Rock n Roll Book and Documentary Reviews: Rock Talk Studio

Richard Manual's biography finally does justice to one of rock’s most heartbreaking and beautiful voices. Author Stephen T. Lewis paints a vivid, deeply human portrait of Richard Manuel: gentle, complicated, and quietly unraveling.  *Want to win a free copy of Queen & A Night At The Opera: 50 Years?  It's easy, just send me an email to sign up. You can find a link to my email address below. *Reminder this is for US citizens only* *Want the latest in Rock N Roll Book and Documentaries news sent to your inbox?  Sign up for the Monthly BLAST!! the newsletter that comes out on the last Friday of the month that features book buzz and doc news, recently released titles, top 5 lists, and more. Just shoot me over an email at the address below and say Big Rick, send me over that Blast!! Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2061662/support] email Big Rick at: info@rocktalkstudio.com

SMiLE was an album that never came out. Not in the ’60s when it was made. Not after Pet Sounds. Brian Wilson made an album-when he was 24- that was so visionary it nearly broke him. And this tremendous book gives you everything you ever wanted to know about how SMiLE became myth, then obsession, then burden, and then finally against all odds- triumph!  *Want to win a free copy of Queen & A Night At The Opera: 50 Years?  It's easy, just send me an email to sign up. You can find a link to my email address below. *Reminder this is for US citizens only* *Want the latest in Rock N Roll Book and Documentaries news sent to your inbox?  Sign up for the Monthly BLAST!! the newsletter that comes out on the last Friday of the month that features book buzz and doc news, recently released titles, top 5 lists, and more. Just shoot me over an email at the address below and say Big Rick, send me over that Blast!! Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2061662/support] email Big Rick at: info@rocktalkstudio.com

One rehearsal in the summer of ’68 lit the fuse—Becoming Led Zeppelin captures the raw formation of a band that would change music forever. With newly unearthed John Bonham audio and exclusive interviews from Page, Plant, and Jones, this doc is pure voltage—no critics, no fluff, just Zeppelin, and a ton of great music, in their own words. *Want to win a free copy of Queen & A Night At The Opera: 50 Years?  It's easy, just send me an email to sign up. You can find a link to my email address below. *Reminder this is for US citizens only* *Want the latest in Rock N Roll Book and Documentaries news sent to your inbox?  Sign up for the Monthly BLAST!! the newsletter that comes out on the last Friday of the month that features book buzz and doc news, recently released titles, top 5 lists, and more. Just shoot me over an email at the address below and say Big Rick, send me over that Blast!! Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2061662/support] email Big Rick at: info@rocktalkstudio.com

This isn’t just a book. It’s a front-row seat to the moment Queen became immortal. Queen & A Night at the Opera: 50 Years by Gillian G. Gaar is a lavish, photo-packed look into the album that changed everything. With over 250 stunning images, behind-the-scenes stories, and rare insights, this book captures the chaos, craft, and brilliance behind Queen’s boldest leap. Built like a coffee table book, packed like a vault — this is the ultimate Queen fan artifact. *Want to win a free copy of Queen & A Night At The Opera: 50 Years?  It's easy, just send me an email to sign up. You can find a link to my email address below. *Reminder this is for US citizens only* And thank you to our sponsor Motorbooks for hooking us up with a give away of this book! You can check out Motorbooks other great titles here [https://www.quarto.com/]. *Want to stay on top of the world of Rock N Roll Book and Documentaries? That's also easy. Sign up for the Monthly BLAST!! the newsletter that comes out on the last Friday of the month that features book buzz and doc news, recently released titles, top 5 lists, and more. Just shoot me over an email at the address below and say Big Rick, send me that Blast!! Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2061662/support] email Big Rick at: info@rocktalkstudio.com

In 1983, Cameron Crowe — still early in his career — picked up a camera and quietly captured something incredible. The result? A grainy, gutsy, joy-fueled snapshot of a band still hungry, and still trying to figuring it all out. Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers in their hungry years.  MTV aired it once in the middle of the night, then shelved it for being too raw. Now it’s restored, with 20 extra minutes, There’s no script, no polish — just raw moments, backstage vibes, late-night jam sessions. It’s messy. It’s magic. It's a good time, must see!! *Want to stay on top of the world of Rock N Roll Book and Documentaries?  Sign up for the Monthly BLAST!!   The BLAST!! drops the last Friday of every month, packed with the hottest book buzz, exclusive doc updates, and the current Top 5 lists. It's your VIP pass to what’s next in books and docs. Only once a month. Always worth it! Just shoot me over an email at the address below and say Big Rick, send me that Blast!!  Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2061662/support] email Big Rick at: info@rocktalkstudio.com