Jimi Hendrix at Fillmore East, May 1968. © Frank Mastropolo
Fillmore East: The Venue That Changed Rock Music Forever
BEST MUSIC BOOKS OF THE YEAR!
BEST BOOKS FOR DIE-HARD ROCKERS!
Rock impresario Bill Graham opened Fillmore East in New York City on March 8, 1968 with headliners Janis Joplin and Big Brother & the Holding Co. In just over three years, the Fillmore East presented rock royalty that included Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton, John Lennon, Elton John, Led Zeppelin, Carlos Santana, and James Taylor.
The Allman Brothers, Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, Joe Cocker, Derek & the Dominos, Jefferson Airplane, The Who, Frank Zappa, and the Grateful Dead recorded groundbreaking live albums at what became known as the "Church of Rock and Roll."
The book features more than 150 photos, many never before published, and a foreword by Joshua White, founder of the Joshua Light Show.
If you want to know about the rock ‘n’ roll scene in New York City in the late '60s, early '70s, this is the book to read. Straight from the horses' mouths. — Peter Albin, Big Brother & the Holding Company
Fillmore East: The Venue that Changed Rock Music Forever is a wonderful book. It’s authentic. It takes me back. I can almost smell the pot in the front row. — Corky Laing, Mountain
Click on any book cover to order on
Greatest Performances
Would you like to learn the stories behind the greatest songs of the 1960s? Let the artists, songwriters, and producers of 200 of the era's best-loved songs tell you in their own words!
Psychedelic rock, British Invasion, protest songs, horn rock, surf rock, Motown, garage rock, pop, blues rock, the San Francisco Sound, blue-eyed soul, and folk rock are all here. The musicians, songwriters, and producers explain how they created the music.
Of course, the Beatles, Bob Dylan, Simon & Garfunkel, and the Beach Boys are represented. But you'll also learn in Vol. 1 about tunes by Moby Grape, the Castaways, Mary Hopkin, the Electric Prunes, the Swingin' Medallions, and the Trashmen.
Vol. 1 includes interviews with Felix Cavaliere of the Rascals, Connie Francis, Tommy James, Robby Krieger of the Doors, Roger McGuinn of the Byrds, Bobby Rydell, and Mark Volman of the Turtles.
Vol. 2 tells the stories of tunes by Iron Butterfly, the Association, Joni Mitchell, the Seeds, Cream, Wilson Pickett, and the Blues Magoos.
Vol. 2 features interviews with Judy Collins, Chris Hillman of the Byrds, Jorma Kaukonen of Jefferson Airplane and Hot Tuna, Jerry Miller and Don Stevenson of Moby Grape, Mark Stein of Vanilla Fudge, and David Clayton-Thomas of Blood, Sweat & Tears.
What a great book! Thank you for preserving rock 'n' roll history!
— James Donna, the Castaways ("Liar, Liar")
The Castaways, 1965. Courtesy James Donna
By 1970, the Beatles had disbanded and embarked on solo careers. Psychedelic rock, protest songs, surf music, and folk rock were out.
The new decade was defined by the singer-songwriter. Punk rock, new wave, Southern rock, disco, and glam rock exploded in clubs and on the airwaves. Philadelphia replaced Motown as the capital of soul and R&B. The back stories of the music are as varied as the genres themselves.
Vol. 1 has songs by Elton John, Queen, Stevie Wonder, Steely Dan, Blondie, Talking Heads, the Allman Brothers Band, the Bee Gees, and the Eagles. You'll also read about tunes by Mountain, Lou Reed, Bill Withers, Brownsville Station, the Sanford-Townsend Band, Carly Simon, Alice Cooper, Boz Scaggs, and Iggy Pop.
There are enlightening interviews with Leo Sayer, Bobby Whitlock of Derek and the Dominos, Harry Wayne "KC" Casey of KC & the Sunshine Band, and Michael Brewer of Brewer & Shipley.
Vol. 2 has the stories of tunes by Alice Cooper, Peter Frampton, the Boomtown Rats, Billy Joel, Kansas, the Temptations, ZZ Top, and many more.
Throughout Vol. 2 are photographs and in-depth interviews with Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees Jon Anderson and Rick Wakeman (Yes); Robert Lamm (Chicago); John Lodge (Moody Blues); and Dave Mason (Traffic) as well as Ian Anderson (Jethro Tull); Randy Bachman (Guess Who and Bachman-Turner Overdrive); Gerry Beckley (America); Ian Hunter (Mott the Hoople); Jim Messina (Loggins & Messina); Eddie Money; and Paul Roberts (Sniff ‘n’ the Tears).
