Rocks Off: 50 Tracks That Tell the Story of the Rolling Stones
Every Rolling Stones fan has his or her favorite songs. In this fun and entertaining book, published just in time for the band’s fiftieth anniversary, Janovitz chooses 50 songs that sum up the long career of the world’s most famous rock band, from “Tell Me” in 1964 to “Biggest Mistake” in 2005. More than 20 songs are from the band’s classic period, and it is this section that features their best-known compositions, including “(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction,” which, Janovitz writes, features “the most memorable and distinctive guitar riff in rock.” He offers a brief history of the band in the prologue. A musician himself, Janovitz is also an “unabashed fan,” but that doesn’t mean he leaves his critical credentials behind. On the contrary, he 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. Of course, he can’t please everyone (Where is “Heartbreaker”?), but this is a must for Stones fans everywhere. --June Sawyers