Rocks Off: 50 Tracks That Tell the Story of the Rolling Stones - Hardcover

"Janovitz is an extremely engaging companion...he is consistently illuminating, not only defending his songs well, but inspiring you to think more strenuously about the selections you would add or delete." --The New York Times Book Review "Rocks Off is an intense pleasure--a series of love letters plus a few notes of despair...Janovitz opened my mind." --Wall Street Journal "A book that will have you dusting off your LPs (or turning on your iPod) with a new appreciation for the iconic band." --Parade Magazine "[Janovitz] is an astute observer of the Stones' remarkable canon of songs, offering fresh and insightful analyses and exploring numerous "underappreciated album gems." His vibrant description of "Gimme Shelter" alone is worth the price of the book...a must for Stones fans everywhere." --Booklist Review "A book about 50 significant Stones recordings could have practically written itself. But it wouldn't have written itself nearly as well as Janovitz has; close listening and an ear for detail distinguish his analyses." --Kirkus Review "In this glimmering set of unabashed fan's notes, guitarist and music writer Janovitz (Exile on Main Street) enthusiastically and movingly traces the evolution of the world's greatest rock 'n' roll band, song by song...Reading Janovitz is like sitting with a friend in a basement surrounded by albums, and spending the entire day listening to, arguing about, and worshipping the many licks that have become part of our musical vocabulary." --Publishers Weekly "Through loving and informed close readings of fifty pivotal Stones songs, Bill Janovitz finds a new way to tell the band's story--and reminds even the biggest fans that for all the drama, gossip, and myth that has always surrounded the Rolling Stones, it is the music that will stand forever." --Alan Light, author of The Holy or the Broken: Leonard Cohen and Jeff Buckley and the Unlikely Ascent of "Hallelujah" "By focusing intently on individual songs, Bill Janovitz has written a stealth history of the Stones, tracking their personal lives and complicated relationships, illuminating the many phases of their artistic evolution, and making a strong case for their enduring cultural influence. Rocks Off is a smart, informative, and highly entertaining look at the Stones' monumental body of work, written by a veteran musician who also happens to be a discerning critic and a diehard fan." --Tom Perrotta, bestselling author of Little Children and The Leftovers "When it comes to what the Stones are doing on a particular track, as well as why they are doing it, Bill Janovitz gets right to the heart of the matter in Rocks Off: 50 Tracks that Tell the Story of the Rolling Stones. A must read for all those who share his unbridled passion for the band and their music." --Robert Greenfield, author of Exile On Main St.: A Season in Hell with the Rolling Stones and S.T.P.: A Journey Through America With The Rolling Stones "Seasoned rock musician Bill Janovitz, co-founder of Buffalo Tom, evokes the gritty brilliance of the Rolling Stones in exactly the right way--by digging deep into their music. The 50 essays, each describing a key song in the band's 50 year career, weave Janovitz's fastidious research with his passion for music to make the Stones come alive on the page. By the time he's done Janovitz proves that the Stones catalogue isn't only rock 'n' roll, it's five decades of cultural history set in rhythm, blues and serious bad-assery." --Peter Ames Carlin, bestselling author of Bruce Janovitz is an extremely engaging companion...he is consistently illuminating, not only defending his songs well, but inspiring you to think more strenuously about the selections you would add or delete. "The New York Times Book Review" "Rocks Off" is an intense pleasure--a series of love letters plus a few notes of despair...Janovitz opened my mind. "Wall Street Journal" A book that will have you dusting off your LPs (or turning on your iPod) with a new appreciation for the iconic band. "Parade Magazine" [Janovitz] is an astute observer of the Stones' remarkable canon of songs, offering fresh and insightful analyses and exploring numerous "underappreciated album gems." His vibrant description of "Gimme Shelter" alone is worth the price of the book...a must for Stones fans everywhere. "Booklist Review" A book about 50 significant Stones recordings could have practically written itself. But it wouldn't have written itself nearly as well as Janovitz has; close listening and an ear for detail distinguish his analyses. "Kirkus Review" In this glimmering set of unabashed fan's notes, guitarist and music writer Janovitz (Exile on Main Street) enthusiastically and movingly traces the evolution of the world's greatest rock 'n' roll band, song by song...Reading Janovitz is like sitting with a friend in a basement surrounded by albums, and spending the entire day listening to, arguing about, and worshipping the many licks that have become part of our musical vocabulary. "Publishers Weekly" Through loving and informed close readings of fifty pivotal Stones songs, Bill Janovitz finds a new way to tell the band's story--and reminds even the biggest fans that for all the drama, gossip, and myth that has always surrounded the Rolling Stones, it is the music that will stand forever. "Alan Light, author of The Holy or the Broken: Leonard Cohen and Jeff Buckley and the Unlikely Ascent of "Hallelujah"" By focusing intently on individual songs, Bill Janovitz has written a stealth history of the Stones, tracking their personal lives and complicated relationships, illuminating the many phases of their artistic evolution, and making a strong case for their enduring cultural influence. "Rocks Off "is a smart, informative, and