It’s been an excellent year in music writing. Here are our top recommendations for new books about music, ranging from history texts to personal memoirs to novels that emphasize music culture. 60 Songs That Explain the ‘90s by Rob Harvilla “I have nothing against The Beatles,” author and podcast host Rob Harvilla told CBS, “but the Beatles got nothing on …
Recovering and reclaiming Black women’s place in music history
In her forthcoming book, Shine Bright: A Very Personal History of Black Women in Pop, Danyel Smith writes, “Who else but a Black woman would lead me, or at least take me on trial runs?” That question is an acknowledgement of the countless Black women who have shifted and shaped American popular music, and whose influence on Smith makes up …