Mid-Year Report: The Best Music Books of 2026 (So Far)

There have been many music-related books published in the first half of 2026. Below are some of those recommended by our writers: Brian Wise (BW), Des Cowley (DC), Michael Goldberg (MG) and Ian McFarlane (IMC). If you would like to recommend some additions to the list then please email us at: admin@rhythms.com.au

AFTER THE FLOOD: INSIDE BOB DYLAN’S MEMORY PALACE – By Robert Polito (Liveright)

This does something I’ve wanted from a Dylan book for like forever. Instead of dismissing Dylan’s last thirty years in a chapter or two – which is what virtually all Dylan biographies do – Polito (who wrote a great book on noir crime writer Jim Thompson) starts his book in 1991. Polito’s jumping off point is Dylan being awarded the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in New York in February ’91. And it gets the thumbs up from Greil Marcus, so you kinda know that Polito is on the money. SC

AND THE ROOTS OF RHYTHM REMAIN: A JOURNEY THROUGH GLOBAL MUSIC – By Joe Boyd (Faber Music)

Joe Boyd is a record producer, film producer and writer, known for his excellent memoir, White Bicycles: Making Music in the 1960s. After producing acts such as Pink Floyd, Eric Clapton, Fairport Convention and Nick Drake (to name a few), Boyd pursued an interest in world music, eventually resulting in this massive tome weighing in at over 900 pages. The title comes from a line in ‘Under African Skies’ on Paul Simon’s Graceland album and the book tells a story that weaves its way across Africa, the Caribbean, Latin America, Europe and South Asia. As Boyd explains, this book tells “how rhythms, scales, and melodies flowed across the globe, constantly altering what the world danced and listened to”. BW

BRAND NEW BEAT: THE WILD RISE OF ROLLING STONE – By Peter Richardson (University of California Press)Author/ university professor Peter Richardson is on my wavelength. In years past he’s written books about Ramparts magazine, Hunter S. Thompson and the Grateful Dead. The first issue of Rolling Stone was published on November 9, 1967. In his introduction, Richardson explains that he wants to answer a key question with his book: “How did an under-capitalized San Francisco rock publication, edited by a 21-year-old college dropout, become one of that era’s [the ‘60s] most important magazines?” Richardson seriously researched the history of both Jann Wenner and the magazine and he does a great job telling their story. Anyone with a serious interest in Rolling Stone will want to read this superb book. MG

COSMIC MUSIC: THE LIFE, ART AND TRANSCENDENCE OF ALICE COLTRANE – By Andy Beta (White Rabbit)

Alice Coltrane came in for her share of criticism in the decades after husband John Coltrane’s death in 1967. Biographer Andy Beta goes so far as to make the parallel with Yoko Ono. When it came to Alice’s own solo recordings and performances, she didn’t fare much better. With the benefit of hindsight, it is clear there was a fair degree of misogynistic claptrap aimed her way. Beta’s book emphatically re-inserts Alice Coltrane’s music into the lineage of spiritual jazz where it belongs, seated alongside husband John, Pharoah Sanders, and others. Be warned, though, reading Beta’s book entails wading through a lot of religious philosophy, a chore if you are not that way inclined. But it is a timely book, coming as it does when her star continues to rise. DC

COUNT DOWN – A COMPLETE EPISODE GUIDE  – Brett Leslie & Milton Hammon (Self-published)

When I first clapped eyes on this 600+ page, 2.3 kg coffee table book, I will admit I experienced that wave of a nostalgic shiver. The book is a celebration of all things that made the Aussie pop world of the era go round. Our two intrepid co-compilers/co-authors must be congratulated for putting together a fabulous book that anyone interested in the subject should seek out. [Given that Hammon and Leslie did so well in concentrating on in-depth research, highlighting many fascinating aspects of the show, they then skimped on doing a thorough proofread. Elsewhere, there are numerous corrections that could have been taken care of with an outsider’s keen eye.] IMC

DAUGHTER OF A SONG: A MEMOIR – By Sarah Curtis (Published by Texas Tech University Press)

