Publishing Insider

pub guy does the Beatles

Anthony Pomes of Square One Publishers is on the board of the Yoko approved Lennon Center on L.I., but even better, he plays and sings Lennon for the band. See the NYT article.

blue for you

New book out on Joni Mitchell's blue period. Will You Take Me As I Am, by Michelle Mercer, from Free Press. Yes, I'm recommending another publisher's book. How 'bout that.

rhymin' simon

I love hearing rock song rhymes. Favorite from way back: James Taylor rhyming frosting and Boston. Nice.

asylum

The only bright spot in Kid Rock's derivative music video is the brief flashing of the Elektra/Asylum label of Warren Zevon's Werewolves of London LP, which is sampled on the Kid's hit.

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.