After word that the final list of books being published in the latest installment of the album-per-tome 33 1/3 series would be delayed because of “economy-related goings-on,” series publisher Continuum released a 27-album shortlist on the series’ blog. The list was probably going to cause lots of head-scratching and Internet-based anger no matter what it was made up of, but its reliance on Big Albums And Artists That Stand The Maybe A Bit Rockist-Leaning Test Of Time (or, in the case of Metal Machine Music, the test of being a go-to punching bag for rock critics of all stripes) particularly rankled many members of the peanut gallery. The full list after the jump.
AC/DC - Highway to Hell
Aretha Franklin - Amazing Grace
The Beatles - The Beatles
Bob Dylan - Time Out of Mind
The Cramps - Songs the Lord Taught Us
David Bowie - Ziggy Stardust
Devo - Q: Are We Not Men? A: We Are Devo
Dinosaur Jr: You’re Living All Over Me
ELO - Out of the Blue
Grateful Dead - Closing of Winterland
Johnny Cash - American Recordings
Kiss - Destroyer
Leonard Cohen - Songs of Leonard Cohen
Lil’ Wayne - Da Drought 3
Liz Phair - Exile in Guyville
Lou Reed - Metal Music Machine [sic?]
Neil Young - Tonight’s the Night
Operation Ivy - Energy
Paul Simon - Graceland
Radiohead - Kid A
Rolling Stones - Some Girls
Slint - Spiderland
Television - Marquee Moon
Violent Femmes - Violent Femmes
Ween - Chocolate and Cheese
White Stripes - White Blood Cells
Young Marble Giants - Colossal Youth
It’s probably worth noting that Radiohead, Young, the Stones, Bowie, and Dylan (not to mention Reed, at least as part of the Velvet Underground) have already had 33 1/3 titles devoted to their output, which no doubt contributed to some of the hue and cry from commenters; after all, there’s no shortage of words written about most of those artists, and the 33 1/3 series, in the mind of many people, is not only supposed to chronicle Important Albums, it’s also supposed to reward good writing, and takes on music that don’t necessarily slot into previously established canons. (Right, James Franco?)
For their part, one of the series’ editors waded into the fray to reiterate that the proposal weighs as much on the final decision as the book’s topic does:
2. The proposal REALLY IS all we have to go on when making the decisions. Of course, the proposal has a few key components (author bio, how you would help promote the book, which books in the series do you admire, etc.) that are there for a reason.
But his point immediately following has to think that in this time of economic strife, the idea that the market for yet another book on Bob Dylan is a safer bet than, say, a book on Blackout or The Drift, helped sway the submission process at least a little bit:
3. To quote from David’s call for submissions: “My advice would be this: we are looking to sell some books. That’s the bottom line. If you are absolutely convinced that we could sell 4,000 or 5,000 copies of a book about your chosen album, then go for it.”
…and then there were 27 [33 1/3]
Is that specifically the Ned Raggett Kid A?
Odessey & Oracle got shafted again!
@Guy on the Windscreen: Nope! Alas but life goes on etc.
I’d be more interested in a book about a less well known album by a big artist, but I can see the economics of their position. A book about Never Let Me Down would possibly be more interesting than yet another exploration of Ziggy Stardust to me, but wouldn’t sell to anyone other than Bowiephiles. Then again, if the goal is 4-5000 units then you’re pretty much guaranteed that if you pick a band with a dedicated enough core fan base. The completists (of which I am a recovering one) will buy it regardless.
Oooooh, Chocolate and Cheese! Exciting!
I’m not complaining, there’s at least 3 books on here I would buy without hesitation.
I would definitely buy a book about Op Ivy’s Energy, no question. The Paul’s Boutique 33 1/3 is the next thing I plan on reading actually…
@FMQBJoey: The Paul’s Boutique is one of my favorites. It’s an interesting read.
A book on The Drift could be interesting, but that album is so dense I feel it should probably simmer for a few more years before it’s looked at so extensively. I would certainly buy something about Tilt or 4 before The Drift. I still don’t really get that album.
Regarding Metal Music Machine, perhaps they were talking about the Jazkamer album… you know, just in case the wanted to sell zero books.
Anyway, if anyone wants to read my proposal, enjoy.