this time, McCartney released three Wings studio albums, Venus and Mars, Wings at the Speed of Sound, London Town, and Back to the Egg, as well as the vaunted Wings Over America live album. He also released, at the end of the four years this book covers, the experimental solo album, McCartney II.

One has to be a super-fan to appreciate the amount of detail and research that goes into a 768-page tome that covers only four years of an artist’s life and career. But given the similarly gigantic Volume 1, one would expect nothing less from Kozinn and Sinclair. Featuring a select number of photos as well as concluding bibliography for further reading (as if you’d need it), a discography, a videography, and a list of tour dates for the time in question, The McCartney Legacy, Volume 2 is a study for sure, but who more worthy of a deep dive than Sir Paul. By Frank Valish (Buy it here.)

Subscribe to Under the Radar’s print magazine.

Support Under the Radar on Patreon.