Smithsonian Rock and Roll: Live and Unseen A veritable who’s who of rock and roll is contained within this most impressive 200-page tome. The brainchild of The Smithsonian who, a few years back, released an open call for photographers to submit their unseen and unpublished photos of rock icons, blossomed into one of the most enjoyable rock books of recent years.
Writer Bill Bentley delivers an engaging introduction before he lets the amazing photos do the talking. Superb onstage shots of legends as diverse as Little Richard to Patti Smith fill the pages of this record album-sized coffee table book as well as short, written homages that delve into the bios of the artists pictured while offering interesting facts and details along the way. You have to love a book that digs beneath the surface to include often forgotten about artists like Detroit-based punk rock forefathers MC5 and Blues legend Jimmy Reed yet manages to acknowledge modern day artists like pop hit maker Adele and soul-influenced blues/rock trio Alabama Shakes.
Whether as an introduction to a young fan discovering the real feel and essence of rock and roll or a reminder to a seasoned, lifelong devotee of rock of the thrills and excitement the music brings, this essential book serves as a virtual roadmap of the key, integral players of the game. The most intriguing part about the well-designed book is its ability to elicit the true sense of urgency and hysteria rock and roll can inspire while presenting flawless, rousing photos that most readers have probably never seen before. A marvelous trip through the many years of the birth and development of rock music like none readers have ever experienced before. (Smithsonian Books)
This article appears in Dec 21-28, 2017.
