Rock and Roll Book Club

At The Current, we love music — and we love reading books about music. That’s why we created The Current’s Rock and Roll Book Club. Every week, we pick a book about music and share a review online; you can also hear Jay Gabler talk about each week's book with Oake & Riley in the Morning on The Current at 8:30 a.m. every Wednesday. We’d love it if you read along with us — and let us know what you think, using the hashtag #RockandRollBookClub.

Rock and Roll Book Club: 'Which Side Are You On?' tracks the history of protest songs

February 20, 2019

James Sullivan's book 'Which Side Are You On?'

James Sullivan's new book follows '20th century American history in 100 protest songs.'

Rock and Roll Book Club: 'Showtime at the Apollo' gives graphic-novel treatment to Harlem venue's unparalleled history

February 13, 2019

'Showtime at the Apollo: The Epic Tale of Harlem's Legendary Theater.'

Ted Fox first published his history 'Showtime at the Apollo' in 1983. Now, to honor the historic theater's 85th anniversary, the book has been rewritten in graphic-novel format.

Rock and Roll Book Club: Hanif Abdurraqib salutes A Tribe Called Quest

February 6, 2019

Hanif Abdurraqib's 'Go Ahead in the Rain.'

'Go Ahead in the Rain,' the new book from acclaimed music writer Hanif Abdurraqib, comes advertised as 'the first serious look at A Tribe Called Quest.'

Rock and Roll Book Club: Anthony DeCurtis's 'Lou Reed: A Life'

January 30, 2019

In his new biography of Lou Reed, Anthony DeCurtis doesn't try to dig too deep into the Velvet Underground frontman's psyche. Instead, he offers an informative description of Reed's long and wildly influential career.

Rock and Roll Book Club: 'How To Be Invisible' collects Kate Bush lyrics

January 23, 2019

The first collection of lyrics by Kate Bush is a hardcover keepsake, perfect to stick in your favorite reading nook and dip into whenever you're feeling highly cosmic (or a little erotic).

Rock and Roll Book Club: 'Small Victories' tells the story of Faith No More

January 16, 2019

Faith No More are like the elephant in the famous parable: every listener will describe them differently. If there's one thing they want readers of this new authorized biography to know, though, it's that they don't want to be blamed for nu metal.

Rock and Roll Book Club: Roger Daltrey's memoir 'Thanks a Lot Mr. Kibblewhite'

January 9, 2019

Roger Daltrey's 'Thanks a Lot Mr. Kibblewhite.'

Roger Daltrey doesn't have any scores to settle, or stories he wants to set straight. He feels lucky to have spent his life in one of the world's greatest rock bands, and that's what 'Thanks a Lot Mr. Kibblewhite' is about.

Rock and Roll Book Club: '131 Different Things' shows another side of a Yeah Yeah Yeah

January 2, 2019

Yeah Yeah Yeahs guitarist Nick Zinner is also a photographer, and he collaborates on books with writer Zachary Lipez and designer Stacy Wakefield. Their latest volume is called '131 Different Things.'

Rock and Roll Book Club: Best music books of 2018

December 26, 2018

From searing memoirs to magisterial histories, 2018 was a great year for music books. Here are Jay Gabler's top ten rock and roll reads this year.

Rock and Roll Book Club: 'Bing Crosby: Swinging On a Star'

December 19, 2018

'Bing Crosby: Swinging on a Star - The War Years 1940-1946.'

The second volume of a landmark Bing Crosby biography chronicles the WWII years, when the singer went from a national star to an international legend.