Soul Mining: A Musical Life
Daniel Lanois has produced recordings by some of the biggest names in contemporary music—Bob Dylan, Emmylou Harris, Willie Nelson, Peter Gabriel, and U2—yet he is hardly a household name except among select music aficionados. In his humble, self-effacing memoir of growing up poor in Canada, Lanois, born in a small Quebec town, describes the diffiiculties he faced (he spoke only French until he was 10) when he and his siblings moved with their single mother to Hamilton, Ontario. But he had grown up surrounded by music, and eventually his work, through a bit of synchronicity, reached the English musician and producer Brian Eno. The Eno connection led to U2 and other big names. Soul Mining is a reticent memoir lacking big revelations or gossip. Instead, Lanois is more interested in writing about what goes on in the recording studio. Accordingly, he discusses specific albums, including U2’s The Joshua Tree and The Unforgettable Fire, Dylan’s Oh Mercy and Time Out of Mind, and Harris’ Wrecking Ball. And that makes this a real treat for serious music fans. --June Sawyers