I was wondering which "33 1/3" books you all recommend. I will pretty much read anything music related but I don't know where to start with these. They seem to be collectable and they're at a decent price.

Changed thread title since the discussion ended up being about the 33 1/3 Greatest Hits books. -- Linda

I read Exile on Main Street and liked it quite a bit. I haven't had a chance to read any others but that one made me quite enthusiastic for more. I would check comments to see what kind of style the author uses, I know The Band book is actually a novel.

Why not start here:

[bigred]33 1/3 Greatest Hits, Vol. 1[/bigred]
[lilred]edited by David Barker
January 1, 2007[/lilred]



Description
The writings in this book are extracted from volumes 1 through 20 of our 33 1/3 series - short books about individual albums. In here you'll find a wide variety of authors, albums, and approaches to writing about those albums. So sit back, put on your headphones, cue up your favourite songs, and let our writers transport you to a time when:

Dusty Springfield headed south to Memphis to record a pop/soul classic;
The Kinks almost fell to pieces, and managed to make their best album while doing so;
Joy Division and their mad, brilliant producer created a debut record that still sounds painfully hip today;
James Brown mesmerized a sell-out crowd at the Apollo, in the midst of the Cuban Missile Crisis;
The Rolling Stones shacked up in the South of France and emerged with one of the best double-albums ever;
The Ramones distilled punk rock into its purest, most enduring essence...

33 1/3 Greatest Hits, Volume 1: it's like a compilation album, without the filler.

Table Of Contents
Introduction
1. Dusty in Memphis
2. Forever Changes
3. Harvest
4. Kinks Village Green
5. Meat is Murder
6. Piper at the Gates of Dawn
7. Abba Gold
8. Electric Ladyland
9. Unknown Pleasures
10. Sign O the Times
11. Velvet Underground and Nico
12. Let It Be
13. Live at the Apollo
14. Aqualung
15. OK Computer
16. Let It Be
17. Led Zeppelin IV
18. Exile on Main St.
19. Pet Sounds
20. Ramones
21. Student Essay Prize Winner

http://www.amazon.com/dp/0826419038/?tag=imwan-20

This is a compilation of some of the first batch. It got my feet wet.

Incidentally, any fan of Steely Dan should get the one on Aja. It's fantastic. And it's written by the guy from Monkey House (Canadian sound-alike, er, inspired by...)

Second volume "Best Of" from this great series.

[bigred]33 1/3 Greatest Hits, Vol. 2[/bigred]
[lilred]edited by David Barker
October 15, 2007[/lilred]



Description
The second compendium of extracts from Continuum's acclaimed and successful 33 1/3 series, Volume 2 features 20 sharp, savvy and very different writers' takes on albums by Neutral Milk Hotel, Sonic Youth, My Bloody Valentine, David Bowie, the Pixies, the Beastie Boys, Nirvana, R.E.M, the Band and many more. A perfect gift for the music lover in your life!

Table Of Contents
Introduction
1. Elvis Costello
2. R.E.M.
3. Jeff Buckley
4. DJ Shadow
5. The MC5
6. Bruce Springsteen
7. David Bowie
8. The Band
9. Neutral Milk Hotel
10. Sly and the Family Stone
11. The Pixies
12. Beastie Boys
13. Stone Roses
14. Nirvana
15. Bob Dylan
16. My Bloody Valentine
17. The Who
18. Guided By Voices
19. Sonic Youth
20. Joni Mitchell

http://www.amazon.com/dp/0826428762/?tag=imwan-20

For me, this book isn't essential. I am trying to read all of these books in this wonderful series. I've enjoyed most of them, and am currently reading the one on Notorious Byrd Brothers.
The only book I couldn't get through was Music From Big Pink. Didn't care for the fictional approach. However my favorite book in this series was also a work of fiction, Meat is Murder by the ultra-talented Joe Pernice.

Yeah, I got the first compiliation, and it didn't make me wanna run out and get any of these. Though I did enjoy the full one on Aja.

I'm midway through the "Aja" one right now!