A blog about Bloomsbury Academic's 33 1/3 series, our other books about music, and the world of sound in general.

Wednesday, November 05, 2008

Quick off the mark

The first ten proposals we've received (none of which I've read yet) are for books on albums by:

The Fall
The Jam
Danzig
Van Halen
The Zombies
Against Me!
Run-D.M.C.
Jefferson Airplane
Mary Margaret O'Hara
Yo La Tengo

None of whom are artists covered in the series so far. Interesting!

32 comments:

Anonymous said...

Will u be putting up lists throughout the proposal process detailing those that you've received? I'm worried that someone might be 'inspired' by my choice, do their own proposal for the same artist/album and get the gig for themselves . Won't I be at an advantage if I held off until the last minute?

Anonymous said...

an interesting question

Anonymous said...

I don't think you'll be at a disadvantage. If you wrote the better, more convincing proposal, you'll get the gig. Good luck.

David said...

Not sure about if/when we'll put up lists of proposals received. But the anonymous post above has it right - just try to submit the most convincing pitch you can, for your chosen album, and then it's in the lap of the gods. The chances are that we'll get multiple submissions for many, many albums, anyway!

Anonymous said...

Reinventing Axl Rose by Against Me!?
Awesome, I would buy that

Anonymous said...

Oh, and Oddessey and Oracle, it has to be...?

Anonymous said...

I think there should be a Talking Heads book!

Anonymous said...

second that Against Me! book, the album is phenomenal.

Anonymous said...

I hope the Danzig proposal is one long rambling shirtless interview with Glenn Danzig about his book collection. That would be awesome.

Anonymous said...

i agree with the talking heads book, preferably "remain in light". something by pavement, kid a, graceland, and maybe "is this it?" would be great additions to the series.

Anonymous said...

Well there is already a "Wowee Zowee" book in the works

David said...

Indeed. Bryan Charles is writing the book on "Wowee Zowee" for the series.

Anonymous said...

Funny... I was just coming to post about how "Is This It" by the Strokes is a major gap in the series

If you get a good proposal for it you just jump on that, especially if it makes a viable claim to it being the album that saved rock and roll for Generation Y

Unknown said...

anonymous- yeah, reinventing axl rose is what i proposed.

anonymous 5:32: i was half considering that.

Anonymous said...

Oh no....That must be Odessey and Oracle. After the past two times of no one submitting a proposal for that album, I thought I would have a chance.

Guess too many people have finally discovered it...

David said...

As I said elsewhere, don't be discouraged - we'll likely get multiple submissions for many albums/artists. A strategy of picking a record that you think nobody else will choose is probably not the wisest...

Anonymous said...

THERE NEEDS TO BE A BOOK ON THE FALL!!

And the idea of a Strokes book has potential

Anonymous said...

Here's some ideas: Microdisney - 'Clock Comes Down the Stairs'; Iggy and the Stooges 'Raw Power'; Monster Magnet 'Dopes to Infinity'; Blue Oyster Cult - first album; XTC - 'Skylarking' (I'd like to do them, but I've pitched something else)

David said...

I love that Microdisney record, but that book would sell about 600 copies, surely?

Anonymous said...

Microdisney, yes - 600 copies! But it's a pity the rest of the world couldn't hear it. And ... will we ever understand why, in the words of one song, god would provide an 'instant picnic', rather than say, peace and harmony to all mankind! Genius.

Anonymous said...

That Monster Magnet idea is AWESOME.

Anonymous said...

There's a Danzig proposal yet still no book on the Misfits??

Anonymous said...

A Run-D.M.C. book needs to happen fast.

roymanseras said...

Hi, this is very interesting. I hope you would continue this advocate to spread your good news. By the way, I have a site which offers Free E-Books for computers, programming, cooking lessons, sexy magazines and so much more. Please visit my Free E-Book Downloads website. Thanks.

Anonymous said...

how stringent is the "up to 2K" word count for the proposal? I'm having trouble whittling mine below 3K...

David said...

3K won't get you disqualified, put it that way. And I'd rather have that, than something much too short.

Anonymous said...

I would be happy to write about either 'Soul Discharge' by The Boredoms, or 'You're Living All Over Me' by Dinosaur jr.

Anonymous said...

You know... a book about Boredoms would sell more than you think. There's a big J-rock fixation in the underground now thanks to the popularity of the band Boris and magazines like Rock~A~Rolla. As long as it sufficiently described the group's essential weirdness, and made ties to J-rock at large where appropriate.

transylvanian said...

And a Dinosaur Jr. book would obviously sell a bazillion copies.

Here's a question. Who would buy a book about a modern post-hardcore/emo band like Brand New (any of their records), Say Anything (...is a Real Boy), or Thrice (Vheissu, The Illusion of Safety)?

I have serious plans to write either a Brand New or Say Anything book. I believe these boos would be awesome, but I also believe they'd sell a lot of copies.

Anonymous said...

I second the idea of a Talking Heads book. "More Songs About Buildings and Food" would be a perfect candidate for consideration.

Anonymous said...

Another suggestion for the series: "Son of Schmilsson" by Harry Nilsson. An underrated album by an underrated artist.

Anonymous said...

Laughing Stock by Talk Talk.