A few words, on lengthy rewarding reads about popular music
of differing styles and time periods.
Starting with a recent debut-album anniversary milestone.
50 Visions Of Kate Bush - by Tom Doyle
Not a conventional biography, but possibly why this volume of anecdotes
on the ethereal, yet down to earth performer was able to suck one in
right from the opening chapter.
Opening in September 2005, the author Tom Doyle then writing
for MOJO magazine given a rare interview opportunity with Kate Bush
in her Berkshire abode, ahead of the release of her nervously-awaited "Aerials" LP, and the singer doesn't hold back, or give off any false pretences as prompted by
lesser journalists over her reclusive nature.
All worthy chapters, which despite the singer's open inability with mathematics,
matches the same number as her words for snow.
A interview transcript from "Swap Shop" is the focus of one, a few laughs raised
on Doyle referring to the "musical crimes"of Johnny Pearson's Top Of The Pops orchestra. Of whom Bush was one of many singers, forced to sing to their
play-by-ear arrangements, and indecisive time signatures.
Though Doyle is even more scathing towards the host of Swap Shop's successor
"Saturday Superstore" of which Bush was a guest on the launch show
interviewed (in a loose sense of the word) by Mike Read.
Despite not penned by Bush herself, it's hard not to come away
from the book knowing of her better and loving her even more.
Another chapter draws towards the rivalry between two of her inspirations,
David Bowie and Elton John.
Bowie somewhat incensed as to how "Rocket Man" may have 'taken influence'
from "Life On Mars", whereas Reg counters with the thought of Bowie wanting
to ape Judy Garland, "Starman" influenced by Garland's signature song
from "The Wizard Of Oz".
Though the rainbow song itself prompted a wild-goose-chase after reading
the below offering;
"Let's Do It" - The Birth Of Pop by Bob Stanley
A prequel no music fan knew they needed. Following and preceding the brilliant
"Yeah Yeah Yeah", that charted the history of modern pop, this volume gives
a concise and witty assessment of the popular song over the first half
of the 20th century.
Highlighting the off-colour origins of wartime songs such as "Bless 'Em All"
and "Do Your Ears Hang Low?", yet it was a dissection of the aforementioned
"Over The Rainbow" that lead to the realisation that the arrangement
that stuck in mind from an early age, wasn't by Garland as such,
but the Scottish session singer Jean Campbell who back in the 1960s
recorded covers of pop songs under the name Joan Baxter.
By the end of the 80s, it wasn't the singles of Stock Aitken and Waterman, that
were soundtracking home-life (save for weekly viewings of Top Of The Pops),
but the nursery rhymes from Early Learning Centre cassette tapes.
Of which Joan Baxter rounded one of them off with a soothing-if-synthy rendition
of "Over The Rainbow" and on recently re-discovering it after over 30 years,
a reminder that maybe those early years living in London might not have
all been as heady as remembered.
But all the more special in how a book can result in audio adventures
further-stretched from how the author may have intended.
As for changing perspectives on past recollections, the final read does just that
for what may not have been a pleasant growing-up period at the time.
Freak Like Me - by Malcolm McLean
A front cover being a near-nod to the brash logo from Chris Cowey's tenure
producing Top Of The Pops, it's an invitation for anyone who grew up in the
late 90s/early 00s to reminisce, and if the recent S Club 7 reunion is to go by,
an era that's become more fondly remembered with age.
Certainly enough to forgive Jo O'Meara's behaviour in the Big Brother house...
Memoirist Malcolm McLean delivers a coming-of-age tale spanning
from when Louise left Eternal to when Hear'say packed it in, and how
getting close to pop performers made a tough growing-up period relatively less-so.
And a further insight into how fickle the world of pop was
during that heady time period.
A more-than-easy-read, helped by song titles from that era,
(and the odd song lyrics) subtly submerged into the many paragraphs
that on re-reading, immersed a few titters.
The writing and publishing processes probed further on McLean's
guest appearance on the "Creatives Of Habit" podcast.
Not to mention further wild-goose chases, via the many bands
and singers forgotten since the 90s.
Skimming through McLean's Youtube channel, is a treat in itself re-discovering
Deetah and Alda, both staples of my younger sister's cassette player.
An honest and moving insight, and quite possibly a warm up to what may be
the most anticipated book about music this year, spanning roughly the same
time period, "Reach For The Stars" by Michael Cragg.
If Bob Stanley himself has given it the good word, it may be even better
than all the above books.