Sonny Curtis is the guy who wrote ‘I Fought The Law’ – covered by The Clash, Bobby Fuller, The Dead Kennedys and a lot of other folk – plus ‘Walk Right Back’ for the Everly Brothers, ‘I’m No Stranger To The Rain’ (a massive hit for Keith Whitley), ‘Love Is All Around’ – the theme song for the Mary Tyler Moore Show and a heap of other gems. His daughter Sarah decided to write a book about Curtis as her father, telling his story alongside hers and her mother’s. Daughter Of A Song is an incredible book. Astonishingly written and an abject lesson in how – if you have the talent, the insights, the way with words – you can write a book about anyone and /or anything. SC

GARY STEWART: I AM FROM THE HONKY TONKS – By Jimmy McDonough (Wolf+Salmon)

McDonough has written magnificent biographies of Neil Young (initially with Neil’s co-operation which was later withdrawn), Tammy Wynette and Al Green. Now he’s tackled the great honky-tonk artist Gary Stewart. This becomes a totally engaging epic that has you turning pages quickly whilst punching up songs. It is indeed a magnificent tale of sex, drugs and honky tonk. Think you don’t wanna read 500 pages on an artist most people haven’t heard much about? You’d be wrong on that kiddo. SC

GIRL TO CITY/GIRL TO COUNTRY – By Amy Rigby (Southern Domestic)

Girl To City is the first and follows Rigby from an Elton John loving youngster in Pittsburgh who moves to Manhattan to study art and finds herself immersed in the New York punk/art/creativity world. This is one of the best evocations of New York City in the late 70s and 80s that I’ve ever read. Then comes Girl To Country. Her 1996 album Diary Of A Mod Housewife has been out awhile, Rigby is edging towards her forties, newly divorced, trying to tour and be a Mum, working pretty much any job she can find to make ends meet and has a car that’s problematic even on a good day. SC

NICK DRAKE: THE RECORDINGS – Adam Foster (Bookvault Publishing)

Nick Drake’s life was cut short at the age of 26 in November 1974, but by then he had recorded three albums whose reputation continued to grow over the decades. Along with those albums there was an archive of home recordings, studio outtakes and several radio broadcasts. Foster’s book utilises interviews with those who knew Drake, as well as previously unavailable archival material, along with detailed technical information on 150 recordings. There is also musical analysis and discussions of Drake’s influence. In addition to an introduction by Richard Morton Jack there are more than 100 photos, posters and excerpts of original reviews. Definitely a work for the obsessives. BW

NO SECRETS – By Graham ‘Buzz’ Bidstrup (HarperCollins Publishers)

One might be hard pressed to nominate another Australian rock drummer who has more feathers in his career cap than Graham ‘Buzz’ Bidstrup. As well as driving the rhythm section with The Angels, The Party Boys, GANGgajang and The Stetsons, he’s also a keyboardist, guitarist, vocalist, songwriter, session musician, music producer, engineer, artist manager, CEO and now add author. While much of No Secrets delves into some dark, troublesome places, Bidstrup maintains a positive outlook, so overall it is an uplifting and entertaining read. IMC

OLD NO.1 AT 50: A HISTORY OF GUY CLARK’S FIRST ALBUM – By Peter Blackstock (Truly Handmade)

Guy Clark’s legendary debut album Old No.1 celebrated its 50^th anniversary in November 2025 and was not only the subject of a recent excellent tribute album Old No.1 Revisited but also of this slim but valuable book by Americana journalist Peter Blackstock, co-founder of No Depression magazine. The author utilises interviews with musicians and others involved in the album as well as additional research to tell the story of this remarkable recording. Notable not only for the classic songs (such as ‘LA Freeway’ and ‘Desperados Waiting For A Train’) but also for the fact that Clark was 34 years old when it was released and already built a formidable reputation as a songwriter. It also marked Steve Earle’s first appearance on record and the beginning of his awesome career. As someone who counts Old No.1 as a major gateway into ‘country’ music my only complaint here is that I wish the book was at least twice as long. BW

SPIRITS OF THE HOEY – A LOVE LETTER TO THE HOPETOUN HOTEL – By Liz Guiffre and Gregory Ferris / Images by Bryan Cook (Melbourne Books)

