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Songbook

Host Jude Rogers and guests delve into the history of great music writing, one revolutionary book at a time.


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  • 13. 23 Festive Special: David Holmes on Rememberings

    59:44
    Musician, producer, and composer, David Holmes, is our final festive Songbook guest this week. He joins Jude to discuss the late, great Sinéad O'Connor's memoir Rememberings, as well as his collaboration and friendship with the global music icon.They also talk about growing up in Northern Ireland during the Troubles, the escapism of punk, David's work as a composer on some of the 21st century's biggest films and TV shows, and much, much more.Books mentioned in the podcast:Rememberings by Sinéad O'Connor Rememberings a book by Sinead O'Connor. (bookshop.org)Mods by Richard Barnes Mods a book by Richard Barnes. (bookshop.org)England's Dreaming by Jon Savage England's Dreaming a book by Jon Savage. (bookshop.org)You can buy Jude's The Sound of Being Human: How Music Shapes Our Lives here:The Sound of Being Human by Jude Rogers - Audiobook - Audible.co.ukFinally, White Rabbit's Spotify Playlist of 'booksongs' - songs inspired by books loved by our guests - is here: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/7chuHOeTs9jpyKpmgXV6uo

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  • 12. 22 Festive Special: Tracey Thorn on 'The Importance of Music to Girls'

    38:46
    Iconic musician Tracey Thorn is this week's festive Songbook guest, joining Jude to talk about Lavinia Greenlaw's vivid and engaging 2017 memoir, The Importance of Music to Girls.Their discussion also covers going to discos in the 70s, the greats of British music journalism, Tracey's teenage obsession with punk, and much, much more.Tracey's latest book, My Rock 'n' Roll Friend, is 'a philosophical and furious memoir' that shines a light on her friendship with the Go-Betweens drummer Lindy Morrison, and is out now My Rock 'n' Roll Friend a book by Tracey Thorn. (bookshop.org)Books mentioned in the podcast:The Importance of Music to Girls by Lavinia Greenlaw The Importance of Music to Girls a book by Lavinia Greenlaw. (bookshop.org)Bedsit Disco Queen by Tracey Thorn Bedsit Disco Queen: How I grew up and tried to be a pop star a book by Tracey Thorn. (bookshop.org)Naked At The Albert Hall by Tracey Thorn Naked at the Albert Hall: The Inside Story of Singing a book by Tracey Thorn. (bookshop.org)Another Planet by Tracey Thorn Another Planet: A Teenager in Suburbia a book by Tracey Thorn. (bookshop.org)Lady Sings The Blues by Billie Holiday Lady Sings the Blues a book by Billie Holiday. (bookshop.org)England's Dreaming by Jon Savage England's Dreaming a book by Jon Savage. (bookshop.org)A Little Devil In America by Hanif Abdurraqib A Little Devil in America: In Praise of Black Performance a book by Hanif Abdurraqib. (bookshop.org)You can buy Jude's The Sound of Being Human: How Music Shapes Our Lives here:The Sound of Being Human by Jude Rogers - Audiobook - Audible.co.ukFinally, White Rabbit's Spotify Playlist of 'booksongs' - songs inspired by books loved by our guests - is here: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/7chuHOeTs9jpyKpmgXV6uo
  • 11. 21 Festive Special: Mat Osman on 'A Year With Swollen Appendices'

    44:24
    Musician and author Mat Osman is Jude's guest on the first of our three festive special Songbook episodes and the Suede bassist stopped by to discuss Brian Eno's 1996 book A Year With Swollen Appendices.They also chat about Mat's own writing processes, his competitive relationship with brother Richard growing up, and Suede's tour with Manic Street Preachers coming next year.Mat's latest book, The Ghost Theatre, is a riotous and abundant piece of historical fiction based in Elizabethan London, and is out now The Ghost Theatre: Utterly transporting historical fiction, Elizabethan London as you've never seen it a book by Mat Osman. (bookshop.org)Books mentioned in the podcast:A Year With Swollen Appendices by Brian Eno A Year with Swollen Appendices: Brian Eno's Diary a book by Brian Eno. (bookshop.org)Starlust by Fred Vermorel Starlust: The Secret Fantasies of Fans a book by Fred Vermorel. (bookshop.org)Birdsong by Sebastian Faulks Birdsong a book by Sebastian Faulks. (bookshop.org)Wonderland Avenue by Danny Sugarland Wonderland Avenue: Tales of Glamour and Excess a book by Danny Sugerman. (bookshop.org)Nico, Songs They Never Play On The Radio by James Young Nico, Songs They Never Play on the Radio a book by James Young. (bookshop.org)Berlin Bromley by Bertie MarshallYou can buy Jude's The Sound of Being Human: How Music Shapes Our Lives here:The Sound of Being Human by Jude Rogers - Audiobook - Audible.co.ukFinally, White Rabbit's Spotify Playlist of 'booksongs' - songs inspired by books loved by our guests - is here: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/7chuHOeTs9jpyKpmgXV6uo
  • 10. 20 Benjamin Myers on 'Head On/Repossessed'

