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Dann, Trevor – Darker Than The Deepest Sea: The Search For Nick Drake
*****
Brilliant
second widely-available biography of the extremely talented, troubled troubadour who died virtually unknown in 1974 but has
since been gradually elevated to the status of cult legend by an army of young and older admirers. The first Nick Drake tome by Patrick Humphries (Nick Drake: The Biography) is an excellent read
but was written in 1997 when the internet was in its relative infancy and the cult of Nick was still developing.
Trevor Dann’s new book takes the numerous websites and chat rooms into account as well as interviewing
new key people in Nick’s short life who have emerged over the past few years.
Trevor’s book also usefully researches and debunks some of the myths of Nick – such as his famous supposed
handing over of final album Pink Moon to the receptionist at Island Records – as well as looking more objectively than
many idyllic, romanticised writers do at how difficult he was to be around. He
still does this though with devotion to the music of the subject and refreshingly often uses first names in an age when most
journalists use surnames only.
Darker Than The Deepest Sea is a superb, widely researched biography which also illustrates
the development of a cult legend in the modern electronic age.
Published: 2006
read
by me: 30.1.07-8.2.07
Difford, Chris,
Tilbrook, Glenn & Dury, Jim – Squeeze: Song By Song
*****
Brilliant very honest book where songwriters Glenn Tilbrook and Chris Difford discuss Squeeze
song-by-song against the background of frequent turmoil surrounding the band. Glenn and Chris are very honest about their
failed marriages, past drug habits and own up-and-down relationship in this compulsive and no doubt emotionally cleansing,
page-turner featuring fascinating analysis of every song released on a Squeeze album.
Although some might say that the
quality of Difford and Tilbrook’s entire body of work does not warrant such detailed analysis, it’s always
interesting to hear songwriters talking about their own work. An excellent song
companion and biography which is an essential read for Squeeze devotees and serious music fans.
Published: 2004
Read by me: 9.1.06-19.1.06
Dylan, Bob – Chronicles – Volume 1
****1/2
Anticipated with relish, the first volume of Bob Dylan’s autobiographical chronicles
is an excellent and absorbing read. I generally like musical autobiographies
to be analytical album-by-album reviews though it would be almost disappointing if Dylan had taken such a conventional route. Instead we have lengthy disparate chapters describing Bob’s arrival in New York
at the turn of the 60s and the gestation of his good but not particularly legendary New Morning (1970) and Oh Mercy (1989)
LPs. These chronicles are richly descriptive, showing the tensions within the
legend that is Dylan as well as providing some insight into his creative processes.
Written more like a novel than biography, Chronicles is partially revealing whilst till retaining Dylan’s mystery. Can’t wait for Volume 2 and the no-doubt, disparate, unfashionable parts of
his amazing career, which he will cover then.
Published: 2004
Read by me: 29.3.06-13.4.06
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