Reading about the history, the personalities, the tricks and techniques of Classic Rock is a great way to enhance your enjoyment of watching and listening to the recordings.
This year's additions to the library of Classic Rock include some revealing biographies, commentaries, and collections of memorabilia.
Here is your guide to the Top 10 Classic Rock Books Of 2005.
1. Lennon Revealed
With all that has been written about John Lennon over the past quarter century, how could there possibly be any new ground to explore? Larry Kane's book shows that there are, indeed, aspects of Lennon's life that have not previously been dealt with in print.2. Room Full Of Mirrors
The short but intense life of Jimi Hendrix is chronicled in this biography by Charles R. Cross. Every aspect of the legendary rock guitarist's life is explored through interviews with those who knew him best, and documented details about Hendrix's intense, self-destructive lifestyle.
3. Van Halen 101
This book by Abel Sanchez is less a biography, more an entertaining encyclopedia of one of the groups that ruled the rock world in the '80s. This is the most comprehensive VH guide written to date, and even serious fans will likely find things they didn't know in its 400+ pages. Queen guitarist Brian May provides the foreword.4. The Rock Snob's Dictionary
Appropriately subtitled, "An Essential Lexicon Of Rockological Knowledge," this book is as wickedly humorous and entertaining as the title suggests. If you don't know who Zimmy is, or how to tell when a song is plangent -- or even if you do -- this book is the essential handbook for once and future rock snobs.5. Cream: The World's First Supergroup
Cream made a mark on rock music far exceeding the length of the group's existence. Rock journalist Dave Thompson has produced a highly readable look at the music, the lasting influence, and the lifestyles of a legendary rock band and its three equally legendary members.6. Space Between The Stars
Deborah Santana's father, Saunders King, was a well known blues guitarist. She dated Sly Stone. She has been married to Carlos Santana for over 30 years. This gives her a unique perspective that she shares quite poignantly in this memoir.7. Pink Floyd's The Wall - A Critical Review
This is actually a book plus two DVDs analyzing the creation of the double album, live show and feature film known as The Wall. The book draws extensively from interviews with the members of Pink Floyd, and features a track-by-track review of the album by Roger Waters.8. Bruce Springsteen Songwriting Secrets
Rikky Rooksby literally dismantles Springsteen's songs, piece by piece, revealing how the structure, the chords, the arrangements, and the lyrics work so well, both individually and together. Serious students of music and fans of The Boss will listen to his work in an all new way after reading this book.9. The Complete Annotated Grateful Dead Lyrics, 1965 - 1995
Publishers Weekly called this an "obsessively complete look at the Grateful Dead's lyrics." David Dodd, an avowed Deadhead himself, provides enlightening commentary on the hidden images and nuances of meaning contained in the work of Dead lyricists, John Barlow and Robert Hunter. If you don't know where the four winds dwell, or where the Nuthatch winters, you need this book.10. The Beatles: The Biography
The number of songs the Beatles recorded is less than the number of books that have been written about them. Bruce Springsteen's former manager, Bob Spitz spent eight years researching and writing this one, even living in Liverpool for six months just to soak up the atmosphere. The result is a long (856 pages) but compelling read.