    01:01:16
    Award-winning author Benjamin Myers is the final guest of series 2 of Songbook, and he chats to Jude about Julian Cope's extraordinary double-volume autobiography Head On/Repossessed.The discussion also takes in Ben's early years working in the music press, the personal significance of Jon Savage's England's Dreaming, the differences between writing novels and writing about music, and much more.Ben's new book Cuddy, a bold and experimental retelling of the story of the hermit St. Cuthbert, unofficial patron saint of the North of England, is out now Cuddy a book by Benjamin Myers. (bookshop.org)Books mentioned in the podcast:The KLF by John Higgs The KLF: Chaos, Magic and the Band who Burned a Million Pounds a book by John Higgs. (bookshop.org)Richard by Benjamin Myers Richard by Ben Myers - Pan MacmillanHead On/Repossessed by Julian Cope Head On/Repossessed a book by Julian Cope. (bookshop.org)I'm Not with the Band by Sylvia Patterson I'm Not with the Band: A Writer's Life Lost in Music a book by Sylvia Patterson. (bookshop.org)England's Dreaming by Jon Savage England's Dreaming a book by Jon Savage. (bookshop.org)The Truth About Rock by Dr Hugh Pyle The Truth about Rock Music - Hugh F. Pyle: 9780873988391 - AbeBooksMuse, Odalisque, Handmaiden by Rose Simpson Muse, Odalisque, Handmaiden: A Girl's Life in the Incredible String Band a book by Rose Simpson. (bookshop.org)Get In The Van by Henry Rollins Get in the Van : On the Road With Black Flag by Rollins, Henry: Near Fine Soft cover (1995) 2nd Edition | Books for Amnesty BristolYou can buy Jude's The Sound of Being Human: How Music Shapes Our Lives here:The Sound of Being Human by Jude Rogers - Audiobook - Audible.co.ukFinally, White Rabbit's Spotify Playlist of 'booksongs' - songs inspired by books loved by our guests - is here: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/7chuHOeTs9jpyKpmgXV6uo
  • 9. 19 Laura Barton on 'A Little Devil In America'

    38:10
    Renowned music journalist and broadcaster Laura Barton joins to chat about A Little Devil In America, Hanif Abdurraqib's brilliant essay collection exploring black culture in the US.Their conversation also takes in Laura's work with the inimitable Self Esteem, being a woman in the music press, dancing to The Strokes, and much more.Laura's memoir, Sad Songs, is publishing in May 2023 and is a beautifully written enquiry into the history, science and musicology of our love of sad music Sad Songs a book by Laura BartonBooks mentioned in the podcast:A Little Devil In America by Hanif Abdurraqib A Little Devil in America: In Praise of Black Performance a book by Hanif AbdurraqibUnder My Thumb, edited by Rhian Jones and Eli Davis Under My Thumb: Songs that hate women and the women who love them a book by Rhian Jones and Eli DavisThe Crane Wife by CJ Hauser The Crane Wife: A Memoir in Essays a book by Christina Joyce HauserFaithfull by Marianne Faithfull Faithfull: An Autobiography - Faithfull, Marianne: 9780815410461 - AbeBooksThey Can't Kill Us Until They Kill Us by Hanif Abdurraqib They Can't Kill Us Until They Kill Us a book by Hanif AbdurraqibThe Folk by Ross Cole The Folk: Music, Modernity, and the Political Imagination a book by Ross ColeDenim and Leather by Michael Hann Denim and Leather: The Rise and Fall of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal a book by Michael HannSound Within Sound by Kate Molleson Sound Within Sound: Opening Our Ears to the Twentieth Century a book by Kate MollesonYou can buy Jude's The Sound of Being Human: How Music Shapes Our Lives here:The Sound of Being Human by Jude Rogers - Audiobook - Audible.co.ukFinally, White Rabbit's Spotify Playlist of 'booksongs' - songs inspired by books loved by our guests - is here: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/7chuHOeTs9jpyKpmgXV6uo
  • 8. 18 Paul Du Noyer on 'Awopbopaloobop Alopbamboom: Pop from the Beginning'

