cover image Track Records

Track Records

Paul Gambaccini. Elm Tree Books, $0 (179pp) ISBN 978-0-241-11447-6

These profiles of musicians originally aired on Radio 1 in England between 1982 and 1984. The subjects represent a variety of popular modern music, from soul (James Brown) to pop (Paul McCartney); from the earliest rockers (Jerry Lee Lewis) to the latest performers (Elvis Costello and Joe Jackson). Besides covering the greats, Gambaccini delves into such mediocre talents as Queen and includes artists, like Curtis Mayfield and Bobby Darin, who have seemingly vanished from the music scene. Although Gambaccini offers no new insights, the book provides a quick overview of the careers of the performers featured: for example, every incarnation of the band Fleetwood Mac. Recommended for music novices. January