James Taylor, 1979. Bernard Gotfryd, Library of Congress
By the 1980s, cable networks MTV and VH1 played music videos 24 hours a day. Fans were introduced to New Wave and synth-pop bands. New female artists and groups stormed the charts. Heavy metal made a comeback. Concerts for Live Aid and Band Aid and recordings like “We Are the World” supported charities.
The songs of Bruce Springsteen, Billy Joel, Queen, Cyndi Lauper, Hall & Oates, Pat Benatar, Kool & the Gang, the Police, and John Mellencamp are here. But you'll also learn about tunes by the Eurythmics, the Clash, U2, AC/DC, Eddy Grant, R.E.M., Twisted Sister, and many more.
Throughout the book are photographs and in-depth interviews with some of the musicians who made the 1980s such an eclectic period of rock music: Ann Wilson and Nancy Wilson of Heart, Gina Schock of the Go-Go’s, and Gary U.S. Bonds, whose collaboration with Springsteen revitalized his career.
Drop a Dime in the Jukebox and Let the Memories Play!
100 Greatest 60s Pop Songs transports you to a golden era when AM radio ruled the airwaves and every song felt like summer. Hear the behind-the-scenes stories from the artists, producers, and songwriters who brought these pop hits to life.
Rediscover the stars who lit up the charts: Bobby Vee, Lesley Gore, Tom Jones, Dionne Warwick, Brian Hyland, Bobbie Gentry, Tommy Roe, Bobby Rydell, Petula Clark, the Cowsills, and many more.
100 Greatest 60s Pop Songs is your all-access pass to the melodies, memories, and magic that made the Sixties pop.
Dust off that 8-track and travel back to the sweet sounds of ‘70s Pop!
By 1970, psychedelic rock and protest songs were out, making way for sensitive and soulful ‘70s Pop. 100 Greatest 70s Pop Songs lets the artists, songwriters, and producers behind the decade’s most beloved hits tell their stories—straight from the source.
Of course, you'll find Hall & Oates, Anne Murray, Fleetwood Mac, Styx, and John Denver. But also discover the backstories behind hits by George Benson, Al Stewart, Melanie, the Carpenters, Rita Coolidge, Toto, David Soul, and more.
Don’t touch that dial! Relive the melodies, memories, and moments of the ‘70s today!
Crank up the boombox and step into the 1980s, when synth-pop and new wave shoved aside the mellow singer-songwriters of the ’70s and a bold, new sound ruled the airwaves.
100 Greatest 80s Pop Songs lets the artists, songwriters, and producers behind the decade’s biggest hits tell their stories—straight from the source.
They’re all here: Michael Jackson, Madonna, Phil Collins, Tiffany, Hall & Oates, Richard Marx, and Cyndi Lauper, alongside Rick Springfield, Paula Abdul, Foreigner, Bryan Adams, New Kids on the Block, Taylor Dane, Corey Hart, and more.
Relive the songs, the stories, and the big hair that made the ’80s impossible to forget!
Soul music burst on the scene in the early 1960s and became a voice of the black community during the Civil Rights movement. Motown, Philly, Memphis, New York, and Muscle Shoals all produced songs with timeless melodies and powerful messages.
Unlock the secrets behind the greatest soul music of all time as the artists, songwriters, and producers share the personal stories behind the creation of these iconic songs.
The stories of the music of James Brown, Stevie Wonder, the Temptations, Aretha Franklin, the Supremes, Tina Turner, Curtis Mayfield, and Marvin Gaye are all here. You will also learn about tunes by Wilson Pickett, Otis Redding, Sam and Dave, the Isley Brothers, the Delfonics, the Pointer Sisters, and many more.
100 Funniest Comedy Albums takes you behind the scenes of the most iconic stand-up specials, sketch routines, and musical parodies ever recorded!
The world's greatest comedians share the stories behind their legendary albums—how they crafted their sharpest jokes, built unforgettable characters, and turned laughter into an art form. Plus, enjoy clips from the funniest routines ever put on record.
From Richard Pryor, George Carlin, Jerry Seinfeld, and Dave Chappelle to Kevin Hart, Sam Kinison, Wanda Sykes, and Sebastian Maniscalco—plus Jeff Foxworthy, Margaret Cho, Bill Burr, and many more—100 Funniest Comedy Albums celebrates the legends and rising stars who keep us laughing.