    56:42
    This week's Songbook guest, music journalist and author Paul Du Noyer, has interviewed some of the most famous musicians of all time, including Madonna, Mick Jagger, David Bowie, Amy Winehouse and Paul McCartney. He chats to Jude about Nik Cohn's groundbreaking and thrilling history of 1960s rock, Awopbopaloobop Alopbamboom: Pop from the Beginning.The discussion also takes in Paul's Liverpool childhood and the huge impact of The Beatles, his storied career in the music press, interviewing the iconic Amy Winehouse, and much more.Books mentioned in the podcast:Conversations With McCartney by Paul Du Noyer Conversations with McCartney a book by Paul Du Noyer. (bookshop.org)John by Cynthia Lennon John a book by Cynthia Lennon. (bookshop.org)Awopbopaloobop Alopbamboom by Nik Cohn Awopbopaloobop Alopbamboom: Pop from the Beginning a book by Nik Cohn. (bookshop.org)The Beatles: The Authorised Biography by Hunter Davies The Beatles: The Authorised Biography a book by Hunter Davies. (bookshop.org)I'm Coming To Take You To Lunch: A fantastic tale of boys, booze and how Wham! were sold to China by Simon Napier-Bell I'm Coming To Take You To Lunch: A fantastic tale of boys, booze and how Wham! were sold to China a book by Simon Napier-Bell. (bookshop.org)Black Vinyl White Powder by Simon Napier-Bell Black Vinyl White Powder by Simon Napier-Bell | WaterstonesUp The Junction by Nell Dunn Up The Junction: A Virago Modern Classic a book by Nell Dunn. (bookshop.org)You can buy Jude's The Sound of Being Human: How Music Shapes Our Lives here:The Sound of Being Human by Jude Rogers - Audiobook - Audible.co.ukThe Sound of Being Human: How Music Shapes Our Lives a book by Jude Rogers. (bookshop.org)Finally, White Rabbit's Spotify Playlist of 'booksongs' - songs inspired by books loved by our guests - is here: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/7chuHOeTs9jpyKpmgXV6uo
  • 7. 17 Lias Saoudi on 'Hellfire: The Jerry Lee Lewis Story'

    49:08
    Fat White Family front man and White Rabbit author Lias Saoudi is this week's Songbook guest, chatting to Jude about Nick Tosches' extraordinary and evocative biography of Jerry Lee Lewis, Hellfire.They also discuss Lias' own experiences of writing a book, the death of rock 'n' roll, how Fat White Family might be viewed in ten years time, and much, much more.Ten Thousand Apologies: Fat White Family and the Miracle of Failure by Lias Saoudi and Adelle Stripe chronicles the sordid and thrilling stories of the country's most notorious cult band and is now available in paperback:Ten Thousand Apologies: Fat White Family and the Miracle of Failure a book by Adelle Stripe and Lias SaoudiTen Thousand Apologies by Adelle Stripe, Lias Saoudi - Audiobook - Audible.co.ukBooks mentioned in the podcast:Hellfire by Nick Tosches Hellfire : Nick Tosches : 9780141924427 : Blackwell'sSing Backwards And Weep by Mark Lanegan Sing Backwards and Weep by Mark Lanegan - Audiobook - Audible.co.ukLipstick Traces by Greil Marcus Lipstick Traces: A Secret History of the Twentieth Century a book by Greil MarcusDead Elvis by Greil Marcus Dead Elvis: A Chronicle of a Cultural Obsession a book by Greil MarcusUnfinished Business by Michael Bracewell Unfinished Business a book by Michael BracewellTeaching a Stone to Talk by Annie Dillard Teaching a Stone to Talk: Expeditions and Encounters a book by Annie DillardYou can buy Jude's The Sound of Being Human: How Music Shapes Our Lives here:The Sound of Being Human by Jude Rogers - Audiobook - Audible.co.ukFinally, White Rabbit's Spotify Playlist of 'booksongs' - songs inspired by books loved by our guests - is here: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/7chuHOeTs9jpyKpmgXV6uo