Publishing Insider

Spinal Tap meets Queen

From a colleague comes a story about Spinal Tap in a concert in the UK, with Christopher Guest going into a soaring solo. The crowd went nuts, and all the more so when Brian May of Queen came on stage, being the one who had actually played the solo! And this news via Shelf Awareness: Book Soup,featured an appearance by Queen guitarist Brian May, who instead of signing CDs or guitars, signed copies of Bang! The Complete History of the Universe (Johns Hopkins , $29.95, 9780801889851), which he co-wrote with astronomer Patrick Moore and astrophysicist Chris Lintott. Proud owner of Ph.D. in astrophysics, May met perhaps more Queen than Universe fans, although several apparently came in from far ends of the country, if not universe.

cover me

2 wonderful cover versions of 2 of my favorite all-time songs playing on XM of late: Jill Sobule covering Laura Nyro's Stoned Soul Picnic and Thomas Dolby (!) covering Dan Hicks' incredible I Scare Myself. 2 of the most beautiful, bittersweet, transportive songs of all time. At least I think so.

Rock on ballad bookseller winner!

See the lyrics; hear the tune!

XM rules

The guys at XM respond to emails, which is great. Just emailed about a song that had just played. Here is Jerry Rubino's response: The Pretenders cover was Robin Danar teaming up with Paul Buchanan of The Blue Nile, on Robin's album Altered States.  Pretty interesting collection of collaborations & covers.

Aztec on XM

From Rex Fowler of Aztec Two Step: “We had a blast taping the Loft Session at the XM:50 studios in D.C.in December.  Our Loft Session will air the week of March 10: Monday at 12pm and 9pm, Thursday at 3pm and 9pm, Friday at 4am, and Saturday at 7pm, all times Eastern.  Thank you to our friends at XM:50: Pete Fornatale, Jerry Rubino, Mike Marrone, and their wonderful  engineer “Q.” 

neat book from Rodale 'bout Si & Garf

Pete Fornatale's Bookends is a delight. Lots of early stories, including the one about how their career almost didn't happen. A producer went in and added drums and bass to Sounds of Silence while Paul was off in London singing on streetcorners and Art was back in college. Rereleased w/o their knowledge it then became a hit.

Subdudes adding more dates!! don't miss 'em

Don't miss 'em!!!! Best concert you'll ever see!!!

feel good story of the day

From Shelf Awareness: The resurgence of downtown Haverhill, Mass., has been missing one key ingredient--a bookshop--but soon that void will be filled by an enterprising group of local high school students. According to the Eagle-Tribune, students in Haverhill High's Learning for Life program will open the Book Cellar, a new and used bookstore.

"This city needs a bookstore," said sophomore William Pina. "I think our store will be a great opportunity for kids to learn about selling books."

the clip of Chuck on Letterman!

Not my favorite song from Soap and Water but still pretty great!

don't miss Chuck on TV!!!!!!!!!!

Chuck Prophet, the only new musician of the last 10 years who I have totally enjoyed and followed, was on NPR a few weeks back...and now he's on Letterman this coming Wed. eve, Jan. 9!!  Chuck has a unique voice, wonderful lyrics, a sense of humor...and man can he play guitar. Try to catch him live, too. (And he has a book coming from Chronicle, last I heard.)