Did you know that Melbourne band Frente – the airiest of light pop bands – once blew up the PA at The Hopetoun Hotel? How’s about the time, in 1997, when Mental as Anything – then one of the biggest bands in Australia – held their 20^thbirthday bash at The Hoey, replete with pizza, a whopping big cake and free entry? Those stories, and many more, are laid out in Spirits of The Hoey – A Love Letter to The Hopetoun Hotel.  Alongside Cook’s photographs, the authors have diligently reproduced dozens of Hopetoun gig listings from the pages of The Drum and On the Street. The narrative throughout is very readable. IMC

THE NAME OF THIS BAND IS R.E.M.: A BIOGRAPHY – By Peter Ames Carlin (HarperCollins)

For an author whose previous books adhered exclusively to rock royalty – Paul McCartney, Brian Wilson, the Boss – it feels somewhat of a departure. Unlike those dyed-in-the-wool artists, R.E.M., by contrast, is the very definition of indie. Sure, they became one of the biggest bands on the planet, but that was never on the cards when they started out. In recounting the ways in which a principled indie band successfully squared off against corporate behemoths, Carlin shows life doesn’t always have to be a simple either/or equation. DC

THE ROLLING STONES – Bob Spitz (Penguin Press)

Spitz certainly has plenty of runs on the board in terms of his biographies which have included subjects such as the Beatles, Dylan, Ronald Reagan and Julia Child. But it is doubtful if any of those have been as voluminous as this 704-page tome chronicling the six-decade career of the self-proclaimed world’s greatest rock n’ roll band. However, like many others, Spitz considers the ‘60s, ‘70s and early ‘80s to be the band’s golden era and worthy of the most space. Fair enough. Mick and Keith have not produced any albums approaching their heyday in creative terms. Yet what they have done is to keep this large money-hungry beast alive as an incredibly successful touring entity and, with their latest two albums, as a chart-topping group that still somehow remains in the public eye.  The book ends in 2024 but, after the latest release and rumours of a tour in 2027 to celebrate 65 years, methinks an update to this will be on the way sometime at the end of next year. BW

THE UNCOOL – By Cameron Crowe (Simon & Schuster)

Cameron Crowe gets everything about memoir writing exactly right in The Uncool. He nails it. Perfectly. Constantly. His writing style is conversational, unpretentious, no big words for the sake of showing off his vocab. Just a chat. And it’s a rare skill to not come off as a ‘look at me’ namedropper when the majority of the book is about his encounters with the likes of The Grateful Dead, The Allman Brothers, The Eagles, Joni Mitchell, Kris Kristofferson, Led Zeppelin, Gram Parsons, David Bowie, Emmylou Harris and so many more. SC

WHAT DO YOU DO WHEN YOU’RE LONESOME: THE AUTHORIZED BIOGRAPHY OF JUSTIN TOWNES EARLE – Jonathan Bernstein (Da Capo)

When Justin Townes Earle died of a drug overdose in Nashville in 2020 it sent a shock through the Americana community. Somehow, this 38-year-old suffered the fate that his hell-raising father had escaped. It still seems shocking and sad to me that such a thing could have happened to someone who still had not reached his full potential. Drawing on numerous interviews with Justin’s friends, family and others along with his writing and recordings, this is a fine tribute to a songwriter who, had he lived, might have matched or eclipsed his father. This ‘authorised’ biography doesn’t dodge the issues of drug addiction and mental illness and in many ways is a cautionary tale. BW

WINGS: THE STORY OF A BAND ON THE RUN – By Paul McCartney & Ted Widmer (HarperCollins)

It seems Paul McCartney’s ‘70s band Wings is having a moment: a new book, a new film, a new vinyl compilation.  The cover of Wings: The Story of a Band on the Run implies the book is authored by McCartney, but things are a little more complex than that. While he’s allotted, by far, the most words, this is an oral history. Ted Widmer’s gripping oral history, spun from a chorus of over sixty voices, is as good a place to start as any if, like me, you are wanting to test your thorny memory of McCartney’s post-Beatles output. Trust me, the best of it – flawed as it might be – is way better than I remember it. DC