➢ According to i-D online . . .
“ Former editor at i-D and now editor-in-chief of British GQ, Dylan Jones is an arbiter of taste, instigator of style and in possession of an encyclopaedic knowledge of popular music. Uninspired by the lack of subjectivity many music biographies take, Dylan Jones began working on his own dictionary of popular music 30 years ago. Scribbling down scattered thoughts on paper, Dylan collated mountains of unorganised text which have since evolved to fill the 838 pages of his latest book, The Biographical Dictionary of Popular Music… / continued at i-D online, plus video interview above
➢ The Biographical Dictionary of Popular Music (paperback 908 pages, £22.67)
WHAT REVIEWERS HAVE SAID
➢ Helen Brown at The Telegraph:
“ Amiably opinionated, funny and revealing, this is a knowingly subjective A-Z of the artists Jones fancies writing about from Abba (Mamma Mia transported him to “a pink fluffy place called Abbaville. I loved it”) to Frank Zappa (the early Mothers of Invention albums sound “like Tom Lehrer made them on acid”). He explores the emotional appeal of artists he loves and is bothered when others admired by his friends leave him cold. Some subjects get a line, others an essay. Jones’s tastes tend towards old-school cool jazz, easy listening and lounge music. No surprise to learn that the men’s magazine editor has been in thrall to the slickly suited, high-rolling rat pack since hearing them on his mum’s turntable as a kid. ”
➢ Amazon’s jsquared on the Kindle edition:
“ As someone quite new to many of these bands, I loved this. Dylan Jones’ writing is funny and pleasantly surprising, helped along by his personal recollections of interviews with a variety of band members and famous folk which brings the stories to light rather than feeling self-involved. It’s a perfect gift for a brother with more records than friends! If my boyfriend hadn’t lent me his Kindle, I wouldn’t have read it. I recommend the Blues Music section, that’s what got me hooked. ”
“Jarvis felt like a natural fit with the Faber sensibility, both as author and editor, and I’m sure the small list of books he will develop will represent his eccentric and yet popular touch,” said publishing director Lee Brackstone. “We now have an excellent portfolio of authors from the pop world and our intention is to develop these relationships and continue to build a reputation as the home for exciting and original writing on music.”