BEST MUSIC BOOKS OF THE YEAR!
Where did Elvis record "Hound Dog" and Bill Haley record "Rock Around the Clock"? Where did Dylan play his first major gig? Or the Beatles make their US debut? Where was Hendrix discovered? New York City, where rock history has been made on the street corners of Harlem, the coffee houses of Greenwich Village, and the city's clubs, theaters, studios, and arenas.
Learn the inside stories of 200 of the artists, writers, DJs, and impresarios who came together in Manhattan to make rock history from the 1950s to today. You will go behind the scenes of New York's legendary gigs at Fillmore East, Madison Square Garden, the Bottom Line, Central Park, and the Apollo Theater. Discover how the iconic songs written about New York were produced. And visit rock's landmark recording studios, record shops, and radio stations.
INDEPENDENT PUBLISHERS BOOK AWARDS
A DEFINITE MUST READ FOR MUSIC HISTORY FANS!
ROCK QUIZ: 1000 Questions Classic Rock Challenge is the ultimate test of your rock and roll knowledge.
Music historian Frank Mastropolo has packed this book with the toughest multiple-choice brain-busters from rock’s golden era. From the British Invasion, Psychedelic Rock and Philly Soul to Punk Rock, Motown and Southern Rock, your ‘60s and ‘70s knowledge will be pushed to the limit. Teenyboppers need not apply!
ROCK QUIZ is perfect for:
-
Rock Trivia Nights
-
Gifts for Classic Rock Fans
-
Cashing bar bets
-
Outsmarting your friends
Warning: This is the toughest rock quiz you will ever take! Will you graduate with honors from Rock and Roll High School—or flunk out?
Mini Books
You know the feeling. You're trying to explain how a smartphone works, and your parents are looking at you like a chicken watching a magic trick.
My Parents Need Instructions is a hilarious and relatable book about the generational tech divide. Join a snarky son as he attempts to pull his no-tech parents, kicking and screaming, into the 21st century. From robot vacuums to email, each chapter is a new, comical clash between old-school skepticism and modern convenience.
Illustrated with brilliant photo-cartoons, this is a book that perfectly captures the comedic struggles of families in the digital age. It's a quick, light-hearted read that will have you laughing out loud—and maybe even recognizing a few family members.
Grab a copy of My Parents Need Instructions and give your family the gift of laughter.
Jackie Gleason wanted to produce a TV comedy set in the Brooklyn tenement of his childhood that starred a bickering but loving couple he called The Honeymooners. CBS Television executives thought it would never work. Who would watch that?
Follow Gleason’s journey from that cold-water Brooklyn flat to Manhattan’s Adelphi Theater, where the “Classic 39” episodes of TV’s The Honeymooners were filmed.
On the way you’ll learn that when Gleason was nine, his father abandoned the family, leaving him and his mother destitute. You’ll visit Gleason’s schools and childhood hangouts and the vaudeville theaters, saloons, and dives where Gleason got his start. Gleason’s starring roles on Broadway led to a short stay in Hollywood until his return to the Big Apple and the role he was born to play.
Beware! The streets of New York are teeming with wildlife! Just not the kind that barks, tweets, or growls.
Lions and giraffes, eagles and elephants, horses and bulldogs, roosters and rabbits are among the 50 architectural treasures found on entrances, windows, and balconies.
Each animal sculpture is accompanied by its address and a relevant quotation from the world’s great writers, philosophers, and humorists. Download to your phone and use as a guide for an archaeological safari adults and kids will enjoy!
If you like urban adventures that are educational, enlightening, and fun, you’ll love this tribute to the city’s silent menagerie that has improbably endured for decades.
No guitarist is more revered than Jimi Hendrix.
He was an alchemist, fusing blues, jazz, R&B, and soul into an otherworldly sound. Hendrix’s innovative use of feedback and distortion redefined the electric guitar. His evocative songwriting and explosive performances revolutionized rock and roll.
Learn about the innovative genius who transformed what it means to be a rock star. The musicians who worked with and admired Hendrix tell his story in unvarnished detail.
Rock and Roll Heroes: Hendrix, An Illustrated Look at the Life of Jimi Hendrix is a hit as a stocking stuffer for a rock fan or a fun weekend read.
Selected editions are also available at
Edgar Street Books is proud to publish books in traditional and digital formats that celebrate New York City history. Stories of the city’s music industry are told through the words of its musicians, songwriters, producers, and impresarios.