The Home Library, Part II

Here we see a portion of the rock 'n roll section. Among the books you'll find in this photo are the following:

Night Beat, by Mikal Gilmore. A great collection of Gilmore's essays over the years; subjects include Bruce Springsteen, Lou Reed, and The Beatles. Gilmore, author of the magnificent family memoir Shot in the Heart, one of the bleakest books you'll ever read, is the brother of Gary Gilmore.

Chronicles, by Bob Dylan. In which Dylan enhances his reputation as an eccentric genius.

Ranters and Crowd Pleasers, by Greil Marcus. A collection of Marcus essays dating 1977-1992, which if one were to put a gun to my head, I'd probably choose as my all-time favorite era of music.

Glory Days, by Dave Marsh. His second biography of Bruce Springsteen, covering the period just after The River to the Tunnel of Love era.

The Rolling Stone Record Guide, circa 1982, and The Rolling Stone Album Guide, circa 1992.

Christgau's Record Guides of the 1970s and 1980s. Indispensable commentary from the self-styled Dean of American Rock Critics.

Psychotic Reactions and Carburetor Dung, one of two Lester Bangs collections that I own. This one was edited by Greil Marcus, the other - Mainlines, Blood Feasts, and Bad Taste - was edited by John Morthland.

The True Adventures of the Rolling Stones, Stanley Booth's great account of the Stones' 1969 American Tour, and The True Adventures of the Rolling Stones, Chet Flippo's great account of the band in the 1970s.

The Heart of Rock and Soul by Dave Marsh, probably his best book, an overview of the 1001 greatest singles ever released, according to Marsh.

Rock on.