Great Reads on Recording and Music

Here is a list of some of the books on recording and music that we have added to the reading (or re-reading!) queue recently.

by Phill Brown Great studio session stories about The Rolling Stones, Talk Talk, Hendrix, Led Zeppelin and more!

by Howard Massey A look inside legendary British recording studios like Olympic, Abbey Road, Trident and a slew of others. Layouts, gear, and technical innovations make this a comprehensive read.

by Kevin Ryan and Brian Kehew Over 500 pics (many life size!) and detailed descriptions of every microphone, console, and processing that the Beatles used over their entire career make this hefty book a must have for any Beatles fan or producer/engineer that wants to understand recording history.

by Glyn Johns First hand accounts of working with legends like Led Zeppelin, The Who, The Eagles and Rolling Stones.

by Aaron Copland Aaron Copland’s guide on how to listen to and analyze music.

by Sylvia Massy Wildly illustrated book on recording ideas and techniques. Fun, nice to look at and full of good information.

by David Toop Sun Ra, Brian Eno, Lee Perry, Brian Wilson, Kate Bush, Kraftwerk and Ryuichi Sakamoto are all interviewed in this thought provoking work of sonic history.

by Barry Cleveland A thorough examination of this pioneering recording genius.

by Mixerman Musicians! Learn how to focus on what really matters. Well written, concise, and could change your life.

by Jim Cogan & William Clark Subtitled, "Inside the Great Recording Studios,” this is a lighter read but amazing photos and history.

by Michael Paul Stavrou This book will twist your mind around about recoding technique, IF you are ready for it.

by Bob Katz This book totally changed the way I looked at and understood recording and digital audio. -LC

by Mark Lewisohn A detailed history of The Beatles' recording sessions.

by Paul Morley One of the most intriguing books I’ve ever read about music- JB

by Jeff Tweedy

by Steve Turner

by James Woodall Self Expanatory!

by Damon Krukowski An examination of listening in the digital age.

by Damon Krukowski Krukowski uses the sound engineer’s distinction of signal and noise to reexamine what we have lost as a technological culture, looking carefully at what was valuable in the analog realm so we can hold on to it.

by Greg Milner Greg Milner takes us through the major breakthroughs and glorious failures in the art and science of recording.

by Stanley Donwood Technically not music, but really interesting from Radiohead’s resident visual artist:

by Haruki Murakami and Seiji Ozawa The two authors conversations on their passion for music via a broad range of topics.

by David Kukoff This is fiction, but one of the more insightful books on the self absorbtion of what we do. Told from the perspective of a teenager who’s father is a record producer in Laurel Canyon in the 60s working with thinly veiled fictionalized versions of Brian Wilson and Gram Parsons.

by Ben Sidran Leo Sidran’s dad writes an amazing life study of Tommy LiPuma, his friend and mentor. Learn about George Benson’s Breezin’ and more!

by Dr. Daniel Levitin A great insight to what is happening in your dome when you listen to music.