highly entertaining look at the Stones' monumental body of work, written by a veteran musician who also happens to be a discerning critic and a diehard fan. "Tom Perrotta, bestselling author of Little Children and The Leftovers" When it comes to what the Stones are doing on a particular track, as well as why they are doing it, Bill Janovitz gets right to the heart of the matter in "Rocks Off: 50 Tracks that Tell the Story of the Rolling Stones." A must read for all those who share his unbridled passion for the band and their music. "Robert Greenfield, author of Exile On Main St.: A Season in Hell with the Rolling Stones and S.T.P.: A Journey Through America With The Rolling Stones" Seasoned rock musician Bill Janovitz, co-founder of Buffalo Tom, evokes the gritty brilliance of the Rolling Stones in exactly the right way--by digging deep into their music. The 50 essays, each describing a key song in the band's 50 year career, weave Janovitz's fastidious research with his passion for music to make the Stones come alive on the page. By the time he's done Janovitz proves that the Stones catalogue isn't only rock 'n' roll, it's five decades of cultural history set in rhythm, blues and serious bad-assery. "Peter Ames Carlin, bestselling author of Bruce"" "Janovitz is an extremely engaging companion...he is consistently illuminating, not only defending his songs well, but inspiring you to think more strenuously about the selections you would add or delete." --"The New York Times" Book Review ""Rocks Off" is an intense pleasure--a series of love letters plus a few notes of despair...Janovitz opened my mind." --"Wall Street Journal " "A book that will have you dusting off your LPs (or turning on your iPod) with a new appreciation for the iconic band." --"Parade Magazine " "[Janovitz] is an astute observer of the Stones' remarkable canon of songs, offering fresh and insightful analyses and exploring numerous "underappreciated album gems." His vibrant description of "Gimme Shelter" alone is worth the price of the book...a must for Stones fans everywhere." --"Booklist" Review "A book about 50 significant Stones recordings could have practically written itself. But it wouldn't have written itself nearly as well as Janovitz has; close listening and an ear for detail distinguish his analyses." --"Kirkus" Review "In this glimmering set of unabashed fan's notes, guitarist and music writer Janovitz (Exile on Main Street) enthusiastically and movingly traces the evolution of the world's greatest rock 'n' roll band, song by song...Reading Janovitz is like sitting with a friend in a basement surrounded by albums, and spending the entire day listening to, arguing about, and worshipping the many licks that have become part of our musical vocabulary." --"Publishers Weekly" "Through loving and informed close readings of fifty pivotal Stones songs, Bill Janovitz finds a new way to tell the band's story--and reminds even the biggest fans that for all the drama, gossip, and myth that has always surrounded the Rolling Stones, it is the music that will stand forever." --Alan Light, author of "The Holy or the Broken: Leonard Cohen "and "Jeff Buckley and the Unlikely Ascent of "Hallelujah"" "By focusing intently on individual songs, Bill Janovitz has written a stealth history of the Stones, tracking their personal lives and complicated relationships, illuminating the many phases of their artistic evolution, and making a strong case for their enduring cultural influence. "Rocks Off "is a smart, informative, and highly entertaining look at the Stones' monumental body of work, written by a veteran musician who also happens to be a discerning critic and a diehard fan." --Tom Perrotta, bestselling author of "Little Children" and "The Leftovers ""When it comes to what the Stones are doing on a particular track, as well as why they are doing it, Bill Janovitz gets right to the heart of the matter in "Rocks Off: 50 Tracks that Tell the Story of the Rolling Stones." A must read for all those who share his unbridled passion for the band and their music." --Robert Greenfield, author of "Exile On Main St.: A Season in Hell with the Rolling Stones" and "S.T.P.: A Journey Through America With The Rolling Stones ""Seasoned rock musician Bill Janovitz, co-founder of Buffalo Tom, evokes the gritty brilliance of the Rolling Stones in exactly the right way--by digging deep into their music. The 50 essays, each describing a key song in the band's 50 year career, weave Janovitz's fastidious research with his passion for music to make the Stones come alive on the page. By the time he's done Janovitz proves that the Stones catalogue isn't only rock 'n' roll, it's five decades of cultural history set in rhythm, blues and serious bad-assery." --Peter Ames Carlin, bestselling author of "Bruce" ""Rocks Off" is an intense pleasure--a series of love letters plus a few notes of despair--and almost as good as the music it celebrates." --"Wall Street Journal " "A book that will have you dusting off your LPs (or turning on your iPod) with a new appreciation for the iconic band." --"Parade Magazine " "[Janovitz] is an astute observer of the Stones' remarkable canon of songs, offering fresh and insightful analyses and exploring numerous "underappreciated album gems." His vibrant description of "Gimme Shelter" alone is worth the price of the book...a must for Stones fans everywhere." --"Booklist" Review "A book about 50 significant Stones recordings could have practically written itself. But it wouldn't have written itself nearly as well as Janovitz has; close listening and an ear for detail distinguish his analyses." --"Kirkus" Review "In this glimmering set of unabashed fan's notes, guitarist and music writer Janovitz (Exile on Main Street) enthusiastically and movingly traces the evolution of the