Best DJ books?
Hey guys,
Not interested about learning to DJ. Just interested to know if there are any interesting books about DJing or DJ culture that are a good read.
Anyone know?
Saw this at a friend’s place and just quickly skimmed through it, but it seemed quite good. More pictures than stuff to read, but interesting nonetheless for someone who is way to young to have witnessed it first hand.
Dan Sicko, Techno Rebels is good: Techno Rebels: The Renegades of Electronic Funk (Painted Turtle Book) (Painted Turtle Press): Amazon.co.uk: Sicko, Dan, Brewster, Bill: 9780814334386: Books
Last Night a DJ Saved my Life: Last Night a DJ Saved My Life (updated): The History of the Disc Jockey: Amazon.co.uk: Brewster, Bill, Broughton, Frank: 9780755313983: Books
The Record Players: DJ Revolutionaries is great: The Record Players: DJ Revolutionaries : Frank Broughton, Bill Brewster: Amazon.co.uk: Books
And check out the special issue of DanceCult devoted to DJ Culture: Login … full disclosure; I’m one of the co-editors. Speaking of which, stay tuned for news from Continuum Press (which publishes a lot of books on music culture generally); I’m coediting a book that will likely be forthcoming from them in 2013.
I can honestly recommend any books on music theory. You’ll use it more than you know in DJing, not just producing.
I’ll second Last Night a DJ Saved my Life. Written by a guy I met in Mexico in 2000 at a week long retreat of DJ’s put together by dubtribe sound system. Really nice book, although a bit dated now.
Ill third that. given it as a present at Christmas. it is a little dated, It was updated in 2006. Still think it’s extremely relevant though from the perspective of how exhaustive it is on the history of DJ’ing.
Who’d have thought that the late Jimmy Saville would be so relevant in the history of DJ’ing.
+2… There’s an updated version out in October. Not sure of the differences.
http://www.bookdepository.co.uk/Last-Night-DJ-Saved-My-Life-Bill-Brewster/9780802146106
I also read a great book on techno and rave called Generation Ecstasy: Into the World of Techno and Rave Culture.
http://www.bookdepository.co.uk/Generation-Ecstacy-Simon-Reynolds/9780415923736
The articles and interviews on this site are worth a look:
It’s not necessarily a DJ book, but “The Dance Music Manual V2” - Amazon.com provides a clean, easy-to-read look at the basics of music theory and how dance music blends together.
any that you would like to recommend?
^^^ oh yeah this book is fantastic!
Simon Reynolds Energy Flash is also good stuff too (same guy who wrote Generation Ecstasy), though I’ve only read a bit of it.
Oh I almost forgot the best read I’ve had all year on this topic, Mark Katz’s book on hip hop turntablism, Groove Music. And if you’re into the music theory side of things check out Mark J. Butler’s book Unlocking the Groove.
Anything from ‘The Complete Idiot’s guide to Music Theory’ to 'Musicians Institute: Harmony & Theory. It completely changes your perspective on what DJing is all about - Adding harmonic mixing and phrase translations to your bank.
dj mag, mix mag, dj mag, mix mag
I’m biased but highly recommend (written by a couple of pals):
A lot of research/checking/interviews went in to this book.
The world would be a better place if all people new to djing read ‘How To DJ Properly’ by Bill Brewster (same bloke who wrote ‘Last Night a DJ Saved My Life’, another must-read).
I only read it for the first time last year but I wish it had existed when I started. Great book full of wisdom.
The best book I have read was the excellent “Class of 88” by Wayne Anthony, this details the journey of one of the UK’s pioneering illegal rave promoters. His Genesis parties are stuff of legend in and around London from 88 to 90. Read it, it is ace.
Also HappyDaze is good, published by Sam Williams who runs www.radioactivefm.co.uk
The Revised Edition of Happydaze will be available on the 11th August
and For Sale at http://www.ravereunited.co.uk/
so last night a dj saved my life is still a good read? not too outdated?
The good thing about history is that it doesn’t change 
It’s not dated at all past the fact that when they wrote it the future hadn’t happened yet so they couldn’t write about it.
anyone know if energy flash by reynolds is just an updated copy of generation ecstasy?
Do Not Do This.
Here’s a link to that ‘How To Dj Properly’. There is no better book for becoming a better dj imo.