world's greatest rock 'n' roll band, song by song...Reading Janovitz is like sitting with a friend in a basement surrounded by albums, and spending the entire day listening to, arguing about, and worshipping the many licks that have become part of our musical vocabulary." --"Publishers Weekly" "Through loving and informed close readings of fifty pivotal Stones songs, Bill Janovitz finds a new way to tell the band's story--and reminds even the biggest fans that for all the drama, gossip, and myth that has always surrounded the Rolling Stones, it is the music that will stand forever." --Alan Light, author of "The Holy or the Broken: Leonard Cohen "and "Jeff Buckley and the Unlikely Ascent of "Hallelujah"" "By focusing intently on individual songs, Bill Janovitz has written a stealth history of the Stones, tracking their personal lives and complicated relationships, illuminating the many phases of their artistic evolution, and makingA "[Janovitz] is an astute observer of the Stones' remarkable canon of songs, offering fresh and insightful analyses and exploring numerous "underappreciated album gems." His vibrant description of "Gimme Shelter" alone is worth the price of the book...a must for Stones fans everywhere." --"Booklist" Review "A book about 50 significant Stones recordings could have practically written itself. But it wouldn't have written itself nearly as well as Janovitz has; close listening and an ear for detail distinguish his analyses." --"Kirkus" Review "In this glimmering set of unabashed fan's notes, guitarist and music writer Janovitz (Exile on Main Street) enthusiastically and movingly traces the evolution of the world's greatest rock 'n' roll band, song by song...Reading Janovitz is like sitting with a friend in a basement surrounded by albums, and spending the entire day listening to, arguing about, and worshipping the many licks that have become part of our musical vocabulary." --"Publishers Weekly" "A book that will have you dusting off your LPs (or turning on your iPod) with a new appreciation for the iconic band." --"Parade" Magazine "Through loving and informed close readings of fifty pivotal Stones songs, Bill Janovitz finds a new way to tell the band's story--and reminds even the biggest fans that for all the drama, gossip, and myth that has always surrounded the Rolling Stones, it is the music that will stand forever." --Alan Light, author of "The Holy or the Broken: Leonard Cohen "and "Jeff Buckley and the Unlikely Ascent of "Hallelujah"" "By focusing intently on individual songs, Bill Janovitz has written a stealth history of the Stones, tracking their personal lives and complicated relationships, illuminating the many phases of their artistic evolution, and making a strong case for their enduring cultural influence. "Rocks Off "is a smart, informative, and highly entertaining look at the Stones' monumental body of work, written by a v "A book about 50 significant Stones recordings could have practically written itself. But it wouldn't have written itself nearly as well as Janovitz has; close listening and an ear for detail distinguish his analyses." --"Kirkus" Review "In this glimmering set of unabashed fan's notes, guitarist and music writer Janovitz (Exile on Main Street) enthusiastically and movingly traces the evolution of the world's greatest rock 'n' roll band, song by song...Reading Janovitz is like sitting with a friend in a basement surrounded by albums, and spending the entire day listening to, arguing about, and worshipping the many licks that have become part of our musical vocabulary." --"Publishers Weekly" "Through loving and informed close readings of fifty pivotal Stones songs, Bill Janovitz finds a new way to tell the band's story--and reminds even the biggest fans that for all the drama, gossip, and myth that has always surrounded the Rolling Stones, it is the music that will stand forever." --Alan Light, author of "The Holy or the Broken: Leonard Cohen "and "Jeff Buckley and the Unlikely Ascent of "Hallelujah"" "By focusing intently on individual songs, Bill Janovitz has written a stealth history of the Stones, tracking their personal lives and complicated relationships, illuminating the many phases of their artistic evolution, and making a strong case for their enduring cultural influence. "Rocks Off "is a smart, informative, and highly entertaining look at t...

"You Can't Always Get What You Want," "Paint It Black," "Satisfaction:" you know all the words but how much do you really know about the inspiration behind them? Or how their melodies were created? All artists reveal themselves through their work and the Rolling Stones are no different: each song exposes a little more of their soul. Rocks Off promises to reveal that soul by deconstructing their best tunes from their incredible fifty years of record making. Written by Stones fanatic, musician, and writer Bill Janovitz, this is a song-by-song chronicle that maps the landmarks of the band's career while expanding upon their recording and personal history through insightful and energetic prose. With its conversational tone - much like friends pouring over old records on a Saturday afternoon - the book presents the musical leaps taken by the band and a discussion of how the lyrical content both reflected and influenced popular culture. The song choices - fifty in all - are chronological and subjective; most of them are the classic hits, however, the book digs deeper into beloved album tracks and songs with unique stories behind them. Looking through the prism of the Stone's music in a fresh way, Rocks Off is the ultimate listening guide and thinking man's companion that will spur readers to dust off those old albums and listen in with a new-found perspective on one of the most famous and acclaimed rock 'n' roll bands of all time.